Drew CainNov 18, 2022
Justin Velgos

Made an iOS Shortcut to let you follow someone from a different Mastodon instance without the copy/paste hoop-jumping.

https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/e109c8e6b8c0420c902134049b13c064

Once added to your Shortcuts app, you can share a Profile (or webpage or text that contains a profile link or username) to this Shortcut to be taken to the Follow confirmation page without ever copying or pasting anything.

Let me know if you find it helpful or run into any issues.

#iOS #Shortcuts #Projects

Shortcuts

Nov 11, 2022 at 5:22pmWeb
Show threadJustin VelgosNov 14, 2022

Here's another Mastodon iOS Shortcut. This one lets you view someone's Following list (even if they’re on a different instance) and open one or more of those Profiles in browser tabs to see their posts, so you can figure out who to follow with less friction (and then use my other Shortcut to follow them without the copy/paste steps).

https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/829d0e0f292842d8a6753cd999e77896

Once added to your Shortcuts app, just share a Profile to the Shortcut to use it.

#iOS #Shortcuts #Projects

Show threadwakest likes your bugs ⁂Nov 18, 2022
@justin this seems to need editing to work on any other instance then mastodon.design
Show threadJustin VelgosNov 18, 2022

@liaizon Ah, I needed to update the RegEx to handle instances on a subdomain. Try these out and let me know if they work for you:

Follow on Mastodon
https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/c0231849ef934c62b91fc698fbacfdea

View Following on Mastodon
https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/829d0e0f292842d8a6753cd999e77896

Shortcuts

Show threadwakest likes your bugs ⁂Nov 18, 2022
@justin still seems to make a call to ur instance
Show threadJustin VelgosNov 18, 2022
@liaizon It makes a call to the instance of the Profile you shared to the Shortcut so that it can get the full list of followers (which your own instance, if different, won’t have).
Show threadwakest likes your bugs ⁂Nov 18, 2022
@justin oh cool I got it to work. never messed with Shortcuts too much, this is actually very useful. @DavidBlue have you seen this?
Show threadDavid Blue ⁂ ∆Nov 18, 2022
@liaizon @justin I had not! thanks for thinking of me! I've also actually accumulated quite a few Mastodon Shortcuts on RoutineHub (not all are mine in this search but many are!) https://routinehub.co/search/?q=mastodon
RoutineHub • A community for Siri Shortcuts

Show threadHans-CeesNov 28, 2022
@liaizon what is this witchcraft? #shortcuts
Show threadwakest likes your bugs ⁂Nov 28, 2022
@hanscees you only tagged me not the author of the Shortcut fyi
Show threadCasNov 23, 2022
@justin I’ve been getting this error, not sure if I did everything right! I’m pulling up the share sheet from official Masto app.
Show threadJustin VelgosNov 23, 2022

@Casuallynoted Hi there! Do you get that error with *any* profile you share to the Shortcut or only certain ones?

If only certain ones, let me know a profile it doesn’t work with and I’ll take a look.

Show threadWord of Mouth Nov 28, 2022
@justin
Ok, that's just frickin cool
@charlesgaba
Show threadBertNov 28, 2022
@justin great one.
Show threadNeysa NevinsNov 28, 2022
@justin it’s a bit clunky in that one has to click Allow a bunch of times and one has to paste each individual handle to see account or follow but I’m glad I can at least now see accounts on other instances so thanks for tip
Show threadJustin VelgosNov 28, 2022

@neysanev Yeah, I wish there didn’t have to be a separate “Allow” prompt for each domain, but the more you use it, the fewer you should see (since it remembers domains you’ve previously allowed).

You shouldn’t need to Paste anything though, I have another Shortcut for Following a Profile you’re viewing without the copy/paste step:
https://mastodon.design/@justin/109326326748029097

Justin Velgos (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image Made an iOS Shortcut to let you follow someone from a different Mastodon instance without the copy/paste hoop-jumping. https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/e109c8e6b8c0420c902134049b13c064 Once added to your Shortcuts app, you can share a Profile (or webpage or text that contains a profile link or username) to this Shortcut to be taken to the Follow confirmation page without ever copying or pasting anything. Let me know if you find it helpful or run into any issues. #iOS #Shortcuts #Projects

mastodon.design
Show threadNeysa NevinsNov 28, 2022
@justin thanks for the additional information and for calling attention to this tool.
Show threadMichael BrissonNov 28, 2022

@element_6

This seems to address what you were looking for?

Show threadJeff ByrnesNov 28, 2022
@justin thanks for these! Super handy.
Show threadMoritz HeiberNov 28, 2022
@justin well, now I feel honored ☺️
Show threadDavid KoontzNov 11, 2022
@justin RE Mastodon iOS shortcut ... tell me more I'm not very knowledgable about Mac shortcut creation... How do I use that?
Show threadJustin VelgosNov 12, 2022

@DavidKoontz The Shortcut link should open the Shortcuts app (if on a recent iOS/macOS), ask if you want to install, and then ask you to enter your Mastodon instance.

Once setup, when you’re viewing a profile from a different Mastodon server and open the Share sheet, a “Follow on Mastodon” option should appear in the list and choosing it will skip the steps where you have to enter your username or copy/paste a URL and instead take you directly to a Follow confirmation screen.

