This article is much the same if we replace “Discord” with “GitHub”, for instance, or “Twitter” or “YouTube”.
There is a fundamental difference between what they listed as one though: GitHub and YouTube are open to read and access and download and clone. Discord and Twitter are not.
I have much more of an issue with Discord than I have with GitHub or YouTube. Both GitHub and YouTube have free access, and host the largest part of the relevant userbase (synergy effect of having an account).
It’s certainly worth discussing in project teams, but personally, I’d never leave GitHub in the current ecosystem for a niche product or platform - if I want contributors and collaborators or visibility. The vast majority of users already know GitHub and most accounts are on GitHub. That can’t be said for niche platforms or self-hosted alternatives, which introduce barriers.
Before GitHub Sourceforge was somewhat similar. It was a proprietary but open platform. In a project I participated in (Mumble) it was reasonable enough (no more complicated than between any other platforms) to make the switch to GitHub. I see todays GitHub the same way. As long as it remains so primary prevalent and open to free access it’s good enough, and when it goes downhill it’s easy enough to switch away to a better alternative.
I’m still fond of alternative FOSS platforms, that they exist and evolve, and maybe easier account creation, synchronization, or federation will make them real alternatives. But for now, they are niche. Which of course doesn’t mean niche is unviable or an alternative. But even as an invested and interested FOSS developer, user, and collaborator they’re barriers to me. Which makes it obvious to me it’s even moreso for less invested people.
I mostly agree, but…
GitHub and YouTube are open to read and access and download and clone.
I wouldn’t be surprised if YouTube suddenly restricted access to only logged-in users.
If YouTube did that then the users would revolt and stop using it, just like they did with Twitter and Reddit. Right?
Doubt it, youtube seems too irreplaceable compared to the others.
I agree, GitHub is nothing to worry about, it uses Git, it decentralize and is easy to create redundancies either via git clone or creating a mirror with a self-hosted platform on a private server. If GitHub does go into a questionable direction? I’m not worried about it because I got redundancies in place. :)
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I don’t dislike discord for not being FOSS. It’s a nightmare to find anything. Use forums and mailing lists.
If you follow the logic of this post and the … enthusiastic community here. Your project will attract the kind of people who will figure out what a lemmy is and make an account and use a lemmy. And will scare off everyone else.
Agreed. Please stop with that nonsense. I don’t have a discord account and never will.
Users of novel or unusual operating systems or devices (i.e. innovators and early adopters) are also locked out of the client until Discord sees fit to port it to their platform.
Uhh, you know that Discord has a web interface , right? So this is just disinformation, and calls into question your motivation, if you have to resort to strawman justifications.
