diff --git a/source/_posts/fediverse-in-2019.md b/source/_posts/fediverse-in-2019.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..205016a --- /dev/null +++ b/source/_posts/fediverse-in-2019.md @@ -0,0 +1,158 @@ + +--- +layout: "post" +title: "Fediverse in 2019" +date: 2020-01-05 +tags: + - fediverse +preview: "Here's an overview of major events, new projects, issues and achievements in Fediverse 2019. You'll also find out about one important change on this website!" +url: "/en/post/fediverse-in-2019" +lang: en +featured: true +banner: "banner.jpg" +authors: [{"name": "@lostinlight", "url": "https://mastodon.xyz/@lightone", "network": "mastodon"}] +--- + +**Happy 2020, fedizens!** + +Storm of applause πŸ‘ for all long-time Fediverse supporters, and a warm welcome πŸ‘ to every new user who found Fediverse in 2019. + +![Constellation of stars forming "You're in Fediverse" phrase](in-fediverse.jpg) + +Here's what happened to our small corner of the Internet in the past year. + +### Fediverse in numbers + +In 2019 the reachable Fediverse grew from 3.986 instances to 5.027 - that's roughly πŸŽ‰ 1.000 new servers online. + +The number of registered accounts increased from 2.500.000 users to roughly 4.300.000 - about πŸŽ‰ 1.800.000 newcomers explored Fediverse networks! + +![Old-school North American family looks at the sky and says Wow Fediverse is growing](is-growing.jpg) + +Five networks growing most rapidly in *online* server numbers in 2019 were: + +![Pleroma +182 servers, Mastodon +159, WriteFreely +147, Pixelfed +73, PeerTube +63](top-growing.jpg) + +Three other Fediverse platforms that expanded significantly in 2019: + +β€’ [Misskey](../../misskey) πŸŽ‰ +37 servers + +β€’ [Plume](https://joinplu.me) πŸŽ‰ +23 servers + +β€’ [Funkwhale](../../funkwhale) πŸŽ‰ +15 servers + + +*Please, note: these numbers are an approximation based on statistics voluntarily provided by server administrators. Highly volatile (servers go offline / online every day), the numbers reflect only part of Fediverse at a given period of time (today!).* + +### Fediverse in projects + +At least 13 new networks expressed a wish to become part of Fediverse! + +🌟 [Mobilizon](https://joinmobilizon.org/en) - a network to gather, organize, and mobilize + +🌟 [Epicyon](https://epicyon.net) - ActivityPub server written in Python, for low-powered hardware + +🌟 [Honk](https://humungus.tedunangst.com/r/honk/f) - Go ActivityPub server focused on minimal setup and support costs + +🌟 [Lemmy](https://github.com/dessalines/lemmy) - a federated alternative to Reddit in Rust + +🌟 [Gancio](https://gancio.org) - a shared agenda for local communities, supports ActivityPub + +🌟 [Guppe](https://github.com/wmurphyrd/guppe) - project adds "groups" support: group-type actors forward posts to group members + +🌟 [Kibou](https://git.cybre.club/kibouproject/kibou) - highly customizable multi-protocol social networking server + +🌟 [Kanzaki](https://github.com/KnzkDev/kanzaki) - ActivityPub-speaking server in OCaml + +🌟 [ActorsCafΓ©](https://github.com/Xeltica/actorscafe) - lightweight single-user microblogging platform + +🌟 [Smithereen](https://the-federation.info/smithereen) - VKontakte-like social network written in Java + +🌟 [MoonTreeProject](https://github.com/Faleidel/moontreeproject) - link aggregator, a work in progress + +🌟 [Speechmore](https://gitlab.fancy.org.uk/speechmore) - a work in progress + +🌟 [Parastat](https://parast.at) - a work in progress + + +β†’ For a full list of Fediverse projects in development see [Miscellaneous](https://fediverse.party/en/miscellaneous) page. + +#### Project forks: +β€’ [Hometown](https://github.com/hometown-fork/hometown/wiki) - a Mastodon fork that includes some unique features + +β€’ [Dolphin](https://github.com/syuilo/dolphin) - single user microblogging server, sister project to Misskey + +β€’ [Groundpolis](https://github.com/xeltica/groundpolis) - microblogging network based on Misskey + +#### Related new projects: +β€’ Fedi [search engine](https://search.social): officially [announced](https://pleroma.fr/objects/1724327c-1407-4372-aaf2-47ccec9d3e7f) + +β€’ [ForgeFed](https://forgefed.peers.community): an upcoming federation protocol, built as an extension to ActivityPub, for interoperability between version control services + +### Fediverse 2019 timeline + +βœ” `January:` Mastodon [receives](https://mastodon.social/@Gargron/101468776092987214) a Samsung Stack Zero [grant](https://samsungnext.com/whats-next/category/podcasts/decentralization-samsung-next-stack-zero-grant-recipients) + +βœ” `January:` [Friendica](../../friendica) successfully [adopts](https://feneas.org/activitypub-well-its-not-that-bad) ActivityPub protocol + +βœ” `February:` Google [writes code](https://github.com/google/data-transfer-project/tree/master/extensions/data-transfer/portability-data-transfer-mastodon) for [Mastodon](../../mastodon) + +βœ” `March:` [Pleroma](../../pleroma) has its first stable release + +βœ” `March:` [Socialhome](../../socialhome) adds