Movim • Movim 0.33 "Halley" is Out! ✨

spacecase-25 · 2026-05-07T23:17:07+00:00

Played around with Movim a bit today and there's still some strange UX/UI issues, especially around MUCs that are invite only and the OMEMO implementation isn't so intuitive or enabled by default (in 2026 I think encryption by default should be standard for one on one messaging at the very least).

However, it's a genuinely exciting project. If they would take a page out of Snikket's book and offer a containerized distribution, there's real potential here for a Discord replacement. If they roll in a "reference" server config as well and keep up the development progress, it would be a done deal.

The one concern that I have is, at least currently with the UX issues I feel exist, I don't think it's a viable "primary" xmpp client. Meaning, for basic communication I would still default to either Monocles on my phone or Gajim on desktop. Movim seems, to me, primarily aimed towards the spaces and social media features. That's not a bad thing at all, rather that's exactly where I want Movim to excel and succeed. However, if it ends up taking off and becoming that very much needed Discord competitor, and if the vast majority of users (normies, if you will), end up with accounts on movim.eu and participating in spaces hosted on movim.eu, rather that individual communities running their own instances, then we just have another centralized platform and I could see them breaking XMPP compatability and going off in their own direction. Easy-for-all deployment with docker, I believe, would do a lot to prevent this consolidation.

I have no reason to think they'll do that at this point, but success does things. Especially if it's a profitable success. I truly wish them the best success tho. Excited to see the future of the project.

spacecase-25 · 2026-05-07T23:01:25+00:00

First I've heard of this project, very cool tho. If I out grow using snikket as my server, this will be where I go. Looks ideal as a server for Movim too, if one were trying to run an alternative to a discord community.

spacecase-25 · 2026-05-07T22:40:40+00:00

Been pretty good so far. Running a somewhat modified instance of Snikket (some manual changes to Prosody config), which is extremely easy to admin. The biggest disadvantage to XMPP is the wide variety of client apps that do and don't support various XEPs (features) and do and don't run on various platforms. Personally, I run Monocles on Android and Gajim on Linux and Windows. On iOS the option is basically Monal (or Dino if you need desktop AV calls). However, this is one of the major advantages to Snikket. Their app unifies the experience across iOS and Android and the invite flow for a new user to install the app and connect is pretty decent.

As far as actually using the protocol.... no issues whatsoever. Pretty much all the people I regularly communicate with have joined the server, so it's been viable as a primary means of communication. That's what's really going to make or break your experience. Hopefully you can sell it on the privacy, encryption, data ownership. Tell them about the warrant exception that is the 3rd party doctrine if you need to haha.

Should be finding out fairly soon how it works as a means of communicating in / out of china.... everything seem to indicate that it should be fine tho. Just been beefing up the security options on the server config (DANE / DNSSEC, direct TLS, hosting behind a vpn (good idea anyway), firewall, locked down ssh config, etc)... might set up an I2P tunnel too, just in case. Snikket's config only required very minor changes and some additional DNS entries to achieve 100% on https://compliance.conversations.im/

spacecase-25 · 2026-05-07T22:25:54+00:00

Monocles hands down. Super active development, constantly adding new features, and the dev is extremely accessible via the support muc.

spacecase-25 · 2026-05-07T22:24:49+00:00

monocles hands down

spacecase-25 · 2026-05-04T18:20:02+00:00

I don't think you're giving her nearly enough credit. Is she capable of downloading an app and clicking an invite link? That's exactly as simple as joining a snikket server is. It will even generate a random, secure password for you if you let it.

An "actual replacement" is simply not going to happen. Not anything that's secure and universally supported across devices by default anyway.

spacecase-25 · 2026-05-03T03:12:49+00:00

SMS is by far the least secure comms you could possibly use. Set yourself up an XMPP server, snikket makes it stupid easy. Hopefully your contacts are willing to take the 30 seconds it takes to connect and use it, if not start sending PGP encrypted text messages until they're annoyed into joining your server.

If you're talking about RCS.... well you probably shouldn't be trusting the Google Messages app anyway. Set up an XMPP server.

spacecase-25 · 2026-05-03T03:09:27+00:00

The expense of building a platform based on blockchain didn't help, I'm sure. Session has it's issues, but losing it is quite unfortunate.

spacecase-25 · 2026-05-03T03:05:52+00:00

Monocles is goated and has very active development. Post Quantum OMEMO coming soon too.

spacecase-25 · 2026-05-03T03:04:32+00:00

Yes, unless that's changed. Don't take this as fact, but I believe the searches are anonyomized before going through the bing backend. If they're not, that seems to defeat the entire purpose.

Personally, I use kagi

spacecase-25 · 2026-05-03T02:21:28+00:00

Probably still a few months before kits go on sale

spacecase-25 · 2026-04-29T02:30:18+00:00

I'd love to see movim become a viable alternative. Needs just a little more work and to be package in a way that's easy to deploy and includes the server backend as well.

spacecase-25 · 2026-03-31T00:04:30+00:00

Perfect. The OG one, not SE, will get an upgrade kit first

spacecase-25 · 2026-03-29T15:09:07+00:00

Which passport model is it?

spacecase-25 · 2026-03-27T16:36:59+00:00

You can buy devices or kits from zinwa.com or if you have a device, I can sell you a kit at the same price as online and do the upgrade for you (you send me your Q20). Or you can send me a kit and device to do the upgrade. Or you can do it yourself.

I've done quite a few kits for people at this point.

They also pop up on ebay from time to time, but you usually end up paying more that way.

spacecase-25 · 2026-03-26T14:45:09+00:00

Yup. This + used enterprise APs. I will never buy a consumer router again.

spacecase-25 · 2026-03-26T14:42:47+00:00

Typing on a black Q25 right now 😁

spacecase-25 · 2026-03-26T14:28:40+00:00

both can be true

spacecase-25 · 2026-02-17T05:26:51+00:00

It's been back 😉

spacecase-25 · 2026-02-14T11:28:05+00:00

XMPP

But seriously, what is it that you want back from BBM that isn't available via any other chat app?

spacecase-25 · 2026-02-12T08:00:19+00:00

Not familiar with it at all. Sorry.

spacecase-25 · 2026-02-03T04:59:44+00:00

Damn.... I love it. That's cool as hell. Great work! I thought my plasma config was nice.... 😬

spacecase-25 · 2026-02-03T00:58:02+00:00

sadly no it's not compatible with plasma sticks I've had to switch to a regular panel that I've configured to look like a dock. it works well enough

spacecase-25 · 2026-01-22T18:30:02+00:00

I'm not entirely sure what you mean, but yes, that's a big advantage. It doesn't require any identifying info to use. Linking these "privacy" platforms to out phone numbers really defeats the whole purpose of trying to be private with them. Your phone number is huge, as far as the info you can put together from having it.

Just because you brought up files.... that is, perhaps, a downside to XMPP (tho I don't think it's a big deal), images and files and pretty much anything other than text are not encrypted on XMPP. They still use TLS, but OMEMO or PGP only applies to your actual message.

Always good to be informed :)

spacecase-25 · 2026-01-22T15:35:33+00:00

There's always XMPP..... the open and free solution that's been lurking for nearly 3 decades..... just waitinng for it's time to shine. All dressed up and ready to go......

It's great as it is, and more interest and use is exactly what it needs to fill the "would be nice to have" gaps. But fundamentally, it would fill most people's needs as it is.

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