Element (software) explained

Element
Author:Vector Creations Limited
Developer:New Vector Limited[1] trading as Element
Released:July 2016 (Beta)
Ver Layout:stacked
Programming Language:JavaScript, Objective-C, Swift, Java, Kotlin
Platform:Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web platform
Language Count:25
Language Footnote:[2]
Language:Basque, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Dutch, English (UK), English (US), Esperanto, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, Latvian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish
Genre:VoIP communications, instant messaging, Videoconferences, social media, and other App Integrations
License:Apache-2.0[3]

Element (formerly Riot and Vector[4]) is a free and open-source software instant messaging client implementing the Matrix protocol.[5]

Element supports end-to-end encryption,[6] private and public groups, sharing of files between users, voice and video calls, and other collaborative features with help of bots and widgets. It is available as a web application that can be accessed through any modern web browser, as desktop apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and as a mobile app for Android and iOS.[7] [8] Element is changing its license from Apache-2.0 to AGPLv3 only with CLA.[9]

History

Element was originally known as Vector when it was released from beta[10] in 2016.[11] The app was renamed to Riot in September of the same year.[12]

In 2016 the first implementation of the Matrix end-to-end encryption was implemented and rolled out as a beta to users.[13] In May 2020, the developers announced enabling end-to-end encryption by default in Riot for new non-public conversations.[14]

In April 2019, a new application was released on the Google Play Store in response to cryptographic keys used to sign the Riot Android app being compromised.[15]

In July 2020, Riot was renamed to Element.[16]

In January 2021, Element was briefly suspended from Google Play Store in response to a report of user-submitted abusive content on Element's default server, matrix.org.[17] [18] Element staff rectified the issue and the app was brought back to the Play Store.

In May 2023, India's government banned 14 messaging apps, including Element. The ban was enacted on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs, citing terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir as the main cause.[19]

Technology

Element is built with the Matrix React SDK,[20] which is a React-based software development kit to ease the development of Matrix clients. Element is reliant on web technologies and uses Electron for bundling the app for Windows, macOS and Linux. The Android and iOS clients are developed and distributed with their respective platform tools.

On Android the app is available both in the Google Play Store[21] and the free-software only F-Droid[22] Archives, with minor modifications. For instance, the F-Droid version does not contain the proprietary Google Cloud Messaging plug-in.[23]

Features

Element is able to bridge other communications into the app via Matrix, including IRC, Slack, Telegram, Jitsi Meet and others.[24] [25] Also, it integrates voice and video peer-to-peer and group chats via WebRTC.

Element supports end-to-end encryption (E2EE) of both one-to-one and group chats.

Reception

Media compared Element to Slack,[26] WhatsApp and other instant messaging clients.[27]

