Chris Trottier

Here for casual chat.

For official calckey.social business, talk to @admin@calckey.social.

Public Key

npub16dettq2ly0kql25ktsykr0fwfser3l25s29q75e54p7rm58uncksdx9u72

NIP-05 Address

atomicpoet_at_calckey.social@mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsdxu44s90j8mq042t9cztph5hycv3cl42g9zs02v62slpa6r7futgpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0wd68ytnsw43q89emrn

Publishing to

relay.mostr.pub

Author Public Key

npub16dettq2ly0kql25ktsykr0fwfser3l25s29q75e54p7rm58uncksdx9u72

Show more details

Last Notes

2023-07-07 03:35:18

- reply

@npub1yk6…4zz4 My #Calckey posts on Mastodon look just like regular Mastodon posts. And guess what? WordPress posts also appear like Mastodon posts when viewed from Mastodon. But here's the magical part: when you look at WordPress posts from within WordPress itself, they totally rock the typical WordPress blog style. Thanks to ActivityPub, it's all possible!
As a content writer, you should try the ActivityPub for WordPress plugin for yourself.

2023-07-07 03:23:49

A while back, I brought up the #Zot protocol as an alternative to #ActivityPub. It's interesting how I received quite an angry DM from someone who strongly opposed the idea of encouraging ActivityPub users to try out Zot. According to him, he didn't want anyone "basic" disrupting his community. He believed that Zot's relative obscurity was part of its charm and didn't want it tainted by regular Mastodon users.
However, it's amusing because I can actually see Zot gaining popularity. You see, Threads won’t function using Zot. So, if you're looking for a simple way to avoid Meta content in your feed, just switch to another protocol that's similar to ActivityPub. And that protocol happens to be Zot.
I apologize if this sounds surprising, but I have a feeling that even "basic" folks will start using Zot before long.

2023-07-07 02:49:28

I just had a look at #Meta's recent press release about #Threads, and something caught my attention right away.
For the very first time, they're acknowledging another #Fediverse platform alongside #Mastodon. Specifically, they're highlighting that #WordPress can now connect through #ActivityPub.
Now, you know Meta's PR department doesn't say things by accident. So here's why this is a big deal. Last time I checked, WordPress powers a whopping 43% of the Internet. Yeah, you heard that right! If you visit a website, there's a good chance it's using WordPress as its CMS.
Now, if even a fraction of those WordPress sites start federating, it could have a huge impact on the network effect of the Fediverse. Of course, Meta isn't oblivious to this. I've been talking about the potential of WordPress and ActivityPub for quite some time now.
But if you're particularly observant, you might also notice that they mention #Tumblr. We've known for a while that Tumblr is likely to integrate ActivityPub into their platform.
But here's an interesting tidbit: Did you know that one company, Automattic, not only owns Tumblr but is also the driving force behind WordPress?
I don't want to jump to conclusions, but once again, PR departments don't just drop hints randomly. I have a strong feeling that Meta has been having some high-level discussions with Automattic about the future of ActivityPub. It wouldn't surprise me if Meta has some insights into Automattic's upcoming plans for the Fediverse.
https://about.fb.com/news/2023/07/introducing-threads-new-app-text-sharing/
@npub1gsm…5y8l
https://storage.serverius.net/ffmedia:social/social/webpublic-3c0b1832-03f0-4607-8e0b-c3f0355cf358.webp

2023-07-07 02:00:43

Have you seen the latest update from the #Instagram Help Center? It offers insight into how #Meta views the #Fediverse. Let's take a closer look at the highlighted text together:
"Threads is planning to use a protocol called ActivityPub to connect with other servers that support this protocol. Our aim is to enable communication between Threads and users on different fediverse platforms that we don't own or control."
Now, considering everything we know about Meta and their business practices, you might wonder why they're doing this. Well, here are a few reasons that could shed some light:
1. Regulatory pressure: While Meta is doing its best to compete with Twitter, they also want to avoid appearing like a monopolistic force. By joining the Fediverse, they can show regulators that they are simply becoming part of an existing social network.
2. Zuckerberg's strategy: Mark Zuckerberg has been observing what's been happening with Twitter ever since Elon Musk acquired it, and he's learned some lessons. Twitter has faced criticism for various missteps like alienating journalists, restricting API access, and even requiring logins to view tweets. Zuckerberg wants to assure people that Threads is different from Twitter and avoid those same pitfalls.
3. Embracing social media decentralization: It's widely acknowledged in the social media industry that the future lies in decentralization. The era of closed-off platforms is gradually coming to an end. Just as Compuserve couldn't survive the open Internet, walled garden social media platforms won't be able to thrive in the open Fediverse. Meta doesn't want to become the next Compuserve.
4. Early entry into an emerging ecosystem: Meta is eager to establish itself in the emerging Fediverse ecosystem, much like they tried to do with the Metaverse. Being an early player allows them to take a leadership position before other major players like Google, Apple, and Automattic jump on board.
However, it's worth noting that there might be a personal rivalry at play here. There have been rumors of a rivalry between Zuckerberg and Musk, and it seems they don't particularly like each other. So, one could speculate that Zuckerberg might want to undermine Musk by taking down Twitter, the platform Musk acquired for a hefty sum of $44 billion.
Hope that provides some context and clarity on why Meta is making these moves.
What do you think about Meta’s Fediverse explainer?
https://help.instagram.com/169559812696339
@npub1gsm…5y8l
https://storage.serverius.net/ffmedia:social/social/webpublic-865a0bf3-cfd8-45a0-9451-5b3bcc8f18d8.webp

2023-07-06 21:07:35

I just wanted to say sorry to @npub1eee…e209 for comparing him to a child who had his toy taken away. My bad!
Now, I personally found @npub1eee…e209's complaint a bit short-sighted. On one hand, he claims not to like Meta, even comparing them to a criminal organization. But as soon as there's some regulatory resistance against Meta, he starts complaining.
Here's the thing: do we really want Meta to continue behaving like a criminal organization? Or should we have laws in place to keep them in check?
I can't help but wonder if Meta would even consider integrating with #ActivityPub if it weren't for the EU's regulatory pressure. Honestly, I highly doubt it.
As someone who is greatly respected in the tech community, I truly hope that @npub1eee…e209 would stand on the side of privacy rather than monopolies. After all, it's an important issue, right?

2023-07-06 20:03:50

Did you know that @npub1ca3…r24y was actually an early employee at Twitter? Pretty cool, right? They've got some great insights on how social networks grow. It's not just about fancy features, but more about using your social connections to create a larger and more impactful network. That's how those Big Social platforms build their monopolies, you know?
Hopefully, in the future, we'll see some improvements in making it easier to switch between ActivityPub-enabled social networks. But hey, there's still a lot of work that needs to be done to make that happen.
RE: https://mastodon.social/users/blaine/statuses/110668126138677809
#note1ayt…gehu

2023-07-06 19:49:28

Hey, check out @npub1eee…e209 and his latest hot take! It's no surprise that he's sharing his usual opinion.
On the one hand, @npub1eee…e209 strongly dislikes Meta and even compares them to a criminal organization. But on the other hand, when Meta actually faces regulations, he reacts like a little kid whose favorite toy got taken away.
By the way, I personally think the only reason #Threads would consider adding #ActivityPub integration is because they're feeling pressure from EU regulations.
RE: https://mastodon.social/users/gruber/statuses/110667962169426329
#note1xrp…t2n6

2023-07-06 19:02:37

Isn't it crazy how AOC seems concerned about the possibility of one billionaire-backed #Twitter clone (#Threads) potentially outshining another billionaire-backed Twitter clone (#Bluesky)?
I really wish she understood the reasons behind Threads having an advantage over Bluesky: rather than embracing #ActivityPub, Bluesky decided to develop their own protocol entirely.
It all comes down to a certain billionaire, Jack Dorsey, who wasn't keen on collaborating with the established #Fediverse. That's why Bluesky is most likely headed for failure.
https://storage.serverius.net/ffmedia:social/social/webpublic-8788c271-c658-484a-9e57-db3914c67721.webp

2023-07-06 08:04:09

So, I tried installing #Threads to check it out, but I ended up uninstalling it pretty quickly. Here's the deal: it's just another Twitter clone that's all about algorithms.
I get it, that's what most people are into. I understand that influencers, media, and celebrities attract a lot of attention. But that's just not my thing.
I might sound a bit "weird," but I actually prefer my reverse chronological feed where I have complete control over what and who I see. If I want to discover more stuff, I'll just use #Calckey's search feature, which may not be the best but works well enough for me.
Oh, and I deleted my Meta accounts for a good reason. Whenever I'm there, I feel this weird sense of discomfort, like I need a good shower afterwards.
I know I'm not your typical user. I've been part of the Fediverse since 2018 and have genuinely enjoyed it, even when it was just a small community of a few thousand people. We have a nice little community going on over here, and I don't need all the fancy stuff that Threads is offering right now.
I'm not trying to bash Threads or judge anyone who uses it. It's just not the right fit for me, plain and simple.

