PJB

This is absolutely not the case however, precompiled binaries can just ship all the object files it is linked from

This is completely incorrect for languages like Rust (or, say, C++). You are spouting misinformation.

Generics mean that not all the code “in a library” can be compiled to a single object file, as it’s impossible to know ahead of time what instantiations will exist. This means these instantiations may instead be emitted to another object file, and therefore include a copy of the code.

It is therefore impossible to “just publish the object files and swap out some of them link again”. Meaning it is impossible to comply with the LGPL if a Rust library is LGPL.

Oh and also, Rust isn’t ABI safe. So even if you make a library “without generics” to get around this, it’s still impossible to ensure it keeps working with future Rust compiler changes.

See my other comments. There is still no suitable alternative to Discord that is as good at it for making communities people can easily access. The loss is not solely in the messages that get locked away (sure that sucks too). It’s the loss of the communities that can’t exist on platforms like Matrix or IRC.

When the OP article was posted in 2021, Zulip didn’t even have public access as an option. This basically would make it a non-starter for what the article author suggests it for, as that’s worse (having to make an account everywhere) than Discord, Matrix or IRC.

To be honest I don’t have too much experience with Zulip or Rocket or all of these other new platforms, but my current default assumption is that they will always be designed foremost for organizations rather than the “I am in 20 communities I am somewhat active in[1]” like Discord. Matrix always seems like the better choice here… but it’s got its own issues.

I also don’t put much regard into the author’s word here because unironically suggesting IRC in 2021 means they’re off their rocker.

[1] I know you can only join like 100 servers without nitro ok.

Ahhh, yet another “Discord bad” post. Let’s see what alternatives they propose. After all, just telling me I made the wrong choice isn’t productive right?

There are great FOSS alternatives to Discord or Slack. SourceHut has been investing in IRC by building more accessible services like chat.sr.ht. Other great options include Matrix and Zulip. Please consider these services before you reach for their proprietary competitors.

Hahaha hahaha. Good fucking joke.

There’s a reason Discord is a million times more usable than all of those, and it’s not just network effect.

…

I’m well aware discord is going to enshittify itself eventually. It’s inevitable. However quite frankly as long as that hasn’t happened yet, it will remain by far the best option. I am not going to knee-cap my project by using a Discord “alternative” that barely works.

The day Discord dies will be a massive loss for the internet. That hasn’t happened yet. But it will. And it’s not going to be a loss just because of all the communities locked in on it. It’s going to be a loss because it’s the best damn community chat software and there’s no replacement.