All about Mastodon

Notes from Andy’s talk at Makeroni Live, Nov 20 2022 (Thank you for attending my 1 hour TED Talk...!)

Short link to here: pipr.co/aboutmastodon

Introduction to Mastodon

What is it (who / where / why)

• Start from https://joinmastodon.org

How does it work

• Posts / Toots (length etc)
• no algorithm
• Boosts
• Replies
• Direct messages (visibility)
• no ads -> support your instance

Accounts

• settings and options
• profile fields
• "verification"
• ownership / transfer

Federation

• instances
  • addresses
  • how content shows up https://twit.social/@Manny/109376243230670130
  • policies
  • ownership / support / sponsorship
• ActivityPub & WebFinger
• blocking (policy)
• moving instances
  • I followed this guide and it was fairly painless

Other "Fediverse" services

• PeerTube (video)
• PixelFed (images)
• WriteFreely (longform)
• BookWyrm (reading catalogue)
• [...]
• "any" e.g WordPress

Apps and access

• web view
• advanced web view
• official apps
• other apps (PWA and mobile/desktop)
  • showed e.g. Pinafore web app (works well on mobile)
  • https://macaw.social/@[email protected]/109376658284601107
• API

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Reference links

• https://joinmastodon.org sign up / get started on the network
• https://axbom.com/fediverse/ About the Fediverse in general
• https://instances.social/ Find a Mastodon instance to suit your preferences
• https://twitodon.com/ / https://fedifinder.glitch.me/ find your Twitter network, maybe
• https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-get-started-use-mastodon/
• https://wordsmith.social/elilla/a-futuristic-mastodon-introduction-for-2021 <- this is long but good
• https://mastodon-embeds.glitch.me/ a testbed for demonstrating how to embed Mastodon content on web pages
• https://hackaday.com/2022/11/09/moved-off-twitter-make-your-esp32-toot/ how to Toot from an ESP32
• https://minkiver.se/~/WebminkInDraft/Fediverse excellent piece on why the Fediverse and ActivityPub are important