Ask HN: How did you convince family and friends to join your XMPP/Matrix server?
I love open-source software and open protocols, but my family and friends primarily communicate through SMS for exactly the reasons in https://xkcd.com/2365/ Whenever XMPP or Matrix threads pop up on HN, several commenters casually mention their "friends and family XMPP (or Matrix) server." How did you convince friends and family to move away from SMS/WhatsApp and replace it with a niche messaging app? My family and friends aren't hardcore nerdy, but they're more tech-savvy than averag
Read original source
Source record
Recorded metrics
points · 17 votes
2026-11-07 16:45:29.163Z
cumulative since publication
Research analysis
Reported problem
Source account: I love open-source software and open protocols, but my family and friends primarily communicate through SMS for exactly the reasons in https://xkcd.com/2365/ Whenever XMPP or Matrix threads pop up on HN, several commenters casually mention their "friends and family XMPP (or Matrix) server." How did you convince friends and family to move away from SMS/WhatsApp and replace it with a niche messaging app? My family and friends aren't hardcore nerdy, but they're more tech-savvy than averag
Frequency & alternatives
Recorded author: mtlynch. Source votes: 17 votes (Nov 7, 2026 UTC; cumulative since publication) Recent records to compare: “[问与答] 哎，惨败。指望不工作没戏了，付出大量精力我的第三个项目是有史以来最差的。” (V2EX, Nov 7, 2026); “[问与答] 安娜图书馆遭遇什么变故了？” (V2EX, Nov 7, 2026). Shared themes are navigation hints; they have not been verified as the same need or independent corroboration.
Demand hypothesis
Treat the reported task or obstacle as an interview lead. A feature request, complaint or search for alternatives does not by itself identify a budget owner or willingness to pay.
Commercial evidence gaps
Missing evidence: distinct affected users, repeated occasions, current workaround, measured time or money cost, purchasing authority and a response to a concrete offer.
Validation decision
Group original reports by the same task and deduplicate authors and reposts. Ask how the task is handled today and what it costs; test a defined offer before claiming paid demand.