Fediverse: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Fediverse_logo_proposal_(mono_version).svg|thumb|Fediverse logo proposal (mono)]] | [[File:Fediverse_logo_proposal_(mono_version).svg|thumb|Fediverse logo proposal (mono)]] | ||
The '''Fediverse''' (a [[portmanteau]] of "federation" and "universe") is the ensemble of [[Federation_(information_technology) |federated]] servers that are used for [[web publishing]] (i.e. [[social networking]], [[microblogging]], [[macroblogging]], or [[websites]]) and file hosting. | The '''Fediverse''' (a [[portmanteau]] of "federation" and "universe") is the ensemble of [[Federation_(information_technology) |federated]] servers that are used for [[web publishing]] (i.e. [[social networking]], [[microblogging]], [[macroblogging]], or [[websites]]) and file hosting. | ||
On different servers (instances), users can create so called identities. These identities are able to communicate over the boundaries of the instances because the softwares running on the servers support one or more [[Communication protocol|communication protocols]] which follow the [[open standard]].<ref> | On different servers (instances), users can create so called identities. These identities are able to communicate over the boundaries of the instances because the softwares running on the servers support one or more [[Communication protocol|communication protocols]] which follow the [[open standard]].<ref>[http://mastoguide.info/Pages/fedFAQ.html|title=Mastodon User Guide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409030653/http://mastoguide.info/Pages/fedFAQ.html|archive-date=2017-04-09|dead-url=yes}}</ref> As an identity on the fediverse, you are able to exchange private messages or other data with other identities or to follow posts by other identities. In some cases, you can even show or share data (video, audio, text and other files) publicly or to a selected group of identities and allow other identities to edit your data (i.e. a calendar or an address book). | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
In 2008, the social network [[identi.ca]] was founded by [[wikipedia:Evan Prodromou|Evan Prodromou]]. He published the software [[GNU Social]] under a [[free license]] ([[GNU Affero General Public License|GNU Affero General Public License, AGPL]]). Besides the server, identi.ca, there were only few other instances existing, run by persons for their own use. This changed in 2011/2012 when identi.ca switched to another software called [[pump.io]]. Several new GNU Social instances were created. | In 2008, the social network [[identi.ca]] was founded by [[wikipedia:Evan Prodromou|Evan Prodromou]]. He published the software [[GNU Social]] under a [[free license]] ([[GNU Affero General Public License|GNU Affero General Public License, AGPL]]). Besides the server, identi.ca, there were only few other instances existing, run by persons for their own use. This changed in 2011/2012 when identi.ca switched to another software called [[pump.io]]. Several new GNU Social instances were created. | ||
At the same time as GNU Social, other projects like [[Friendica]], Hubzilla,<ref name="Hubzilla gnusoc"> | At the same time as GNU Social, other projects like [[Friendica]], Hubzilla,<ref name="Hubzilla gnusoc">[https://framagit.org/hubzilla/addons/tree/master/gnusoc |title=gnusoc · master · hubzilla / addons |access-date=2018-07-17 |author=framagit.org/hubzilla/}}</ref> [[Mastodon (software)|Mastodon]] and Pleroma<ref name="Pleroma">[https://pleroma.social/ |author=pleroma.social|title=Pleroma |access-date=2018-07-17}}</ref> integrated the [[OStatus]] protocol, thus extending the fediverse. | ||
In the meantime, other communication protocols have evolved which are integrated to different degrees into the platforms. In January 2016, the [[World Wide Web Consortium|W3C]] presented the [[ActivityPub|ActivityPub]] protocol, aiming to improve the interoperability between the platforms. | In the meantime, other communication protocols have evolved which are integrated to different degrees into the platforms. In January 2016, the [[World Wide Web Consortium|W3C]] presented the [[ActivityPub|ActivityPub]] protocol, aiming to improve the interoperability between the platforms. As of 2018-08, this protocol is supported by thirteen platforms (see the table below). | ||