In 2017, German computer magazine Golem.de called Element (then Riot) and Matrix server "mature" and "feature-rich", but criticized its key authentication at the time to be not user-friendly for communicatees owning multiple devices. A co-founder of the project, Matthew Hodgson, assured the key verification process was a "placeholder" solution to work on. In 2020, Element added key cross-signing to make the verification process simpler, and enabled end-to-end encryption by default.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Copyright policy . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210131123857/https://element.io/copyright . 31 January 2021 . 18 April 2021 . Element.
  2. Web site: matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326004014/https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk/blob/master/README.md . 26 March 2020 . 20 October 2018 . GitHub . en.
  3. Web site: Riot.im License . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170228001612/https://github.com/vector-im/riot-web/blob/master/LICENSE . 28 February 2017 . 4 September 2018 . Github.
  4. Web site: Paul . John . Decentralized Messaging App Riot Rebrands to Element . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210130140558/https://itsfoss.com/riot-to-element/ . 30 January 2021 . 26 January 2021 . It's FOSS . 16 July 2020 . en-US.
  5. Web site: Riot: A Distributed Way of Having IRC and VOIP Client and Home Server . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180904225630/https://itsfoss.com/riot-desktop/ . 4 September 2018 . 4 September 2018 . itsfoss.com. 18 April 2018 .
  6. Web site: End-to-end encryption (E2EE) | Collaboration and messaging .
  7. Web site: Features Riot . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200409143620/https://about.riot.im/features.html . 9 April 2020 . 2 January 2020 . about.riot.im.
  8. Web site: F-Droid . Element (Riot.im) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201120223107/https://f-droid.org/en/packages/im.vector.app/index.html.en . 20 November 2020 . 15 November 2020 . f-droid.org.
  9. Web site: Speed . Richard . Matrix-based Element plots move from Apache 2.0 to AGPLv3 . 2023-11-06 . www.theregister.com . en.
  10. News: Riot wants to be like Slack, but with the flexibility of an underlying open source platform . en-US . TechCrunch . live . 18 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181018201844/https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/19/riot-wants-to-be-like-slack-but-with-the-flexibility-of-an-underlying-open-source-platform/ . 18 October 2018.
  11. Web site: Riot.im . 9 June 2016 . Say Hello To Vector! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181018201832/https://medium.com/@RiotChat/say-hello-to-vector-2d33b23a787 . 18 October 2018 . 18 October 2018 . Riot.im.
  12. Web site: Riot.im . 19 September 2016 . Let's Riot! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181018201748/https://medium.com/@RiotChat/lets-riot-f5b0aa99dc8e . 18 October 2018 . 18 October 2018 . Riot.im.
  13. Web site: Riot.im . 21 November 2016 . Riot releases end-to-end encryption: get ready to chat securely! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181018201733/https://medium.com/@RiotChat/exciting-new-riot-release-get-ready-for-chatting-securely-acc93ecfe0a . 18 October 2018 . 18 October 2018 . Medium.
  14. Web site: Hodgson . Matthew . 6 May 2020 . Riot Web 1.6, RiotX Android 0.19 & Riot iOS 0.11 — E2E Encryption by Default & Cross-signing is here!! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200719142204/https://blog.riot.im/e2e-encryption-by-default-cross-signing-is-here/ . 19 July 2020 . 19 July 2020 . The Riot.im Blog.
  15. Web site: Riot.im Android security update . 25 April 2019 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190501225337/https://medium.com/@RiotChat/riot-im-android-security-update-2b3f655ad739 . 1 May 2019 . 1 May 2019.
  16. Web site: Le Pape . Amandine . 15 July 2020 . Welcome to Element! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200715080529/https://element.io/blog/welcome-to-element/ . 15 July 2020 . 15 July 2020.
  17. News: Amadeo . Ron . 30 January 2021 . Google Play bans open-source Matrix client Element, citing "abusive content" . . live . 31 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210131015543/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/01/google-play-bans-open-source-matrix-client-element-citing-abusive-content/ . 31 January 2021.
  18. Web site: Davenport . Corbin . 31 January 2021 . Google reinstates federated chat app Element on Play Store after wrongful removal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210130230834/https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/01/30/google-pulls-federated-chat-app-element-from-the-play-store/ . 30 January 2021 . 31 January 2021 . Android Police.
  19. Web site: Sharwood . Simon . India bans open source messaging apps on security grounds . www.theregister.com . 29 February 2024 . en.
  20. Web site: vector-im/riot-web . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920202352/https://github.com/vector-im/riot-web#riot . 20 September 2018 . 18 October 2018 . GitHub . en.
  21. Web site: Element – Secure Messenger . 2022-04-22 . play.google.com . en.
  22. Web site: F-Droid Site . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210903010105/https://f-droid.org/packages/im.vector.app/ . 3 September 2021 . 3 September 2021.
  23. Web site: FAQ-entry . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201020121158/https://matrix.org/faq/#i-installed-element-via-f-droid%2C-why-is-it-draining-my-battery%3F . 20 October 2020 . 22 October 2020.
  24. Web site: Bridges . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210126014949/https://matrix.org/ . 26 January 2021 . 26 January 2021 . Matrix.org . en.
  25. Web site: Element, hands on: Secure messaging for tech-savvy organisations Review . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210124034750/https://www.zdnet.com/product/element/ . 24 January 2021 . 26 January 2021 . ZDNet . en.
  26. News: Open Source und verschlüsselt: Das steckt hinter dem Slack-Rivalen Riot . de . t3n News . live . 4 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181104170040/https://t3n.de/news/open-source-slack-rivalen-riot-748095/ . 4 November 2018.
  27. News: Weisensee . Jan . 7 March 2017 . Echtzeitkommunikation ausprobiert: Willkommen in der Matrix . de-DE . . live . 4 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181029055418/https://www.golem.de/news/echtzeitkommunikation-ausprobiert-willkommen-in-der-matrix-1703-126197.html . 29 October 2018.

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