ActivityPub federation + +βœ” `April:` [WriteFreely](https://writefreely.org) [searches](https://writing.exchange/@write_as/101965472625104146) for new developers on a contract basis, becoming a Fediverse project that creates FOSS jobs + +βœ” `May:` Fediverse has a 🐣 Birthday, technically - [11 years](https://social.diekershoff.de/display/f3ad7b1c-145c-e10f-1e74-b7b177306491) and counting. Happy Birthday, Fedi! + +βœ” `July:` Hubzilla community announces a [call for participation](https://www.w3.org/community/zot) to standardize the Zot protocol used in [Hubzilla](../../hubzilla) and [Zap](https://zotlabs.com/zap) software + +βœ” `July:` [Pixelfed](../../pixelfed) starts federating with other Fedi networks. A long awaited update + +βœ” `August:` [ActivityPub](https://activitypub.rocks) conference in Prague - πŸ’‘ watch the [videos](https://conf.tube/videos/watch/c81c92cd-b023-4a32-966c-bb2233e35483) + +βœ” `October:` [Framasoft](https://framasoft.org) releases the first beta version of [Mobilizon](https://joinmobilizon.org/en) + +βœ” `November:` [GNU Social](https://gnu.io/social) tests federation over ActivityPub + +βœ” `November:` Pixelfed [gets](https://mastodon.social/@pixelfed/103150844633581004) a grant from [NLnet](https://media.ccc.de/v/36c3-10795-ngi_zero_a_treasure_trove_of_it_innovation) + +βœ” `November:` Indian users massively [leave Twitter for Mastodon](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50343054) + +βœ” `November:` Well-known activist [Aral Balkan](https://mastodon.ar.al/@aral/103160984750213569) speaks at the European Parliament about the future of Internet regulation and the role of Fediverse platforms - πŸ’‘ watch the [video](https://video.lqdn.fr/videos/watch/70f2128c-8c06-4cc4-8a5a-bf77e765c8fd) + +βœ” `December:` [Funkwhale](../../funkwhale) [starts](https://mastodon.eliotberriot.com/@eliotberriot/103260995155741632) federating with Mastodon + +βœ” `December:` users from Scotland massively [join](https://mastodon.social/@Gargron/103342378878530973) Mastodon (popular hashtag: #TwitterExodusScotland) + +βœ” `December:` mass Spanish speakers [migration](https://mastodon.social/@Gargron/103392704334848972) from Twitter to Mastodon (popular hashtag: #YoMigroAMastodon) + +### Things to happen in 2020 + +β€’ *Fediverse Conference* in Barcelona - πŸ’‘ follow the official [account](https://libertalia.world/@fediconf) for updates + +β€’ *Spoiler* from the future: millions of people discovering Fediverse networks and migrating from centralized silos. Be prepared! + +### Issues to be resolved in 2020 + +One of the main goals of federating software is decentralizing the web. That requires many Fediverse servers each having a small number of users, hosting data in physically decentralized manner. That's the ideal, a perfect image. + +![Illustration of many small interconnected stars](ideal.jpg) + +But in real world most people register on large Fediverse servers with thousands of users: they're popular, more stable and reliable, their friends are there. And server administrators tend to choose large, well-known hosting solutions: they're cheaper, more stable and reliable. This leads to a situation where 80% of total users are all crowded on 10 large ("flagship") instances, and 40% of all servers are hosted mainly by 5 companies. + +![Illustration of two huge (fat) servers talking to each other](de-burp-lization.jpg) + +Most used providers 2019: + +![list of most used hosting providers](providers.jpg) + +You can see Mastodon statistics on [servers](http://sp3r4z.fr/mastodon/general) and [providers](http://sp3r4z.fr/mastodon/providers). A representation of all Fediverse hosting providers may be found [here](https://fediverse.network/servers). The situation hasn't changed much since 2018 Leah's [research](https://chaos.social/@leah/99837391793032137) on server distribution. Will something change in 2020? + +### Fediverse.party news: + +The **fediverse.party** website changed its home! Our code can now be found on [GitLab](https://git.feneas.org/feneas/fediverse) hosted by πŸ‘ [Feneas](https://feneas.org), a non-for-profit association registered in Finland and run by humans who care about federated web projects. + +We invite all authors who would like to submit an article to **fediverse.party**. Are you developing a Fediverse project? Tell everyone about it! Do you write about complicated things in a simple, user-friendly language? This website's main audience are newcomers to Fediverse who may have no technical background, they will appreciate your explanatory skills. Are you a researcher of Fediverse software ready to comment on its strengths and weaknesses? Please, share your expertize! Here're the [guidelines](https://git.feneas.org/feneas/fediverse/blob/master/GUIDELINES.md) for submitting an article. + +**P/s** Fediverse is 99% run by volunteers who spend their own money to keep the network going. 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