XMPP and Matrix: Better or Different?

Is one of the protocols better than the other one?

My opinion in advance: I think Matrix is neither better than XMPP nor the other way around: The protocols are just different but can be combined with their advantages (let's say X[M]PP) ;-) Every matrix server has the ability to bridge to the international standard XMPP and there is the way XMPP to Matrix too. So it is up to the administrators/decision makers to open this door to interoperability. There is no "Matrix vs XMPP" but a "Matrix with XMPP".

What do you think?

https://www.freie-messenger.de/en/systemvergleich/xmpp-matrix

https://www.freie-messenger.de/en/begriffe/interoperabilitaet/gedanken

2 comments

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jimmygrapes 4y ago ↗

I am not anywhere near as familiar with the various XMPP specs and extensions as I am with those related to the Matrix protocol, but my general impression is that Matrix is much more flexible for things beyond chat and more willing to embrace emerging tech and communication concepts, while XMPP is more stable and focused. I'll need to get more familiar with XMPP before I can say more, but I can at least say that I have never got an XMPP server working AND had people join it, but I have been able to migrate many people to Matrix (albeit not easily), in large part because of the excellent work done on the clients (Cinny stands out atm).

zaik 4y ago ↗

> Is one of the protocols better than the other one?

This question is not very well defined.

However, since both protocols have basically the same goal (federated instant messaging) and there are working implementations with basically the same features for either one, I consider this to be less a technical problem, but a problem of standardization. There are a lot of federated instant messaging protocols to choose from (XMPP, Matrix, Wire, Session, Tinode, ...) each with their own strengths and weaknesses, but all doing their thing and no real interoperability between them (unencrypted messages only, if you're lucky).

I think in order to escape the fragmentation/walled garden situation we need to built on (and thus improve) existing internet standards, even if that means you might need to work with '<' and '>' instead of '{' and '}'. Currently, IRC and XMPP are the RFC Internet Standards and XMPP is designed to be extensible, so in theory you can do whatever you want with it (including, for example, building an eventually consistent message archive, if you really need it).