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> ...assumes you know what Matrix is ...

Matrix is a chat protocol. It works like chatting over GIT (distributed databases) and is more like a team messenger like Mattermost or Zulip. Conduit is a server software and not for end users.

More information about Matrix: https://www.freie-messenger.de/en/matrix

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> and is more like a team messenger like Mattermost or Zulip.

if at all, Element is this.

Matrix doesn't really care about what type of users the clients target

And that is my point. While I use Matrix, it is confusing by itself as you need the client, which was hosted as riot.im, now element, etc. For a newcomer this page is just as confusing whle it could be a great entry as it being so lightweight compared to the actual Matrix server. Some additional notes will help a lot.

I also lost contact with a Matrix user during the riot.im -> element.io switch, so I empathize. But I think the flexibility and interoperability of Matrix is worth the additional complexity. Allowing different clients can be a major boon to accessibility, as blind or sight impaired users can use their own specialized client. Not to mention adapting to device form factor. Traditional workstation, tablet, phone all have different needs.

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