Skip to content

MATRIX

  • Matrix is an open source federated and decentralized communications platform
  • Operates via homeservers which host users, rooms and groups.
  • Members of one home server may join and message with users, groups, and rooms from another, presuming that the other homeserver has not blacklisted the user or homeserver the user resides on.
  • Connections to the homeserver are made via client software, which can be local applications or web based.

CLIENTS

  • Schotty.com : This is the "blessed" best overall quality web GUI matrix client. Currently it is a hosted Element.io web interface. Allows for new user registration as well as a full client. For the best and full experience, start here. Other clients are missing something, whether it be voice & video, or full E2EE (end to end encryption). In the case of Element.io, E2EE is best suited as it supports key management across multiple devices and deregistration of devices.

  • Element.io : Both web and local application. Includes Android, iOS, Linux, Macintosh, Webapp, and Windows.

  • Element.io Flatpak : Element's official flatpak for linux.
  • Elementi.io Android App : Android link

  • Element.io iOS App : iOS Store Link

  • Fractal : GTK3 text only client for Linux

  • Spectral : QT Text only client for Linux

  • Full List at Matrix.org

CONNECTING TO MATRIX.SCHOTTY.COM HOMESERVER

QUICK CONNECT GUIDE

  1. Create an account at schotty.com/matrix (CURRENTLY LOCKED DUE TO SPAMMERS) or create a matrix.org one via Element (web or standalone application)
  2. Validate email that will be sent to you
  3. Use website client or any of the aforementioned clients. If using matrix.schotty.com homeserver, set your servers to:
    Homeserver          https://matrix.schotty.com

Identity Server     https://vector.im

NOT-QUICK CONNECT GUIDE

For creation of an account, you can use any client. However, for completeness, I host a Element.io web interface for user registration and web GUI. Any rooms officially created by Schotty.com staff will be searchable and discoverable. Creating an account with the schotty.com homeserver will automatically add you to "General Chat", which also has a Jitsi conference room embedded for those that are using Riot or another multimedia enabled client.

To setup your client to he used with the matrix.schotty.com homeserver, simply make sure that the "Homeserver" and "Identity Server" are set as follows:

Homeserver          https://matrix.schotty.com
Identity Server     https://vector.im

If using another, use their settings. If using matrix.org's homeserver, the defaults are preprogrammed into Element.

Once your client is setup with the correct parameters above, you can create an account and/or login.

As the whole protocol is federated and decentralized, usage of accounts from another homeserver can be done; I have not restricted that at this time, nor do I have any plans to do so.

MATRIX TERMINOLOGY

Matrix has three main entities that can be interacted with:

USERS

  • "@user-name:homeserver"
  • Any individual user; multiple devices can be bound to the user account

ROOMS

  • "#room-name:homeserver"
  • A standard chat room

GROUPS

  • "+group-name:homeserver"
  • A custom container for multiple rooms

In Element.io, for example, you will see section on the left column:

  • You : manage your personal settings
  • Favourites : any room flagged by you as a favorite, sorted most recent activity first
  • Users : any users you have chats with. Technically, these are simply private rooms with just the participants invited.
  • Rooms : any rooms you have joined. Homeserver may auto-join your user to one or more rooms.

The plus sign in the right of this section allows you to browse or manually add a room or user. So if you wanted to start a chat with me, you would click the plus sign in the Users heading, and enter @andrew:matrix.schotty.com. This will then open up a chat in the chat section. You can do this for others, as well as search for someone.

The aforementioned also applies to rooms, with the added ability to list out all joinable rooms (not privatized from you).

REFERENCES

TOOLS

GUIDES

  • KDE Guide : Well done guide on Matrix over at KDE.

BRIDGES

  • IRC Bridge : For using IRC servers in your matrix client
  • Discord Bridge bot : Not on matrix.schotty.com homeserver. Others may have it setup. Needs to be setup on both HS and in Discord.

INSTALLATION GUIDES