I'm starting to think that the simplest, most compatible solution is to just use @domain.tld@domain.tld under the hood, while presenting only @domain.tld if the "preferred username" and domain match. This could have backend support as a helper, but client support is all that is needed, to transform it before it is sent to the server.
So bluesky is experiencing unintented consequences.. they have an alternate way to make your username a custom domain, where basically all you need is a webserver hosting a file at a certain path.. So some guy now has the username s3.amazonaws.com.
also somebody figured out you can set your username to a certain well-known cloud storage domain (setting your username to a domain should mean you own that domain and can add a dns txt record to it, but also you can return a json blob to do the same thing)
@boris
Here is how, and they since have turned on for all users:
"Your custom domain on Micro.blog can now be ActivityPub-compatible, so that you can follow and reply to Mastodon users directly on Micro.blog. This also means someone can follow your blog posts by adding @you on Mastodon. (This username is configurable. Mine is @manton.)"
I want the new https://fediverse.info/explore/people People Directory to be easier to browse, so when you search or click on a topic that isn't popular you'll see a red X that you can click to remove.
Now I'm thinking about adding advanced filtering so you can hide results based on topics, domains and usernames.
Also considering adding Lists support so you can build and curate lists of accounts that are easily shareable.
Wait, so on Bluesky if you want your own username (i.e. not x.bsky.app or whatever) you have to have and understand how to change DNS records??????? wowwwwww
And then try explaining to someone non-techy how they get their own username like the cool kids and they'll be like what? I mean I guess it's nice that you don't need to run a server to have your own domain but then it dilutes the whole identity thing wrt which server you're on. Me being on mastodon.me.uk says something about me, idk it just seems very messy and not really coming at it from a social perspective but as another puzzle solving thing (much like crypto, lol)
was it mentioned that Bluesky lets you have a username that looks like it includes a url?
(I'm not on bluesky, no idea how it works)
If that's so, and they're looking to federate, thinking they could use that as a way to obfuscate to their users that they're talking to someone on another server over the fediverse. They'll only think "oh I'm talking to someone on Bluesky with a url in their name"
@RadicalEdward I haven't used Bluesky, but based on their documentation, usernames are just domain names in DNS, so users signing up with Bluesky's domain are actually being given subdomains with their username (similar to the way Tumblr does things) and you could use your own domain for it too. This identity layer is separate from the data layer though, so your data could be hosted with one provider, and your username with another.
I'm considering writing a formal document (FEP?) that specifies how an ActivityPub service (including both server and client behavior) may implement domain-only names like #Bluesky has. Because it's the biggest beneficial thing Bluesky has that we don't (the one other thing is detached "preferred" handles, which is related). I've reasoned somewhere else before that it would be super helpful for #BridgyFed, #Tumblr, and #Wordpress.
Where the absence of a second @ means that you want to do a domain lookup, or it's handled as like blakes.dev@blakes.dev (i.e., kinda like a single-user instance)
@thisismissem acct:blakes.dev would be in violation of RFC 7565, which mandates both a userpart and a domain name.
BridgyFed already lets its users use their domain names duplicated as the username, i.e. @blakes.dev@blakes.dev, which I find a bit repetitive although that could be one potential implementation.
You're right though that (at least for Calckey and Mastodon which I just tested) usernames don't typically contain periods. So the single @blakes.dev mention form would actually work!
@thisismissem That's absolutely a viable approach. I proposed just using the root HTTP URL earlier, although in theory it could use a dummy username like "_".
I'm actually not sure what the biggest hurdle to adoption would be. Probably just it getting done 😆
Also: maybe servers that do the plain-domain mention could be mandated to have @domain.tld@domain.tld resolve to the same thing as @domain.tld for compatibility.
The dunking on Bluesky happening on Mastodon and the dunking on Mastodon happening on Bluesky is wild to me. Both things are attracting similar audiences, both protocols have their advantages and disadvantages, and both are recognizing some fundamental problems in the 2010 social model.
@TT_392
Good question. So for it to work, you have to include the domain name in the path of the password in pass. By default, then, it reads the username from the name of the file.
So codeberg.org/benjaminhollon would be read as a password intended for codeberg.org, with benjaminhollon as the username. You can even use otp with it if you're using pass-otp.
If there are multiple matches it'll pop up rofi for you to choose.
Since some people have asked me, here's a quick thread on initial experience comparison between Bluesky and the fediverse. It's important to note that this comparison is somewhat absurd by default because Bluesky is still tiny & unproven, but there's interest so I'm happy to share what I've observed. Also, I don't get into protocol differences because honestly who cares. So:
@ramsey@console Bluesky (and ATProto as a whole) are built completely around domain names as identity. you don't need a *.bsky.social username; you can bring your own domain and use that
First my Twitter bots that use polls got suspended. No indication why.
Then my Twitter bots with less than 20,000 followers got suspended. No indication why.
Then tonight, just now, my personal account @JoeSondow got suspended. No indication why. I appealed, they emailed to say it was reinstated, then it got suspended again 5 minutes later.
My three most popular active bots are still running for now.
I guess I'll be leaving Twitter sooner than later.
@ygalanter Yes please. In fact, I mentioned that somewhere in this thread. I got one invite so far, so I might try it out. If I like it and I can find enough invites I might port my bots over there as well. It partly depends on how usernames work there. I don't want to buy a bunch of domain names. I did that long ago. It wasn't worth it.
Adding an easy way to create a Mastodon account on mastodon.social to the official app? Yes, please.
I don’t understand the drama around this. Not like it’s removing other instances, or the ability to switch instances afterwards. It just gives an easier way in for people who don’t understand the instances concept.
It’s a good thing. Anything that helps onboarding is a good thing, and no, it doesn’t mean the developer has gone evil or wants to centralize things. 🙄🙄
@thelinuxEXP it's not simple enough. A better option would be to make it more like a select your domain or email type of list,
<username textbox>@<dropdown list of instances>, the join button would then use the selected instances api to request an account
Was thinking "hm, I don't trust Bluesky, but maybe I should sign up anyway just to reserve my username" but now I see that you can have your username just be a domain you own so… I guess I don't have to reserve anything
@mcc I don't think they could claim the account really. The account is actually tied to a unique ID and if you change your username, the ID stays the same, which is cool if you're mention in a post, and change your username, the link isn't broken.
So if the gov't claimed your domain, they wouldn't be able to access your account in any way.
I feel like I've largely rebuilt the community I had on Twitter over here on #Mastodon and am just not interested in #BlueSky right now. I'm honestly disappointed that they deliberately chose not to have #ActivityPub compatibility. Also, I don't really trust Jack, either. He very intentionally pushed for Elon taking over Twitter. Going to BlueSky seems sort of like falling for your ex again because they changed their name from Brianna to Bri and started wearing a leather jacket.
@vwbusguy but this is not true. I can download any nostr client on fdroid and join right away. No money. And about usernames... it's optional, and twitter doesn't sell usernames (afaik only checkmarks), neither does nostr. Why do you need them? There are display names. It is just a protocoll with instances, I don't know why it is a big problem for you. + Like you wouldn't need a domain registered for money to redirect the string to the correct IP to your Mastodon instance in everyone's browser.