What is Simple X Chat?
A new private messenger privacy oriented app that claims to be the first messenger without User ID, which is a novelty
You can check the web site for more details, just before you do and install it for testing, read on...
First Impressions:
Being testing SimpleX chat and, IMO is not ready for prime time, needs work
to compete with the best out there in privacy, like Session app, Threema and Briar. I do not include Signal since it requires your mobile number and therefore, not ideal for privacy purpose but better than the most known alternatives...
Is SimpleX Chat ready for adoption among the non tech savvy community?
In short, not in my opinion,
- Not native TOR built in, you need to configure it and keep TOR proxy open in the background...
- Battery consumption is too high, its a battery killer
- The UI needs work to be simple and easy to use and understand for not tech savvy users, currently is too complex for non geeks
Tested the app extensively, good sound quality and reliable, but the cons are a wall for adoption
What about the non tech savvy, Will they get it as it is?
Tested on non tech savvy friends for installation and performing a chat and a call. It didn't pass, all of them required assistance to configure and send a link for connection
Summary
IMO, SimpleX Chat, it is definitely a step in the right direction and I hope it becomes one the most used messenger chat application worldwide, however, I do not believe that its current state of development is ready for adoption. The battery issue is a big no-no and equally importantly, It needs work to simplify the GUI and configuration steps so the non tech savvy can get it up and working easily.
I will suggest you test it extensible and challenge your family members and close friends to get it up and running with TOR enabled without assistance, maybe, some of them are more resourceful than you think!
Would love to see the first sub being a lightning native job board as a replacement for the bitcoinerjobs link that exists today. I think that makes the most sense for three reasons.
Nostr crossed 1000 users just over a month ago, now it's heading to 1 million
That is hard given the project is grass roots without funding
I dont think of it as decentralized like bitcoin. I think of it more like RAID with websockets. If one relay goes down you (hopefully) have a few more so that you dont lose your account and you are not disrupted
It's an experiment built on taproot and schnorr. That unlocks a certain amount of creativity that fills a gap in the bitcoin eco system
Scaling it will be a challenge, but maybe not impossible, we'll have to see where we are in a year
I think bitcoin will benefit from a social layer. And nostr is one candidate to do that. If people want it enough, it has a chance.
Regarding the hard work of scaling, we need that. I personally think your idea around single-use seals could add a great deal to the existing digital signature infrastructure by anchoring commitments to a time chain, or even check pointing
Couple that with a reputation and trust system that is getting built out, and you have a number of models for contracts and incentives that could create a rich eco system. Time will tell. We are early!