On the Matrix side: to be clear, Element Web/Desktop isn't a nice new webapp (yet) - it's an 8 year old codebase which is improving slowly but surely (unless we get lucky and can focus on a step change). Element X however is an entirely new mobile app written in Rust + Swift UI / Jetpack Compose, and it has zero jank, and gives an idea of just how good Matrix can be: https://element.io/blog/deep-dive-into-element-x/ etc.
It's fascinating to see how well Bluesky has done with RN + Expo though, and makes me wonder what an equivalent Matrix client would feel like. Unfortunately rnmatrix.com looks to have been stalled since Annie joined Beeper/a8c.
Element X has been a long time coming and most of the people I brought to the matrix ecosystem have left (calls are basically broken and everything is jank). Telling them there is a new app will not bring them back. Finally I am tapering off my use and moving to other applications.
i’m flattered you made an acct just to wish us luck :) EX is here, and the jank is gone (although Element Call is admittedly still beta). Sorry it comes too late for you.
But just as Bluesky dipped and then returned with critical mass, so can Matrix. The uptake patterns of decentralised platforms seems to be much less linear than the tightly controller centralised apps of the path.
It's fascinating to see how well Bluesky has done with RN + Expo though, and makes me wonder what an equivalent Matrix client would feel like. Unfortunately rnmatrix.com looks to have been stalled since Annie joined Beeper/a8c.