Optimising #Mastodon = designing flows that encourage people to leave mastodon.social for other instances, not accepting any more new members on mastodon.social, and making design changes that limit how much a single instance can scale.

A single instance that can scale to host hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of people, is not a design success in decentralisation, it’s a design failure. (It’s a design success in #BigTech.)

CC @Gargron

#decentralisation #centralisation #federation

Resources #Mastodon instances need to run are not free. If we users want to keep the network the way it is, we need to take responsibility for that.

That's why I did my humble part today and made a contribution to my instance: liberapay.com/FLOSS.social
Thank you, @downey, for running it! It's a reliable instance with a friendly community which I enjoy using every day.

FLOSS.social's profile - Liberapay

FLOSS.social was launched on 1 April 2018 as a Mastodon instance for people who care about, support, or build Free, Libre, and Open Source Software (FLOSS). Of course, …

^Liberapay

🐘 Mastodon Tip ✨

Mastodon doesn't always pull in up-to-date profile info.

If you see a blank avatar, or if you just want to make sure you're seeing someone's up-to-date profile info, do this:

1) Right-click on their avatar or username.
2) Choose "copy link address" or similar.
3) Click in the Mastodon search box and paste the link.
4) Press enter.
5) If there's a new avatar or display name, it will update when the profile appears in the search results.

[ #MastoTips #tootorial #Mastodon #MastoMeta ]

Feeling lost on mastodon?
Perhaps this will help.

#mastodon #twittermigration #skills #analogueRules

A reminder that #Mastodon doesn’t make billions from advertising. Servers are supported by individuals & orgs, hosts themselves & donations.

If like me, you’re part of the #stampede arriving from the #Twittermigration, consider adding your support to show @Gargron & others we appreciate their effort & time: patreon.com/mastodon

Mastodon is creating Mastodon | Patreon

Become a patron of Mastodon today: Get access to exclusive content and experiences on the world’s largest membership platform for artists and creators.

^Patreon

GNU/Linux.ch verlässt Twitter und Telegram

Wir vereinfachen unsere Kommunikationskanäle, in dem wir uns auf Matrix und Mastodon fokussieren.

#Social_Media #Kommunikation #Telegram #Mastodon #Matrix #Twitter

gnulinux.ch/gnu-linux-ch-verla…

GNU/Linux.ch verlässt Twitter und Telegram

^GNU/Linux.ch

@kensanata & I declared it a task to package mastodon-backup for easier install on Linux. Well, basically that was declared a task for me, and the first packages are ready for testing. Before declaring them "mature" & placing them into a repo for "public use" we'd prefer some testing to be sure they work well (and which distros might have issues with them).

Please help us getting them ready: github.com/kensanata/mastodon-…

#serviceToot #Mastodon #Tools #Backups #Archive

getting mastodon-backup packaged (for Linux) · Issue #80 · kensanata/mastodon-backup

As discussed in #78 we will go about packaging mastodon-backup for Linux distributions – a task I've adopted. Attached you'll find the first packages to test (I had to rename the files to *...

^GitHub

A guide for using #screenReaders with #Mastodon.

#a11y #accessibility

starshipchangeling.net/mastodo…

Changeling’s Guide to Mastodon for screen Reader Users

What is This?   This is a page where you can find links to all of the currently published chapters of Changeling’s Guide to mastodon for Screen Reader Users. I was considering publishing…

^{The Starship Changeling}

I wrote a nano tool that tries to extract the #Fediverse accounts of your #Twitter followings: fedifinder.glitch.me/

It searches for the patterns @user@host.tld, user@host.tld and host.tld/@user in the screen name, description, location and URL field. It displays them to you in the correct format for easy copying as well as a CSV download that can be imported to #Mastodon.

New version: fedifinder-backup.glitch.me/

There's a tool to find #mastodon handles of your #Twitter followers - and to bulk-follow them here on #Mastodon! Big thanks to @jwildeboer for pointing this out.