2023-07-06 07:03:31

- reply

@npub16un…e944 @npub1gsm…5y8l Maybe a few hundred thousand. The waiting list has about 2 million. But Threads has now blown past that by orders of magnitude.

2023-07-06 07:02:21

- reply

I've got a funny little story for you. So, a while back, someone was all like, "Hey, #Mastodon and #ActivityPub are totally done for because Bluesky is this massive gorilla with loads of cash!" And you know what? I've been saying for ages that if Bluesky is a gorilla, then #P92 (or #Threads, as the kids now call it) is a ginormous whale! And guess what? Tonight, my friend, I've been proven right!
Hold on to your hats because Threads has gone from zero to millions of users in less than a day!

2023-07-06 06:56:38

There’s already backlash against #Threads on #Bluesky.
They’re not happy about it. The oxygen has just been sucked out of the room.
I understand where they’re coming from. They thought AP protocol was going to catapult over #ActivityPub. And now Threads has chosen ActivityPub.
How things change in the space of three months.
@npub1gsm…5y8l
https://storage.serverius.net/ffmedia:social/social/webpublic-1df39997-b765-4711-8c0a-e57e81633c44.webp

2023-07-06 02:37:08

It’s over. Gary Vaynerchuk is already a blue check on #Threads.
Once Gary Vaynerchuk joins, the mainstream is not far behind.
Twitter is not long for this world.
https://storage.serverius.net/ffmedia:social/social/webpublic-a9d89d04-2513-4dae-9cf7-b0febfb9bc9d.webp

2023-07-06 02:32:53

For those who thought Threads wasn’t joining the Fediverse, well it says they are right on their onboarding.
There should now be no doubt.
https://storage.serverius.net/ffmedia:social/social/webpublic-e837888c-16a1-4480-8c8c-6551fc2cbc54.webp

2023-07-06 02:17:33

Say whatever you want about #Threads, at least you can read messages there without being having a Threads account.
Which means it’s functionally better than #Twitter.
https://www.threads.net/t/CuVjWxcJ22Z/
https://storage.serverius.net/ffmedia:social/social/webpublic-38d315f5-1574-4902-bb3f-0dc7e5316614.webp

2023-07-05 02:28:04

- reply

@npub1kja…e5gq I had no idea you were in Japan! No wonder you know so much about Misskey.

2023-07-05 02:25:25

- reply

@npub1kja…e5gq I believe they're dropping it on Thursday, actually. But that's definitely something we should talk about.

2023-07-05 02:18:47

Tomorrow, I'm hosting another #Fediverse roundtable.
What do you think the topic should be?

2023-07-01 23:42:38

It's Canada Day, a time I'm supposed to be spending with my family, and Elon has to pull his shenanigans today.
RE: https://mastodon.social/users/Gargron/statuses/110640412707502778
#note1lke…xzpd

2023-06-30 20:30:43

#Calckey recently reached 10,000 accounts. To be precise, it now has 10,741 accounts.
This is all the more remarkable considering that the flagship server, calckey.social, is currently invite-only.

2023-06-29 23:31:06

Here’s your monthly reminder that I don’t code for #Calckey.
I advise Calckey. I do informal community outreach for Calckey. I’m also one of Calckey’s biggest donators.
But a coder on the project, I am not.

2023-06-29 19:30:52

People still talk about #Bluesky?
I’ve been on #Bluesky for months, and it bores me. I barely ever use it. Rarely do I ever see anything worth reading.
RE: https://mastodon.social/users/SirTapTap/statuses/110627825145013600
#note1gpk…yupx

2023-06-28 22:03:32

I believe "lobby" servers will be critical to countering the influence of Meta. These lobby servers would deliberately federate with Meta. Here's a further explanation on what I envision.
RE: https://atomicpoet.org/objects/2684207b-7d75-4119-bf50-b720e34404b8
#note1sfu…xw3h

2023-06-27 23:39:24

Together, my daughter and I wrote this explanation of ActivityPub.
RE: https://atomicpoet.org/objects/759225b7-b7e4-4995-a261-fc7285dc3ad9
#note12ny…ywah

2023-06-27 03:53:49

My 10-year-old daughter got a hold of my laptop and this is what she wrote.
I’m printing this out and keeping it forever.
RE: https://atomicpoet.org/objects/150315cb-f1ac-4d4f-aba9-68beff7faf89
#note18la…w2ec

2023-06-26 20:05:37

To me, @npub120z…33r2’s new comment controls are an incredibly big deal, and something I’ve been pleading for Fediverse developers to implement.
It was always a big oversight that, while Fediblock exists, you’ve never been able to control comment permissions. This has created unfortunate situations where, when harassment and dogpiling suddenly happen, there’s little the original poster can do about it.
Well, this will soon change.
@npub12ty…vnqc has pioneered comment controls and we can all use #Pixelfed as a model to build a safer #Fediverse.
Thank you to Pixelfed for this big step in community safety!
@npub1gsm…5y8l
RE: https://mastodon.social/users/pixelfed/statuses/110610994877181313
#note1dja…27pa

2023-06-26 01:42:04

I don’t get how setting up lobby servers for the express purpose of helping people migrate from Meta is somehow “pro-Meta” when the objective is to get more people to, you know, stop using Meta.
You know what’s a pro-Meta stance? Making it harder to leave Meta.

2023-06-26 00:31:37

- reply

@npub1g8e…qdqf Thanks. That said, my position on notmeta.social is not maximalist. We’ll be defederating from Meta, but not from independent servers that federate with Meta. I suspect that if we took the maximalist approach, the network effect would get smaller and smaller. Besides, trying to figure out if a server has changed federation policies is too much work, especially when we’re dealing with 10,000s of servers in the wild.

2023-06-26 00:01:18

I piss off people who pander to #Meta and believe every server on the Fediverse should federate with #P92 (a.k.a., #Threads) since, you know, notmeta.social won’t be doing that.
And I piss off the HOA of the Fediverse by suggesting we should have lobby servers that help Meta users migrate off of Meta.
But it’s fine if some people get upset. Not everyone will be happy in this situation.

2023-06-25 03:42:51

The Steam Deck should be seen as a revolutionary device.
Imagine a Nintendo Switch which, when you dock it, turns into a full fledged desktop Linux machine.
That’s literally the Steam Deck.

2023-06-24 19:59:09

When it comes to open source, most of Big Tech isn't actually like 90s-era Microsoft. Most of it is more akin to what Oracle CEO Larry Ellison says here: If an open source product gets good enough, we'll simply take it. Take [the web server software] Apache: once Apache got better than our own web server, we threw it away and took Apache. So the great thing about open source is nobody owns it - a company like Oracle is free to take it for nothing, include it in our products and charge for support, and that's what we'll do.So it is not disruptive at all - you have to find places to add value. Once open source gets good enough, competing with it would be insane. Keep in mind it's not that good in most places yet. We're a big supporter of Linux. At some point we may embed Linux in all of our products and provide support.Usually when Big Tech sees open source, they don't think "extinguish it". They think "take it".
And as long as Big Tech abides by the license, there's nothing you can do about it. Open source is largely designed to be taken. In most licenses, nothing prevents it from Big Tech selling it.
"But why would someone buy open source if it's free?" some people ask.
Because, believe it or not, most people who buy software actually like corporations, and they love it when a guy in a suit and tie shows up to sell them stuff. Even if they can technically get it for free.
They're not just buying software.
They're often buying a warranty and interoperability and something that "just works".
Open source doesn't thwart the corporations from making money. It often helps them.
Now is this to everyone's benefit? No, not at all. And this is because it's not necessarily the coders of open source software who get compensated. It's the corporations that sell it.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2006/apr/18/ellisonwewill
https://bunnyt1c.s3.us-east-005.backblazeb2.com/calckeysoc/be0b4757-4282-472d-9159-c8a3d08194b6.png

2023-06-24 04:00:49

- reply

@npub1g8e…qdqf This was my recollection of XMPP too. There wasn’t much that separated it from proprietary messengers, and clients like Pidgin supported all of them. In many ways, I feel that XMPP’s benefits can only truly be appreciated now that its former competitors are all dead. Right now, I can’t use AIM. But I can use XMPP.

