# I am the Watcher. I am your guide through this vast new twtiverse.
#
# Usage:
# https://watcher.sour.is/api/plain/users View list of users and latest twt date.
# https://watcher.sour.is/api/plain/twt View all twts.
# https://watcher.sour.is/api/plain/mentions?uri=:uri View all mentions for uri.
# https://watcher.sour.is/api/plain/conv/:hash View all twts for a conversation subject.
#
# Options:
# uri Filter to show a specific users twts.
# offset Start index for quey.
# limit Count of items to return (going back in time).
#
# twt range = 1 47
# self = https://watcher.sour.is/conv/7625tqq
Choosing Matrix/Element as a messenger for my family was a mistake. It’s way too complicated. And apparently, the app on smartphones is pretty confusing: Family members repeatedly end up in the settings dialog for the chat room? Since modern UIs are all utter garbage (Which UI elements can be clicked/activated? Nobody knows! Everything is flat!), they have a hard time leaving that dialog, so they call me. And then all the crypto stuff, that no normal user ever understands, and trusted devices, and … oh, fuck off man. I just want a chat.
Choosing Matrix/Element as a messenger for my family was a mistake. It’s way too complicated. And apparently, the app on smartphones is pretty confusing: Family members repeatedly end up in the settings dialog for the chat room? Since modern UIs are all utter garbage (Which UI elements can be clicked/activated? Nobody knows! Everything is flat!), they have a hard time leaving that dialog, so they call me. And then all the crypto stuff, that no normal user ever understands, and trusted devices, and … oh, fuck off man. I just want a chat.
Choosing Matrix/Element as a messenger for my family was a mistake. It’s way too complicated. And apparently, the app on smartphones is pretty confusing: Family members repeatedly end up in the settings dialog for the chat room? Since modern UIs are all utter garbage (Which UI elements can be clicked/activated? Nobody knows! Everything is flat!), they have a hard time leaving that dialog, so they call me. And then all the crypto stuff, that no normal user ever understands, and trusted devices, and … oh, fuck off man. I just want a chat.
And don’t get me started on the fact that they try to push you to use THEIR server. Yeah, great, you CAN run Matrix on your own server, but you always have to explain to users that they first have to open the “advanced server settings” or whatever they call it, and enter their credentials there … This is my mistake, in part, because I want to run our server WITHOUT federation. Just a chat for us! This is possible, but against Matrix’s design.
And don’t get me started on the fact that they try to push you to use THEIR server. Yeah, great, you CAN run Matrix on your own server, but you always have to explain to users that they first have to open the “advanced server settings” or whatever they call it, and enter their credentials there … This is my mistake, in part, because I want to run our server WITHOUT federation. Just a chat for us! This is possible, but against Matrix’s design.
And don’t get me started on the fact that they try to push you to use THEIR server. Yeah, great, you CAN run Matrix on your own server, but you always have to explain to users that they first have to open the “advanced server settings” or whatever they call it, and enter their credentials there … This is my mistake, in part, because I want to run our server WITHOUT federation. Just a chat for us! This is possible, but against Matrix’s design.
To be honest with you, I don't _really_ like Matrix at all. I _think_ they made some fatal mistakes in their design, architecture and user experience IHMO. I _agree_ with you, the UI is utter garbage. Worse yet is their "server implementation", it's actually quite hard to get up and running to the point where I couldn't even be bothered spending the time. \n\nFor my family/friends I just recommend Signal 👌
To be honest with you, I don't _really_ like Matrix at all. I _think_ they made some fatal mistakes in their design, architecture and user experience IHMO. I _agree_ with you, the UI is utter garbage. Worse yet is their "server implementation", it's actually quite hard to get up and running to the point where I couldn't even be bothered spending the time.
For my family/friends I just recommend Signal 👌
To be honest with you, I don't _really_ like Matrix at all. I _think_ they made some fatal mistakes in their design, architecture and user experience IHMO. I _agree_ with you, the UI is utter garbage. Worse yet is their "server implementation", it's actually quite hard to get up and running to the point where I couldn't even be bothered spending the time.
For my family/friends I just recommend Signal 👌
@prologic Funny thing is, it was pretty easy to get the Matrix server (Synapse) going on my OpenBSD box: Install a package, run one initialization command, maybe edit the generated config, put a reverse proxy in front of it, done. (Granted, I don’t use federation, maybe that’s harder.) // As for Signal: They say you have to install it on a smartphone before you can use it on a desktop machine. So, what, my account is tied to my phone number? If that’s true, then I won’t use it. Or maybe *only* for our family chat room. I simply don’t want to run around with my phone number stapled to my forehead. >
@prologic Funny thing is, it was pretty easy to get the Matrix server (Synapse) going on my OpenBSD box: Install a package, run one initialization command, maybe edit the generated config, put a reverse proxy in front of it, done. (Granted, I don’t use federation, maybe that’s harder.) // As for Signal: They say you have to install it on a smartphone before you can use it on a desktop machine. So, what, my account is tied to my phone number? If that’s true, then I won’t use it. Or maybe *only* for our family chat room. I simply don’t want to run around with my phone number stapled to my forehead. >
@prologic Funny thing is, it was pretty easy to get the Matrix server (Synapse) going on my OpenBSD box: Install a package, run one initialization command, maybe edit the generated config, put a reverse proxy in front of it, done. (Granted, I don’t use federation, maybe that’s harder.) // As for Signal: They say you have to install it on a smartphone before you can use it on a desktop machine. So, what, my account is tied to my phone number? If that’s true, then I won’t use it. Or maybe *only* for our family chat room. I simply don’t want to run around with my phone number stapled to my forehead. >
@movq @prologic I read somewhere that Signal is considering removing the phone number requirement. Hopefully this will be a option for you soon. I also wish Matrix has easier for normal users. To setup the server I used Yunohost and it was really easy, even with federation.
