Matrix works, but it’s way harder and more expensive to selfhost than for example XMPP, which can be hosted even on cheapest VPS or first RPi. I would definitely take the cost and “how hard is it to maintain in the long run” into consideration.
Mattermost also works and is pretty easy to selfhost, but it doesn’t have federation.
Another option is always an email with delta.chat - I don’t think it offers voice calling, but email is one of the most basic services one can host, and many automated solutions to help with that exist.
exactly. in theory XMPP has everything required of a modern chat protocol, in practice however there are a void of clients which support necessary XEPs. there’s Conversations on android which is alright and that’s about it.
Gajim is a bloatware monster, Dino is alpha-quality, and uhh. I think that’s it.
Matrix works, but it’s way harder and more expensive to selfhost than for example XMPP, which can be hosted even on cheapest VPS or first RPi. I would definitely take the cost and “how hard is it to maintain in the long run” into consideration.
Mattermost also works and is pretty easy to selfhost, but it doesn’t have federation.
Another option is always an email with delta.chat - I don’t think it offers voice calling, but email is one of the most basic services one can host, and many automated solutions to help with that exist.
The problem of XMPP is not hosting it, it’s the clients. Give me one easy-to-use guide to have
working equally well on desktop, Android and iOS, and I will gladly drop my matrix server.
exactly. in theory XMPP has everything required of a modern chat protocol, in practice however there are a void of clients which support necessary XEPs. there’s Conversations on android which is alright and that’s about it.
Gajim is a bloatware monster, Dino is alpha-quality, and uhh. I think that’s it.