this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2025
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Reminder if you're leaving Discord for this Revolt server ( Linux + Steam Deck devs / creators) (lemmy.world)
submitted 5 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
135 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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:

https://revolt.chat/

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:

What is the damn link to the damn server, woman?

https://rvlt.gg/dqJT3rJH

I mean, you will have to make an account on Revolt, but it might be interesting to some here. You're all very welcome!

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago

Saying that the client is FOSS, but the server is proprietary, I like saying you have a chastity belt - with a ventilation hole in the back.

You finna get effed in the a.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

For the record RetroDECK also got Matrix instance as well. But Revolt have so far been more active then Matrix (even tho we had that one for a long time).

But I do agree with that Discord is not a replacement for forums. You should not use Discord as your primary information hub.

For us our own wiki is the master of information. If something relevant is said in Revolt / Discord / Matrix we will add it to the wiki, people should not need to register various accounts to access the information.

Github is also where we handle "real" issues, while Discord / Matrix / Revolt is helpful for community members helping other with minor issues or general banter.

One reason why forums died out was the need for direct engagement and a sense of active community belonging, that they simply did not offer.

We also did not create all of these spaces from the beginning. Some community members did it, like the subreddit. Then you have a choice either you create it and own it, or a fan will.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

Revolt to Discord is what BlueSky is to Twitter.

Just another continuation that can (and will) enshittify.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I'm failing to find any info on how they are funding the servers in their website.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Well, once the service becomes large and popular we could try to find people interested in investing into the platform, then we just need to make sure it stays interesting to more and more investors over time. Should be sustainable, sounds oddly familiar tho but i definitely just made it up rn on my own

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Damn, that's... quite the line up of Steam Deck related devs, shit.

Welp, I'm convinced.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

I got distracted when I started inviting people I know into the server, so...there will be more to come!

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Is it e2e encrypted?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

I think all you can do in an open group chat is use vpn/tor/anonymous email. Besides private messages, but then the server can be forced to disclose the metadata.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Why do we fragment again? We have matrix already - why make another application.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Does matrix have multiple chat channels per server / community yet? Last I asked they didn't understand my question. Basically matrix just isn't meant to be a replacement for discord.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It does have that.

A "server" in Matrix is a space. A chat channel is called a room. A space can hold as many rooms as you want.

Fun fact, unlike Discord, a space can even hold other spaces in it!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

But as far as I can remember, you can't administer the rooms in a space as one. Like you need to be invited into each separate room.

Not saying that you couldn't add that, I'm saying they don't seem to want to "do what discord did". Which is a bummer since the success of discord clearly shows what would be needed.

PS: It's fine to do that as a UX design choice, more like IRC. But the issue is that people like you (no offense) say it's the same when it isn't. Like not even understanding what the problem is.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

But as far as I can remember, you can't administer the rooms in a space as one. Like you need to be invited into each separate room.

Nope, again - I don't understand who told you this. When you're creating a room in Matrix you can make it either public, invite only, or only joinable via membership in a specific space.

Here's a screenshot of the room security interface:

Not saying that you couldn't add that, I'm saying they don't seem to want to "do what discord did". Which is a bummer since the success of discord clearly shows what would be needed.

You are correct in that they "don't want to do what discord this": recently (and you can see this in their apps like EleX) they've transitioned to looking and acting more like modern mobile chat apps like Signal/WhatsApp/Telegram - a decision I'm assuming they've made as most of their funding comes from people who want a replacement for those apps and not Discord.

Regardless, just using a Discord-like client (e.g. Commet) is enough to get the experience you want.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 4 days ago

Revolt isn't new. Matrix and revolt are around the same age and are both not even feature competitive with Discord. So until there is a fully featured truly open alternative to discord, there will be still others trying to take discord's audience.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 4 days ago

In addition to the mentions that this isn't encrypted, doesn't have video chat, etc, it's also difficult to set up with little documentation and an enormous tech stack. They also had some recent controversy about open source licensing that gives me a bit of worry. I decided to go with a self-hosted synapse server.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 days ago

I will continue using element, signal, and simple x instead. They have all the security and privacy features this product doesn't.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

Quite frankly I find the idea positively revolting.

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