[whispersystems] [Signal-Desktop] Allow registration from the desktop application

[Alexis Métaireau]

Hi,

I was asking on Github [0] about the possibility to allow registration
from the Desktop application. I believe this would help leverage a user
base that Signal currently doesn't touch: the persons without a smart
phone, but with a phone number, still.

The issue was closed, and I believe this is because the tracker is used
to track the work to be done right now, and not the discussions.

So, what's the reasoning behind this choice? I'm willing to spend some
time implementing this feature if it's agreed that it will be useful.

Thanks,
— Alexis

[0] https://github.com/WhisperSystems/Signal-Desktop/issues/551

Thanks but we're not going to do this
—
Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub
<https://github.com/WhisperSystems/Signal-Desktop/issues/551#issuecomment-167440286>.

[Jean-Philippe Cugnet]

Post by Alexis Métaireau
I was asking on Github [0] about the possibility to allow registration
from the Desktop application. I believe this would help leverage a user
base that Signal currently doesn't touch: the persons without a smart
phone, but with a phone number, still.

Hi,

I agree with you: some of my contacts doesn’t have a smartphone or own a Blackberry or a Windows Phone. Currently I am forced to use Jabber+OTR with them, which doesn’t support asynchronous messaging. It would be a good idea to have such feature implemented in Signal Desktop.

Thanks,
Jean-Philippe

[Benjamin Fus]

Hi,

to continue this idea, what about People without a phone number?

Post by Alexis Métaireau
I was asking on Github [0] about the possibility to allow registration
from the Desktop application. I believe this would help leverage a user
base that Signal currently doesn't touch: the persons without a smart
phone, but with a phone number, still.

Hi,
I agree with you: some of my contacts doesn’t have a smartphone or own a Blackberry or a Windows Phone. Currently I am forced to use Jabber+OTR with them, which doesn’t support asynchronous messaging. It would be a good idea to have such feature implemented in Signal Desktop.
Thanks,
Jean-Philippe

[Jeff R (LangBoost)]

That idea is frowned upon by the project maintainers because frictionless registration is a high priority. You can find more details about that in the mailing list archives. As the argument goes, getting a code via an email address is a totally different experience than a code via sms. You don’t have to open another app, click something, etc.

They’re right. It is a lot smoother, but of course costs some flexibility.

-J

Sent from Outlook Mail for Windows 10 phone


From: Benjamin Fus
Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2015 17:47
To: ***@lists.riseup.net
Subject: Re: [whispersystems] [Signal-Desktop] Allow registration from thedesktop application

Hi,

to continue this idea, what about People without a phone number?

Post by Alexis Métaireau
I was asking on Github [0] about the possibility to allow registration
from the Desktop application. I believe this would help leverage a user
base that Signal currently doesn't touch: the persons without a smart
phone, but with a phone number, still.

Hi,
I agree with you: some of my contacts doesn’t have a smartphone or own a Blackberry or a Windows Phone. Currently I am forced to use Jabber+OTR with them, which doesn’t support asynchronous messaging. It would be a good idea to have such feature implemented in Signal Desktop.
Thanks,
Jean-Philippe

[Alexis Métaireau]

Hi everyone, and thanks for the comments on this.

Post by Jeff R (LangBoost)
That idea is frowned upon by the project maintainers because
frictionless registration is a high priority.

I surely do agree that frictionless registration is a high priority. Not
being able to register from the Signal Desktop application adds friction
for me: I'm not able to register since I don't own a smartphone.

The code exists (and works!) but is deactivated in the current version.
Is there a plan to change this, and if not, could someone explain the
rationale behind this choice?

Thanks all for making the world a safer place,

— Alexis