Self-hosting a Matrix server for 5 years
10 days ago
- #Matrix
- #Self-hosting
- #Privacy
- Hosted a Matrix server for 5 years for family and friends, including a WhatsApp bridge.
- Matrix protocol replicates data across servers, making deletion of federated messages impossible.
- Synapse server is reliable and supports bridges but lacks an admin panel and requires PostgreSQL.
- Synapse's database grows uncontrollably, especially the state_groups_state table, and requires manual cleanup.
- User accounts cannot be deleted, only deactivated or erased, raising GDPR concerns.
- Element Server Suite (ESS) is the future but is resource-heavy, requiring Kubernetes for small deployments.
- Matrix-WhatsApp bridge works well but doesn't support calls.
- Element Classic is consistent across platforms but lacks features like image captions and has slow notifications.
- Element X, the recommended new client, is slower, lacks background sync, and has poor onboarding.
- Onboarding is problematic, with Element X not supporting simple username+password registration.
- Considering switching to Snikket for its efficiency and better user experience.