Show threadCassio Zen Nov 11, 2022
@justin worked like a charm! Thanks
Show threadsteelsofterNov 12, 2022
@justin for saome reason I’m not getting Follow on Mastodon option in share sheet
Show threadJustin VelgosNov 13, 2022
@cobosov If you open the Shortcuts app and Edit the “Follow on Mastodon” Shortcut (by tapping the ••• button on the shortcut on an iOS device, or right-clicking the shortcut on a Mac and choosing “Edit”) and then tap the Info button, there should be a “Show in Share Sheet” option that you can turn on (if it isn’t already on).
Show threadLaurieNov 13, 2022
@justin
Hi Justin --I'm from Maine and just found you and your shortcut and used it to follow you and send this message. Tbh, I didn't even know I had shortcuts, but now I'm going to use yours and see what else I can do. So, thanks!
Show threadJustin VelgosNov 13, 2022
@lauriewainberg that’s great to hear! I make Shortcuts for everything - you can do so much with them and the learning curve is really low.
Show threadtoo many namesNov 18, 2022
@justin Thank you!!!
Show threadJustin LindNov 18, 2022
@justin can’t wait to use this!
My biggest annoyance so far with the app I happen to be using (Tooot) and follows across instances is when there is all the copy/paste/login headaches (!)
Show threadBen Montour Nov 18, 2022
@justin iOS shortcuts are so powerful and such an underutilized feature. Thank you for building this!
Show threadIsaac Halvorson 🪐Nov 18, 2022
@justin oh man, this is brilliant. Thank you!
Show threadNick ✅Nov 18, 2022
@justin It works! Thank you! #iOS #Mastodon
Show threadrob HAS MOVEDNov 18, 2022
@justin This – and your other shortcut – are excellent! I always forget to use Shortcuts to automate tasks on iOS/macOS. Thanks so much for sharing!
Show threadAlexandra BrownNov 18, 2022
@justin @jonrosenberg Jon you might enjoy this tool which reduces the masochism requirements of following significantly
Show threadStandard JabberwockyNov 18, 2022

@justin thanks very much for this. The setup is especially nice when it asks for your Mastodon instance when you add it. Nice touch!

Also appreciate the other shortcut to view someone’s follow list!

Show threadNeil MullensNov 18, 2022
@justin Hi, Justin. Thanks for this. I'm having a problem with it though. When I click share from either the native Mastodon app or Metatext, it takes me to the login page of mastodon.social, which is not instance, so I can't go any further.
Show threadJustin VelgosNov 18, 2022
@3DayMonk Hi Neil, if you open the Shortcuts app and Edit the “Follow on Mastodon” Shortcut (by tapping the ••• button on that shortcut) you should see a “Text” action near the top that contains the text, “mastodon.social”. If you change that text to “c.im” then the Shortcut should work for your Mastodon instance. Let me know if that fixes it for you or not.
Show threadNeil MullensNov 18, 2022
@justin Excellent! I’ve just followed you, so it works now. A very useful shortcut - thanks for sharing, Justin!
Show threadKatie KnightNov 18, 2022
@justin do you have anything that works for android?
Show threadJustin VelgosNov 18, 2022
@_katieknight_ Unfortunately no, but if I see something similar for Android I’ll let you know.
Show threadKatie KnightNov 18, 2022
@justin thank you! 😊
Show threadMorgan le Fay/MerlinNov 18, 2022
@justin is it OK if I use this?
Show threadJustin VelgosNov 18, 2022
@evilcookies98 absolutely!
Show threadColin DevroeNov 18, 2022

@justin might be useful @caseyliss @marcoarment @siracusa

I’ve also seen browser extensions that do similar for desktop.

Show threadMichaelNov 18, 2022
@justin AMAZING!
Show threadJakeNov 18, 2022

@justin Thank you for this shortcut Justin! I made a similar post about adding a bookmarklet that does the same thing. It’s made my experience following people so much easier.

https://gogobonobo.net/adding-a-mastodon-bookmarklet/

I’m glad to see the same with a Shortcut!

Adding a Mastodon Bookmarklet – Gogobonobo

Show threadmx. mark argentNov 18, 2022
@justin this is so useful! thanks!
Show threadBrett BumeterNov 18, 2022

@justin thank you, just added and will give this a try.

On a related note, I had no clue there was a shortcuts library/marketplace whatever it’s called.

So thanks for helping me discover that too!

Show threadKevin MitchellNov 19, 2022
@justin I'll have to try this out. I look forward to a lot of grassroots development around Mastodon as control of social is returned to the people.
Show threadMatthias DeuschlNov 19, 2022
@justin it just works. Noice. Veary noice!
Show threadMike BeasleyNov 19, 2022
@justin this rocks thanks
Show threadAnne BretonNov 20, 2022
@justin I’ve highlighted this & will re-address after a good sleep! Thank you 😊
Show threadJustin FerrellNov 20, 2022
@justin this is so handy! Thank you!
Show threadMoto Nov 28, 2022

@justin finally, some Shortcuts useful enough that I figured out how to use iOS Shortcuts!

We’ll just have to see if I can hold its existence in my mind next time I need it. #adhd

Show threadFrancisco (he/him)Nov 28, 2022
@justin nice !👍🏽 I’ll try this out thanks
Show threadWord of Mouth Nov 28, 2022
@justin
Interesting. I've never had to do that. Using Android and web app you can follow anyone with a click. Are you using the official Mastodon app? If so... for iOS, use #Toot! instead. The official app is slick, but limited.
Show threadRev.Hans Nov 28, 2022
@justin Thx!
Show threadJane AyersNov 28, 2022
@justin I wonder if I could make a shortcut to send posts to Google Translate.
Show threadJustin VelgosNov 28, 2022
@janeayers if you do, let me know - that would be great!
Show threadSyllable Technology and DesignNov 28, 2022

@justin

Nice. Also, it's insane that the mastodon product doesn't handle this natively. It's one of the things I noticed right away while using Mastodon that made me feel like this product sadly won't ever be mainstream unless they address UI improvements like this. (But I love you Mastodon!)

Show threadStan FletcherNov 28, 2022
@justin This is awesome. You rock!