== Communication protocols used in the fediverse == | == Communication protocols used in the fediverse == | ||
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<!-- Alphabetical Order --> | <!-- Alphabetical Order --> | ||
* [[ActivityPub]] | * [[ActivityPub]] | ||
* [[DFRN]] <ref> | * [[DFRN]] <ref>[https://github.com/friendica/friendica/blob/master/spec/dfrn2.pdf|title=DFRN2|author=github.com/friendica/|access-date=2018-08-18}}</ref> | ||
* [[Diaspora (social network)|Diaspora Network]] | * [[Diaspora (social network)|Diaspora Network]] | ||
* [[OStatus]] | * [[OStatus]] | ||
* [[Zot (protocol)|Zot & Zot/6]] <ref> | * [[Zot (protocol)|Zot & Zot/6]] <ref>[https://macgirvin.com/wiki/mike/Zot%2BVI/Home|title=Zot/6|author=Mike Macgirvin|access-date=2018-09-14}}</ref> <ref>[https://project.hubzilla.org/help/en/developer/zot_protocol|title=Zot Protocol|author=project.hubzilla.org|access-date=2018-08-18}}</ref> | ||
==Fediverse software platforms== | ==Fediverse software platforms== | ||
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| Anfora | | Anfora | ||
| Image hosting | | Image hosting | ||
| <!-- ActivityPub --> In progress <ref> | | <!-- ActivityPub --> In progress <ref>[https://github.com/anforaProject/anfora/issues/23 author=Anfora|title=Implement mastodon API endpoints #23|url=|access-date=2018-12-10]</ref> | ||
| <!-- DFRN --> No | | <!-- DFRN --> No | ||
| <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | | <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | ||
Line 66: | Line 66: | ||
| [[Diaspora (software)|diaspora* software]] | | [[Diaspora (software)|diaspora* software]] | ||
| [[Social network]], [[Microblogging]] | | [[Social network]], [[Microblogging]] | ||
| <!-- ActivityPub --> Proposed <ref> | | <!-- ActivityPub --> Proposed <ref>[https://github.com/diaspora/diaspora/issues/7422 author=diaspora*|title=Support ActivityPub #7422|url=|access-date=2018-08-18]</ref> <ref>[ttps://discourse.diasporafoundation.org/t/lets-talk-about-activitypub/741 author=diaspora*|title=Let's talk about ActivityPub|url=h|access-date=2018-08-18]</ref> | ||
| <!-- DFRN --> No | | <!-- DFRN --> No | ||
| <!-- Diaspora Network --> Yes | | <!-- Diaspora Network --> Yes | ||
Line 98: | Line 98: | ||
| [[GNU MediaGoblin]] | | [[GNU MediaGoblin]] | ||
| file, image, audio, video hosting | | file, image, audio, video hosting | ||
| <!-- ActivityPub --> Proposed <ref> | | <!-- ActivityPub --> Proposed <ref>[https://issues.mediagoblin.org/ticket/5503 author=GNU MediaGoblin title=Move federation code to ActivityPub spec #5503 access-date=2018-08-18]</ref> | ||
| <!-- DFRN --> No | | <!-- DFRN --> No | ||
| <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | | <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | ||
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| [[GNU social|GNUsocial]]<br />(f. StatusNet; orig. Laconica) | | [[GNU social|GNUsocial]]<br />(f. StatusNet; orig. Laconica) | ||
| [[Microblogging]] | | [[Microblogging]] | ||
| <!-- ActivityPub --> Proposed <ref> | | <!-- ActivityPub --> Proposed <ref>[https://git.gnu.io/gnu/gnu-social/issues/256 author=GNU social|title=Support ActivityPub #256|url=|access-date=2018-08-18]</ref> <ref>[https://git.gnu.io/dansup/ActivityPub/ author=GNU social|title=Plugin|url=|access-date=2018-08-18</ref> | ||
| <!-- DFRN --> No | | <!-- DFRN --> No | ||
| <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | | <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | ||
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| [[Mastodon (software)|Mastodon]] | | [[Mastodon (software)|Mastodon]] | ||
| [[Microblogging]] | | [[Microblogging]] | ||
| <!-- ActivityPub --> Yes <ref> | | <!-- ActivityPub --> Yes <ref>[https://github.com/tootsuite/mastodon/issues/1557 author=Mastodon|title=ActivityPub support #1557|url=|access-date=2018-08-18]</ref> | ||
| <!-- DFRN --> No | | <!-- DFRN --> No | ||
| <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | | <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | ||