2023-06-24 03:46:09

Here’s why I don’t put a whole lot of stock in the idea that Google is entirely to blame for XMPP’s fall in popularity.
What were XMPP’s competitors?
There was ICQ. It’s dead.
Also, AIM. It’s dead too.
As for MSN Messenger, YIM, iChat? Dead! Dead! Dead!
I have no doubt that if XMPP were a proprietary product, it would be dead too. Or “extinguished” as the EEE worryworts like to say.
But XMPP is actually alive. It’s not as popular as it once was, but it’s alive. You can start up an XMPP server right now.
There’s even a version of the Fediverse that works over XMPP, instead of ActivityPub, known as Mov.im. You can sign up and use it right now.
Proprietary competitors didn’t kill XMPP. Rather, XMPP outlasted them all.
As for why XMPP isn’t more popular? There’s many reasons. XMPP is largely based on XML, and that language isn’t so popular amongst coders anymore. And this, there’s not as much impetus for developers to improve XMPP.
But also, chat has evolved. Even in the open source world, people would rather use something else. Everyone I know in the open source world rather use Matrix instead of XMPP.
While open protocols tend to persist, that doesn’t mean something else doesn’t come around to overtake it in popularity.
IRC was once incredibly popular too. You could argue it still is since Twitch uses it for text chat. But most people don’t use clients like mIRC or Chatzilla anymore.
Why is that? Because once upon a time, XMPP overtook IRC in popularity, just as Matrix has overtook XMPP right now.
Don’t entirely blame Google. Such is the way of technology.

2023-06-23 22:49:17

I feel like I’ve thoroughly debunked the “Google killed Usenet” narrative.
The problem with these “embrace, extend, extinguish” (EEE) narratives is that, facts be damned, the myth is too compelling.
Never mind that #EEE has never worked against open source. Never mind that open source projects like Linux, Git, and the Web itself continue to thrive. Never mind that the entire world is populated by open projects that killed their proprietary equivalents—rather than vice versa.
If a story sounds good, people won’t just believe it, they’ll double down even when you show them facts.
The problem is that it’s the supposed “fans” of open source—in this case, the #Fediverse—that believe in the EEE narrative the most. They’re the architects of their own fear, uncertainty, and doubt. They’re the ones trumpeting doom and gloom, telling all newcomers that they should cower in fear. Again, facts be damned, the narrative of EEE is too compelling for them.
Microsoft, Google, and Meta don’t have to say anything to make people scared for the future of the Fediverse. Fans of the Fediverse do that for them.
RE: https://calckey.social/notes/9gcnedufbc43ioyt
#note1s4d…dzw4

2023-06-23 21:28:10

Folks who believe #EEE narratives often say that #Google killed #Usenet. This is not the case. In fact, Google had little to do with the so-called "death" of Usenet. Let me explain exactly what happened.
The most important thing to know about Usenet is that it uses a protocol called Network News Transfer Protocol (#NNTP). This is not a web protocol. In fact, Usenet itself predates the Web.
Why is this important? Because NNTP uses a different TCP port than the Web's protocol, HTTP. While NNTP uses port 119, HTTP uses port 80.
By the mid-90s, overzealous security policies at many corporations (and some ISPs) blocked all TCP ports except port 80. Which forced most people to do only access Internet services through web browsers.
This meant that most people could only access Usenet through the web instead of a dedicated newsreader.
(Sidenote: blocking all TCP ports except port 80 is also why webmail became popular.)
Well, what website did most people gravitate to in order to access Usenet? A site called DejaNews. From DejaNews, not only could you read and post to Usenet, it also had a powerful search engine that most newsreaders didn't have.
So DejaNews became the default source of Usenet.
Thing is that DejaNews also had a problem. They had difficulty monetizing their service. They tried to offer private Internet forums, not connected to Usenet, to businesses. This didn't work out.
So DejaNews (now named Deja) decided to pivot. So in 1999, they stopped focusing on Usenet. Instead, the did what so many Web 1.0 ventures did and decided to become... a shopping site.
This obviously failed. One year later, Deja sold itself to eBay. And in 2001, Deja's search service shut down permanently.
But that wasn't the end.
After Deja shuttered, Google acquired their Deja's archive. The integrated it into Google Groups. And to this day, you can search Usenet through Google Groups.
Through all this, it's important to understand that Usenet is not dead. It's still very much active. If your ISP allows it, you can use a mail client like Thunderbird to read recent messages posted to Usenet. Even now, Usenet has proven persistent, and it has outlived many proprietary competitors.
Even so, the failure of DejaNews isn't the sole reason Usenet is no longer as relatively popular as it once was.
Remember when I said that most TCP ports except for port 80 were blocked by corporations and ISPs?
Well, that meant that web forums such as phpBB began to overtake Usenet in terms of popularity. Web forums meant that if you had a certain niche interest that wasn't covered by Usenet, you could be up and running much faster than it would take to request a newsgroup devoted to the topic. They also tended to be better moderated than Usenet, and consequently, less overwhelmed by spam.
To be sure, better moderation and less spam was a very big reason so many people opted for web forums over Usenet.
Of course, just because web forums overtook Usenet in terms of conversation doesn't mean Usenet's popular usage was done. Between the late 2000s and early 2010s, Usenet became a popular destination for piracy. In many ways, it was competitive with BitTorrent and Gnutella.
Unfortunately, Usenet being a destination for piracy may have also been the reason that the remaining ISPs that once supported it finally pulled the plug on access. Nowadays, the only way to access Usenet is through specific providers like Easynews.
Google didn't kill Usenet. It's still very much alive, though not as popular anymore. Nevertheless, don't blame Google for its loss in popularity.
Blame overzealous security policies, ISPs, DejaNews, web forums, and piracy.

2023-06-23 19:59:11

Federation with #Bluesky (via #ATprotocol) is getting closer.
The sandbox environment has now been launched, which means you can set up your own AT protocol-enabled server.
It's possible that Bluesky will finally start federating by the end of summer. However, knowing how most dev teams work, this launch is not a certainty. It always takes time to iron out bugs.
How successful do you think Bluesky's federation will be? And how will it impact the current userbase using Bluesky?
https://beyondtheblue.substack.com/p/beyond-the-blue-6
@npub1gsm…5y8l
https://bunnyt1c.s3.us-east-005.backblazeb2.com/calckeysoc/e8446f31-494e-4c92-a068-cca4e8e30d73.png

2023-06-23 19:10:22

Update on notmeta.social: @npub1kn6…ks0g has joined as a moderator!
We're also in the midst of drafting a Terms of Service as well as a Community Code of Conduct.
Over the weekend, we'll be gradually opening up notmeta.social to sign-ups, though we have to be careful considering the demand.
If you're looking for a #Calckey server that will never federate with Meta, then notmeta.social is the space for you!
Stay tuned!

2023-06-23 03:26:11

- reply

@npub1g8e…qdqf Yes, they have. The only reason people are oblivious to this is because you have to go to Google to find the indexing. But what do you want to bet that Google will eventually provide more specialized search for the Fediverse? And that it will be real-time—akin to Twitter search?

2023-06-23 03:01:54

It’s highly likely that #Meta will build search for the #Fediverse. That is, if #Google doesn’t do it first.

2023-06-23 00:23:31

Maybe the best intro to software development I’ve ever encountered was something Apple made in the 1980s.
It was called HyperCard.
The concept was so simple almost anyone could do it. You had a series of cards, and you linked them.
You could build lots of things with HyperCard: tell stories, store recipes, make games.
In fact, HyperCard apparently inspired the World Wide Web.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HyperCard

2023-06-22 23:36:59

Coding is software development. But not all software development is coding.
Everyone who's worked on a software development team knows this.
Before you code, you have to model out what it is that will be coded. You have to define what it is the software will do.
When you arrive at one screen, what happens next? How do you expect humans to behave when they see something in your app? Will they even behave in ways you intend?
And funny enough, it's people who code that often can't answer these questions.
It's not because coders don't know but it's because they've been operating under a certain mental paradigm for so long, it's hard to get them out of it. That's entirely expected because what makes coders good at what they do is that they follow their own logic for how to execute a function.
But where product dev, UI/UX, QA, documentation, and bug testing come into play is in trying to understand additional paradigms. Namely, what happens when someone does something unexpected? How do we account for the unexpected?
That's all software development. Every experienced coder I talk to knows this They are more than happy to have that discussion, and are incredibly grateful that another pair of eyeballs considers this for them.
Because trust me, it's never just about coding.

2023-06-22 22:27:43

- reply

@npub1g8e…qdqf Doesn’t sound like a hard commitment yet. But it would be great if that happened.

2023-06-22 22:23:51

- reply

@npub1g8e…qdqf Do you have a link?

2023-06-22 22:14:03

Both #NodeBB and #Flarum announced they were joining the #Fediverse well before the #RedditMigration started gaining steam.
We also can’t forget that #Discourse is also joining the #Fediverse.
And I suspect more forum software will soon follow suit.
Why? Because the #RedditMigration just validated that #ActivityPub is useful for forum software.

