ActivityPub over ATProto (2023)

rapnie

(2023) but worth being reposted, never got a good HN discussion. Between 8 and 12 July there's DWebCamp [0] and many experts and devs on both protocols are present, so opportunity for some good cross-pollination here. [0] https://dwebcamp.org

nekusar

I can easily install an ActivityPub server, with Glitch. Show me the ATProto server that can integrate with BlueSky.

4lx87

RSS/webmention > ActivityPub > ATProto

gnashxyz

Huge fan of this concept.

kmeisthax

Ok, since everyone's here, I'll ask: what is the credible exit from Bluesky - as in, not ATProto as a whole, but specifically the Bluesky PDS/AppView/etc - right now, in 2026? I have a Bluesky identity that I registered primarily to follow someone that I happened to meet in person while stumping for the Rio Grande Plan[0]. I only have like five posts on it, but I would like to migrate that over to the same domain I already self-host Mastodon on. Bluesky has an option to have your handle on a custom domain, but that involves publishing a DNS record containing a did:plc whose keys are custodially owned by Bluesky. This is not so much an exit as it is an overcomplicated verification scheme. My assumption is that if Bluesky wanted a better credible exit than ActivityPub, then we would need some way to rotate keys so that I could have my own PDS publish new posts on my existing identity and have other AppViews recognize that as the same kmeisthax that was previously using Bluesky as a PDS. The Mastodon exit is woefully inadequate, but at least if the admin cooperates, you can redirect your account and export your data. Everyone else on any other ActivityPub instance will see the same thing. As it currently stands, ATProto has a great way to migrate between AppViews[1], but no way to migrate off an uncompliant PDS. [0] The Rio Grande Plan is a citizen-led movement calling for burying the heavy rail corridor going through Salt Lake City. [1] ActivityPub is actually really lousy at cross-app interaction. If you're on a Mastodon instance, there is no way to participate in a Lemmy forum. Mastodon does not understand how to send the correct ActivityPub messages that Lemmy expects; and there's no protocol for Lemmy to tell Mastodon to publish certain ActivityPub messages on its behalf.

ChrisArchitect

Related: The Fediverse Is Not the Way Forward https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48785077 There are no instances in ATProto https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48599515

ChrisArchitect

Feel like alot has happened since (2023). Mastodon/fediverse didn't take off in the way many thought it might at the time, with various silo/controversies, limitations on network effect, and general public uptake dwindling. Acknowledging that a good chunk of the public wants a centralized service is a thing (despite all the problems with that down the road etc etc). Some like it and have found their community on various servers, good. Meanwhile AT Proto has put a lot of work into getting devs on board with building things on the protocol etc and a snazzy new website recently https://atproto.com/ . Not arguing that Bluesky is wildly successful, with stagnating growth etc but as with fediverse, many have found community there as well. But again, since 2023, there has been change and developments as far as people interested in external PDS etc putting the work in (Eurosky, Blacksky etc). Not even mentioning Meta's Threads, with again, some finding community there (tho how they even arrived there is one thing (instagram forced) and Fediverse integration or wider instance support is questionable). All of these things require engineering and social work to grow and it's hit and miss to gather momentum and stickiness.