In the spirit of matrix-doc/specification/modules/guest_access.rst, Allow Guest to sendTyping + sendReceipt + sendMessage

[archywillhe]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
Yes. The problem is that if we want to use matrix-js-sdk to build chat/RTC applications with a more guest-centric design it is difficult unless we create an user account with password in the background for them. (There is a whole thread on this: element-hq/element-web#9264)

Describe the solution you'd like
I would like to introduce changes to the SDK to allow guest send message, as well as enable guest to send typing notification.

So maybe remove

    if (this.isGuest()) {
        return Promise.resolve({}); // guests cannot send typing notifications so don't bother.
    }

in MatrixClient.prototype.sendTyping and MatrixClient.prototype.sendReceipt in src/client.js.

And then maybe need to do something in _sendCompleteEvent,etc too?

---

According to https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/blob/master/specification/modules/guest_access.rst#put-matrix-client-%CLIENT_MAJOR_VERSION%-rooms-roomid-send-eventtype-txnid :

The following API endpoints are allowed to be accessed by guest accounts for sending events:

POST /rooms/:room_id/join
POST /rooms/:room_id/leave
PUT /rooms/:room_id/send/m.room.message/:txn_id
PUT /sendToDevice/{eventType}/{txnId}

So it's implemented in Matrix that guest can PUT /rooms/:room_id/send/m.room.message/:txn_id?

I have not gone through synapse's source so I can't confirm that though.

Additional context
This is my day 1 of reading matrix-js-sdk's source. So will appreaciate any pointers!

[archywillhe]

related: #998 dreamside-digital/safesupport-chatbox#5

[t3chguy]

allow guest send message

It does.

Element Web used to use this function but then started requiring registration to start chatting out of their own choice, the technology allowed it.

[archywillhe]

@t3chguy it was implemented using the ILAG approach and doesn’t go through the guest API. Read more here element-hq/element-web#9264

[t3chguy]

Yes. But before ILAG it used real guests. And even now if you have a Synapse configured to auto-join guests into a room then Element will let that guest speak. Youa re correct that typing and receipts don't work. But messages DO

[archywillhe]

Hmm I think I know what’s happening now. So the current sdk does allow for send message. But just not typing & receipt.

And in Element It is somehow designed that if you join a none-auto-join room as a guest, you won’t be able to do much. But auto-join lands you to a different GUI and you can send message.

Do you think the Matrix backend supports guest typing & receipt or it doesn’t?

[t3chguy]

This repo does not concern any GUI. It is a very low level library.

[archywillhe]

@t3chguy i was talking about the matrix react library because you mentioned Element.

[t3chguy]

In Element (matrix-react-sdk), it will prevent you from joining a room as a guest. But if you are somehow in one as that guest (directly manipulating the API or Synapse auto join) then it will let you do everything a guest is technically capable of doing.

[archywillhe]

Yeah by “join a room as guest” i meant more as turning on guest_access in Synapse and visiting a room as a guest. But indeed. That is more like guest preview than guest join.

I’ve been working on a hobby project https://lo.fish and right now I’m deciding whether to rewrite my backend in Eilixir or switch to using Matrix and write my front end into a Matrix client. My project relies heavily on guest access functionality, which I felt like is not something Matrix pays a lot of attentions in. (Of course you can argue that if enough interest is generated & there will be more pull requests on this & more will be done. Also can be nice if I can contribute some code to Matrix too.)

Eventually I will open source my project (i.e. as an Elixir+react framework or as a Matrix client). Right now I’m not sure if I should invest the time in Matrix and do it the Matrix way, or go for a more flexible approach (Elixir) and have more control over the architecture (but then of course if I want to enjoy things like decentralisation and E2E I will have to do more work. So this will also change the trajectory of my project.)