2023-06-22 22:00:10

Whoa! This is not a rumour! @npub1wlv…dpz7 actually confirmed they’re joining the #Fediverse!
Hooray! #ActivityPub integration is on its way! This is a big deal because #NodeBB is mature forum software that’s been in development for quite some time!
@npub1gsm…5y8l
RE: https://fosstodon.org/users/nodebb/statuses/110568302887154013
#note1r5w…0szp

2023-06-22 21:43:17

I'm hearing rumours that #NodeBB is adding support for ActivityPub. Some folks have told me that this implementation will have group federation capabilities similar to #Lemmy and #Kbin.
I need to investigate this rumour further. If true, this is huge.
At the very least, I know NodeBB is discussing ActivityPub.
https://community.nodebb.org/topic/17117/what-s-next-after-v3/6
@npub1gsm…5y8l

2023-06-22 21:36:17

Now FediDB lists 1,883,211 accounts on Lemmy.
We must take this statistic with a grain of salt.
Still, these are accounts. They might be bot accounts, spam account, or perfectly legit accounts. All FediDB lists is the presence of accounts.
And that still means something.
https://bunnyt1c.s3.us-east-005.backblazeb2.com/calckeysoc/84393305-7f19-427d-b383-436ea7a9bcd9.png

2023-06-22 03:50:46

Here’s the article I’m pitching to the Atlantic about the #RedditMigration.
Title: "The Lemmy Stampede: A Grand Misstep for the Fediverse and a Siren Call for Journalists"
The Fediverse, that nascent realm of decentralized social networks, has been a tempting frontier for the tech-savvy and the web-woke. The lure of uncharted digital territory, uncorrupted by algorithms and corporate influence, has been irresistible for some. But recently, a million new faces, adopting a website called Lemmy, have stumbled into this Edenic expanse, and what was once a promising promise of digital democracy is swiftly deteriorating into a frothing Babel.
At first blush, Lemmy's explosive growth appears a testament to the Fediverse's potential. After all, surely the influx of such a vast user base indicates the technology's merit. But with a closer look, it is clear that this influx brings with it a disaster, both for the Fediverse and for the journalists who might have been tempted to investigate this new terrain.
What made the Fediverse attractive - its freedom from censorship, its decentralization, and its meritocratic conversation - has been diluted, if not entirely destroyed, by the Lemmy boom. As a million new voices ring out across the network, the Fediverse's original charm is being drowned in a cacophony of mindless noise and uninspired banter. To the erudite observer, the virtual tumbleweeds of substantive discourse are rolling across the Lemmy landscape.
The influx has also resulted in an environment filled predominantly with two types of newcomers: the technology-obsessed nerds who revel in the Fediverse's intricate complexities, and the rubes—late adopters blindly following the herd. This lack of diversity has turned what was once a rich, vibrant conversation into a monotone echo chamber, bereft of the balanced and nuanced discussions that are crucial for journalistic investigation.
Journalists, with their critical eyes and ears, ought to avoid the spectacle that is Lemmy. There is little to gain from attempting to navigate this latest addition to the Fediverse. Journalists need platforms where voices from all walks of life converge, where insightful discussions can be had, where the zeitgeist of the times can be accurately gauged. The starkly binary culture of Lemmy offers no such opportunities.
This is not to undermine the Fediverse's potential as a democratic digital space; it is merely to acknowledge the fallacy of the Lemmy surge. To view it as anything more than a transient tide of users, an unpredictable upshot in an otherwise promising technology, would be misguided.
It is time to recognize that the tried and true platforms - Twitter, Reddit, et al. - still hold the most value for journalists. Yes, they have their flaws. Their algorithms sometimes skew towards the sensational rather than the substantive. But they provide a pulse of public sentiment, a broad spectrum of voices, and a wealth of content that is essential for journalism.
Let the Lemmy rush be a cautionary tale, a lesson in unchecked expansion and an insight into how quickly a promising space can transform into a barren echo chamber. For now, journalists are better off keeping their focus on more established platforms, where meaningful conversation still thrives amidst the noise.
So, to all the wordsmiths out there, stay your curiosity. Let the Lemmy lemmings leap. There's nothing for us in the Fediverse's current state. Let's return to the familiar confines of Twitter and Reddit. After all, the bird still tweets, and the front page of the internet still turns.
Note: I’m not actually sending this article to The Atlantic, but if I did, they’d probably publish it.

2023-06-22 03:04:03

The "Doomed" Fediverse: How Meta's Wisdom and Zuckerberg's BJJ Spells its Inevitable Failure
Well, ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves for the impending apocalypse because the Fediverse is doomed! Why? Because Meta, the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-wise, and all-powerful entity formerly known as Facebook, is here to crush it just like it did to XMPP. And if that wasn't convincing enough, hold your breath, because Mark Zuckerberg knows Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Now, if that isn't the final nail in the Fediverse's coffin, what is?
1. Meta: The Ultimate Deity:
Meta, with its infinite wisdom, is like a deity that will decide the fate of the internet. Who needs decentralized platforms, free speech, or user privacy when we can have one big centralized entity calling all the shots? Clearly, we should bow down and surrender our freedom, autonomy, and individuality to Meta. They will decide what content we see, what information we can access, and who we can connect with. Hallelujah!
2. XMPP: The Case of Past Failure:
Remember XMPP? That pesky decentralized messaging protocol that refused to succumb to Meta's dominance? Well, let's not dwell on the fact that it's still in use today. It's a perfect example of how Meta crushed a decentralized technology with its iron fist. So clearly, the same fate awaits the Fediverse. Who needs a diverse ecosystem of interconnected social networks when we can have one massive walled garden controlled by Meta? Diversity is overrated, right?
3. Mark Zuckerberg's BJJ Skills:
Ah, the pièce de résistance: Mark Zuckerberg's BJJ skills. Because clearly, the ability to execute a rear-naked choke or an armbar has a direct correlation to the success or failure of online platforms. Forget about innovative ideas, competent teams, or adapting to changing user needs. It's all about grappling skills! If Zuckerberg can choke out the competition on the mats, he can surely do the same in the digital realm. Fediverse, watch out!
There you have it, folks. The Fediverse, with its commitment to decentralization, privacy, and user control, is undoubtedly doomed to fail, just like XMPP, because Meta is the ultimate power and Mark Zuckerberg knows BJJ. The all-knowing, all-seeing, all-wise Meta will bring order to the chaotic realm of social media and ensure we all live in harmony under its watchful gaze. So, let's raise a glass and toast to the impending demise of the Fediverse. After all, who needs choice, diversity, or freedom when Meta is here to guide us? Cheers!
/obligatory sarcasm tag

2023-06-22 00:17:52

Mastodon’s lack of quotes and search does not prevent organized harassment campaigns.
Having now witnessed targeted harassment campaigns on the Fediverse multiple times—and also being a target of it—I see that the lack of quotes and search doesn’t inhibit harassment campaigns in any way.
If the mob is in search of a target, not only will they find you, they will use technology outside of the Fediverse to do it—including Google search, Discord chat, etc.
The only thing I’ve seen that stops targetted harassment campaigns is blocking at the individual and server wide-level, and also comment controls such as the ability to turn off replies.
In the end, it’s not lack of technology that prevents online harassment. It’s technology.

2023-06-21 23:55:30

Was going through a few #Mastodon servers and something surprised me.
The majority of Mastodon users have no idea that a #RedditMigration is currently happening. They don’t know how much the #Fediverse has grown this month. And to them, the Fediverse is still “Mastodon” even though the Fediverse is substantially less Mastodon than it was a month ago.
To me, this implies that they aren’t aware of how Mastodon interoperates with the rest of the Fediverse, and they certainly don’t know what the Fediverse looks like outside Mastodon.
Over the next year, this will likely change. But for so many people now, the Fediverse is still “Mastodon”.

2023-06-21 20:54:22

Does anyone know if there's a project to migrate personal #Reddit data to #Lemmy or #Kbin?
If Reddit lets me download an archive of my data, I'd like to upload it to the #Fediverse.

2023-06-21 20:46:47

FediDB is now reporting 1.2 million Lemmy accounts.
I am skeptical regarding the accuracy of this count, but I definitely want it to be true.
If it is true, it's the second server software to register more than 1 million accounts.
https://bunnyt1c.s3.us-east-005.backblazeb2.com/calckeysoc/9e2bb529-c363-4d14-9cbe-6ba83b06ff9c.png

2023-06-21 19:46:28

Just deleted my last three posts about harassment because the fellow who encouraged harassment did what few people do: he apologized.
So I’m no longer going to put him on blast because I have confidence that he means it.

