# Why Signal argues that federated messengers cannot remain competitive as software ecosystems evolve

DevFeed: [Why Signal argues that federated messengers cannot remain competitive as software ecosystems evolve](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/reflections-the-ecosystem-is-moving-1856.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://signal.org/blog/the-ecosystem-is-moving/>)

Published: 2016-05-10T00:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Signal Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/signal-blog.md>)

Topics: [Open Source](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/open-source.md>), [centralization](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/centralization.md>), [Protocol (disambiguation)](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/protocol.md>), [Security](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/security.md>), [User experience (UX)](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ux.md>), [Software](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/software.md>)

Tags: [centralization](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/centralization.md>), [communication](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/communication.md>), [developer](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developer.md>), [ecosystem](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ecosystem.md>), [open-source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source.md>), [reflections](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/reflections.md>), [security](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/security.md>), [software](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/software.md>), [ux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ux.md>)

## AI overview

Open Whisper Systems reflects on how changing platforms, networks, security threats, and user expectations affect software development. The article argues that federating an application-layer messenger makes change difficult and that a federated messenger may not remain competitive as the ecosystem evolves.

## Source excerpt

At Open Whisper Systems, we've been developing open source "consumer-facing" software for the past four years. We want to share some of the things we've learned while doing it. As a software developer, I envy writers, musicians, and filmmakers. Unlike software, when they create something, it is really done -- forever. A recorded album can be just the same 20 years later, but software has to change. Software exists as part of an ecosystem, and the ecosystem is moving. The platform changes out from under it, the networks evolve, security threats and countermeasures are in constant shift, and the collective UX language rarely sits still. As more money, time, and focus has gone into the ecosystem, the faster the whole thing has begun to travel. All of this means that the set of expectations users have for social and communication features are evolving rapidly. Anyone building software today knows that it is not possible to stand still. Read more...