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< title > Welcome to the Matrix: the FSFE now runs its own server< / title >
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< h1 > Welcome to the Matrix: the FSFE now runs its own server< / h1 >
< p >
The FSFE is eager to support its community with diverse Free Software
communication channels. We are happy to announce that we have recently added
Matrix to this list. After successful beta tests, every FSFE supporter and
volunteer can now create their own Matrix account. We will also use our
instance for the FSFE’
< / p >
< p >
For over a decade now, the FSFE has been offering an XMPP (also known as
Jabber) server as well as a traditional IRC channel for < a
2023-02-09 15:04:01 +00:00
href="/about/contact.html#community">our community< / a > to quickly exchange messages.
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Today we officially open the gates to our new Matrix server, which has been
successfully tested for a few months and has a few advantages over XMPP.
< / p >
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< img
src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/ae0b688f41701e0dbf2212609f8565c5.png"
alt="A computer screen with Matrix on it in a nice office space" />
< figcaption >
Connect with the FSFE community at FOSDEM –
< / figcaption >
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< h2 > Federated and encrypted< / h2 >
< p >
Matrix is a comparatively new protocol for real-time communication that
enables federation similar to XMPP. Federation means that users of one
instance can communicate with users of other instances over the same protocol.
Matrix has some features directly built in, ranging from automatic encryption
to sending pictures and the possibility of audio and video chats, or allowing
responding to messages with emojis. With XMPP, some of these features are also
available through extensions, but not all servers support all such additional
features, which means that some users cannot benefit from them.
< / p >
< p >
Matrix is of course not perfect either, but meanwhile many Free Software
organisations such as KDE and Mozilla as well as a number of public
administrations use Matrix, for example the French state. And most
importantly, the feedback from our test users and teams was very positive.
That is why we now invite our community to make up their own mind about
Matrix. For the time being, we will keep both Matrix and XMPP running so that
individual users, groups, and teams can evaluate the technologies for
themselves.
< / p >
< h2 > How to enter the Matrix< / h2 >
< p >
For those who have an FSFE account - i.e. < fsfe-cd-donate-link > all
supporters< / fsfe-cd-donate-link > and registered volunteers - getting started is
super easy. We provide a < a href = "https://wiki.fsfe.org/TechDocs/Matrix" > wiki
page< / a > where all the necessary information is collected. Due to the
encryption features of the messenger, the first steps should be taken with
some caution, but after that everything is quite self-explanatory.
< / p >
< p >
If you already have an account on a homeserver other than the FSFE's, you can
of course keep it and still join our rooms. There are some recommendations
listed in the FSFE space (< code > #fsfe:fsfe.org< / code > ), such as the main
community room < code > #community:fsfe.org< / code > . There is also a < a
href="https://ems.element.io/tools/matrix-migration">service by the Matrix
developers< / a > to migrate one's account from one server to another if you'd like
to make use of the fancy fsfe.org handle.
< / p >
< p >
A great way to experience Matrix on a grand scale is at the virtual FOSDEM
this coming weekend, where the < a href = "/news/2022/news-20220127-01.html" > FSFE
will once again have a devroom and a booth< / a > . Participation and visiting is
possible via distinct Matrix rooms. So get a Matrix account on our homeserver
beforehand and join us at FOSDEM!
< / p >
< p >
< em >
Like all FSFE services, this one is part of our < a
href="/news/2021/news-20211203-01.html">Free Software infrastructure< / a >
with < a href = "https://git.fsfe.org/fsfe-system-hackers/synapse/" > public
deployment code< / a > . We would like to thank Michael Weimann, one of our
System Hackers, who maintains the service.
< / em >
< / p >
< / body >
< tags >
< tag key = "front-page" / >
< tag key = "internal" > FSFE Internal< / tag >
< tag key = "tech-teams" > Technical Teams< / tag >
< tag key = "tools" > Tools< / tag >
< tag key = "fosdem" > FOSDEM< / tag >
< / tags >
< discussion href = "https://community.fsfe.org/t/797" / >
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< image url = "https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/ae0b688f41701e0dbf2212609f8565c5.png" alt = "A computer screen with Matrix on it in a nice office space" / >
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