software catalog

content/software/element.md

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+---
+title: "Element"
+category: "Messaging and meetings"
+tagline: "The Matrix chat app, set up to use your Federated Computer Core's chat server."
+source: "pacman"
+package: "element-desktop"
+command: "element-desktop"
+replaces: ["Slack", "Microsoft Teams"]
+website: "https://element.io/"
+code: "https://github.com/element-hq/element-desktop"
+links:
+  - name: "Matrix"
+    url: "https://matrix.org/"
+---
+
+## What it is
+
+Element is a chat and calling app for Matrix, an open standard for messaging. Matrix works like email: anyone can run a server, and people on different servers can talk to each other. Element gives you direct messages, group rooms, threads, file sharing, and voice and video calls, with end-to-end encryption on by default for private chats.
+
+## Why it's here
+
+- **Your own chat server.** Your Federated Computer Core runs a Matrix server, and Element is the desktop app for it.
+- **Team chat without a vendor.** Rooms, threads and spaces cover what teams use Slack or Teams for.
+- **Encrypted by default.** Direct messages and private rooms are end-to-end encrypted.
+
+## On CoreDesktop
+
+CoreDesktop installs Element from pacman. Running `configure core` points it at your Core's Matrix server (`matrix.<your domain>`), so you only choose **Sign in** and log in with your Core account through single sign-on. Reboot once after installing CoreDesktop so Element can find the keychain it keeps its encryption keys in.
+
+Open Element from the app grid or run `element-desktop`. The sandboxed AI agents can't read its data in `~/.config/Element`. `update` keeps it current with the rest of the pacman packages.