Have downloaded the Beeper app which seems to nicely integrate a few of my favourite chat protocols. I noticed Matrix in the mix however.

I’ve heard, obliquely, of Matrix, but just assumed it’s yet another messaging protocol. Would appear that’s not the case though? Where would one get started? Why would I even want to use this vs the multitude of others? Is there an NZ Matrix server? Does it even matter? Why did the last season of GoT go so badly off the rails (oh wait, we know the answer to that one)…

TIA!

  • Xcf456
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    4 days ago

    Right I see, could be useful if you’re constantly switching between conversations on multiple platforms I guess. Which come to think of it I am. I only have the Instagram app because typing goes nuts when I try to message on their web interface.

    Way back when I was running Ubuntu (like over a decade ago) there were a chat application that would combine Facebook chat, MSN (lol) and a bunch of others and it was very handy to have it right there on the desktop.

    • DaveMA
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      4 days ago

      Oh, was that Pidgin? I had forgotten about that! Having just looked it up, it seems it’s desktop only but it does support Facebook via plugin.

      It sounds like it would be great to have on Android but I can’t find an Android app for it.

      • Xcf456
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        4 days ago

        Yes I think so, that rings a bell. Something like that would be cool, I downloaded beeper earlier to give it a go and it immediately wants an email and privacy policy and I assume collects data on what clients you use and so on.

        Something like pigdin that’s just a front end that doesn’t phone home anywhere or collect your data and you just log in through it would be awesome.

        • DaveMA
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          4 days ago

          Beeper does allow self-hosting, though I think you have to use a matrix client, last I checked you can’t use their apps to connect to your own server but you can access your Facebook chat or whatever through a matrix client by running the bridges they provide.

          Pidgin for Android would be amazing. I found references to an app from 2010 but the links all go nowhere so I guess that didn’t survive the test of time.