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Riot is now Element

(element.io)
550 points J_tt | 12 comments | 15 Jul 20 07:07 UTC | HN request time: 0.449s | source | bottom
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badrabbit ◴[15 Jul 20 10:07 UTC] No.23843202[source]▶
No!!! Of all the names in the world why this. "Hey bro, let's chat on Element" ,not quite a ring to it.

The hardest problem in computer science strikes again!

Matrix,Riot and Libolm are epic projects, I wish them all the success but man, even Riot was a hard sell as a brand. I would seriously be dissapointed if it loses popularity over this. I don't think the project maintainers understand that their core users/fans are waiting for a product they can sell to friends,family and coworkers.

People who don't know tech rely on branding/brand reputation and word of mouth reputation to decide if they are intetested in even trying out a product to begin with.

Which of these is unlike the others?

1) Signal

2) Telegram

3) Element

4) Whatsapp

Hint: The theme is messaging and communication.

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1. simias ◴[15 Jul 20 10:24 UTC] No.23843307[source]▶
I actually don't like "Signal" either, because it's such a common word that it makes it hard to search for it online. "Telegram" is marginally better, since original telegrams are not very relevant today.

But yeah Element is arguably even worse, it's a super common noun and it doesn't seem to have anything to do with communication.

But in the end these naming discussions are always going to end up as bikeshedding. If the tech is good it'll probably manage to be successful despite its mediocre name.

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2. partyboat1586 ◴[15 Jul 20 11:39 UTC] No.23843809[source]▶
This name is not mediocre, it's sub par. It's not searchable, memorable on its own or memorable in relation to what it's for. You need at least one of those.
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3. rocha ◴[15 Jul 20 13:23 UTC] No.23844824[source]▶
It is not great, but it is also not a disaster. See Go, React, Rust, Processing, Atom, Windows, etc...
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4. wolco ◴[15 Jul 20 14:04 UTC] No.23845353[source]▶
Windows makes sense. Windows to the world. Go has a sensible keyword: golang for searchability.

Atom is awful. Rust is awful (programs rust and fall apart over time). React is not bad, it reacts to data changes. Processing is unknown to me.

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5. rocha ◴[15 Jul 20 14:21 UTC] No.23845565{3}[source]▶
I was trying to address the point of the parent comment, that using common words is detrimental to searchability. I think that is true, but as shown by the examples I gave, it is not catastrophic and can be worked around.

Processing: https://processing.org/

6. feteru ◴[15 Jul 20 14:23 UTC] No.23845588[source]▶
In the post they described searchability as one of the strenghts, as the top hits were dictionary link. They also said they're currently #4 for Riot, proving the viability of "dictionary names." As far as memorability, the whole Element in Matrix network is a little corny/convoluted to me, but oh well.
7. ethelward ◴[15 Jul 20 15:02 UTC] No.23846146[source]▶
I agree that these names are kind of meh, but they stand for things that will mostly be chosen on their technical merit, and that you don't have to sell to your friends/mom/gf/brother/etc; so it does not really matter.
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8. anon_cow1111 ◴[15 Jul 20 16:34 UTC] No.23847649[source]▶
Mint's default image viewer is called Pix. I tried looking up a crash/bug I was getting... it's basically impossible to search for. I still don't know what some developers are thinking when they name things.
9. rocha ◴[15 Jul 20 16:46 UTC] No.23847843{3}[source]▶
Right, good point. It is a quality of uniqueness for searchability and marketability. On top of my head I can only think of a couple of counterexamples: Windows and Messenger, but your point is still very valid.

I guess in practice, for search purposes, we will see some kind of suffix attached to the name, Element Chat or similar.

10. badrabbit ◴[15 Jul 20 23:59 UTC] No.23854010{3}[source]▶
Atom and rust have a technical audience
11. mycall ◴[16 Jul 20 03:41 UTC] No.23855512[source]▶
Wait until they start adding to it.

Element Prime Element Whisper

12. mekster ◴[17 Jul 20 06:15 UTC] No.23867642[source]▶
Who would use a word "element" in their daily conversation that is indistinguishable from the context?

You must be some scientist? I don't see people crying over the company name Apple.