matrix-org / matrix-org/matrix-spec

Decentralised user accounts

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A-Identity-Service A-S2S feature
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Merged PRs (30d)
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Description

We seem not to have a bug for the age-old feature of decentralised user accounts. This would let users migrate or replicate their accounts between different homeservers, such that their homeserver is not a single point of failure for their account. See also https://github.com/matrix-org/GSoC/blob/master/IDEAS.md#decentralised-accounts

Various possible ideas:
* Make MXIDs a 3PID(!) https://github.com/vector-im/riot-web/issues/3634
* Split users into alias & opaque ID, like rooms: https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues/494
* Use pub/priv keys for identity: https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues/778
* ...

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reading this issue and the linked Matrix specification proposals for MXIDs, alias and opaque IDs, and public/private-key identity. Compare the migration and replication requirements described there, then determine whether the project has settled on one approach; done would require an agreed design rather than a single localized edit.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
authentication, distributed-systems
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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