John ConwayNov 23, 2022

Big rumblings in the expansion of the #Fediverse have been happening recently.

#Tumblr has already promised to implement #ActivityPub (the protocol Mastodon uses), which will mean you can follow Tumblr accounts from here and vice versa. And today we a learning that #Flickr is also considering it!

This will be a massive expansion, which obviously carries some uncertainties, but I, for one, welcome our new federation partners.

This is the way the internet is supposed to work.

Show threadkatedegerdon anti-tory pro-euNov 23, 2022
@john Will Mastadon's servers have the capacity to cope with all this new activity? They must have zillions arriving from Twitter too?
Show threadPammyStarr   ✍️Nov 23, 2022
@katedegerdon @john I assume more activity means more instances. It seems every busy celebrity needs their own, for instance. Businesses will pop up that specialize in running your Mastodon servers, etc.
Show threadKadinNov 23, 2022

@pammystarr @katedegerdon @john
That already exists: https://masto.host offers managed Mastodon hosting ($40/mo for ~500 users, seems a bit high but not unreasonable to me), but right now they are so swamped they're not taking new subscriptions. Heck of a problem to have as a business.

I do have some questions about how well Mastodon (the mainline server) scales, and if there are opportunities for optimization that could make managed hosting cheaper per user.

Masto.host - Fully Managed Mastodon Hosting

Masto.host was built from the ground up to make running a Mastodon instance easy.

Masto.host
Show threadJohn ConwayNov 23, 2022

@kadin @pammystarr @katedegerdon Other implementations of ActivityPub are more efficient, so I understand. Pleroma for one.

Still, I think masto.host offers a good deal, and their support is top-notch.

Toot.io also offers managed hosting, but it's starts pretty high: https://toot.io/mastodon_hosting.html

toot.io - Fully Managed Mastodon Hosting

Fully managed, dedicated Mastodon hosting by toot.io—transparent pricing, reliable operations, and expert support.

toot.io - Fully Managed Mastodon Hosting
Show threadRamiro Salas Nov 23, 2022

@john @kadin @pammystarr @katedegerdon

I think Pleroma is the way to go. Its Elixir-based scalable architecture, design and compatibility surpasses Mastodon, but it does need more love on the web UI side of things.

The Metatext app connects seamlessly to it as well as Mastodon.

Show threadJohn ConwayNov 23, 2022

@rsalas @kadin @pammystarr @katedegerdon

Pleroma's web-facing aspect could do with some work, yes. But also, is there a reason Pleroma instances seem to be run by mostly trollish dickheads?

Show threadNelson

@john Top reason is that Pleroma had a prominent TERF involved with development for a while, so the Pleroma community self-selected for people who are ok with transphobia. (Discussing this often attracts sea lions who claim that technology is neutral, bemoaning cancel culture.)

For people who like the technology but want a community that might enforce a code of conduct, consider the hard fork Akkoma instead: https://coffee-and-dreams.uk/development/2022/06/24/akkoma.html

Akkoma: A vision to refocus Pleroma

<p>I figure I should probably put developments of the past two weeks or so into a more formal format - I tend to be rather too keen on the "doing" ...

Coffee and Dreams
Nov 23, 2022 at 8:51pmWeb
Show threadRichSJNov 23, 2022
@skyfaller @john I really wanted to like Pleroma, but its just to dang buggy (even Akkoma) and the interface is just all over the place. I definitely favor Mastodon, Misskey, and Soapbox.
Show threadNelsonNov 23, 2022
@Richstjr @john And now I have to get specific, Alex Gleason is a TERF and he's the founder of Soapbox. I cannot recommend Soapbox to anyone, trans rights are human rights and this developer should not be welcome in any community.
Show threadpiccolboNov 24, 2022
@skyfaller @Richstjr @john but didn't Gab run in mastodon for a while? Couldn't i start a progressive server running pleroma? Or is hate hard-coded?
Show threadRobby O'ConnorNov 24, 2022
@piccolbo @skyfaller @Richstjr @john I wouldn't use software written by a TERF when I have the choice to use software not written by a turd.
Show threadRichSJNov 24, 2022
@robbyoconnor @piccolbo @skyfaller @john I'll put it this way, be thankful that there is alternatives to twitter and that they can all talk to each other using a common and open protocol. (ActivityPub) I'd really hate to live in a world without alternatives.
Show threadRobby O'ConnorNov 24, 2022

@Richstjr @piccolbo @skyfaller @john and there's plenty of alternatives that aren't developed by TERF scum.

I don't have the luxury to be apolitical.

Show threadneoNov 24, 2022
@piccolbo @skyfaller @Richstjr @john

hate is hardcoded into the mastodon user's DNA. Using pleroma is reason enough for them for permanent action.
Show threadRichSJNov 24, 2022
@skyfaller @john Well, regardless of how people feel about Gleason, they can't deny that Soapbox is an excellent piece of software. (if a bit too tw*tt*r-like)
Show threadBalrog BoogerNov 24, 2022
Oh God, a sinner wrote software! Watch out! The devil will possess you through Soapbox!!!
Show threadkatNov 24, 2022

@skyfaller @john

The pleroma thing predates Alex Gleason.. by several years..

Kinda post gamergate really.

It's a bit like it's the community of developers that came in that wave of fediverse expansion

Show threadMinaNov 24, 2022

@skyfaller @john people who claim that technology is neutral need to study history, and shut the fuck up.

Here's someone smart saying 37 years ago that technology is a tool of domination: http://tech.mit.edu/V105/N16/weisen.16n.html

Weizenbaum examines computers and society - The Tech

An article from the Tuesday, April 9, 1985 issue of The Tech - MIT's oldest and largest newspaper and the first newspaper published on the Internet.

Show threadNelsonNov 24, 2022
@meena I'm not able to load that URL, I get 401 Unauthorized
Show threadlevel 5 troon hazardNov 24, 2022
@skyfaller @john pleroma also is the only one to expose the federated timeline to people who aren’t logged in, so it’s easier to tell if a pleroma instance includes people who follow shitheads. i’m sure there’s plenty of shitty mastodon instances nobody realizes are like that