@prologic @antonio I have been trying out session. Its got a pretty simple design. not a lot of frills.
0515e4d5d6cec712a054f21b46d4f90a001af34e893131263ce34f2121d0450310
@prologic @antonio I have been trying out session. Its got a pretty simple design. not a lot of frills.
0515e4d5d6cec712a054f21b46d4f90a001af34e893131263ce34f2121d0450310
@prologic @antonio I have been trying out session. Its got a pretty simple design. not a lot of frills.
0515e4d5d6cec712a054f21b46d4f90a001af34e893131263ce34f2121d0450310
@prologic @antonio I have been trying out session. Its got a pretty simple design. not a lot of frills. \n\n0515e4d5d6cec712a054f21b46d4f90a001af34e893131263ce34f2121d0450310
@antonio @movq @prologic Yeah, I got Synapse running and federating, but it was a bit tricky with my reverse proxy set-up. It isn't public, though, and I couldn't imagine my family using it or Element! Tech support nightmare! @xuu mentioned Session, which does look promising (minus the crypto-currency eco disaster).
@antonio @xuu Yeah I tried session, but didn’t really like it much. it’s not as well polished as Signal 😥
@antonio @xuu Yeah I tried session, but didn’t really like it much. it’s not as well polished as Signal 😥
@xuu @prologic @antonio Session is definitely not well polished. People I know have had issues with messages syncing between devices. Plus, the only client I've been able to find is the official Electron one. I would probably be using Signal if it didn't require the use of a tracking device (smartphone) or a phone number.
@xuu @prologic @antonio Session is definitely not well polished. People I know have had issues with messages syncing between devices. Plus, the only client I've been able to find is the official Electron one. I would probably be using Signal if it didn't require the use of a tracking device (smartphone) or a phone number.
@xuu @prologic Session is interesting. I gave it a go too. But in the end I just ended up testing with a friend out of curiosity. I agree it is not as polished.
@mckinley @xuu @prologic Do you mean tracking as in location tracking? If so I think you can always turn off location service for the app, right? Or Am I missing something?
@prologic @antonio @xuu Personally, I don't trust smartphones not to give information to companies interested in that sort of thing. Most code they run is proprietary, so it's difficult to know. Monitoring network traffic only goes so far. Better to avoid the suspicious proprietary software altogether if you can, in my opinion.
@prologic @antonio @xuu Personally, I don't trust smartphones not to give information to companies interested in that sort of thing. Most code they run is proprietary, so it's difficult to know. Monitoring network traffic only goes so far. Better to avoid the suspicious proprietary software altogether if you can, in my opinion.
@xuu @mckinley @prologic yeah that makes sense. I personally use smartphones but I can see your point. Right now I don't have a way around it, specially after I became a smartphone app developer. 😱
@antonio @mckinley @prologic i did use Wireapp for a little bit. it is pretty polished and doesnt rely on phone numbers for connecting. The ownership had some shady changes but im not sure it ever led to issues in the security model.
@antonio @mckinley @prologic i did use Wireapp for a little bit. it is pretty polished and doesnt rely on phone numbers for connecting. The ownership had some shady changes but im not sure it ever led to issues in the security model.
@antonio @mckinley @prologic i did use Wireapp for a little bit. it is pretty polished and doesnt rely on phone numbers for connecting. The ownership had some shady changes but im not sure it ever led to issues in the security model.
I guess the app still requires and insists on some form of personal identifiable information 😳\n\n
\n\n
I guess the app still requires and insists on some form of personal identifiable information 😳
I guess the app still requires and insists on some form of personal identifiable information 😳
@prologic @mckinley @xuu That is the one. I used it before. Did some tests early on and wasn't impressed. The video calls lagged a bit. Perhaps they have improved it. I also would like to look into what happened with the ownership you mentioned. The last thing I want is to switch all family members to another Whatsapp.
@mckinley @xuu @antonio I feel that Signal is still the best choice right now for a number of reasons. open source, audited, run by a not-for-profit and there are rumors of them relaxing the requirement for phone number as “username”.
@mckinley @xuu @antonio I feel that Signal is still the best choice right now for a number of reasons. open source, audited, run by a not-for-profit and there are rumors of them relaxing the requirement for phone number as “username”.
@prologic @xuu @antonio I've also heard good things about Threema, but it's paid and, like Signal, requires the installation of the smartphone app (AGPL) to use. Unlike Signal, to my knowledge, you need access to and an internet connection on that phone when using their web client.
@prologic @xuu @antonio I've also heard good things about Threema, but it's paid and, like Signal, requires the installation of the smartphone app (AGPL) to use. Unlike Signal, to my knowledge, you need access to and an internet connection on that phone when using their web client.
@prologic @mckinley @xuu I heard ppl were worried that Signal haven't update the source code upstream in a while. I mean I agree it is the best option but I am also still looking around.
@prologic @xuu @mckinley I haven't heard of Threema. And you are right you need to connect your phone to the desktop app to use Signal on the computer.