For all folks coming in via #twittermigration (#heuhier, #IchBinNeuHier):

==> fedifinder.glitch.me/ looks for your Twitter followers on Mastodon and let's you download a CSV which you can import on (Settings -> Import and Export -> Import on Mastodon web).

CC: @mainec @ahrkrak

📲 Gibt ja wirklich eine ganze Menge Apps für #Mastodon auf #Android. Da dürfte für jedes Pläsierchen was dabei sein: android.izzysoft.de/applists/c…

Ich selbst nutze Webapp oder #Tusky

Schaut gerne auch mal außerhalb des Spielzeugladens...

#FDroid #FDroidFirst
fyi: @stbc @cb1 @IzzyOnDroid

Twitter & Mastodon Clients - Android App Übersicht

^IzzyOnDroid

When I joined #mastodon, I just wanted an open-source #twitter clone.

I got more than that. Subtle design differences made for healthier conversations in ways I wasn't expecting.

Here's a blog post to try to capture those differences and why they matter. scott.mn/2022/10/29/twitter_fe…

4 Twitter features Mastodon is better for not having

When less is more for healthy conversations

^scott.mn

REQUESTING URGENT HELP;

If you know me from #Twitter you've been informed that my mom is abusive & ableist...

I'm an Autistic person requesting help to secure safe housing & pay for a plane ticket. A year ago I was planning to move for college, but gradually my mom has been financially trapping me. I now have no solid income atm & I cannot work or drive!

•Click link for more detail;
gofund.me/50bec059

#mutualaid #ActuallyAutistic #disabled #RequestingAid #News #mastodon

@mutualaid

Oh, ich muss meinen Mastodon-Artikel schon wieder aktualisieren: Automatische #Backups Eurer #Mastodon Accounts sind jetzt, zumindest unter #Linux, jetzt noch einfacher. Mein Merge Request wurde gemergt, und es gibt jetzt das hier:

github.com/kensanata/mastodon-…

mastodon-backup/mastoarch at main · kensanata/mastodon-backup

Archive your statuses, favorites and media using the Mastodon API (i.e. login required) - mastodon-backup/mastoarch at main · kensanata/mastodon-backup

^GitHub

Wow, I really hope that’s not the default copy on the Mastodon web client.

The last thing we should be doing is perpetuating the myth that these things are boring and no one should care about them.

#privacy #mastodon #fediverse

CC @Gargron

Hello to all the new people! 👋

You can choose any Mastodon server to sign up on, but you can also make your own server if you want!

You don't need tech skills or deep pockets, you can get a managed hosting account for about 6 euros a month. (Managed hosting means the hosting company does all the tech stuff.)

If you want more info including a list of companies that offer this, have a look at:

growyourown.services/grow-your…

#Mastodon

Grow your own social network | Grow Your Own Services

Helping non-technical people create their own online services

^{growyourown.services}

Getting started with Mastodon 🌤️

Read:
fedi.tips/

Find people:
fedi.directory/
fediverse.info/explore/people

1. Boost good posts to your followers

2. Search hashtags to find stuff that interest you

3. If you're never posting anything people won't find and follow you

4. Add a profile image to make life more colorful

5. Generate an invite link and send it to your friends

6. Ask questions

#Mastodon #Fediverse

Fedi.Directory

Interesting accounts to follow on Mastodon and the Fediverse

^{fedi.directory}

I’m basically only keeping my Twitter account around so as not to break over a decade and a half of links on the web but I thought it might be an idea to pop over there today and state the obvious:

twitter.com/aral/status/158590…

#elonMusk #twitter #mastodon #fediverse

🇩🇪 Ich habe gerade mal meine Mastodon-Artikel mit den Themen "Backup" und "Migration" ergänzt.

