The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source

Into the Fediverse (Interview)

Feb 24, 2023

Evan Prodromou, co-author of ActivityPub and a pioneer in decentralized social networking, brings fascinating insights into the Fediverse. He discusses the pivotal role of ActivityPub in fostering interconnected social platforms, like Mastodon. Evan highlights how these decentralized networks respond to dissatisfaction with traditional platforms like Twitter. The conversation explores the benefits of standardization, the evolving landscape of user engagement, and the future possibilities for collaboration and innovation in the Fediverse. Tune in for an enlightening look at the future of social media!

01:18:05

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Episode guests

Evan Prodromou

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Quick takeaways

The podcast discusses the concept of the Fediverse, a decentralized network of community-owned social networks, with Mastodon being a major player.

The importance of the Activity Pub protocol, co-authored by Evan Prodromo, is highlighted as it allows for the sharing of social network information across servers.

The challenges faced by the Fediverse, including discoverability and centralized responsibility, are explored along with potential solutions to address these challenges.

Deep dives

The Fediverse and Mastodon

The podcast episode explores the concept of the Fediverse, a decentralized network of community-owned social networks. Mastodon, a popular platform within the Fediverse, is discussed as a major player in this space.

Intro

2min

Evolution of Federated Social Networking Standards

5min

The Benefits of Standardization in the Social Web

3min

Exploring Mastodon and the Fediverse

29min

Exploring Decentralized Social Networks

32min

Innovations and Insights in the Fediverse

3min

Future Collaborations and the Expanding Fediverse

3min

This week Evan Prodromou is back to take us deeper into the Fediverse. As many of us reconsider our relationship with Twitter, Mastodon has been by-and-large the target of migration. They helped to popularize the idea of a federated universe of community-owned, decentralized, social networks. And, at the heart of it all is ActivityPub. ActivityPub is a decentralized social networking protocol published by the W3C. It is co-authored by Evan as well as; Christine Lemmer-Webber, Jessica Tallon, Erin Shepherd, and Amy Guy. Today, Evan shares the details behind this protocol and where the Fediverse might be heading.

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Featuring:

Evan Prodromou – Website, GitHub, Mastodon, X
Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X
Jerod Santo – GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X

Show Notes:

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!

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The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source

Into the Fediverse (Interview)

Episode guests