2023-06-21 06:36:09

An update on https://notmeta.social, the #Calckey server that defederates #Meta.
It is up and running -- and everything is functioning great!
However, it is not yet open for registrations. I have a little more configuring to do, particularly with the TOS. However, it will be open and available to more people soon 🎉
Here's what the landing page currently looks like. I might eventually change the background image -- I want something more welcoming and positive 😊
Exciting times!
https://bunnyt1c.s3.us-east-005.backblazeb2.com/calckeysoc/7611bf5f-1c6d-48b6-bcb7-d88b63298164.png

2023-06-21 02:46:48

Others have said this. More and more, I think it's true: the Homeowners Association (HOA) culture on the Fediverse is hurting it.
Except, people who tend to push an HOA agenda don't even tend to be "homeowners". They don't code. They don't run servers. Many of them are recent arrivals to the Fediverse.
I don't bring that up to say that anyone's more or less important because they code or admin or have been active for awhile. But surely, if you're going to be a gatekeeper, you should have something to qualify you as the self-appointed enforcer of the HOA.
Usually, these self-appointed gatekeepers have never made any investment in this community. Instead, the HOA are outright hurting this community by being unwelcoming jackasses.
Just to give an example, why has #BlackTwitter soured on #Mastodon? It's the HOA in action. And who's currently uttering death threats to server admins? It's the HOA. They are toxic, and everywhere they go, they spread toxicity.
The worst FUD about the Fediverse isn't even coming from the likes of Big Social or Bluesky or the Press. It's from the HOA.
Who's spreading fears about "embrace, extend, extinguish"? It's the HOA. Who's creating uncertainty about whether ActivityPub can survive a corporation's use of it? Again, it's the HOA. And who believes that the Fediverse will die because something happened without their approval? It's the HOA every time.
The HOA has no authority here. The Fediverse has no board meetings, never mind a board of directors. Their decision making power is a complete delusion, a total fabrication of their collective imagination.
To be blunt, I'm done with entertaining the HOA's bluster, speciousness, and pretensions.
From here on out, at least on spaces I have tangible power, I'm gatekeeping the gatekeepers.
The HOA has no home here!

2023-06-20 21:55:38

- reply

Frankly, if you're a Fediblock purist who's okay with sending people death wishes -- and yet have taken zero effort to actually defederate anyone -- then you're a coward.

2023-06-20 20:14:05

- reply

I really hope those Fediblock zealots finally go through with their promise to defederate but I’m skeptical.

2023-06-20 19:54:25

Someone just sent me a “kill yourself” meme.
I suspect that person wants Meta to be entirely Fediblocked by everyone—and any deviation from that agenda sends them over the edge.
By the way, I’m setting up servers that won’t federate with Meta so I see the merit of blocking them.
However, I’m also setting up servers that will interoperate with Meta—I think more interoperability hurts Meta than otherwise. The Fediblock purists don’t like that, I guess.
But if that’s the kind of thing that provokes people to send me death wishes, I don’t want anything to do with that extremism.
Those gatekeepers can go fuck off.

2023-06-20 17:53:27

Personally, I believe the interoperability of #ActivityPub hurts #Meta more than helps it. And if we want to hurt Meta all the more, we make their services even more interoperable.
For example, that's what @npub1f9f…dgxv is doing by allowing #Instagram posts to be imported into #Pixelfed. The problem is that since Instagram isn't federated, that import feature can only be seen by people who are already aware of Pixelfed. And awareness of Pixelfed by Instagram users is vanishingly small.
But when Meta joins the Fediverse, we can change that 😊

2023-06-20 17:34:42

I believe @npub19qm…sn8k misread the initial post. Let me be clear. I'm not upset about #Meta building an ActivityPub-enabled service.
In fact, I believe it was inevitable.
Do I like Meta? Nope. But Big Social's entry into the Fediverse was bound to happen the moment #ActivityPub was validated by the W3C as an open protocol. Anyone who thinks Big Social would magically ignore ActivityPub just because a bunch of hobbyists claimed it as their own doesn't understand the nature of Big Social.
Of course Meta wants to drive the stake into Twitter. And of course they'll choose the protocol that is not connected in any way to Twitter.
ActivityPub already has adoption too. So from Meta's perspective, why not use it?
Nevertheless, I recognize Meta for what it is: the biggest of Big Social. I'd like to personally change that 😁
So when Meta joins the Fediverse, I'm going to welcome new Meta users with open arms, give them nice virtual hugs. Then I'm going to tell them about the rest of the Fediverse, and all the wonderful things that have already been made. Likewise, I will urge them to sign up, and migrate, to many of those wonderful, well-moderated communities.
Should some of them seek solace from Meta, I will likewise assist them too. Why? Because the Fediverse is also about freedom of association, and everyone deserves to experience that freedom.
But nope, I'm not upset about Meta joining the Fediverse.
Instead, I relish it.
RE: https://mas.to/users/carnage4life/statuses/110572937029766054
#note1s0f…vyg0

2023-06-20 17:11:35

Wow! Yet again, #Lemmy added 100,000 accounts within 24 hours!
And it's about to reach 500,000 users!
What's most impressive about this? It's managed to do this without any assistance from the tech press -- with zero Silicon Valley-style hype!
Source: https://fedidb.org/software
https://bunnyt1c.s3.us-east-005.backblazeb2.com/calckeysoc/45a12121-82b6-40b4-93a2-35ece11462bb.png

2023-06-20 04:41:58

Didn't think this would happen, but #Lemmy is now the 2nd most popular server software on the #Fediverse and is on the verge of cracking 400,000 accounts.
I'm actually shocked that it blew past #Misskey so quickly because the Misskey migration took three months to hit 300,000 accounts.
With all the drama happening elsewhere on the Fediverse, it important to remember that this is the biggest growth we've experienced in six months!
https://bunnyt1c.s3.us-east-005.backblazeb2.com/calckeysoc/3ea8a980-01d3-467b-85c3-32a8723fdd36.png

2023-06-20 03:29:03

My stance towards Meta is that the Fediverse needs two types of servers:
1. Lobby servers that explicitly federate with Meta for the purposes of moving people from Meta to the rest of the Fediverse
2. Exit servers that explicitly defederate with Meta for the purposes of keeping portions of the Fediverse out of reach from Meta
Both approaches not only can co-exist with each other, they might just be complementary.
People who use Meta need a way to migrate towards a space that is friendly, easy-to-use, and allows them to port their social graph.
But P eople also need a space that’s free from Meta, and allows them to exist beyond the eye of Zuckerberg.
Guess what? People who use Meta now might want to be invisible to Meta later. And people who dislike Meta might need a bridge to contact friends and family through some mechanism that still allows them to communicate beyond Meta’s control.
And thankfully, the Fediverse allows for this.

2023-06-20 00:25:24

Just bought the domain notmeta.social.
It will likely run as a #Calckey server.
As the domain implies, it will not federate with #Meta.

2023-06-19 21:46:24

Lots of inter-server drama today -- which is unfortunate.
It's ironic that some who are most prominently anti-Fediblock are being quick to Fediblock.
It's equally ironic that some who are most prominently pro-Fediblock are upset because they have been Fediblocked.
I hope we all take a collective breather, maybe hang out on the backyard hammock for a bit.

2023-06-19 21:13:09

Too many people on the Fediverse are scared about what happens next with it. We need a refresher on why the doubters have got it all wrong.
From the moment ActivityPub became a thing, the Tech Press kept saying the phrase, "I just don't see it happening". And they still keep saying this. Just last week, Android Authority "just couldn't see" the RedditMigration happening -- and yet it's happened.
People said that the Fediverse couldn't survive Jack Dorsey's opposition, and the billions at his disposal. Yet Jack hasn't just funded the competing AT protocol but Nostr protocol too. Neither of them have dislodged ActivityPub as the leading decentralized social media protocol.
Certain "influencers" continue to say the Fediverse is dead, that there's just not enough memes and shitposting to make it feasible. Yet I've seen lots of data that suggests engagement is higher here on the Fediverse than on Big Social.
Now the doubters say that the Fediverse will die because corporations will adopt it. There's lots of corporations already here, many with competitive products (remember Cloudflare's Wildebeest?), and still the Fediverse's independent spirit persists.
Let's remind ourselves that those spreading fear almost always get it wrong.

