Comparison of software and protocols for distributed social networking

Last updated

The following is a comparison of both software and protocols that are used for distributed social networking .

Contents

Software

Active

Project NameFeaturesSoftware typeProgramming LanguageLicensePrivacy features, if anyFederation capabilitiesInstance countCurrent status
Bluesky Microblogging Client [1] TypeScript MIT None (planned) AT Protocol (Personal Data Server, opinionated services) [2] 1, theoretically self-hostableActive
diaspora* Status messages, blogging, image sharing Client/server Ruby AGPL v3Post reach can be controlled via "aspects"diaspora* network61 (January 2025) [3] Active
Friendica Rich profiles, networking groups, community/group/celebrity pages, richtext status (not specifically length limited), photo albums, YouTube share, location, like/dislike, multiple profiles w/assignment to specific friends, single sign-on to post directly to friend's profiles on co-operating systems. Communications encryption. Fans and one-way relationships. Local and global directory services. Ability to restrict connection endpoints.Client/server PHP, JavaScript AGPLv3Access controls for content, disappearing messages, private groups ActivityPub, DFRN, diaspora* network, Email, RSS, third-party connections (Tumblr, Twitter, more via plugins)345 (January 2025) [4] Active
Hubzilla [5] Decentralised identity and community platform, blogging, rich social networking, cloud storage and internet-scale access control/privacyClient/serverPHP, JavaScriptMITAccess controls for content, private groupsActivityPub, diaspora* network, Zot90 (January 2025) [6] Active
Lemmy Social news Client/server Rust AGPLv3NoneActivityPub576 (January 2025) [7] Active
Libervia Microblogging, group microblogging, file sharing, games, XMPP clientClient/server Python, C++ AGPLv3Presence authorization, XMPP groups XMPP, ActivityPub in beta as of 2022. [8] Demo [9] Active
Mastodon MicrobloggingClient/serverRuby, JavaScriptAGPLv3Access controls for contentActivityPub10156 (January 2025) [10] Active
Micro.blog MicrobloggingClientUnknownProprietaryAccess controls for contentActivityPub, AT Protocol (Bluesky crossposting)1Active
Minds MicrobloggingClient/serverPHPAGPLv3NoneActivityPub1Active
Misskey MicrobloggingClient/serverTypeScriptAGPLv3Access controls for contentActivityPub1244 (January 2025) [11] Active
Mobilizon Events, groups, shared foldersClient/server Elixir AGPLv3Access controls for contentActivityPub106 (January 2025) [12] Active
Movim XMPP client, news aggregation Client/serverPHPAGPLv3Access controls for content, end-to-end encryption for chatsXMPP16 (January 2025) [13] Active
PeerTube Video sharing Client/serverTypeScriptAGPLv3Access controls for contentActivityPub1302 (January 2025) [14] Active
Pixelfed Image sharing, similar to Instagram Client/serverPHPAGPLv3Access controls for contentActivityPub543 (January 2025) [15] Active
Pleroma Instant messaging, microbloggingClient/serverElixirAGPLv3Access controls for contentActivityPub1020 (January 2025) [16] Active
Plume [17] BloggingClient/serverRustAGPLv3Access controls for contentActivityPub41 (January 2025) [18] Active
Socialhome [19] Microblogging, blogging, home page builderClient/serverPython, JavaScriptAGPLv3Access controls for contentActivityPub, diaspora*9 (January 2025) [20] Active

Inactive

Project NameFeaturesSoftware typeProgramming LanguageLicensePrivacy features, if anyFederation capabilitiesCurrent status
GNU social Primarily microblogging, groupsClient/server PHP AGPLv3Access controls for contentActivityPub (via plugin), OStatus Stable, last update to both supported major versions circa 2022
Jappix [21] XMPP client + MicrobloggingClientJavaScript, PHPAGPLv3Presence authorizationsXMPPStable, inactive
Kune real-time collaborative edition, XMPP chat, groups, calendar, lists, tasks, blogs, Apache Wave inbox (modern email), wave extensions (gadgets, robots), public webpages, profiles, galleries (photos, videos), maps, federation, usabilityClient/server Java AGPLv3Access controls for content XMPP, Wave Federation Protocol Stable, last updated 2017
Numaverse [22] MicrobloggingClient (peer-to-peer)RubyMITUnknownEthereum, IPFSBeta, last updated 2018
OneSocialWeb [23] Microblogging Openfire plugin, clients [24] JavaApache 2.0Presence authorizations, access controls for content XMPP, XMPP extensions [25] Alpha
OpenMicroBloggerUser-toggleable "apps" to add/remove functionality. RSSCloud and partial OStatus (PubSubHubbub) federation as well as Open Microblogging 0.1. Local follow/unfollow. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr integration. (partial) Twitter API support. Fully Restful design, user interface consumes Rest API.ClientMIT Open Microblogging 0.1, RSSCloud, (partial) OStatus (PubSubHubbub) Open Microblogging 0.1, RSSCloud, (partial) OStatus (PubSubHubbub)Alpha
OsadaMicrobloggingServerPHP, JavaScriptAccess controls for contentZot/6, ActivityPubStable
postActivMicrobloggingClient/serverAGPLv3Access controls for contentOStatus, ActivityPub and Zot support proposed but never implementedhomepage and code forge went offline late 2019
Prismo [26] Link sharingClient/serverRubyAGPLv3Access controls for contentActivityPubNo commits since May 2019
Project Danube1) Sharing personal data with companies/organizations

2) Sharing personal data with "friends" 3) Use of personal data for "personal applications"

