About Directory 404

Open directory of public XMPP servers has been created to allow server administrators to provide their servers without preconditions. The only important criteria for adding a site to this directory is that the XMPP server is public and clearly points to this. It is not our task to create closed lists for the self-appointed elite. We believe that users should choose the right server for themselves, and not rely on someone else's limited opinion

XMPP is a federated network and there is contention between servers. Many times we have been denied inclusion in the lists of XMPP servers, the owners of which position themselves as "for everyone". The reasons for the refusal were sometimes not given, sometimes they were ridiculous. Because some of the reasons are quite funny, you can smile a little and see them here:

• Your server allows you to display files that are too large. Reduce the size of allowed files, to the size of my server
• Your server is not old enough. Earn respect on the streets!
• I will add your server to the list, but I will write a negative review because it does not accept my invalid certificate. (requirement to enable mod_dialback)
• This is an open list with free additions, but it is intended for a select few. I only add my friends to the list
• You must be homosexual to be added to this list (discrimination by secret gay lobbyists)
• We care about the environment. Your server runs on gasoline. We accept servers powered only by electricity (What? How?)

More offerings to to the "God of Criteria"

The problem is setting criteria for the best. Are the same criteria really equally important for everyone?

This biased list in the screenshot was created for messenger developers. It is more convenient for messenger developers not to embed a browser to view the registration web page in extended html format, but to use the outdated “inband registration” server module. Inband registration allows you to create phishing attacks on user names, set weak passwords, does not filter spam registrations, and allows you to bypass the restriction of intrusive interlocutors. Servers with Inband registration enabled, which is inherently a vulnerability, are presented in this list as high-quality, and the rest are second-rate. For this reason, many well-known servers with advanced protection are marked as low-grade. 404.city deliberately refuses to obtain class “A”, although technically there is a possibility for this, we will not weaken the protection in a populist manner, even if it is bad for PR. .

Interesting fact: "The reason for lowering servers on this web list is that registration through a web browser is supposedly more difficult than through an XML stream. The list is opened through a web browser, which is not capable of processing an XML stream for registration. It is definitely easier and more convenient for browser visitors to register through the browser. Maybe it would be more logical to reverse the list? Yes, but the registration method itself is not fundamental in determining the quality of the server"

Such lists are a common occurrence and therefore we will try not to make the same mistake and not sort servers by quality criteria. Different people need different technologies, and different people will have their own best server. For users of legacy devices, the best server will be one that supports legacy encryption. For darknet users, the best server will be one focused on serving this category of users. It’s strange to compare different instruments using the same criteria. We believe that sometimes small fan servers can provide a higher class of service than the best in the "rating again".

Why can servers with poor technical characteristics be better?

So what criteria are the most important when determining the quality of a server? Not found..The most important criteria for sorting are also the most undetectable. Important criteria are quality of service and privacy policy. However, those other criteria are very subjective.We noticed that some servers with good technical setups provided access allow outsiders access to protected data and the privacy policies written by honeypots and dreamers were ideal, but at the same time unrealistic. Therefore, creating a good rating is almost impossible.

The purpose of creating this server directory is to provide users with complete freedom of choice without any manipulation of opinions, and for server administrators a place free from any preconceived opinions and human factors. The purpose of the directory is to provide freedom of information to visitors, not misinformation bubbles