Revolt is a free and open-source alternative to Discord, offering a similar feature set with a focus on user privacy and community control. It features text and voice channels, direct messaging, file sharing, rich text editing, and voice chat, all hosted on its own servers. Revolt aims to provide a transparent and extensible platform, allowing users to self-host or contribute to its development. Its client is available on desktop and web, with mobile apps planned for the future. The project prioritizes community involvement and customization, giving users more control over their communication experience.
The Matrix Foundation, facing a severe funding shortfall, announced it needs to secure $100,000 by the end of March 2025 to avoid shutting down crucial Matrix bridges. These bridges connect Matrix with other communication platforms like IRC, XMPP, and Slack, significantly expanding its reach and interoperability. Without this funding, the Foundation will be forced to decommission the bridges, impacting users and fragmenting the Matrix ecosystem. They are calling on the community and commercial partners to contribute and help secure the future of these vital connections.
HN commenters largely express skepticism and disappointment at Matrix's current state. Many question the viability of the project given its ongoing funding issues and inability to gain wider adoption. Several commenters criticize the foundation's management and decision-making, particularly regarding the bridge infrastructure. Some suggest alternative approaches like focusing on decentralized bridges or seeking government funding, while others believe the project may be nearing its end. The difficulty of bridging between different messaging protocols and the lack of a clear path towards sustainability are recurring themes. A few users express hope for the project's future but acknowledge significant challenges remain.
Summary of Comments ( 264 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43277918
Hacker News users discussed Revolt's potential as a Discord alternative, praising its open-source nature and commitment to user privacy. Several commenters expressed interest in self-hosting, viewing it as a significant advantage. Some questioned Revolt's long-term viability and ability to compete with Discord's network effects and feature set, while others pointed to Matrix as a more established alternative. Concerns were also raised about moderation challenges and potential abuse on a decentralized platform. A few users shared their positive experiences using Revolt, highlighting its performance and clean interface, though acknowledging it's still under development. Overall, the comments reflect cautious optimism about Revolt, with many hoping it succeeds but recognizing the hurdles it faces.
The Hacker News post titled "Revolt: Open-Source Alternative to Discord" sparked a discussion with a moderate number of comments, primarily focusing on Revolt's potential, its comparison to Discord and Matrix, and the challenges of building a successful open-source community platform.
Several commenters expressed interest in Revolt as a viable alternative to Discord, praising its open-source nature and potential for greater user control and privacy. Some voiced frustration with Discord's perceived shift towards commercialization and centralization, seeing Revolt as a promising solution. However, many also acknowledged the significant network effect enjoyed by Discord, questioning whether Revolt could realistically compete with such an established player.
A recurring theme in the discussion was the comparison between Revolt and Matrix. Some commenters argued that Matrix, with its decentralized architecture and existing user base, offered a more robust and mature alternative to Discord. They questioned the need for another similar platform, suggesting that efforts might be better spent contributing to the Matrix ecosystem. Others countered this by pointing to perceived usability issues with Matrix and its steeper learning curve, arguing that Revolt's simpler, more Discord-like interface could attract a wider audience.
The challenges of building a thriving community were also discussed, with commenters emphasizing the importance of moderation, feature development, and user experience. Some expressed concerns about potential moderation difficulties and the risk of Revolt becoming a haven for undesirable communities if not managed carefully. Others highlighted the need for consistent development and a clear roadmap to build trust and attract users.
Several technical aspects of Revolt were also touched upon, including its use of technologies like Rust and Postgres, with some commenters praising these choices while others raised questions about scalability and performance.
Overall, the comments reflected a mixture of cautious optimism and pragmatic skepticism about Revolt's prospects. While acknowledging its potential and the appeal of an open-source alternative to Discord, many commenters recognized the significant hurdles faced by any new platform attempting to compete in this space. The discussion highlighted the importance of community building, user experience, and careful consideration of existing alternatives like Matrix.