Ben Pate 🤘🏻Feb 13

There's a lot of energy on the #Fediverse right now to discuss/find a #Federated alternative to #Discord using #ActivityPub.

@strypey suggested that I put this out there to anyone who's thinking about it. We could probably rebuild most of Discord's features as an #Emissary inbox without doing a lot of back end code.

I'm too swamped to start on this right now. But if you're a great HTML+CSS designer, I'm able to give some time to a team who wants to take this on.

Show threadStrypeyFeb 15

@benpate
> We could probably rebuild most of Discord's features as an Emissary inbox without doing a lot of back end code

One way to rapid prototype this would be to cheat. Copy as much as Discord's HTML/CSS/JS as you can get hold of. Chuck it in a private repo, accessible only to you/ your team.

Then you only need to build a layer of scripting glue and gaffer tape between that and an existing AP back-end (#Emissary, @Bonfire, dealer's choice). Published under a free license.

(1/2)

#Discord

Show threadStrypeyFeb 15

After a few days/ weeks of furious hacking, you'll either give up in disgust and tombstone your repo, or a get a PoC working. If you do, celebrate and announce the fact.

Then you can recruit web/app designers who've never had access to the private repo (with the Discord layout code). They can then build Free Code interfaces on top of your glue and gaffer tape layer. Voila, a fully libre service with all the key features of Discord

Rinse, repeat for other DataFarms we'd like to replace.

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Show threadfluffy 💜

@strypey Personally I'd be much more interested in seeing what could be done using a more IndieWeb approach. atom or mf2 for publishing, WebSub+WebMention for push, bearer tokens exchanged via TicketAuth for private access.

I'm not sure it would be *better* than ActivityPub but I do like the idea of building protocols on top of the web and which don't rely on .well-known paths to function.

Feb 15 at 2:51amWeb
Show threadfluffy 💜Feb 15
@strypey I'm not sure it would be *better* than ActivityPub but it'd be a fun thing to experiment with, at least.
Show threadStrypeyFeb 15

@fluffy
> what could be done using a more IndieWeb approach. atom or mf2 for publishing, WebSub+WebMention for push, bearer tokens exchanged via TicketAuth for private access

Knock yourself out. Let a thousand flowers bloom! ; )

Show threadfluffy 💜Feb 15

@strypey Yeah, the problem I run into with that is that developing things for the sake of trying them out ends up eating into my limited energy and pain budget which is hard to feel worthwhile when nobody else wants to do the same thing.

I have so many projects that I built because they felt like they served a need but then nobody else wanted to actually use them, and it ends up feeling not worth it given my disabilities.

Show threadStrypeyFeb 16
@fluffy I feel ya. Having some sense of buy-in and collaboration helps to sustain motivation when the terrain gets boggy. This is why I like the idea of a formalised competition/ hackathon approach.