# Mattermost is self-limiting
**URL:** https://sel4.discourse.group/t/mattermost-is-self-limiting/1024
**Category:** Site Feedback
**Created:** [November 26, 2025, 1:55am UTC](https://sel4.discourse.group/t/mattermost-is-self-limiting/1024 "2025-11-26T01:55:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@indolering](https://sel4.discourse.group/u/indolering)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2025, 1:55am UTC](https://sel4.discourse.group/t/mattermost-is-self-limiting/1024/1 "2025-11-26T01:55:01Z")
Mattermost is a pretty niche chat client and I’m also unable to login to seL4’s Mattermost instance on my Pixel phone (it just hangs). Per Metcalf’s law, I believe that the choice of Mattermost is going to limit community engagement.
I can understand if that is an **intentional** choice, as it seems like this is _primarily_ an internal communication tool. Having barriers to engagement is one way to keep a good signal-to-noise ratio However, a migration to Matrix or similar would probably help grow the community.
What was the rationale for Mattermost and was Matrix an option when the decision was made?
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### Author:  [@gerwin.klein](https://sel4.discourse.group/u/gerwin.klein)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2025, 6:02am UTC](https://sel4.discourse.group/t/mattermost-is-self-limiting/1024/2 "2025-11-26T06:02:23Z")
We’ve been using Mattermost for a very long time, I don’t think Matrix was a viable option back then. To migrate now would mean to lose history and search ability, but if MM is really that bad to use maybe we should consider options again.
@wombat what do you think of Matrix?
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### Author:  [@indolering](https://sel4.discourse.group/u/indolering)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://sel4.discourse.group/t/mattermost-is-self-limiting/1024/3 "2025-11-27T02:56:31Z")
Based on a quick googling, [it appears that you can import existing conversations](https://github.com/gabrc52/mattermost-to-matrix) to some extent. The pattern seems to be to bridge for a while, then archive only Mattermost, then drop it.
Note that Discord has a larger social network and more support focused features. Zulip also has a better UX for organizations and strong uptake in Rust and high-assurance circles.
But given our audience (OS devs, security nerds, and FOSS nuts) Matrix seems like the natural choice.
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### Author:  [@gerwin.klein](https://sel4.discourse.group/u/gerwin.klein)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2025, 4:00am UTC](https://sel4.discourse.group/t/mattermost-is-self-limiting/1024/4 "2025-11-27T04:00:07Z")
Zulip is a chat that is trying to be structured like a forum and that does not work at all for me – at least I find it completely unusable as a chat and the UX is terrible. I have to use it for some other projects and I positively hate every minute of it. It sort of works as a help forum that is synchronous, but we already have a forum and we do not have the bandwidth for a high amount of synchronous messaging.
People chatting informally like on Slack/Mattermost/etc is about as much as we can support at the moment.
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### Author:  [@indolering](https://sel4.discourse.group/u/indolering)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2025, 12:15am UTC](https://sel4.discourse.group/t/mattermost-is-self-limiting/1024/5 "2025-12-16T00:15:49Z")
> I find it completely unusable as a chat and the UX is terrible. I have to use it for some other projects and I positively hate every minute of it.
I think Microsoft gives non-profits discounts for Teams! 🤣
> People chatting informally like on Slack/Mattermost/etc is about as much as we can support at the moment.
The best option is whatever is sustainable. I think Matrix strikes the right balance as it attracts security nerds and devs.
Thoughts on a Mattermost account? The [Cheri Alliance has one](https://infosec.exchange/@cheri_alliance) and the infosec exchange is also fairly focused. They respond to posts and answer questions sometimes. Is anyone on the team into Mastadon and would be into at least posting new blog entries?
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### Author:  [@indolering](https://sel4.discourse.group/u/indolering)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2026, 2:25am UTC](https://sel4.discourse.group/t/mattermost-is-self-limiting/1024/6 "2026-01-03T02:25:57Z")
Derp:
> Thoughts on a ~~Mattermost~~ Mastadon account?
Notes for later:
> **[Hosted Matrix Chat - ungleich.ch](https://ungleich.ch/u/products/hosted-matrix-chat/)**
> **[etke.cc | fully-featured Matrix server hosting with fair conditions](https://etke.cc/)**
>
> Get YOUR \[matrix\] homeserver according to YOUR needs
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### Author:  [@indolering](https://sel4.discourse.group/u/indolering)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2026, 12:17am UTC](https://sel4.discourse.group/t/mattermost-is-self-limiting/1024/7 "2026-03-18T00:17:40Z")
After getting some positive feedback, I would like to push this proposal forward. I think being on an open, federated platform like Matrix would help grow the community. I would also think that your students would be more likely to use a Matrix account going forward and thus stay more involved after graduation than a niche, siloed corporate chat platform like Mattermost.