Matrix is a protocol for decentralised, federated and secure communications, created and maintained by New Vector, a company split between London, UK and Rennes, France (which I joined for an internship in London during the last summer). Let’s get things straight first, I’m talking about neither the science-fiction franchise, nor the nightclub in Berlin. Today I want to tell you about one of my favorite decentralised free software projects right now: Matrix. Doing so forces one to change their way of designing a system entirely, since most of the Internet now consists of centralised services, which leads people to only learn how to design and engineer these.

I love free software because it matches the philosophy I want to live by, and decentralisation because it enlarges a user’s freedom and individuality, and I find working on decentralised systems fascinating. As you might know if you’ve been following me on Twitter for some time (or if you know me in real life), I’m very fond of free software and decentralisation.

Enter the matrix