📢 Proposal: Creating a Discord Server for the MMEX Community

[frankieorabona]

I would like to propose adopting Discord as the primary platform for the MMEX community, either replacing Slack or complementing it.

Currently, every time I enter the Slack channel, there is practically no one active. This makes interaction difficult and slows down communication. On the other hand, Discord offers a more dynamic platform, better suited for an active community.

Unfortunately, forums are becoming increasingly outdated. Nowadays, most users prefer an instant response rather than searching through old threads. A Discord server perfectly meets this need, providing faster and more interactive communication.

Here are some key advantages of Discord:

Ease of use: Discord is more intuitive and user-friendly than Slack, especially for those unfamiliar with business-oriented tools.
Unlimited free access: Unlike Slack, where the free version deletes messages older than 90 days, Discord allows full access to the entire message history. This is crucial for users, as they can quickly find answers without having to ask the same questions repeatedly.
Larger user base: Discord has a much wider user base compared to Slack. Some MMEX developers may use Slack for work, but for general users, losing access to older messages is a serious drawback.
Structured channels and advanced management: We can create dedicated channels for support, development, suggestions, and more, making communication more organized and efficient.
Integration with the phpBB forum: Thanks to **webhooks**, we can link various forum sections directly to Discord so that new posts and updates are automatically notified on the server. This would facilitate faster and more interactive communication between forum users and Discord members.
Live sessions with screen sharing: Many developers use Discord for **live sessions** to showcase new updates or discuss code in real-time. While MMEX developers are likely volunteers, the ability to share screens and chat live could be extremely useful for collaborating more efficiently on resolving bugs from the GitHub backlog.
Industry standard for developers: Today, almost all software developers, whether for video games or Android/iOS apps, use Discord as their primary community and support platform. Having an active MMEX community on Discord would be a step forward in aligning with current industry trends.
Available on all platforms: Discord is accessible on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and via a web browser, ensuring easy access from anywhere.

If the community agrees, I would be happy to assist in setting up the server and integrating it with the MMEX forum. Let me know what you think!

[guangong]

There was one but out of maintenance.

This project had medium activity, some documentations and use cases sharing might help more.

[MlinMMEX]

Hello, forum users!
Not sure if this thread is for us...or others...

I do post, I do read forum threads, and I post screenshots if needed.
I do search, I do help, and feel helped.
I do not need Discord.

Perhaps I am missing something...

[frankieorabona]

There are so many posts that go unanswered, and perhaps the answer arrives after several days... With discord the message might be instant. Also as mentioned since you link to slack, but no one is ever in the channel, maybe it could be useful to have discord too

[Renato]

I don't think it's worth creating another opportunity to bring problems/requests to the "man". This forum is a user forum, which means that users help users, which means that there are only answers if other users are active here.

If you don't have any problems, you won't look around here and won't reply. Users who are actively involved with MMEX will look around here from time to time and, if they have the knowledge/interest, will post answer in the forum.
Many questions about MMEX would probably not even arise if the users who have a problem would really use the search functions on the Internet, on Github and also here in the forum.

Based on the questions I read, I'm not surprised that users, developers and I don't always take the time to search for and answer the relevant answers for these users.

I hardly believe that a Discord server will bring an improvement in terms of support. My wish would be that users would participate more actively here in the forum and on Github to solve application problems together. This would noticeably relieve our developers and allow them to focus on corrections and the further development of MMEX.

Incidentally, I think Slack could be closed.

[frankieorabona]

I wanted to share my recent experience where Slack played a crucial role in resolving an issue I was facing. Without the immediacy of an instant messaging platform, the problem might have remained unsolved. Fortunately, @wolfsolver (who, to me, will always be WolfSaver ) was available at that moment to assist me. This underscores the importance of having real-time communication channels within our community.

[Renato]

I understand the need to get an immediate answer/solution to problems. However, I would like to mention that MMEX is not offered by a company, but that volunteer developers are developing MMEX alongside their jobs. I hardly believe that these developers can make a living from the donations of MMEX users.

[frankieorabona]

I truly appreciate the work of the MMEX developers!

I completely understand that MMEX is developed by volunteers who work on it alongside their regular jobs, and I have great respect for their dedication.

My comment about instant messaging was not meant as a criticism, but rather to highlight how valuable it can be in certain situations. Today, thanks to real-time communication, I was able to resolve an issue that might have taken much longer through traditional forum discussions, or perhaps might never have been resolved at all.

Having an instant messaging channel, even if unofficial, can be a great asset for the MMEX community.
It would allow users to exchange information more quickly, help each other in real time, and reduce the need for long troubleshooting threads. Of course, the forum remains essential for structured discussions and long-term support, but real-time messaging could complement it effectively.

I know that the developers do this out of passion and not as a full-time job, and I am really grateful for their efforts in maintaining and improving MMEX.

A big thank you to all the developers and contributors!

[MlinMMEX]

<<I was able to resolve an issue that might have taken much longer through traditional forum discussions, or perhaps might never have been resolved at all.>>

Automatic transactions importing from banks, real-time support service...
Consider migrating to a paid software and support service, which is something MMEX isn't.

[frankieorabona]

@MlinMMEX
Honestly, I don't find the tone of your response acceptable, especially considering that,
from what I can see, you haven't even grasped the meaning of my message.

I don't need a paid tool because, after evaluating at least fifty of them,
I have concluded that MMEX is the best fit for my needs.
And, for the record, the MMEX community is fortunately free,
although I personally support the volunteers who develop it with a small monthly contribution.

Being part of the community, my only goal is to help it grow,
perhaps by suggesting features that interest me and potentially other users as well.
In this case, I'm simply proposing an instant messaging section,
even offering my availability to discuss and assess its feasibility.

My request is a proposal, not an imposition.
Your response, on the other hand, seems more like a polite way to dismiss the topic without providing any real input,
and honestly, I don’t find that acceptable.