Techlore Talks Is There an Oversaturation of FOSS Projects?
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Jan 13, 2023 Dive into the debate over the perceived oversaturation of open-source privacy projects. Explore the limitations of Signal and its phone-number requirement, and contrast it with Session's unique features. Discuss the rise of niche messengers to fill gaps, and the challenges of developing all-in-one tools. Consider the impact of project forking on user choices and the struggles of maintaining these tools. Conclude with insights on user preferences and the need for more polished open-source alternatives.
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Many Messengers Fix One Signal Issue
- Many new privacy messengers only solve one specific complaint about Signal rather than replace it entirely.
- That pattern creates apparent oversaturation without delivering a single cohesive, superior alternative.
Remove Phone Numbers Without Sacrificing Security
- Consider building a messenger that removes phone-number registration to increase adoption among privacy-conscious users.
- But avoid sacrificing core security guarantees that Signal provides when adding that feature.
Forks Reflect Individual Needs, Not Mass Adoption
- Open source culture often spawns many single-purpose forks or tools because it's easy for individuals to scratch their own itch.
- That dynamic values freedom and experimentation but fragments user choices and can devalue the original maintainer's work.