But which one will be here tomorrow?
The fediverse (often referred to as just fedi) is a collection of social networking services that can communicate with each other (formally known as federation) using a common protocol. Users of different websites can send and receive status updates, multimedia files and other data across the network. The term fediverse is a combination of “federation” and “universe”.
The majority of fediverse platforms that are available are free and open-source software, and are based on the ActivityPub protocol. However, alternative protocols such as AT Protocol and Nostr have formed their own networks separate from ActivityPub.
From WIKI and it shows why one shouldn’t put all your eggs in this basket. Plus how long before the Big Guys break this into pieces they can control.
My hosting company using a cpanel installer had a version of Hubzilla that is totally useless- no addons. It especially need ActivePub to work with my websites and they refused to install the addon plugins .
Below is an article that was on Mastodon, showing more stupidity behind the AI movement
https://mastodon.social/@sybren@mastodon.art
I used Ollama AI model deepseek2 to gen this content below. This all jives with my experience. I am using hubzilla, but the plugins needed are not available easily. I also have an account on Mastodon.None of these have added much to my sites.
What about Fediverse?
The Fediverse is a network of decentralized social networks and microblogging platforms that use the same open protocols, such as
ActivityPub, OStatus, and other decentralization-friendly communication protocols. It allows users to connect with each other across
different platforms without relying on a single central authority. Here’s what you should know about it:
- Decentralized Nature: The Fediverse operates on the principle of decentralization. Unlike centralized social media platforms
where one company controls everything, in the Fediverse, there is no single point of control or ownership. Instead, servers (or
instances) communicate with each other using open protocols to share information and interact with users’ accounts. - Protocols: The backbone of the Fediverse is a set of communication protocols that enable different social platforms to
interoperate. Some popular ones include:
- ActivityPub: A protocol used by platforms like Mastodon, Pixelfed, and Pleroma to allow cross-instance communication.
- OStatus: An older protocol used by GNU social and other networks to facilitate decentralized communications.
- Other protocols: There are several others that support different aspects of the Fediverse, such as WebSockets for real-time
interactions or XMPP for enhanced messaging features.
- Platforms: The Fediverse comprises a wide variety of platforms, each with its own focus and user base. Some popular ones
include:
- Mastodon: A decentralized social network that uses ActivityPub to connect instances together. It’s known for being
easy to set up and use, making it accessible to many users. - Pleroma: An open-source alternative to Mastodon with similar features but potentially more customizable due to its modular
architecture. - Pixelfed: A photo-sharing platform that focuses on decentralized social networking through the Fediverse.
- Misskey: Another open-source, decentralizable microblogging platform with unique features like federated note threads and
complex emoji reactions.
- Interoperability: The beauty of the Fediverse lies in its interoperability. Users can follow friends from different platforms,
post content that is visible across multiple instances, and engage in conversations without being limited to a single service. This
cross-platform interaction adds depth and breadth to social networking experiences. - Community and Culture: As with any decentralized network or culture, the Fediverse has its own community norms, jargon, and
subcultures. Users often use unique hashtags (e.g., #fediverse), participate in themed events (like Mastodon’s “FediMarch”), and
maintain a vibrant online presence that supports the ethos of decentralization and openness. - Challenges: The Fediverse faces challenges like any other decentralized network, including scalability issues, centralization
risks, and fragmentation. However, its strength lies in its diversity and resilience to control attempts by larger entities.
The Fediverse represents a significant alternative to the centralized social media giants, offering users more control over their data,
interactions, and online identities through open protocols and platforms that respect user privacy and freedom of expression.
What about hubzilla?
Hubzilla is an open-source platform for personal web publishing and decentralized social networking. It’s a fork of the GNU Social
network software, which means it shares some similarities with other GNU Social forks like StatusNet or Plume. Here are some key points
about Hubzilla:
- Decentralized Architecture: Like the Fediverse, Hubzilla is designed to be decentralized. It allows users to set up their own
instances (servers) and connect them together using a protocol called ActivityStreams 2.0, which is similar to ActivityPub used by
Mastodon and other Fediverse platforms. - Personal Web Publishing: While it’s primarily focused on social networking, Hubzilla also supports personal web publishing
through its Zot (for “Zettelkasten”) feature, allowing users to create interconnected notes or articles in a wiki-like format. - Customizable and Extensible: Hubzilla is designed to be customizable and extensible. Users can modify the code, add plugins, or
use themes to tailor the platform to their needs and preferences. This flexibility makes it adaptable for various community uses beyond
traditional social networking. - Privacy Focused: Like other decentralized platforms, Hubzilla emphasizes user privacy. It provides tools for managing data
sharing settings and supports secure communication protocols by default. - Community and Support: As an open-source project, Hubzilla has a vibrant community that contributes to its development and
support. Users can find documentation, tutorials, and active forums where they can ask questions and share tips with other users and
developers. - Technical Requirements: To run a Hubzilla instance, you’ll need some technical knowledge about server management, as well as
familiarity with HTML, CSS, and PHP (since the platform is built on these technologies). However, there are also managed services
available for those who prefer not to manage their own servers. - Growing Ecosystem: As an open-source project, Hubzilla has a growing ecosystem of users and developers. This means that it’s
continually evolving with new features and improvements, which can be both positive (as it receives ongoing updates) and challenging
(since the platform may not always have the stability or polished user interface of larger proprietary platforms). - Potential Limitations: Due to its decentralized nature, Hubzilla might lack some of the mainstream social media functionalities
that users are accustomed to, such as large-scale advertising or algorithmic timelines. It also relies on user adoption and engagement
for growth, which may be slower than with more centralized platforms.
In summary, Hubzilla is a powerful and flexible platform for those who value decentralization, privacy, and the ability to control
their online identities through personal servers. However, it requires some technical knowledge to set up and maintain, and its
features and functionality might not match what many users are used to in larger centralized social networks.