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| [[Nextcloud]] | | [[Nextcloud]] | ||
| File hosting | | File hosting | ||
| <!-- ActivityPub --> Yes <ref> | | <!-- ActivityPub --> Yes <ref>[https://nextcloud.com/blog/nextcloud-introduces-social-features-joins-the-fediverse/ author=Nextcloud|title=Nextcloud introduces social features, joins the fediverse|url=|access-date=2018-12-10]</ref> | ||
| <!-- DFRN --> No | | <!-- DFRN --> No | ||
| <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | | <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | ||
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| PixelFed | | PixelFed | ||
| Image hosting | | Image hosting | ||
| <!-- ActivityPub --> In progress <ref> | | <!-- ActivityPub --> In progress <ref>[https://mastodon.social/@pixelfed/101204332099526273 author=PixelFed|title=We can't wait to join the fediverse. access-date=2018-12-10]</ref> | ||
| <!-- DFRN --> No | | <!-- DFRN --> No | ||
| <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | | <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | ||
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| postActiv | | postActiv | ||
| [[Microblogging]] | | [[Microblogging]] | ||
| <!-- ActivityPub --> Proposed <ref> | | <!-- ActivityPub --> Proposed <ref>[https://git.postactiv.com/postActiv/postActiv/issues/97 author=postActiv|title=ActivityPub support #97 access-date=2018-08-18]</ref> | ||
| <!-- DFRN --> No | | <!-- DFRN --> No | ||
| <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | | <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | ||
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| [[pump.io]] | | [[pump.io]] | ||
| [[Microblogging]] | | [[Microblogging]] | ||
| <!-- ActivityPub --> Proposed <ref> | | <!-- ActivityPub --> Proposed <ref>[https://github.com/pump-io/pump.io/issues/1241 author=pump.io|title=ActivityPub support #1241|url=|access-date=2018-08-18]</ref> | ||
| <!-- DFRN --> No | | <!-- DFRN --> No | ||
| <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | | <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | ||
| <!-- OStatus --> Dropped <ref> | | <!-- OStatus --> Dropped <ref>[https://github.com/pump-io/pump.io/issues/8 author=pump.io|title=OStatus #8 access-date=2018-08-18]</ref> | ||
| <!-- Zot/6 --> No | | <!-- Zot/6 --> No | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Read.as | | Read.as | ||
| [[News aggregator|Feed reader]] | | [[News aggregator|Feed reader]] | ||
| <!-- ActivityPub --> Yes <ref> | | <!-- ActivityPub --> Yes <ref>[https://github.com/writeas/Read.as author=Read.as|title=Long-form ActivityPub-enabled reader access-date=2018-08-29]</ref> | ||
| <!-- DFRN --> No | | <!-- DFRN --> No | ||
| <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | | <!-- Diaspora Network --> No | ||
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| Socialhome | | Socialhome | ||
| [[Website]], [[Social network]], [[Microblogging]] | | [[Website]], [[Social network]], [[Microblogging]] | ||
| <!-- ActivityPub --> In progress <ref> | | <!-- ActivityPub --> In progress <ref>[https://socialhome.network/content/83203/federation-socialhome-federates-using-the-di/ author=Socialhome|title=Federation - ActivityPub support is work in progress|url=|access-date=2018-09-16]</ref> | ||
| <!-- DFRN --> No | | <!-- DFRN --> No | ||
| <!-- Diaspora Network --> Yes | | <!-- Diaspora Network --> Yes | ||
| <!-- OStatus --> No | | <!-- OStatus --> No | ||
| <!-- Zot/6 --> Proposed <ref> | | <!-- Zot/6 --> Proposed <ref>[https://git.feneas.org/socialhome/socialhome/issues/479 | title=Implementing Zot | author=Jason Robinson | date=May 19, 2018}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Write.as / Write Freely | | Write.as / Write Freely | ||
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== Actual spreading == | == Actual spreading == | ||
