Talk Intermediate First Talk

Matrix: How to disrupt the communication industry with a FOSS alternative

Approved

Session Description

Matrix is a decentralised, federated, end-to-end encrypted chat protocol or rather a real-time communication protocol that has aimed at becoming the standard protocol for internet communications for the past 10 years. How can a FOSS alternative take on the likes of WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, iMessage, Slack, Discord, RCS, SMS, etc.? How can a company give away all their hard work for free? We'll explore the many ways Matrix has tried to encourage adoption of the platform and the many successes and failures Element has had in trying to become a profitable/successful Matrix-based business.

References

https://matrix.org/docs/matrix-concepts/elements-of-matrix/, https://matrix.org/blog/2022/12/25/the-matrix-holiday-update-2022/

Session Categories

FOSS

Speakers

James Reilly On semi-sabbatical learning Hindi in Lucknow. Support, TAM, Sysadmin (or SRE or whatever it's called these days)

I've worked as a Support Engineer at Element and helped scale up support at Beeper, along with 6 years working at Ohio State University as a Sysadmin. In my younger years, I worked for a hospital, a cybersecurity startup, and pet store!

I'm currently living in Lucknow taking a semi-sabbatical to study Hindi and Urdu (trying to pick up that Lakhnawi Tehzeeb!). Very interested in connecting with others who are passionate about open source software.