Matrix is an open standard that allows for decentralized communication directly between user devices. The main goal of the creators of this standard is to create a network in which users will have full control over their data.
Matrix is similar to email, it allows you to send messages to users identifying themselves with a unique name without having to worry about what application or server they use.
What is most important about Matrix is its decentralized structure, which allows you to send encrypted messages that can only be read by the user to whom they were sent. An encrypted End to End (E2E) connection may be established after prior interactive consent of users. Thanks to this, we can be sure that the person we are talking to is the one we want to talk to.
Not only text messages can be sent between users, you can also easily talk via video conferencing or voice communication.
Communication between users takes place using HomeServers. They store unencrypted messages sent by users and allow you to search for other users and public rooms available in the so-called Federation.
Federation is a network of HomeServers that allows all users to use its public rooms so you can meet new users. The most important thing here, however, is that we decide who we will share our data with, who our messages will reach, and we know exactly when they are stored and where. There is no central server that, if disabled, will prevent us from having access to our messages. Disabling a given HomeServer only means that we lose access to the public rooms (you cannot write on them, but you can read downloaded messages) that it served. Federation guarantees the durability of the network.
HomeServers are powered by Synapse, written in Python by the creators of Matrix. Below is a link to our server where you can register and start using Federation.
You can read more about the Matrix in the FAQ . I also encourage you to set up your own HomeServers, instructions can be found on the project website . Synapse does not have high requirements, the cheapest VPS is enough. For production use, it is best to use PostgreSQL as the database.
The Matrix-based federation is a unique example of the implementation of a libertarian idea in the online world. It illustrates how networks of people should operate not only on the Internet but also in real life. The most important thing here is the individual, his or her privacy, but also goals and desires, he or she can create a cell (HomeServer), which will in turn allow the creation of groups that carry out specific tasks. The network built in this way will have no central point, no leaders, no rulers. It will also be more flexible and less susceptible to destruction.