[annoyingnoob]

We need more decentralized software, like skype was originally, where there is no tech company with access that would have to 'earn it'. Taking away our right to privacy while telling me your are saving children makes my skin crawl - I can't think of a more anti-american act.

[upofadown]

We have tons of decentralized software already. We certainly don't need more. We need to get people to use it.

[zepto]

Is there a good index or list of decentralized software?

Googling for it seems to be a long term project.

[annoyingnoob]

Examples?

[upofadown]

Off the top of my head. OMEMO running on good old XMPP. OpenPGP running on older but gooder SMTP, the only decentralized system that ever got really popular. Heck, OpenPGP running on XMPP for the mashup.

All with lots of implementations both server and client. All more or less ignored. Before suggesting we need new systems you pretty much have to figure out what isn't working with the ones we have ... and real stuff, not unlikely technical reasons that no one cares about ... and no, it isn't just bad user interfaces. People will overcome any user interface if they actually care enough.

[annoyingnoob]

Its really about usability for most people. OMEMO is a protocol not end-user software. Can most people securely exchange PGP keys?

Skype took off originally because it was easy to use, even if it didn't always work well. I still think we need better/new software.

[upofadown]

OK, but this always happens. There are always problems with the old stuff (different problems for each) and all we have to do is overcome those problems and everything will work. But identifying what is wrong with something does not let us know what we should do going forward.

So what about the new thing: Matrix? What do we need to do there to make it so it does not fall into obscurity like everything else?

[dylkil]

start with mobile phones. The apps on your phone are tracking everything.