Bluesky Social Just Took a Big Open-Source Step Forward (zdnet.com) 17
An anonymous reader quotes a report from ZDNet: Bluesky Social, the popular new beta social network, is taking a big open-source step forward. On May 15th, 2023, it open-sourced the codebase for its Bluesky Social app on GitHub. This fits well with its plans. From the start, its owner, BlueSky Public Benefit LLC, a public benefit corporation, was building an "open and decentralized" social network.
Unlike Twitter, which is still tripping over its own open source feet, Bluesky client code is for anyone who wants to work on improving the code or use it as the basis for their own social network. Twitter's recommendation code, on the other hand, is essentially unusable. The Bluesky code, licensed under the MIT License, can be used now. Indeed, while it's been out for only about 24 hours, it's already been forked 88 times and has earned over 1,300 GitHub Stars.
While it's specifically the Bluesky Social app's codebase, it's also a resource for AT Protocol programmers. This protocol supports a decentralized social network. Its features include connecting with anyone on a server that supports AT Protocol; controlling how users see the world via an open algorithm market; and enabling users to change hosts without losing their content, followers, or identity. The code itself is written in React Native. This is an open-source, user-interface JavaScript software framework. It's used primarily to build applications that run on both iOS and Android devices.
Unlike Twitter, which is still tripping over its own open source feet, Bluesky client code is for anyone who wants to work on improving the code or use it as the basis for their own social network. Twitter's recommendation code, on the other hand, is essentially unusable. The Bluesky code, licensed under the MIT License, can be used now. Indeed, while it's been out for only about 24 hours, it's already been forked 88 times and has earned over 1,300 GitHub Stars.
While it's specifically the Bluesky Social app's codebase, it's also a resource for AT Protocol programmers. This protocol supports a decentralized social network. Its features include connecting with anyone on a server that supports AT Protocol; controlling how users see the world via an open algorithm market; and enabling users to change hosts without losing their content, followers, or identity. The code itself is written in React Native. This is an open-source, user-interface JavaScript software framework. It's used primarily to build applications that run on both iOS and Android devices.
Meh (Score:2)
Re:Jack Dorsey?, please no. (Score:4, Informative)
Jack has a tiny stake and one board seat. He neither owns nor controls Bluesky. Bluesky is open-source MIT-licensed software with an open protocol - there's no take-backsies. It can't be "sold"; someone can just make an alternative server.
More to the point, Jack spends more time on Nostr anyway.
AT protocol? (Score:5, Funny)
While it's specifically the Bluesky Social app's codebase, it's also a resource for AT Protocol programmers.
ATDT 12125550100
Bee bee bee pshhhkkkkkkrrrrkakingkakingkakingtshchchchchchchchcch
CONNECT
ATE0
Hello? Hello? Is anyone there?
+++ATH
NO CARRIER
TrumpSafeID encryption and password manager (Score:1)
that one is also about to debut. Can't wait! #trump2024
App Code? Big Whoop. They all look the same. (Score:3)
Just as my 2 friends moved to Mastodon (Score:4, Insightful)
Sigh. Now we need to move again.
Re:Just as my 2 friends moved to Mastodon (Score:5, Informative)
I'm on both. The culture is very different.
Twitter: angry, decaying metropolis
Mastodon: lefties, aspies, and aspie lefties
Bluesky: bunch of squatters found a village and pass out peyote to anyone who shows up.
Like, for example, some of the common topics of discussion while I've been there:
* Sexy ALF
* Crabs
* The paradox of tolerance
* Clamdalf and Sexy Gandalf
* Invertebrate butts
* Bizarre old Dairy Queen ads
* Stuck ship, but with breasts for some reason
Right now I'm seeing lots of talk about pet moss balls.
It's funny when you have notable journalists or politicians commenting on "Sexy ALF" threads and whatnot ;)
...And this is the BIG problem (Score:2)
A monopoly platform (or a tightly-defined 100% interoperability standard) is a basic requirement of a universal social network.
How we square this with open source and many forks is a huge challenge.
Sure, you can make a little "corporate intranet" social network thingy, but how do you solve universal social, where I don't have to ask my new friend, which app are you on. And then say... Ohh
Re: (Score:2)
Popular? (Score:3)
Someone help me out here, is it? Because I was under the impression "popular" means that people at least heard of it and kinda liked it.
I can't do the latter if the former wasn't even accomplished.
Re: (Score:3)
I've heard of BlueSky several times now, and was considering tracking it down and taking a look. Meanwhile my Mastodon app (Sengi, which makes the service MUCH more usable) just pinged that I've got a new notification, which I'll look at in a few seconds. And my Twitter instance on my phone is silent, because I told it to be silent.
So, probably worth a look at BlueSky. We've learned from the self-immolation of Twitter that we should not be completely invested in one "social
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Well, there is the potential that they come up with something better than the FediVerse protocols used in various places (including Mastodon). From their website, it's still vapourware. We'll see how well it works in practice.
If (noting the "if" in "if", accepting and embracing the uncertainty) it turns out to have advantages which the FediVerse protocols (which are at