Jabber/XMPP: How Do We Gain Traction?
a day ago
- Signal has bugs and missing features (e.g., unreliable notifications, no message edits initially), but users stay due to contacts being on the platform.
- XMPP's baseline feature set is small but its download numbers are comparable to Matrix, contradicting claims that Matrix is vastly more popular.
- Feature comparisons rarely determine messenger success; network effect and user adoption are driven by reliable delivery and reaching friends.
- Even Big Tech (Google, Facebook) struggles to overcome the network effect; success often requires luck and visibility.
- Increasing XMPP's visibility is achievable through low-cost actions: adding XMPP address to profiles, writing about it, attending events, and influential people mentioning it.
- The author encourages giving XMPP a fair try, noting that initial impressions can be overcome with adaptation.