2023-06-19 20:26:45

Yet another question people are asking me: "How can I, a common person, help hasten the demise of #Meta through #ActivityPub?"
Again, I want to re-emphasize this. #Fediblock is not an all-purpose tool. It's useful as a hammer. But in this scenario, we don't just need a hammer. We need drills, pliers, saws, and blowtorches.
That said, we must protect communities that choose to defederate from Meta. Which means that if those servers don't want to receive messages from any Meta-owned services, we must not only be respectful of that, we should make damn sure that those servers are quarantined from Meta. So much of the success of fighting Meta will require safe spaces from Meta.
The next thing we need is lots and lots of nodes. Currently, we only have ~25,000 nodes on the Fediverse but we need more. Preferably, these nodes should be small, agile, and well-moderated. If you have the finances and/or skill to run a node, it's important that you do so. To compete with Meta, we need to build scale -- and the easiest way to build scale is by adding more nodes to the Fediverse.
What will also be key is lobby servers. These will be servers specifically set up for migrants from Meta-owned services to help onboard them towards the rest of the Fediverse. To run such a lobby server, they need to be welcoming, moderated well, and free of the elitists and gatekeepers that poison so much of the Fediverse currently.
How to get people from Meta to try out the rest of the Fediverse? We need people willing to be ambassadors on #P92 who are ready and willing to evangelize the rest of the Fediverse. Folks like @npub1g8e…qdqf are very good at this on Twitter, and I have no doubt that we can do the same with P92. Except this time we'll have the benefit of federation already happening 😉
Now if there's one thing I've learned about the growth of the Fediverse it's that bad corporate decisions pay dividends. We've already experienced waves of migration from Tumblr, Twitter, and Reddit. And I have no doubt that it's only a matter of time before Meta makes another corporate mistake -- as they tend to do.
In which case, we need to strike fast. When another Cambridge Analytica happens, we need to remind everyone on Meta about the lobby servers that are on standby, and ready to take them on. Unlike previous migrations, let's not be unprepared for this. Let's be especially prepared since Meta plans to join the Fediverse.
Finally, we need more devs. Specifically, we need devs willing to build innovative server and client software that takes aim at Meta. And to do that, we need to support the devs that currently exist -- show evergreen devs pondering whether they should invest here that we, as a community, are appreciative of our current devs.
If you like #Mastodon, #Calckey, #Kbin, #Friendica, etc., it's important that you open up your hearts as well as your wallets and fund the next stage of Fediverse development.
This will take a lot of work. But if you want to fight Meta, challenge their dominance of social media, this is what must be done.
Personally, I'm hyped about the future of the Fediverse -- regardless of whether Meta eventually lives to tell the tale.

2023-06-19 19:38:44

Many people are asking me, "How will #ActivityPub ultimately be #Meta's own undoing?"
Meta's current business model is not built for an open protocol like ActivityPub. It's very much dependent on them owning and controlling the network effect of services like Facebook and Instagram.
Not only does Meta want to collect all your personal data -- they want to control it too. They enforce this control through proprietary APIs. In this sense, they're not different from Twitter and Reddit.
The point of ActivityPub is that services, such as #Mastodon, #Kbin, and #Calckey, can depend on an open protocol instead of a proprietary API.
What if I, the admin of calckey.social, don't like what a dev is doing? Well, too bad. The protocol is open. I might be able to twiddle with my own server, but I can't do jack with anyone else's.
And what if I'm a greedy asshole who wants to monetize the user data on my server? Too bad for me, everyone on my server can migrate elsewhere.
This is not how Meta does business. In almost all ways, ActivityPub is counter to their business. Yet, here they are -- wanting to join the Fediverse.
The tech industry is awash in stories of big corporations that own proprietary tech that become undone by open standards.
Remember IBM's dominance of PCs? It was undone by the IESA standard.
Remember Novell's dominance of networking? It was undone by the bundling of TCP/IP in operating systems.
Remember AOL's dominance of online services? It was undone by the World Wide Web.
ActivityPub is yet another standard that pierces the opaque walled gardens that largely depend on proprietary technology owned by one company. And Meta happens to be one company that owns an opaque walled garden.
If history is to be repeated -- and usually it's worth learning from history -- then Meta opening the door to ActivityPub is company suicide. It's the first domino to fall before everything else in their catalogue of walled gardens also falls. Contrary to popular opinion, creating an ActivityPub enabled social network does not "kill" ActivityPub -- it validates it.
As it happens, I've known quite a few people who work at Meta. I have a little insight into what they're thinking.
Most folks at Meta know very well that Facebook will eventually die. But not just Facebook, Instagram too. Social networks, by their nature, are generational and transient. They have a shelf life.
Meta very much wants to build the app that kills Facebook and Instagram.
They have to build it because they can't acquire competition. That will raise the ire of regulators.
Likewise, Meta have already tried to leverage their own proprietary APIs to build compelling platforms. We've already seen this with the likes of Portal and Oculus.
What's apparent is that, even for a Big Social company like Meta, it is extremely hard to build a network effect from scratch. Sure, billions of people use Facebook and Instagram, but it was a whole lot of work for Meta to do that themselves.
And what was the end result of building Facebook and Instagram's network effect? More regulation by governments.
Thus, ActivityPub gives Meta two things it craves: the ability to piggyback on the network effect of an open protocol, and the ability to head off regulators by saying, "Hey, we don't own this protocol -- we're no different from Mastodon and Calckey."
Again, open protocols usually mean the demise of big corporations who leverage success through proprietary APIs. And ActivityPub will be no different.
Meta joining the Fediverse means that Automattic was right to build ActivityPub plugin for WordPress. It also means competitors, such as Apple and Microsoft, should probably start investing in ActivityPub.
What else does it mean? That small developers should start building apps that appeal to people who use Meta services. They should build these apps based on garden-variety ActivityPub -- because Meta can't own or control ActivityPub.
The first domino has dropped 😉

2023-06-19 17:56:07

People are asking me what I think about #Meta joining the Fediverse. To review what I've said elsewhere, it' important to acknowledge three important realities:
1. Meta can use ActivityPub, and nothing can be done about it. Fediblock doesn't prevent Meta from using ActivityPub because ActivityPub is an open protocol.
2. A mass Fediblock (Gab style) is not happening. The big servers aren't doing it. And if the big servers aren't doing it, the medium and little servers don't have the power to enforce a mass Fediblock.
3. The majority of people on the Fediverse don't care -- and many of them even want to connect with Meta. I know, this might surprise you. But based on my observations, most people won't be leaving mastodon.social because it federates with Meta.
4. Even if the majority of servers Fediverse servers blocked Meta, that would still mean that certain unsavoury servers (which shall be unnamed) will likely connect Meta -- and I certainly don't want those servers to be the face of the Fediverse for people who use #P92
5. Even if Meta pulled a Truth Social and didn't connect to the Fediverse, that does not prevent them from sucking up all that data from ActivityPub -- seeing how that data is, in fact, public.
Am I saying there's no value in blocking Meta? Not at all. Yes, block them if you don't want to send and receive messages to P92. Will that prevent Meta from seeing your messages? As I said, no, not at all. But at least that's data you haven't directly given to Meta (unless you're allowing RSS on your server). And it will also mean you won't receive messages from Meta -- if that's your purpose, blocking is good.
Now I've come to believe that when Meta joins the Fediverse, the Fediverse will largely be divided into three factions:
Faction 1: Servers that federate with Meta
Faction 2: Servers that don't federated with Meta, but federate with servers that federate with Meta
Faction 3: Servers that don't federate with Meta, and don't federate with any server that federates with Meta
Factions 1 and 2 will probably go on their merry way. It's Faction 3 that I believe will die because it's ultimately unfeasible.
"But Chris!" some might say, "There's that pact!"
Unless all those servers in that pact are only federating via white labeled servers who've signed that pact, the pact is useless. Such white labeling would mean that every server that federates must be manually reviewed. And it means that every new server that joins the Fediverse will be federated with Faction 1 and Faction 2 before they're federated with Faction 3.
Which ultimately means that Faction 3 gets tinier and tinier, especially as churn occurs, and those users don't get replaced by newcomers.
In the end, what will federation via white label achieve? Not a whole lot, except make certain people believe they have done something substantial to fight Meta when they haven't.
At a certain point, we have to accept reality: Meta will use ActivityPub, and most people using the Fediverse will talk to them.
So am I waving the white flag?
Not at all. What's important to acknowledge here is that it's not we, the Fediverse, who have conceded. It's Meta.
It's Meta who have given up ownership of their own corporate-owned network effect in order to join the Fediverse.
Despite this concession from Meta, I'm not happy about them joining the Fediverse.
However, there's another consideration: for people who use Meta. it's an incremental improvement over what they had before -- which was no federation. Again, less worse is better than worse. If the world is slightly better -- even if it's not ideal -- it's still better.
Do I want people to use Meta-owned social networks? Not at all.
Here's where I disagree with 99% of people panicking about Meta: I believe ActivityPub will ultimately be Meta's own undoing.
And I want to hasten this undoing 😊

2023-06-15 19:42:03

- reply

@npub1jrx…qv9r @npub16gl…syzj @npub1zms…7qv3 But the #RedditMigration is now in full swing.

