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Online Community Space
Heart of Code has a community space on Matrix. An online space with different channels/rooms to chat including everything from job offerings to cat pictures. Feel free to drop in. Note that the online space is also exclusively by and for FLINTA. Make sure to read our Code of Conduct before joining!
Follow this link to join it: https://matrix.to/#/#community:matrix.heartofcode.org.
If you don't know what Matrix is, follow this guide to get setup:
About Matrix
Matrix is a secure and decentralized communication platform build on open standards.
Setup
Step 1: A Matrix Client
To use Matrix you need an app, called a client. There are many to choose from and in the end it really depends on your own preferences. We personally like to use Fluffychat and Sable. You can find an overview of all clients here: https://matrix.org/ecosystem/clients/
To get started we can also recommend Element, the most widely used one and default client though. It's free and available everywhere:
- In your browser: open https://app.element.io. Nothing to install.
- On your computer: download Element Desktop from https://element.io/download.
- On your phone: install Element X from your app store.
Element is just the app, it is not where your account lives. You can sign in to Element with an account from any homeserver (where your account actually lives, more in the next section), and use the same account on several devices at once.
You can always switch to a different client later so don't be afraid to try a few out to see what fits.
Step 2: Register an Account
After launching a Matrix client, if you don't already have a Matrix account, register a new one. You can use your email address or phone number for registration.
Heart of Code only runs a community space on Matrix, so you can't sign up with us. You will need to register with a homeserver run by someone else.
If you are trying Matrix for the first time, you could choose the matrix.org homeserver. However, please take a look at the following guides to understand the tradeoffs/advice on choosing a homeserver:
In Element, click "Create account". The homeserver is preset to matrix.org. Click "Edit" next to it if you want to use a different one.
Step 3: Save Your Recovery Key
When you first sign in, Element will ask you to set up recovery (sometimes called secure backup). Do it, and keep the recovery key somewhere safe, like a password manager. You'll need it to read your encrypted messages on new devices. See About Encryption below for why.
Step 4: Join Our Organization's Matrix Room
Once you've set up your account, find and join our organization's main room by searching for its ID or name in the client's search bar. Our room ID is: #community:matrix.heartofcode.org (the link also takes you there directly).
Step 5: Set up Notifications
Adjust your notification settings to ensure you receive important updates and messages.
Step 6: Start Chatting
Feel free to introduce yourself, ask questions, and participate in discussions with your fellow Heart of Coders!
Happy collaborating, and welcome to our Matrix space!
About Encryption
Matrix can end-to-end encrypt messages, so only the people in a conversation can read them, not even the servers in between.
Encryption is set per room. You don't need to do anything yourself: in an encrypted room, your app encrypts every message automatically. Direct messages and private rooms are usually encrypted. Public rooms often are not. Your client will usually show a badge or icon, such as a shield or lock, to tell you whether a room is encrypted.
Your recovery key keeps your history readable. The keys to read encrypted messages are stored on your devices, not on the server. When you sign in on a new device, or sign back in after signing out, you'll need your recovery key (from Step 3) to read your older messages. If you lose it and aren't signed in anywhere else, those messages can't be recovered.
If you see "Unable to decrypt", make sure recovery is set up and that you've verified your device when Element asked you to.