Mastodawn

Chris Gioran 💔Jul 2, 2023

I hereby propose the #FediBox as an aspirational target for a decentralized Internet.

It's a box, like a home router. It is a robust, low cost, low consumption device that requires power and a domestic grade network connection.

Plug it in and, with trivial configuration, you are running your own #fediverse instance.

Focus is ease of use, not features. It should be possible to moderately expand its capacity.

It should be operational for at least 10 years, so it can be handed down for free.

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Mr. Mustache Jul 2, 2023

@chrisg I feel like a raspberry pi and 3d printing will be involved. Not because I know anything about how the hypothetical system would work but purely based on the fact that those ate the Duct Tape and WD-40 of the modern electronic age.

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Chris Gioran 💔Jul 2, 2023

@mstrmustache Probably true. Also, solid analogy 🙂

There is a discussion to be had around ease of construction (so it is accessible, widespread and open) vs robustness (so it creates less waste and it serves for much longer).

Since the protocols are open, anyone can build it and a homebrew scene can use 3d printing and SBCs.

But most people don't have a 3d printer or know what a Pi is. They just know they want to have a community instance for their union. So off the shelf has a place.

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Mr. Mustache Jul 2, 2023

@chrisg there's also a middle ground for good people that do have 3D and Pi knowledge to build and sell at or near cost.

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Alaric Snell-Pym

@mstrmustache @chrisg if the software is open source, people can homebrew and multiple manufacturers can compete to sell ready made ones. Project instigators should encourage the latter by making the project's homepage prominently link "Where to buy" to a find-which-is-best-for-me browser (capacity/price tradeoff, supplier in your part of the world, etc)