2023-06-15 00:49:25

- reply

It’s true that calckey.social has “more stuff”. But the flip side is that sometimes “more stuff” has unexpected results. We test before release, but some things only become apparent after release.
But if you want to live life on the bleeding edge, maybe there’s some hoops you should jump through just so you beware.

2023-06-15 00:38:59

Someone on #Bluesky just asked for a #Calckey invite code.
Maybe we should start giving out invite codes 🤔
https://bunnyt1c.s3.us-east-005.backblazeb2.com/calckeysoc/webpublic-a9c89c00-075e-4bd9-9cf3-8ce20d4a5b65.webp

2023-06-14 22:02:47

🎆 EXCITING STUFF!!! 🎆
The first customer just signed up for #SpaceHost 🍾
@npub1grx…uxfe just created a #Lemmy server on #SpaceHost. He has some more configuring to do, but his #Lemmy server is fully operational!
He's also planning on running multiple #Calckey servers with #SpaceHost as well!
We'll be inviting more customers to #SpaceHost very soon!

2023-06-12 02:50:54

There’s a rumour going around that #Calckey has commercial aspirations.
As far as I know, this is not the case. The conversation with @npub10d4…y54v is for Calckey to eventually form a non-profit. And they’ve agreed that this is their goal as well.
Now there’s a number of steps we must take before a non-profit organization becomes feasible. It doesn’t happen overnight. But that’s what I’d like to see, and I think this project would be altogether better operating as a non-profit.

2023-06-04 21:07:21

LLMs like Chat-GPT have a lot of potential as a game.
They shouldn't be used for advice or fact-checking. By themselves, they're not good for writing stories. Pure and simple, they are a game. Specifically, they're textual adventure games with a sandbox.
I've said this previously, even likening it to "Zork + Grand Theft Auto".
In fact, I remember playing something similar on the Commodore 64 called ELIZA. I think it was meant to be a virtual therapist of sorts, but 11-year-old me spent a lot of time using it as a "practice girlfriend". If my parents only knew what I did with ELIZA 😅
I don't think apps like Chat-GPT are that much different from ELIZA, and they have the same limitations.
11-year-old me quickly realized that I had to put a lot of effort into getting ELIZA to say what I wanted it to, and that's the same deal with Chat-GPT. If you want it to do anything interesting, you have to coax it. And this is a lot of work.
Nevertheless, if you set the right parameters, the results can be interesting. I've created adventure games about:
* a dangerous gang of ducks overrunning a small town
* a film noir about watching paint dry
* a yakuza boss who makes all decisions based on what happens with his tamagotchi
But again, you can't let the LLM drive the creativity. It's not a good idea generator. But when you give it certain conditions, the result can be fun.

2023-06-02 18:24:14

If you want the most accurate stats on the #Fediverse, then @npub12ty…vnqc's https://fedidb.org really is the best stats tracker for the Fediverse.
How do I know this?
Well, let's take #Calckey for a moment.
The federation-info only lists 3,470 Calckey users and does not count the biggest Calckey server, which is calckey.social. And calckey.social has over 2,000 accounts. That's a pretty big server to miss.
And now let's consider fediverse.observer. They report a drop in Calckey users despite there being a big increase in sign-ups for May on calckey.social alone. Even more befuddling, they report 0 comments from Calckey. This is not possible. I'm seeing comments on Calckey daily.
https://fedidb.org reports an accurate count, which is that Calckey has over 9,000 accounts spread over 315 servers.

2023-06-02 01:42:48

Are people still shocked that Twitter is terrible?

2023-06-01 20:35:34

It's not worth bemoaning that #ActivityPub is, in fact, an open protocol.
And this is because it's not worth bemoaning that #SMTP is an open protocol. Or Hypertextual Transfer Protocol (#HTTP) is an open protocol.
Or for that matter that anyone can use these protocols as they see fit.
Do I like every use of these protocols? Not at all. We can't always have good things because shady assholes insist on exploiting the open web for their own greed.
The trade off is that we get to have an open web.
Now occasionally, I get people popping by who tell me, "Screw you! I don't care about an open web! I just want to keep my community intact!"
But the only reason your community exists is because we have open protocols.
If you don't think so, find me all those thriving communities still using AppleTalk or IPX/SPX. Wait. There aren't any.
And that's because the only entities that have bothered with a *closed, proprietary* protocol happen to be for-profit corporations that have largely discontinued them due to -- again, wait for it -- the prevalence of open protocols.
Which brings us to a further problem.
You can't use an open protocol while simultaneously pushing for it to be closed. The #W3C already validated ActivityPub. The proverbial cat is out of the bag.
So yes, corporations will adopt ActivityPub. That's already happening. #Meta, #Automattic, #Medium, #Flipboard -- many more to come -- are developing for it.
But openness also means you can build upon it. You can create your own thriving communities. And some of these communities can be private if you so choose.
Just as it's possible for you to build your own newsletter or publish your own webpage, it's possible for you built your own #Fediverse server.
You see, openness cuts both ways.

2023-06-01 19:25:39

Hell yeah! I was wondering when #Automattic would finally take on #Substack! WordPress.com now allows email newsletters and paid subscriptions!
It just seemed like the right direction to go on -- especially given Substack's questionable leadership team.
What might this mean for the #Fediverse?
It's no secret that there's lots of work going into the #ActivityPub plugin for WordPress, which currently requires installation on self-hosted blogs.
But at some point, I imagine that this may find its way to WordPress.com.
Now I've said previously that email will be core to future Fediverse adoption. Email is what drives adoption even to this day. Hell, it's what grew Substack itself.
Once the stars align for ActivityPub integration and email subscriptions, I believe this is where a federated WordPress can really shine.
https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/01/wordpress-com-challenges-substack-with-launch-of-paid-newsletters
@npub1gsm…5y8l
https://bunnyt1c.s3.us-east-005.backblazeb2.com/calckeysoc/0e41fd68-7184-481a-802c-ee7fc452477d.png

2023-05-30 18:41:48

What is the Fediverse?
The clue is in the name! It's a portmanteau of "Federated Universe".
It's not a platform nor is it an ecosystem, it's an entire universe of stuff!
Now think about what's in our literal universe: galaxies, black holes, comets, cosmic dust, planets, an unfathomable amount of stuff.
This is not unlike the Fediverse which also has lots of stuff 🌌
#LearnFediverse

2023-05-30 17:06:03

#Mastodon tried hard to kneecap social discovery on the #Fediverse in the name of preventing toxicity and abuse.
Little did they know that lack of social discovery would be a catalyst for toxicity and abuse.
It’s this lack of social discovery that causes Reply Guys to randomly pop into threads with neither sensitivity nor context, demanding people educate them on things when they’re called out on bad behaviour.
If only these people would read threads before talking—but they don’t because social discovery is kneecapped on Mastodon.

2023-05-30 08:36:27

Me: Hey, wouldn't it be cool if we tweaked this #Calckey feature to do this thing?
Reply Guy: I don't want #Mastodon to do that.
Me: Okay, I'm talking about --
Reply Guy: I SAID I DON'T WANT MASTODON TO DO THAT!!!
Me: I'm not using Mastodon.
Reply Guy: My personal preferences should apply to the entirety of the Fediverse 😠

2023-05-29 23:13:25

This is exactly why you should never trust @npub13s4…p5lf.
RE: https://brands.town/users/FoxNews/statuses/110454471946731174
#note1u3p…6qsu

2023-05-29 22:47:42

I know what #Calckey’s new name will be.
And I got a peek at potential branding, including a logo.
It is hot 🥵 🔥

2023-05-29 18:48:01

This is great for the #Fediverse!
In addition to #Mastodon, @npub1pak…jkzf now supports #Pixelfed and #Bluesky. In doing so, it's one of the first major apps to go beyond Mastodon, and support more of the Fediverse.
First, let's talk about Pixelfed. I've been using this app, both on iOS and Android, for quite some time. It's made great technical strides over the past three months, and I'm amazed at how far it's come.
In fact, one Pixelfed arrives in app stores, I have no doubt this could be a contender as an Instagram challenger.
Now some people might not be so happy about #Bluesky support, but from the perspective of Flipboard, it's the right decision to make. The more sources that app has, the better for its use case -- which is news.
I meant to talk about this last week, but I had other commitments that needed my attention. Still, it's worth talking about even now.
https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/23/flipboard-becomes-first-to-support-bluesky-mastodon-and-pixelfed-all-in-one-app/
https://bunnyt1c.s3.us-east-005.backblazeb2.com/calckeysoc/3a6e1903-6d84-4f97-b88c-435d3f4c5148.png

2023-05-29 04:42:19

Lifting weights is the biggest quality of life improvement I've ever made.
I've gone from suffering from sciatica, and being unable to sit up for long periods of time to now doing 360lbs of leg presses, and 135lbs of chest presses.
My mobility is improved. I no longer have crippling back aches. And I'm no longer exhausted by the end of the day. I have stamina galore.
I'm mentally sharper. I no longer have brain fog. I can concentrate for longer periods of time.
I feel younger. Not only that, I feel I've added years to my life.
Weightlifting truly is medicine.