The statistic service ''the-federation.info'' states for the 6th of December 2018 following data about the fediverse. The statistics do not reflect the whole fediverse. <ref> | The statistic service ''the-federation.info'' states for the 6th of December 2018 following data about the fediverse. The statistics do not reflect the whole fediverse. <ref>[https://the-federation.info|author=the-federation.info|title=The Federation - Welcome to the new social web|access-date=2018-08-18}}</ref> | ||
* Number of instances (servers): 3,952 | * Number of instances (servers): 3,952 | ||
* Number of identities: 2,382,670 | * Number of identities: 2,382,670 |
Revision as of 15:21, 18 January 2019
Copied from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0) on 2018-12-19: = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fediverse
The Fediverse (a portmanteau of "federation" and "universe") is the ensemble of federated servers that are used for web publishing (i.e. social networking, microblogging, macroblogging, or websites) and file hosting. On different servers (instances), users can create so called identities. These identities are able to communicate over the boundaries of the instances because the softwares running on the servers support one or more communication protocols which follow the open standard.[1] As an identity on the fediverse, you are able to exchange private messages or other data with other identities or to follow posts by other identities. In some cases, you can even show or share data (video, audio, text and other files) publicly or to a selected group of identities and allow other identities to edit your data (i.e. a calendar or an address book).
History
In 2008, the social network identi.ca was founded by Evan Prodromou. He published the software GNU Social under a free license (GNU Affero General Public License, AGPL). Besides the server, identi.ca, there were only few other instances existing, run by persons for their own use. This changed in 2011/2012 when identi.ca switched to another software called pump.io. Several new GNU Social instances were created. At the same time as GNU Social, other projects like Friendica, Hubzilla,[2] Mastodon and Pleroma[3] integrated the OStatus protocol, thus extending the fediverse.
In the meantime, other communication protocols have evolved which are integrated to different degrees into the platforms. In January 2016, the W3C presented the ActivityPub protocol, aiming to improve the interoperability between the platforms. As of 2018-08, this protocol is supported by thirteen platforms (see the table below).
Communication protocols used in the fediverse
These communication protocols which follow the open standard are used in the fediverse:
Fediverse software platforms
The software spanning the fediverse are all free. Some of them vaguely resemble Twitter in style (for example, Mastodon and GNU Social, which are similar in their microblogging function), while others include more communication and transaction options that are instead comparable to Google+ or Facebook (such as is the case with Friendica and Hubzilla).
The following software platforms span the fediverse by using the listed communication protocols:
Platform Name | Type | ActivityPub | DFRN | Diaspora Network |
OStatus | Zot Zot/6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aardwolf | Social network | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Anfora | Image hosting | In progress [7] | No | No | No | No |
CloutStream | Professional Social network | Yes | No | No | No | No |
diaspora* software | Social network, Microblogging | Proposed [8] [9] | No | Yes | No | No |
distbin | Pastebin | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Friendica (f. Friendika; orig. Mistpark) |
Social network, Microblogging | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Funkwhale | Audio, sound hosting | Yes | No | No | No | No |
GNU MediaGoblin | file, image, audio, video hosting | Proposed [10] | No | No | No | No |
GNUsocial (f. StatusNet; orig. Laconica) |
Microblogging | Proposed [11] [12] | No | No | Yes | No |
Hubzilla (f. RedMatrix; orig. Friendica-Red) |
CMS, Social network, Microblogging, Wiki, Blogging, Image gallery, File hosting | Yes | No | Yes | Yes [2] | Zot |
Littr.me | Link-sharing | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mastodon | Microblogging | Yes [13] | No | No | Yes | No |
