What is the "matrix user" listed in the profile settings
The link near the setting refers to https://element.io/ which seems to be a product for business and enterprise. Should I have a matrix user?
https://element.io/Open linkView original on lemmy.world
Matrix is an alternative to Discord, so you should join if you want to use the service. It's not mandatory or necessary at all.
It would be like linking to your Mastodon account, a Twitter alternative, in your profile.
Honestly, I think having an option for Mastodon links in profiles would be cool - for those that want to use it, of course. I can see people wanting a separation between Lemmy and their Mastodon if they use it more personally than the more anonymous nature of a Lemmy account.
I wouldn't say discord, it's use is more similar to instant messaging like what's app. And it's not really an app or a service, but more like a protocol. There are already multiple clients and servers with which you can use Matrix.
It's also federated like lemmy.
It's considerably more like discord than Whatsapp. Whatsapp is just group chats and 1:1 chats, while discord has groups of groups called guilds.
Matrix is our self-hosted equivalent of a 'federated' WhatApps like platform. You could use it but it's not required ;-)
More on https://matrix.org/
**Element is just a 'front end' for Matrix ;-) Like an app for the web, mobile and desktop that connect with a Matrix server!
I think that a link to https://matrix.org/ would be a lot more appropriate in the settings than the link to element.io. I see no way for me to just "join" on element.io, but at least matrix.org explains what it is.
That's very true indeed!