Remember Internet forums? Those bustling online spaces where people gathered to chat, share ideas, and build communities? While social media giants like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) took centre stage, forums continued to thrive. Now, one of the leading opensource forum software providers, NodeBB, is joining the fediverse. Starting with NodeBB v4.0.0, federation is a core feature.
As you may know, the Fediverse is a stark contrast to the centralised social media giants like Meta and X. It consists of independent servers, or "instances", each with its own rules and policies. This allows users to choose communities that align with their values and preferences.
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What is the Fediverse?
The fediverse is a network of interconnected social media platforms that use shared protocols, most importantly ActivityPub.
This allows users on different platforms to interact, much like sending emails between different providers.
Imagine a decentralised internet where you can seamlessly communicate across different platforms - that's the fediverse.
For those wondering, the term Fediverse is a portmanteau of "federation" and "universe".
Popular fediverse platforms include:
- Mastodon: A Twitter-like microblogging platform.
- Pixelfed: An image-sharing platform similar to Instagram.
- PeerTube: A video-hosting platform like YouTube.
- Lemmy: A social news platform akin to Reddit, where users can discuss and vote on content.
Each of these platforms operates independently but can communicate across the Fediverse, providing a diverse and flexible social media experience.
NodeBB's adoption of ActivityPub means forum operators can now seamlessly connect with users on Mastodon, Pixelfed, PeerTube, and other Fediverse applications.
What is NodeBB?
NodeBB is an open-source forum software built using Node.js, known for its modern features and performance. It caters to a diverse range of users, from individual developers to large corporations.
The forums of popular tech companies, like Moz, Netgate, and Opera, are powered by NodeBB.
Here are some key features of NodeBB:
- Modern Web Technology: NodeBB leverages web sockets for real-time interactions like instant notifications and chats. It boasts mobile responsiveness and provides rich RESTful APIs for developers.
- Customisable Design: The platform offers a flexible theming engine, allowing for a variety of design choices.
- Active Community: NodeBB has a thriving community that contributes to its development and offers support through its forum.
- Fediverse Integration: A significant development in NodeBB's journey is its integration with the fediverse in version 4.0.0. This allows NodeBB forums to interact with other platforms like Mastodon, expanding their reach and fostering a more interconnected online experience.
Overall, NodeBB stands out as a robust and modern forum platform that blends traditional forum features with the dynamism of the modern web, particularly with its recent integration into the fediverse.
Why is NodeBB Joining the Fediverse?
NodeBB's integration with the fediverse brings several benefits:
- Expanded reach: Forum operators can now tap into the existing fediverse user base, potentially attracting new members.
- Decentralised control: No single company controls the fediverse, promoting user autonomy and diverse communities.
- Seamless interaction: NodeBB forums can interact with other fediverse platforms, fostering a more interconnected online experience.
How NodeBB Joined the Fediverse
The idea to connect NodeBB forums came from Julian Lam, one of the co-founders of NodeBB, in the middle of 2023.
At first, the plan was to create a centralized service. But as Lam dug deeper into his research, he stumbled upon Mastodon and ActivityPub, which opened his eyes to the possibilities of decentralization. This discovery changed the direction of the project.
A big boost came when the NLNet Foundation stepped in with funding from their NGI Zero Core fund. This financial support gave NodeBB the resources and stability they needed to experiment with ActivityPub and collaborate with developer communities.
Thanks to this funding, the integration process moved forward much faster than it might have otherwise.
NodeBB v4.0.0: Bringing Federation to Forums
NodeBB is an open-source forum software built using Node.js, known for its modern features and performance.
The latest NodeBB v4.0.0 version made federation a core feature.
Any new forums created using NodeBB 4.0.0 version will automatically federate with the fediverse. Existing forums can enable federation through their settings.
Users can now interact with other NodeBB forums and other ActivityPub-powered platforms like Mastodon. Content from the fediverse is displayed in a dedicated "Uncategorized" category within NodeBB.
Another popular forum software, Discourse, also offers fediverse integration. However, NodeBB's integration is a core feature, while Discourse relies on a plugin.
"We opted to make this a core feature instead of a plugin, since there were many changes made to core to support even the concept of accepting content from outside itself." wrote Julian Lam, NodeBB co-founder in the NodeBB community forum.
This means NodeBB has been designed from the ground up to work seamlessly with the fediverse.
Enabling Federation in NodeBB Forums
To turn on ActivityPub integration, admins can use a simple toggle switch in the admin control panel. Just head to ACP > Settings > Federation and flip the switch to enable federation.
This makes it easy for forums to connect with the Fediverse and start interacting with other platforms.
A New Chapter for Forums
NodeBB's entry into the Fediverse is significant. It meets a growing need for forum-style features and brings a popular, well-known platform with a large community into the decentralized network.
By adopting decentralization and working seamlessly with other platforms, NodeBB helps forums expand, connect, and succeed in our modern digital world that’s constantly changing.