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Matrix

From KDE Community Wiki

KDE is officially using Matrix for collaboration within the community, superseding more antiquated and closed-source services.

Matrix is an open protocol and network for decentralized communication, backed by an open standard and open source reference implementations for servers, clients, client SDKs, bridges, bots and more. It provides all the features you would expect from a modern chat system: infinite scrollback, file transfer, typing notifications, read receipts, presence, search, push notifications, stickers, VoIP calling and conferencing, etc. It even provides end-to-end encryption (based on Signal’s double ratchet algorithm) for when you want some privacy.

Furthermore, Matrix natively supports bridges to other protocols, such as IRC (the official KDE messaging channel). This means that you can use a Matrix client to join and use IRC channels like if they were Matrix rooms.

 
Tip
If you'd rather skip reading this long wiki page and just want to start with a list of popular and common matrix rooms, you'll be interested in the KDE Matrix Space!


General Concepts

Matrix is a federated network, meaning anyone can host their own Matrix server (that is, a homeserver) and have it communicate with other Matrix servers. To register an account, you first need to find a suitable homeserver. The matrix.org homeserver is the most popular one, and KDE provides its own homeserver too, kde.org.

You do not need to create an account in the same homeserver a room is in to access it, e.g. creating an account on matrix.org doesn't stop you from visiting rooms in kde.org.

The KDE homeserver is temporarily closed for registration. You may register on matrix.org or search for another homeserver, a good resource to check is the public list of Matrix homeservers. It is not a comprehensive list, so you might find other interesting homeservers elsewhere.

When you first create your account, you will be asked to provide a username. That username is then used to assign you a full username, which typically looks like this:

@johndoe:matrix.org

The text that comes immediately after the @ is your user, in this case, johndoe. The text that comes immediately after the : is the homeserver, matrix.org.

Rooms follow a similar notation, but with #:

#someroom:kde.org

Matrix also has the concept of Spaces. They work as a sort of aggregation of rooms, all under the same space, hence the name. By joining the #kde-community:kde.org Space, you will find the whole list of KDE rooms available to you directly from the main screen in your Matrix client (if the client supports it), and you'll be free to join the rooms you want to check out. This makes for a very easy way to discover and manage your list of rooms, especially if you are on a different homeserver!

Clients

You can chat using your web browser by visiting KDE's webchat or the Matrix webchat, alternatively you can use a desktop or mobile client to log in to your account. Check out a list of clients for your desktop or mobile devices.

KDE also features its own native Matrix client, NeoChat.

Registering and Logging in

On the web

THIS IS THE RECOMMENDED WAY OF REGISTERING YOUR ACCOUNT.

Registration on the kde.org server is temporarily disabled, even if you plan on using a desktop or mobile client later, register through the Matrix web chat (or any other Matrix server). Even when registered in a different homeserver, you can still join the KDE Community web chat through there.

  1. Visit Element online web chat
  2. Click the Create Account button.
  3. Choose a cool nickname and set your password. You can optionally include an email address if you ever need to recover your password. Click Register.
  4. Now that you are logged in, you may now join the #kde-community space.

That's it! Now, you can connect to KDE's online webchat and can start chatting with members of KDE's community.

Using the Element desktop client

You may download the desktop client from Element's website. APT repositories with Debian/Ubuntu packages and a community-maintained flatpak on flathub are also provided. You can also choose the latest stable version number listed at Element's GitHub releases page.

Registering here follows the same process as above.

Homeserver URL: https://matrix-client.matrix.org

Using the Element Client for Mobile

Currently Element only supports having one account

Log in with either your username, email or phone under the I already have an account section. Make sure the homeserver on Where your conversations live points to matrix.org, if you already have a kde.org home server account, make sure it it points to kde.org instead.

Android

The Element client is available from Google Play and F-Droid.

iOS

There is also a client for iOS available from Apple's App Store.

Plasma Mobile

On Plasma Mobile you can use NeoChat.

Rooms

To start with a list of popular and common matrix rooms, you'll be interested in the KDE Matrix Space!

The following is a collection of active rooms where KDE development and other activities happen. Some rooms are more active than others and you're welcome to browse through them. We add new rooms as they are formed.

Welcome

New to KDE? Start here and find out what this is all about.

General KDE channel

Share your experience with the KDE community.