🇺🇸 I've just updated my #Mastodon article, amending the topics "backup" and "migration" (for the latter including a link to the excellent article by @CodingItWrong)

android.izzysoft.de/articles/n…

Mastodon: Microblogging in freundlicher Atmosphäre

Mastodon ist der wohl bekannteste Dienst des Fediverse. Es handelt sich dabei um einen Microblogging-Dienst, der sich am ehesten mit Twitter vergleichen ließe.

^IzzyOnDroid

Excuse me, did my own Mastodon instance that I own and control just rate limit me?

#letsCopyBigTech #whatCouldPossiblyGoWrong #mastodon

My Mastodon Posts June 2020

- Graphics Tools Poll floss.social/@ademalsasa/10432…
- List of Distros Officials floss.social/@ademalsasa/10430…
- Graphics Tools List floss.social/@ademalsasa/10434…
- User Friendly Resources floss.social/@ademalsasa/10430…
- Awesome Free Software floss.social/@ademalsasa/10435…
- Peertube Guide for YouTubers floss.social/@ademalsasa/10423…
- Librehost Overview of Mine floss.social/@ademalsasa/10403…
- Libre Speed Test floss.social/@ademalsasa/10401…
- Alternative World vs Gafam floss.social/@ademalsasa/10400…

#freesw #foss #mastodon

Mastodon – Simplified Federation by @rugk makes remote follows less cumbersome by automatically entering your Mastodon account details and puts that functionality where it should be: in your browser.

You can get it for Firefox from:

addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firef…

#mastodon #remoteFollow #federation #usability #tip #firefox #extension

Mastodon – Simplified Federation! – Get this Extension for 🦊 Firefox (en-US)

Download Mastodon – Simplified Federation! for Firefox. Simplifies following or interacting with other users on remote Mastodon instances in the Fediverse.

^{addons.mozilla.org}

If you’re using Mastodon, I’d highly recommend setting:

- Slow mode. This stops you from losing your place while you’re reading a timeline when new posts come it. It also fixes the bug where rotating your phone while watching a video dumps you back in the timeline at some new place.

- Disable swiping motions. This stops you from accidentally changing timelines when you were trying to go back using a browser that implements swiping motions as shortcuts for navigation.

CC @feditips #mastodon

Anyone know how long it takes for Mastodon instances to update their profile pic caches for followed accounts?

I’m still seeing the initial one for our Owncast account. No idea how to manually force a refresh either.

CC @Gargron

#mastodon #fediverse #help

OK, mystery solved; the Inkl folks found the problem:

Mastodon strips out the information they need to not show the paywall in its media preview. So if you click the media preview, it doesn’t work. If you click the original link, it does.

They’re working on a fix.

(Screenshot from Navin at Inkl.)

CC @Gargron

#inkl #mastodon #bug

RSS fans!

You can follow any Mastodon account via RSS by just adding ".rss" to the end of the account's public profile URL.

To find a user's public profile URL, click on their profile image within Mastodon.

For example, if you click on FediTips' profile image you get this page in a new tab:

mstdn.social/@feditips

So, to follow FediTips through RSS, use this address:

mstdn.social/@feditips.rss

This will only show that account's public posts. Other posts will not be visible on the RSS feed.

#RSS #MastoTips #FediTips #Mastodon

FediTips (@feditips@mstdn.social)

1.75K Posts, 541 Following, 12.8K Followers · Posting tips and hints about Mastodon and the Fediverse 🌍 @ or DM me if you have any questions, suggestions or comments 📨 There's no such thing as a silly question, if you're having difficulty usin…

^{Mastodon 🐘}

You can create your own Mastodon server even without technical knowledge 🐘

There are companies that provide Managed Hosting, where you pay a monthly fee and they do all the technical stuff including hosting, installation and updates.

You own and run the server, they do the tech stuff behind the scenes.

The best managed hosting companies for Mastodon are probably masto.host and federation.spacebear.ee

It's not just Mastodon either, there are lots of Fediverse platforms and other online services available through managed hosting. Try visiting growyourown.services for more options (or follow them at @homegrown).

