The exciting launch of Element X

[AnassDriate]

Steps to reproduce

Hello,

With the exciting launch of Element X, I'm curious about the support status for the original version of Element.io (this repo). Could you please clarify if the original version will continue to receive support, and if so, for how long?

Thank you for your time.

Best regards,

Outcome

Support of Element IO

Your phone model

No response

Operating system version

No response

Application version

No response

Homeserver

No response

Will you send logs?

Yes

[manuroe]

This repo and this version of the element app is in maintenance mode. We are only fixing security issues and high priority bugs. We currently have the 2 apps in the store: Element and Element X. When ready, the Element app will use the Element X code. Element X is a temporary app using a code name.

[vit9696]

Do "major" and "critical" bugs count for high priority? From my understanding Element X is over a year from "ready to use" state, but Element got multiple regressions over the last few months.

For example, it currently has awkward crashes (e.g. #7433), cannot add people to rooms (#7634), does not allow to share images (#7679), show borked room names (#7098), and has many voip bugs (e.g. #7609, #7427, there probably are too many unfiled). At least the first 4 issues did not happen for me a year ago.

Not trying to fuss here, but could you please clarify whether stuff like this is going to be fixed or rather we should wait for Element X? Either is acceptable, but currently Element X really has very unclear timeline, requires server proxies with even less clear timeline and security state, and, to be completely honest, I do not expect Element X to come bug free when it gets officially released.

[ara4n]

Element X is not "over a year from ready for use". It's usable today, as per https://element.io/blog/element-x-ignition/ - it just doesn't have the full feature set, although we are sprinting to close the gap as rapidly as possible. We simply don't have enough devs to do both apps, so the focus is exclusively on EX (other than for security & high priority bugs).

[vit9696]

@ara4n, sorry for the late reply. The problem for us with Element X is that it not only requires new client software, but also new server software, namely Sliding Sync support, that is currently in beta. When we wanted to give it a look, following the status issue, we discovered that the manual is "TODO":

I am not sure of the security state of Sliding Sync support modules either. In case you might know:

• Is Sliding Sync a permanent requirement?
• Will synapse support Sliding Sync out of the box?

[beercanchicken]

Due to the exciting launch of Element X, those with older devices will find out that it is not supported on older iOS and the original Element has been left abandoned in a state with encryption errors and the inability to send images via the OS.

It's unfortunate because this software is used by people who depend on it. Our server is fully up-to-date and the original Element iOS is full of random encryption errors and sending bugs. It is of our opinion that Sliding Sync should be fully implemented as a base feature in Synapse prior to the push toward Element X, as what otherwise appears to be happening is causing breakages in the ecosystem.

Thank you.