microblog.pub | Microblogging | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Misskey | Social network, Microblogging | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Nextcloud | File hosting | Yes [14] | No | No | No | No |
Numaverse | Microblogging, ETH blockchain | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Osada | Social network, Microblogging | Yes | No | No | No | Zot/6 |
PeerPx | Image hosting | Yes | No | No | No | No |
PeerTube | Video hosting | Yes | No | No | No | No |
PixelFed | Image hosting | In progress [15] | No | No | No | No |
Pleroma | Microblogging | Yes | No | No | Yes [3] | No |
Plume | Blogging | Yes | No | No | No | No |
postActiv | Microblogging | Proposed [16] | No | No | Yes | No |
Prismo | Link-sharing | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Pubcast (f. Metapods) | Netcasting | Yes | No | No | No | No |
pump.io | Microblogging | Proposed [17] | No | No | Dropped [18] | No |
Read.as | Feed reader | Yes [19] | No | No | No | No |
Socialhome | Website, Social network, Microblogging | In progress [20] | No | Yes | No | Proposed [21] |
Write.as / Write Freely | Blogging | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Zap | Social network, Microblogging | No | No | No | No | Yes Zot/6 |
Actual spreading
The statistic service the-federation.info states for the 6th of December 2018 following data about the fediverse. The statistics do not reflect the whole fediverse. [22]
- Number of instances (servers): 3,952
- Number of identities: 2,382,670
- Number of posts: 201,681,558
- Number of comments: 4,764,706
See also
References
- ↑ [http://mastoguide.info/Pages/fedFAQ.html%7Ctitle=Mastodon User Guide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409030653/http://mastoguide.info/Pages/fedFAQ.html%7Carchive-date=2017-04-09%7Cdead-url=yes}}
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 [https://framagit.org/hubzilla/addons/tree/master/gnusoc |title=gnusoc · master · hubzilla / addons |access-date=2018-07-17 |author=framagit.org/hubzilla/}}
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 [https://pleroma.social/ |author=pleroma.social|title=Pleroma |access-date=2018-07-17}}
- ↑ [https://github.com/friendica/friendica/blob/master/spec/dfrn2.pdf%7Ctitle=DFRN2%7Cauthor=github.com/friendica/%7Caccess-date=2018-08-18}}
- ↑ [https://macgirvin.com/wiki/mike/Zot%2BVI/Home%7Ctitle=Zot/6%7Cauthor=Mike Macgirvin|access-date=2018-09-14}}
- ↑ [https://project.hubzilla.org/help/en/developer/zot_protocol%7Ctitle=Zot Protocol|author=project.hubzilla.org|access-date=2018-08-18}}
- ↑ author=Anfora|title=Implement mastodon API endpoints #23|url=|access-date=2018-12-10
- ↑ author=diaspora*|title=Support ActivityPub #7422|url=|access-date=2018-08-18
- ↑ [ttps://discourse.diasporafoundation.org/t/lets-talk-about-activitypub/741 author=diaspora*|title=Let's talk about ActivityPub|url=h|access-date=2018-08-18]
- ↑ author=GNU MediaGoblin title=Move federation code to ActivityPub spec #5503 access-date=2018-08-18
- ↑ author=GNU social|title=Support ActivityPub #256|url=|access-date=2018-08-18
- ↑ [https://git.gnu.io/dansup/ActivityPub/ author=GNU social|title=Plugin|url=|access-date=2018-08-18
- ↑ author=Mastodon|title=ActivityPub support #1557|url=|access-date=2018-08-18
- ↑ author=Nextcloud|title=Nextcloud introduces social features, joins the fediverse|url=|access-date=2018-12-10
- ↑ author=PixelFed|title=We can't wait to join the fediverse. access-date=2018-12-10
- ↑ author=postActiv|title=ActivityPub support #97 access-date=2018-08-18
- ↑ author=pump.io|title=ActivityPub support #1241|url=|access-date=2018-08-18
- ↑ author=pump.io|title=OStatus #8 access-date=2018-08-18
- ↑ author=Read.as|title=Long-form ActivityPub-enabled reader access-date=2018-08-29
- ↑ author=Socialhome|title=Federation - ActivityPub support is work in progress|url=|access-date=2018-09-16
- ↑ [https://git.feneas.org/socialhome/socialhome/issues/479 | title=Implementing Zot | author=Jason Robinson | date=May 19, 2018}}
- ↑ [https://the-federation.info%7Cauthor=the-federation.info%7Ctitle=The Federation - Welcome to the new social web|access-date=2018-08-18}}