I've seen a few folks join Mastodon and complain that it's too difficult to follow people on other servers, with the cutting and pasting and whatnot. But @bramus has now created a neat Chrome extension (or bookmarklet, if you prefer to go that route) that let's you avoid all that hassle.
I just tested it out... by following @bramus with it!
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mastodon-view-profile-on/limifnkopacddgpihodacjeckfkpbfoe
@nzlemming @bramus eh. I mean, we can go back to everyone building their own computers, but then most people wouldn't have computers.
Not a fan of gatekeeping like that.
Let's make things work better for people.
@nzlemming @mmasnick It's friction. This extension reduces friction. Nothing more.
Hopefully it can become obsolete over time, once https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/19679 gets resolved, removing that friction.
Pitch Use web-based protocol handlers to automatically direct follow requests to the users instance. When the User logs in to their instance for the first time, they are given an opportunity to reg...
@nzlemming @mmasnick @bramus
I use an extension to automate profile handlers when following user accounts, can I still appreciate Mastodon?
No
Thanks for this, the follow process *is* aggravating
Compounded by the fact that I can't see the people someone I follow is following without opening their instance..
@jerry @mmasnick @bramus @hacks4pancakes
@malwaretech @EvilKiru
This is exactly what I do not want. I do not want to require any browser tools to have my list of follows.
@rogueren @mmasnick I've got something experimental up on https://github.com/bramus/mastodon-profile-redirect/tree/firefox
Requires manifest v3 support, so you need to enable `extensions.manifestV3.enabled`
Will try and submit that version today.
Oddly it's very hard if you want to go through someone on another server's follows and follow some subset of them. But it's super easy to follow people on other servers that you see because they've been boosted by or replied to someone you follow, replied to you, followed you, favorited one of your posts, etc.
Thus it's probably a good idea to boost posts from anyone you might want your followers to follow because it makes it much easier to do so.
Pitch Use web-based protocol handlers to automatically direct follow requests to the users instance. When the User logs in to their instance for the first time, they are given an opportunity to reg...
@mmasnick @zombierottenmcdonald @bramus I think that's partially tied with the origins of Mastodon and some of the features designed to deter harassment and abuse. Some things that are an extra step or a hassle also make it harder for trolls and harassers.
And I think there's also a bit of an insular mindset among those more tech minded so when the "tourists" who are not as tech savvy come poking around it feels like an incursion into their space.
I do think one of the things that made fb and the birdsite so ultimately popular is that the user interface has become so simple that even grandma and grandpa can do it. It's allowed the platforms to grow into the mainstream.
Mastodon, while I am really liking it, has a learning curve and isn't as super simple. I don't think it's hard either, but I don't know if it will ever reach that critical mass of something like the birdsite without forgoing some of the ideas and features it was founded on in order to pick up the moms and pops and users averse to learning apps/tech.
@hierophantpdx @mmasnick @zombierottenmcdonald @bramus
I am tech minded, I was thinking about writhing this exact plugin, because I am lazy.. But over the years I learned to research if someone else did it first, double lazy :D.
Download Mastodon – Simplified Federation! for Firefox. Simplifies following or interacting with other users on remote Mastodon instances in the Fediverse. It skips the “Enter your Mastodon handle” popup and takes you to your own “home” instance, without entering your Mastodon handle on remote instances.
@yoasif @mmasnick Oh yeah that’s nice. I heard it’s broken with version 4 of Mastodon, though.
Would be even nicer if your Masto host would register a protocol handler. That way it would all go automatically: https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/19679
Pitch Use web-based protocol handlers to automatically direct follow requests to the users instance. When the User logs in to their instance for the first time, they are given an opportunity to reg...
@deavid @mmasnick Firefox version in the works ;)
In the meantime you can use the bookmarklet: https://gist.github.com/bramus/d8bce55dab1881cde18aa2169c66ac33
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