Re:Threema Goes Open Source
by Arathorn on Thursday September 03, 2020 @12:39PM
(#24365838)
It's more a question of "what does does Element do that Threema doesn't"?
Element is a Matrix client, so you connect to the global open Matrix decentralised network, rather than just closed-source servers run by a (newly-sold) company like Threema. Typical Matrix implementations are entirely Apache licensed open source, so you get full control and visibility both clientside and serverside. Matrix also already provides synchronised multi-device conversations, as well as more advanced cross-signing verification for E2EE key validation than Threema. Finally, Matrix is an open standard protocol maintained by the non-profit Matrix.org Foundation, that anyone can contribute to via the open governance process (https://matrix.org/foundation, https://matrix.org/docs/spec/proposals etc) - the Matrix standard gives developers full freedom to write their own clients/servers/bots/bridges/whatever.
Personally I'd say that Element & Threema have similar levels of UX polish these days (but I'm biased, working on Element). It's perhaps true that Threema's relatively limited featureset means that polish is easier to achieve.
Element is a Matrix client, so you connect to the global open Matrix decentralised network, rather than just closed-source servers run by a (newly-sold) company like Threema. Typical Matrix implementations are entirely Apache licensed open source, so you get full control and visibility both clientside and serverside. Matrix also already provides synchronised multi-device conversations, as well as more advanced cross-signing verification for E2EE key validation than Threema. Finally, Matrix is an open standard protocol maintained by the non-profit Matrix.org Foundation, that anyone can contribute to via the open governance process (https://matrix.org/foundation, https://matrix.org/docs/spec/proposals etc) - the Matrix standard gives developers full freedom to write their own clients/servers/bots/bridges/whatever.
Personally I'd say that Element & Threema have similar levels of UX polish these days (but I'm biased, working on Element). It's perhaps true that Threema's relatively limited featureset means that polish is easier to achieve.