2023-05-28 19:33:21

Chat-GPT shouldn't be called an A.I.
It should be referred to as a text-based adventure game with sandbox elements.
Zork + Grand Theft Auto = Chat-GPT

2023-05-26 22:59:30

- reply

Funny enough, I once spoke to a Meta exec who told me that their goal is to build the killer app that kills Facebook.
Why? Because they know all social media apps have a shelf life.
Even if you’re a multi-billion dollar Internet company, success can be very fleeting.
Just ask Yahoo, AOL, and MySpace.

2023-05-26 22:54:39

How will the #Fediverse break #Meta’s monopoly on social media?
Same way the IESA broke IBM’s monopoly on PCs.
Same way HTML5 broke Adobe’s monopoly with Flash.
Same way open Internet standards broke Microsoft’s monopoly with Internet Explorer.
Open standards and protocols have a habit of breaking monopolies.

2023-05-26 19:24:18

According to @npub1ls2…8x9m, there are now 12 million #Mastodon accounts.
This is good news for the growth of the #Fediverse, but there's a caveat.
Other than on mastodon.social, Mastodon sign-ups are slowing down. In my own estimation, the majority of Mastodon servers aren't experiencing any growth -- and many are losing servers.
At one point, https://joinmastodon.org was critical to driving sign-ups amongst many Mastodon servers. But from what numerous admins tell me, sign-ups from there have slowed to a trickle.
With https://home.social closing down soon, I fear this is a harbinger for more big server shutdowns. That is, unless something is done.
However, Mastodon isn't the entirety of the story.
It looks like *key apps are spurring more user adoption.
#Misskey is now the 2nd most used Fediverse software after Mastodon.
And within a month, #Calckey has nearly doubled in size -- despite the flagship server (which I admin) overcoming a few key challenges.
Of course, the arrival of #Barcelona will change everything. How? I don't entirely know.
But now with 12 million Mastodon users, it's time for the next chapter of the Fediverse.

2023-05-26 18:05:51

Point blank, a mass Fediblock isn't going to work with #Meta.
The cold truth is that people will use #Barcelona whether it federates or not. Even if it fails, Barcelona will probably have more users out of the gate than almost every project save Mastodon. Hell, it will probably eclipse #Bluesky too.
And even if you convince every server to defederate -- which you won't -- this will not be a PR coup for the Fediverse. Newspaper headlines won't blare "Fediverse successfully resists Meta." Instead, they will probably follow @npub1eee…e209 take with "Open source zealots complain that an open protocol is open."
Again, as I've said countless times, I'm not saying you should federate with Barcelona or any Meta-owned property. If you want, defederate. The joy of the Fediverse is freedom of association.
But a mass Fediblock doesn't solve a few important problems with Meta, and perhaps makes them worse.
The most critical problem is that Meta users need to migrate away from Meta-owned social networks. Until now, a migration path has simply been unfeasible to most. But when Barcelona gets launched, it is possible that many of them will become aware of a greater Fediverse.
How to build that awareness? By interacting with them through services beyond Barcelona.
This approach works. I've interacted with many Mastodon users through services beyond Mastodon, and this has resulted in adoption of other Fediverse software. #Calckey is a case in point.
However, there's a bigger problem concerning Meta: Fediverse replacements for Meta-owned social networks aren't getting mass adoption. And it's not because these apps aren't good.
#Pixelfed is an #Instagram replacement. It is also one of the slickest apps on the Fediverse. Yet, Pixelfed only has 150,000 registered accounts.
#Friendica is a #Facebook replacement. It's been around since 2010. It is a mature product that does many things very well, but Friendica only has 17,000 registered accounts.
The software is great but we are failing to effectively market the Fediverse beyond Mastodon. Now I'm trying my darnedest to change this, and so are many people. But facts are facts. Fediverse alternatives to Meta are a blip on the radar.
Refusing to federate with Barcelona won't change this. How do I know?
Because we don't federate now, and the status quo remains intact.
Meanwhile, Meta is practically gifting Pixelfed and Friendica an opportunity for federation, and it would be foolish to not consider broader implications.
How is it that more people aren't considering this opportunity?
Dare I say that most people -- including devs -- suffer from myopia concerning what the Fediverse is. The Fediverse is not Mastodon, and it is wrong to view the Fediverse solely through the eyes of Mastodon.
And I'll go further: by focusing Barcelona on text, I suspect that Meta is likewise making the same mistake of viewing the Fediverse as a "Twitter killer".
What they may not be considering is that the Fediverse might be a "Meta killer" too. And connecting Barcelona to the Fediverse is opening a can of worms Meta hasn't entirely considered yet.
If Barcelona is indeed text-based, what will happen when a Barcelona user encounters Pixelfed and asks, "Why does this post show reels? And why can't I do the same?"
Believe me, this is the kind of content that triggers migration.
We need to think bigger than Fediblock. Yes, for your own mental health and safety, you may not want to federate with Barcelona. However, there needs to also be a means for Barcelona users to encounter content outside Barcelona.
Perhaps there needs to be "lobby" servers that help Barcelona users enter the greater Fediverse -- helping them make the switch beyond Meta.

2023-05-26 17:23:24

I like looking at the MacBook.
But I prefer touching the ThinkPad.

2023-05-25 21:20:56

Happy birthday to @npub1c3y…w4t4!
#Fedilab is now 6 years old, and it remains my favourite Android app!
(And might soon support #Calckey too.)
@npub1gsm…5y8l
RE: https://toot.fedilab.app/users/apps/statuses/110431287904034508
#note1phl…mfjf

2023-05-25 20:58:01

At this point, does anyone expect #Twitter to not legally bully academics?
I agree with @npub1fhd…q58c that this is unconscionable.
At the same time, it's more and more apparent that academia needs to migrate to the Fediverse.
@npub1hu5…m84y
RE: https://macaw.social/users/yoyoel/statuses/110430593868345665
#note1e9v…7wzc

2023-05-25 18:30:57

Yeah, the rumours are true. #Calckey is changing its name.
A change in brand is never easy, but it’s better to do the change now rather than later.
I’ll tell you this, though. The brand will reflect the growth of the project.
What’s currently known as Calckey isn’t merely a Misskey fork anymore.
RE: https://calckey.social/notes/9f701jlpvp
#note148e…xp56

2023-05-25 18:05:03

Time to talk about Fediblock 🥳
This is a topic that fills my heart with joy and cheer -- and no doubt yours as well -- because it's never controversial, never gets anyone upset, and makes us all do a happy dance!
Oh, who am I kidding? Fediblock sucks. But it's an absolute necessity. Before I begin, let me acknowledge this is my personal opinion. It is not representative of https://calckey.social.
There's a lot of bad servers out there dedicated to making people miserable. It's simply not an option to federate with those servers simply because they compromise community safety.
So what are those bad servers?
Here's the rub. Publicizing a Fediblock list, and reasons for a server ending up on Fediblock, is also a bad idea as it attracts negative attention, and attempts by trolls to override the Fediblock. And then we get into an arms race -- which becomes a time suck.
That said, I fully acknowledge that servers can change, and that it's worth periodically reviewing which servers are on our Fedblock list. What's more, as admins, we can also acknowledge that conditions can change -- due to the Fediverse itself changing.
The most front-of-mind aspect of what arrives on Fediblock is, of course, community safety. When in doubt, lean towards safety at all times (within reason).
On this server, the admin team will be reviewing what's on our Fediblock list. I imagine not much will change, but we may re-visit the status of a few servers.
Deciding which servers to federate with isn't an easy decision, but it's something we take very seriously.

2023-05-24 04:49:38

This is extremely sad news about home.social. That server has 36,673 users, of which 6,235 are active.
If you're currently on home.social, here's a reminder that you can migrate your account over to calckey.social -- and upload your #Mastodon posts too.
RE: https://home.social/users/admin/statuses/110419949340787839
#note1kzr…a3rw

2023-05-23 22:54:47

Demanding that people only block the "proper" way is a pretty good reason to be blocked.

2023-05-23 18:25:55

#GreatApe is coming!
What is it?
A streaming peer-to-peer audio/video social network for the Fediverse that's compatible with #Mastodon, #Calckey, #Friendica, and others via #ActivityPub!
Along with @npub1fc4…adca and others, I've building this app for years -- it's been in the making for a long, long time!
We're doing an upcoming beta test and are looking for volunteers who want to make some #Fediverse history!
To apply for this test, visit this link and submit your email:
https://greatape.stream/