Jef Poskanzer
Knowing next to nothing about the Mastodon API, I was able to write a command-line tooting shell script in an hour or so yesterday morning. I see a lot of former Twitter bots popping up on Mastodon. Could it be that having an API that is simple and easy to use encourages developers to use it, adding value and attracting more users? 🤔
Feb 4, 2023 at 6:27pmWeb
Show threadpotluck7Feb 4, 2023

@jef

Good on you!

Show threadJustin FerrellFeb 4, 2023
@jef it’s true! https://moth.social/@Mastowatch/109795829577759892
Mastowatch (@[email protected])

Apropos of nothing, the free and public nature of the #Mastodon API is directly responsible for the thriving app ecosystem we see here. The distinctions between web, native, Android, iOS, etc. don’t matter when the tools don’t exist to touch the platform. Mastodon doesn’t have a public API because it’s a cool place with interesting work being done. It’s a cool place with interesting work being done *because* it has a public API. I’m glad Mastowatch gets to be a little drop in that bucket.

Moth.social
Show threadMarcel BootsmanFeb 4, 2023
@jef might be 😉
Show threadBoris BarbourFeb 4, 2023

@jef

"Developers, developers, developers!"

Show threadKhaledFeb 4, 2023
@jef @Gargron shocking
Show threadJonathan DownieFeb 4, 2023
@jef Is there a good scheduling app for masto?
Show threadBruce Halperin Feb 4, 2023
@jef @DrInterpreter You mean for triggering a bot at regular intervals? I used AWS Lambda
Show threadJonathan DownieFeb 5, 2023
@BruceHalperin @jef I was thinking for posting regularly and automatically.
Show threadRob FahrniFeb 4, 2023
@jef @Gargron I think you’re on to something Jef!
Show threadsuldrew 🚲🏳️‍🌈Feb 4, 2023
@jef “I have replaced your $44 billion acquisition with a small shell script”
Show threadlisa cFeb 4, 2023
@suldrew @jef next time you have an hour could you work on something that finds everything I have on lists on Txxxxxx? I found programs that let me see who is here that I also follow on Txxxxxx but I have a bunch of lists there with my beloved bots and other accounts that I don't follow, just have on lists.
Show threadBruce Halperin Feb 4, 2023
@jef I also knew nothing about the Mastodon API and spun up @RedFrontBus in a few hours - most of which was spent on the 511 API side of things.
Show threadChristian GrobmeierFeb 4, 2023
@jef @Gargron yes
Show threadShinyBlackShoeFeb 4, 2023
@jef indeed. And the twitter API imminent lockdown will likely push them over here, where they will discover they can be live in an hour like you say and not 3 days which is my twitter average!
Show threadzbeckerFeb 4, 2023
@jef If it's really that simple, I might actually experiment with writing a bot...
Show threadBen LambFeb 5, 2023
@jef are using any libraries or anything or just doing raw http requests?
Show threadJef PoskanzerFeb 5, 2023
@bennyfactor The requests are done by CLI programs similar to curl that I wrote ages ago. Using actual curl ought to be just as easy, once you figure out the flags to turn off all its helpful junk.
Show threadBen LambFeb 5, 2023
@jef aw nice. I've been trying to set up an everylot bot and have first been working on getting the data out of the city 's gis api and yeah, curl has a lot of helpful junk I've had to manipulate!
Show threadmy display nameFeb 5, 2023

@jef this is quite inspiring, i have had some ideas on how to better my experience on mastodon and i have some familiarity with programming, maybe i should look into it too? 🤔 do you have any advice?

& regarding the point of your post: yes, personally the high potential for customisation and in general controlling your own experience is a large part of why i decided to move over from mainstream social networks. Even though i was not yet there the ability of it has piqued my interest.

Show threadLiggs17Feb 5, 2023
@jef inshallah
Show threadOliFeb 5, 2023
@jef
I migrated @monkeyislandbot and @monkeyislandbot_en to Mastodon in a lunch break. What pains did I have to endure setting them up for Twitter a few years back.
Show threadrardk64Feb 5, 2023
@jef any cool/fun bots you're seeing in particular? I'd love to see some of this!
Show threadTobyFeb 5, 2023
@jef Attack of the repost men
Show threadMarian SteinbachFeb 5, 2023

@jef
> Could it be that having an API that is simple and easy to use encourages developers to use it, adding value and attracting more users?

Impossible!

Show threadLe ChepFeb 5, 2023
@jef I know of one bot that tried and failed the migration
(Although it was, as I understand it, bandwidth-related more than anything else - was an image/video bot)
Show threadChixFeb 5, 2023
@jef Cool, we might finally get bots that post quotes from popular characters every hour/day like we had on Twitter but those are going away there
Show threadMax 🌳 Feb 6, 2023
@jef most of the twitter bots I found annoying