Matt BlazeNov 28, 2022
Nice thing about Mastodon: It's one of the extremely rare web pages I visit where my ad blocker doesn't need to do anything.
Show threadMatt BlazeNov 28, 2022
Don't forget to support your local instance, financially and otherwise, to the extent you're able.
Show threadLauraPhillips99Nov 28, 2022
@mattblaze Still only half-sure I know what an “instance” is. Is that just Mastodon-speak, or is it a term used elsewhere?
Show threadMatt Blaze
@LauraPhillips99 Mastodon-speak for the server you're signed up with.
Nov 28, 2022 at 1:47amWeb
Show threadWord of Mouth Nov 28, 2022
@mattblaze @LauraPhillips99 Not just Mastodon. It's #DevOps speak, since in this day and age we don't always run an OS by itself on "bare metal" hardware. We usually use virtual machines and containers. "Instance" is just a generalization of "Server".
Show threadMatt BlazeNov 28, 2022
@notroot @LauraPhillips99 I’ll check out this virtual machine thing.
Show threadWord of Mouth Nov 28, 2022
@mattblaze @LauraPhillips99 👍 The idea is straightforward: you can run Windows and Mac OS on your Linux box. Or any other combination. There's performance restrictions. Most of the internet works this way, now.
Show threadMatt BlazeNov 28, 2022
@notroot @LauraPhillips99 Inconcevable.
Show threadWord of Mouth Nov 28, 2022
@mattblaze @LauraPhillips99 Ooops forgot who I was replying to. Heh
Show threadTim AndersonNov 28, 2022
@mattblaze @notroot @LauraPhillips99 I always read that word in his voice:
Show thread⚾️ Lance PetermanNov 28, 2022
@mattblaze @notroot @LauraPhillips99 Not gonna lie, this gave me a laugh. Sarcasm does render well on a site where messages are called toots.
Show threadAriM 🇺🇲🇮🇱🇺🇦Nov 28, 2022
@notroot @mattblaze @LauraPhillips99
None of this makes any sense to the overwhelming majority of Mastodon's new target audience. Someone better mount a really simple front end on the signup process, with zero mention of servers and/or instances, or this thing will never go anywhere.
Show threadWord of Mouth Nov 28, 2022
@AriM
I tend to agree. Maybe ask a few interest questions, then pick an open instance for them. Let them pick a different one if they want, but for new users they would never even need to know which was picked.
@mattblaze @LauraPhillips99
Show threadTim AndersonNov 28, 2022
@mattblaze @LauraPhillips99 From a user experience perspective, does the instance you are on matter?