Plasma

System applications, frameworks and other operating systems

Distribution-centered KDE rooms

For (potential) contributors

Applications

Here is a list of individual applications that have their own Matrix rooms:

Events and goals

Local communities

How to Add Your Existing IRC Channel as Room

Note

This only needs to be done once by an IRC operator. After that all users may use the more convenient local room name to join.


  • /join #_freenode_#YOUR_CHANNEL:kde.org
  • On the IRC side you need to OP your matrix user, so either use a temporary nick on Matrix, or add multiple nicks to your IRC identity and use a different one on Matrix and IRC, or have a fellow OP give you OP privileges
  • Setup a local alias for kde.org via the matrix room settings
  • Leave room again
  • Join via local alias e.g. /join #YOUR_CHANNEL
  • Everyone can now join your room using the #YOUR_CHANNEL locally and #YOUR_CHANNEL:kde.org in Matrix

You can set up your alias depending on the client you choose. For webchat.kde.org it looks like this:

You may additionally want to mark the room as published in the directory (so one can search for it) and set the KDE flair +kde:kde.org (so a fancy KDE flair will get shown; currently not set up). Both settings on webchat.kde.org are immediately after the room settings where you created the local room alias.



Frequently Asked Questions


I already have an account in the default Matrix homeserver. How do I access the KDE server and rooms with it?

After logging in to Element, you can click the compass icon next to the search bar to open the Explore Rooms dialog, click on Matrix Rooms, Add New Server..., then just type "kde.org". Now you should be able to browse the list of rooms in the KDE homeserver.

How do I create shareable links to Matrix rooms?

You can create shareable links by typing their full name in https://go.kde.org/matrix.

Alternatively, in the room settings, the Share Room option will generate a link similar to this:

https://matrix.to/#/#someroom:somehomeserver.org

How does the IRC integration in Matrix compare with IrcsomeBot?

IrcsomeBot is a Telegram bot that can bridge a Telegram group with an IRC channel. However there are a few shortcomings:

  • A KDE sysadmin needs to setup the bridge between each room/channel. Matrix instead supports out of the box any freenode/libera.chat channel (and other IRC networks).
  • IrcsomeBot is the only nickname that joins the IRC channel and forwards the messages sent from Telegram on behalf of their senders. Matrix instead performs native bridging between the two protocols and creates a real IRC user that joins the IRC channel. Other people will be able to keep the usual IRC workflow with your bridged nickname (/whois, /query, etc.). In fact, they won't even know that you are using the Matrix bridge instead of a classic IRC client.

Why should I join IRC channels using Matrix?

Your IRC nickname will be available 24/7 and other people will be able to ping or contact you even if you are away from your computer. While this can also be achieved using an IRC bouncer, Matrix has several advantages over this:

  • Matrix provides unlimited chat history, an IRC bouncer does not.
  • The Matrix IRC bridge is much easier to setup than an IRC bouncer.
  • The Matrix reference client (Element) can be used from smartphones.

How do I join an IRC channel using Matrix?

You can search or browse IRC channels from Element. Just type the name of the channel you want to join and you are done.

By default, Matrix rooms which have public addresses and were published in the homeserver will display the default address: #roomname:homeserver.org, even if they have an IRC bridge. Some of them have aliases with IRC channels: attempting to join #freenode_#kde-i18n:matrix.org or #kde-i18n:libera.chat will redirect you to #kde-i18n:kde.org, for instance.

How do I change my IRC nickname?

By default, the IRC bridge will use your matrix display name to generate an IRC nickname (ending with -M). If you don't like the default nickname, you can change it by sending the following command to the @freenode-irc:kde.org bot (you will need first to start a private conversation with the bot): 

!nick <your_favorite_irc_nickname>

How do I join an IRC channel that requires registered nicknames?

Start by opening a direct chat with NickServ. For freenode, that's @_freenode_NickServ:kde.org. Then send it a message of format: 

identify [<nickname>] <password>

— where nickname is optional assuming you are identifying for your current nickname.

To make the bridge store your credentials and log in automatically, in direct chat with the @freenode-irc:kde.org you can use the !storepass <string> command to save a string that is sent through the PASS command when your IRC-presence connects.

With freenode you can use: 

!storepass nickname:password

How do I change my away status?

The @freenode-irc:kde.org bot accepts raw IRC commands. To set the away status use: 

!cmd AWAY <away_message>

for example: 

!cmd AWAY Sleeping

To remove the away status just use: 

!cmd AWAY

Other questions?

Check out the FAQ maintained upstream.

You can also ask questions related to Matrix over the #kde-matrix-support room.

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