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weechat-matrix | Matrix.org

Element is the most capable client but there are plenty of other options such as weechat-matrix in a terminal: matrix.org/docs/projects/ In particular, Element has the best support for end-to-end encryption and uses it by default for direct messages and other non-public rooms.

matrix.org

Weechat Matrix protocol script written in python

It has a nicer verification system than Signal and actual support for multiple sessions with cross-signing. End-to-end encryption works incredibly well in Element but not so much in other clients. Does leak significantly more metadata than Signal largely due to federation, etc.

The freenode incident drives the point home that direct messages and other non-public rooms need to be end-to-end encrypted rather than trusting the server. It also shows the importance of Matrix rooms not being tied to any particular server and users choosing their home server.

So sure, Matrix is currently slower than IRC and Element is more bloated than a traditional IRC client. You can always use weechat-matrix or another lighter client. No longer interested in having our rooms inherently locked into a specific network not hooked up to the others.

Replying to

Is weechat-matrix reasonably fast these days? Last time I tried it out it made weechat so slow as to be almost unusable, even after the initial /sync.