#MastoTips #FediTips #Mastodon #Fediverse #ManagedHosting

Masto.host - Fully Managed Mastodon Hosting

Masto.host was built from the ground up to make running a Mastodon instance easy.

^Masto.host

If you're currently on a massive server like mastodon.social, you might want to consider moving your account to a smaller server.

You can keep your followers when you change servers, here's how to do it: mstdn.social/@feditips/1079394…

You can find reliable servers at joinmastodon.org/communities (all the servers listed there agree to the covenant at joinmastodon.org/covenant). Try to pick one with fewer people.

There are lots of good things about smaller servers:

-Better moderation, because there are more staff per member.

-Smaller servers tend to have more personality, with a village feel.

-The local timeline on smaller servers is much more readable.

-Smaller servers protect the Fediverse as a whole from being taken over, because lots of smaller servers are harder to buy than a few big servers.

-It's easier to make a difference on smaller servers. It's easier to discuss things with the admin and other members.

#FediTips #MastoTips #Fediverse #Mastodon

FediTips (@feditips@mstdn.social)

If you want, you can move your Mastodon account from one instance (server) to another. Moving lets you take your followers, follows and some settings with you. 1.

^{Mastodon 🐘}

Profiles and posts on Mastodon and the Fediverse have public versions you can share with people who aren't on the Fediverse.

To see the public version of a profile, click on the profile picture. This will open the public version of the profile in a new tab.

To see the public version of a post, click on the datestamp below the post. This will open the public version of the post in a new tab.

These "public pages" are handy for sharing with friends, because they don't require logging in to see them.

Public pages are also very useful for something else:

If you paste the URL address of a public page into the search box on Mastodon, and then search for it, the post or profile will appear within your server. This is handy if you cannot find a post or person by searching, but you know they exist on another server.

Searching for a URL like this forces your server to "notice" the profile or post.

It also works with URLs from PeerTube, PixelFed etc.

#MastoTips #FediTips #Mastodon

I thought it would be a cool idea to create a #lemmy #community for #fediverse/ #federation #introductions!

Problem with introduction posts is they tend to get buried after a short while and depending on how many other instances yours may know about others someone's intro may not federate that well (or fast) with the rest of the network.

Plus, some instances like #mastodon only allow 500 characters in a post. Not a lot of room to write an introduction. 🙂

This was one of the use cases and goals I had for creating federated.community to kind of provide an alternative.

Anyway, to kick things off I've posted my own introduction and you're more than welcome to post one as well.

I also thought it would be cool to allow instance admins to post an "introduction" about their Instances too, so new users to the fediverse could find a little more information out about people's instances too.

Thoughts? Is this a good idea? What do you think?

federated.community/c/introductions

There are a bunch of other social apps, but to be honest #Mastodon for me seems to be the most polished & has the most users (so it's the most social).

If you can think of a good reason to check out the others please let me know why 🙂

Some aren't just microblogging, but do other things too.

These are the other apps available:
#Diaspora #Pleroma #Friendica #GnuSocial #HubZilla #Misskey

My top 🪐 #Fediverse App picks:

1. 🐘 #Mastodon
✍️ Microblogs
joinmastodon.org/
Many specific ones to choose from.

2. 🐼 #Pixelfed
📸 Images
pixelfed.org/

Main: pixelfed.social/

3. 🐙 #PeerTube
🎥 Videos
joinpeertube.org/

Main: tilvids.com/videos/overview

4. 🐉 #BookWrym
📚 Books
joinbookwyrm.com/

Main: bookwyrm.social/

5. 🐳#Funkwhale
🎵 Music
funkwhale.audio/#get-started

Instance List:
network.funkwhale.audio/dashbo…

Good one: audio.gafamfree.party/library/…

QLF for Music Lovers

With love, for lovers

^{QLF for Music Lovers - Funkwhale}