Matrix

Connect it

In Conch, open Apps, choose Talk to me here, then Matrix. Your assistant gets a Matrix account of its own, and you message it from yours.

1. Make an account for your assistant. Conch suggests a username and a display name. Make the account in Element (it's free), on the same homeserver as yours if you can, and give it a strong password of its own.
2. Sign Conch in to it. Type the homeserver (leave matrix.org for matrix.org), the username and the password, and press Sign in. Conch signs in once, as a new session called "Conch", and keeps only that session. It never keeps the password.
3. Say hello. In Element, start a direct message with your assistant's account and send it anything. Conch asks Is this you? with your name. Press That's me.

Encrypted chats work

Element encrypts direct messages, and so does your assistant: Conch has its own encryption keys, like a new phone. It reads only messages from sessions your account has verified, so nobody can slip in a session in your name and give it orders.

If a session of yours isn't verified, the assistant says so in the chat and doesn't read the message. Verify it in Element under Settings → Sessions.

Your first hello

Good to know

• No public address. Conch keeps asking the homeserver for news from your computer, so nothing is opened to the internet.
• Approvals come with reactions. Tap ✅ to allow, ♾️ for always in this chat, or ❌ not to. Replying with the number works too.
• An access token instead? Use one made for Conch only. One of Element's own would break Element's encryption, and Conch refuses it.
• Groups are declined, with a note saying why.
• Messages sent while Conch was off are answered when it's back, for a day.