So, I promised some data, and here it is.
For context, this is:
- Matrix data direct from the REST API
- IRC data courtesy of @gundalow who maintains a bouncer
- Forum data from, well, here
3.
We’re comparing like-for-like engagement here:
- Matrix users who posted some message
- IRC users who posted some message
- Forum users who posted or liked something (i.e. engagement)
Two things jump out at me. First, Matrix overtook IRC before the bridge broke. So I think the choice there is pretty clear, and I won’t rehash what I said above.
Second, though, the forum has already overtaken both! And notable, it overtook IRC (a decade-old known channel) pretty much from day 1 in Sept 2023 (yes, there was a spike on launch day, but the smoothed line is higher). I said there was appetite for this tool - my interpretation of this data is that I was right.
So, if I were to pick one place to direct users, to put in our READMEs, to write in our docs, and to send people to from meetings/conferences - it’s here, not to chat. By all means, lets have room details in our Working Group pages, and lets have more meeting details in Events so people can find them. But the era of “chat as the primary communication” is over, according to this. And having the whole community here has enormous value.