[Seirdy]

[Am author] From the article:

> To prevent a network effect from turning into vendor lock-in, software that naturally encourages a network effect needs to be part of an open platform. In the case of communication/messaging software, it should be possible to make alternative clients and servers that are compatible with each other to prevent completion of user domestication’s first two steps.

You are absolutely correct about network effects; a network effect only leads to vendor lock-in when it's combined with a closed platform. Vendor lock-in then leaves users vulnerable to possible domestication.

I've been thinking about implementation diversity lately, and will likely write a follow-up addressing the possibility of an open platform becoming closed. Implementation diversity is one means to keeping open platforms from closing up.

Original inspiration for this idea came from another comment I responded to a few mins ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25985365