There’s been quite a bit of…unsettlement (totally a word) regarding the news that Discord has a new CEO and the company is going public (typically a sign of things going shittier than before).
I’d just like to re-post this which I shared some time ago, if you’ll indulge me in my rare post which isn’t a Steam Deck / Gaming News # post - a rarity for me.
In the end, this is not the be-all-and-end-all alternative, it won’t be for everyone. Matrix exists of course. But this is a nice place. And I thought considering recent events I’d recommend it regardless!
Following is just a copy of what I posted last time. It’s mostly Linux chat, gaming, handhelds (like the Steam Deck), movies and…general chats. Anyway, here’s the post:
So…this one is a bit left-of-field.
A friend of mine (Gardiner Bryant of YouTube - who reports on Linux and the Steam Deck) has started a Revolt server.
What is Revolt?
It’s kinda like a FOSS alternative to Discord. You’ll see the layout is almost a direct copy, and it’s far less polished…but then again you haven’t got the downsides of Discord’s constant upselling either:
Why is this relevant?
…I can hear you ask? Well, so far its just a few developers and creators in there, but I thought of all spaces…maybe those very devs and creators whose work you use and watch…well it might be nice to join in there?
My personal friends who are in here so far are:
-
imLinguin whose GitHub is here - but you may know most as a developer of Heroic Games Launcher
-
Lazorne whose project is RetroDECK - my personal fav emulation option for the Steam Deck
-
Eben Bruyns whose GitHub is here - but you may know best as the dev of Junk-Store
-
Kyle Gospo whose project is Bazzite
-
Gardiner himself, of course whose YouTube link is here,
What is the damn link to the damn server, woman?
I mean, you will have to make an account on Revolt, but it might be interesting to some here. You’re all very welcome!
In terms of desktop applications, looks like Element and Revolt look pretty comparable these days. Mobile app Revolt looks better to me. Matrix seems way more established considering downloads of Element (there’s numerous Matrix applications) on Google Play and FlatHub
By memory there’s a community-made app for Revolt as well, but I can’t remember what its called, or the git link! When I find it again, I’ll link it here :)
If Discord is going to be abandoned by people, I wish we’d go back to proper forums that’s much more accessible and searchable. Continuing down this road is just going to lead to the continued burying of useful information behind these services.
I think there’s room for both, as in the old days there was typically an IRC channel along side forums that was typically a secondary channel (but not always).
But yeah, forums would be ideal, preferably with federation support so there is no need to make an account with every single one.
Is there a way to puppet a discord account through revolt like there is on matrix? There are a lot of communities I am in that I need discord for.
Not currently a Revolt user, but this would be a requirement for me to consider switching, too.
It looks like its API supports webhooks, so should be relatively straightforward to enable it (or perhaps through a third party, like Zapier)?
Discord is too big at this point for people to leave it. I’ve never heard of revolt until now, I don’t see a need in switching because of a new CEO that hasn’t done anything yet.
Nor me either, but I’m going to start packing my parachute now. You probably said the same about Reddit a few times before you ended up here, too.
Nothing is too big to end. I’ve seen so many VOIP clients over the years and Discord is just another.
Software isn’t forever. Services come and go. Empires fall.
Regardless, the drive to switch is in selfhosting. If you want actual security and not to have to worry about a corporation handing their logs over to the Feds, Revolt is very appealing.
Discord is too big at this point for people to leave it.
Never seen a ‘too big to fail’ platform fail, huh? It happens more frequently than you’d think
Woolworths and Sears certainly will never not be the most dominant retail spaces in the United States. They’re gokng to live forever!
(I feel like most people here are too young ho even fully grasp the sarcasm on full display in my comment)
Pfft. It’s not like you can buy a house from Sears or something.
Luckily I see I’ll be a fancygirl with my Sears options as I look!
Perhaps, but we’re now in an age where IPO announcements, CEO changes and even new features inevitably lead to enshittification. There is no harm in having a backup plan.
I’d even say that anyone who doesn’t have a plan B is an idiot, given recent history.
That’s like saying one vote doesn’t matter or people protesting not to vote for their party because of a single issue but cause to effect more than the issue. Don’t entertain bad behavior or no one ever learns.
Discord’s fine now but it sure won’t be in 5 years. Companies going public like this always end badly
