The developer team at Discord released a new engineering blog post yesterday (December 8th) detailing lots of fixes, along with some Linux improvements. As one of the most popular chat apps in the world, it’s good to see their support of Linux continue to get better over time.
What’s the alternative then? Because I can’t really think of one that’s as easy as discord to stand up a server for your friends and manage access to it, not to mention audio and video with screen sharing. I guess teamspeak 3, but holy shit is it convoluted and complicated to setup and manage for the everyday user. There’s gilded but fuck that shit I’m not supporting the Roblox company. Revolt is another but there is no voice chat, no video chat, no screen sharing and it’s filled with sketchy people. Matrix? Sure, but it’s not easy to setup and manage at all. Discord works for what it needs to do and the features it has, if there’s an alternative I’m more than willing to try it out but so far there’s just nothing that comes close to the ease of use of discord. Discord is also supported on both Xbox and PlayStation, Sony even owns a minority stake in the company.
Probably not what GP was referring to, but Discord works totally fine in-browser without a client.
Less potential for vulns, telemetry, regressions, etc.
Revolt rebranded as Stoat and does have voice chat with discord-style hotseat channels available in beta. I still wouldn’t recommend it yet due to client bugs, but it’s getting there.
If you are using PC, Check out Element. It does utilize Matrix, but that gives you the ability to self host if you wish. Voice and video works well enough for me and my friends to stream to the room and was a suitable replacement for Discord.
Why do you think ‘don’t install this shit on your computer’ is a concern?
And I guess if you can’t fuck with matrix, idk; fucking do without? Might just be there’s no safe easy-for-idiots way to get the thing you want right now. Shit happens.
Today I deleted my Discord account, I was using it in Firefox or Webcord wrapper. I can’t imagine installing this type of software on my computer. It’s scanning your computer by default to check what programs are you using or what games are you playing and it’s properiaty, commercial app.
You never know how the data they collect about you will be used. It’s a great tool for censorship, and Discord has good communication with the authorities. Despite this, they still have no problem with violence in the form of groups encouraging teenagers to self-harm, Nazis, and gore or pornographic content of a pedophilic or zoophilic nature. Unfortunately, as a minor, I came across a lot of this type of content there completely by accident. A large, centralized, unencrypted messenger allows for accurate tracking or complete destruction of a user’s history. This is important for political oppression, falsification, and evidence gathering.
Most people are too lazy to change anything in their lives, even their messenger, out of concern for their privacy and security. And there are alternatives, but they won’t even be able to emerge because of this majority. It’s not that all these messengers are free and we all pay dearly for them, but not with our own money. Money is not as valuable as power and the right to one’s identity.
If Matrix had as much money as Discord (where there are much better freedom-oriented alternatives to Discord), it would probably allow for the same simplicity as Discord. Unfortunately, ethical activity plays a secondary role for us. It’s the same with clothing—it’s easier to get clothes that are cheaply made in poor countries by exploiting children than clothes that are made locally with respect for workers’ rights.
I am not providing alternatives, because if someone does not understand this and is too lazy to look for them themselves, they should not clutter up spaces where valuable people gather.
This is exactly why I like Discord.
If I’m online and not playing a game, I want my friends to see that I’m online so they can message me.
If I’m playing a game, I want my friends to know I am playing that game.
If it’s a multiplayer game, they can join in.
If it’s a single player campaign focused game, they know I won’t be keen to play a multiplayer game right now, but they can still message me if something big and spontaneous is happening.
If I don’t want to be contacted at all, I close discord.
Thats what steam is for.
What about non-steam games or discord game invites?
Ditched mine years ago. I’m worried about the idiots who were too dumb to leave who are gonna die to this shit, who might already be getting got for things like being queer in Saudi Arabia.