 OStatus, OAuth 2.0, WebFinger, hCard, Portable Contacts, XRI, XDI, PubSubHubbub, Salmon Alpha
Project Nori OStatus, OAuth, Portable Contacts, WebFinger, and other open protocolsAlpha
pump.io MicrobloggingClient/server Node.js, JavaScript Apache 2.0 Access controls for contentActivityPumpStable, inactive
SMOBMicrobloggingunmaintained
Social-Igniter [27] friends, places, status, comments, modular apps (messages, blog, cart, media), themes, mobile themes, 3rd party integration (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube), editable widgets,Server GPL Webfinger, PubSubHubbub, OpenID, OAuth, Activity Streams alpha
SocialRiver [28] Client/server GPL

AGPL

Private messaging, access controls OStatus, [29] OpenID, will add support for OAuth Unmaintained
SocialZE [30] Client/serverAccess controls for contentOSMP (Open Social Message Protocol)alpha
Sone [31] microblogging, media library, decentralized spam protectionClient/serverJava, JavaScript GPL Hyphanet beta

Protocols

Active

Project NameFeaturesLicensePrivacy features, if anySupported appsInstance countCurrent status
ActivityPub Activity Streams, WebFinger Released as a W3C standardInbox/outbox access controls Many ~30,000Active
ActivityPump Activity Streams, WebFingerAGPLv3Inbox/outbox access controlsPump.ioInactive, network still online
AT Protocol Modular, microservice-oriented protocol architectureDual (MIT, Apache 2.0)None (planned) [32] Bluesky~2.4k data servers, [33] few servers for other parts of the protocol (January 2025)Active
diaspora* networkStatus messages, blogging, photo sharingAGPLv3Post reach can be controlled via "aspects"diaspora* (social network)61 (January 2025) [3] Active
FOAF User relationships CC BY 1.0 NoneActive
Nostr Extensible, based on event objects Public domain NoneManyHundreds of relaysActive, stable
OStatus OAuth 2, WebFinger, PubSubHubbub, Salmon AGPLv3NoneGNU social, StatusNetLess than 100Inactive, network still online
Peergos [34] P2P storage, social network, and application protocolAGPLv3End-to-end encryption for private messagesPeergosUnknownActive, stable
Twister Peer-to-peer microblogging MIT and BSD End-to-end encryption for private messagesTwisterUnknownInactive, network still online
twtxt [35] MicrobloggingVaried, based on implementationNone Text editor UnknownActive, stable
XMPP MicrobloggingVaried, based on implementationAccess controls, presence authorization, encryption Many ManyActive, stable

Inactive

Project NameFeaturesLicensePrivacy features, if anyCurrent status
6d [36] Blog, media library, addressbook, themeable, private messaging MIT Post scopes when transmittingAlpha
Aether [37] Peer-to-peer, ephemeral, self-governing public communities with auditable and democratic moderation. [38] AGPLv3NoneStable, not updated since 2021
Appleseed (Quicksocial protocol) [39] [40] Photos, Journals, Messaging, Groups, Privacy controls, Status Updates, Newsfeeds GPL v2Access controls for contentCancelled
Buddycloud [41] [42] Personal and topic channels, Buddycloud directory, channel search, channel recommender, media server, friend-finder, mobile and email push service, location, messaging Apache 2.0 [43] End-to-end encryption for private messagesStable, last update 2015
Cunity [44] Friends, Photo Album, Filesharing, Messaging, Pinboard, Newsfeed, Memberlist, Forum, Connecting CunitiesPHPPeer-to-peer transmissionBeta
Diatum [45] Supports contact and social media apps Apache 2.0no commit since 2021, main repository removed, alpha 0.01 [46]
DiSo Project [47] WordPress plugins [48] beta (v0.6)
Distributed Social Networking Protocol [49] DSNPd (server daemon), ChoiceSocial (web interface) [49] beta (v0.6)
Friend2Friend [50] Strong encryption, XML for all data exchange, Data is digitally signed LGPL Only connected to known usersAlpha
Knowee [51] OpenID Signup, Activity Stream import and export, contact import from Web 2.0 services via XFN and FOAF, automatically updated address book from remote data sources, consolidated profile with RDF/FOAF export, personal SPARQL APIPHP [52] Dead
Kopal [53] OpenID, Kopal Connect protocol, [54] Kopal Feed microformat [55] MIT alpha
Libertree [56] Social network AGPL v3Nonebeta (updated: 2015)
Lorea [57] Profiles, microblogging, streams, groups, plugins, group mailing lists, tasks, calendar, subgroups, tagclouds (lgg, [58] plugins [59] ) GPL stable (seems dead by 2016-12-28)
Mr. Privacy [60] Email social networkPrivate messagingDead
Multichan [61] Anonymous textboard / imageboard network [62] Public domain Nonepaused on 2021-07-01, alpha 1.7 [61]
Newebe [63] one user = one node; microblogging, picture sharing, activity streamAGPLv3alpha (updated: 2016)
NoseRub [64] [65] [66] Custom protocolDead
OpenAutonomy [67] Micro-blogging, RSS aggregation, Cloud storage MIT Trusted user list and fine-grained trusted sub-groupsstable (r210) [68] (updated: 2015)
OpenLink Data Spaces (ODS) [69] Profile Management, Blogs, Wikis, Address Books, Calendars, Feed Aggregation, Discussion Forums (includes NNTP support), File Servers (WebDAV based Briefcase).Dual (Commercial and GPL for Open Source Edition) WebID stable (updated: 2016)
OpenMicroBlogging MicrobloggingAGPLv3NoneDead
psyced [70] profiles, chat, microbloggingstable (updated: 2016)
Safebook [71] Peer-to-peer Facebook replacement GPL Untraceable communicationsbeta [72]
Secure Scuttlebutt social networking, messaging, games, development toolsVarious FLOSS licensesEnd-to-end encryption for private messages.Stable
SONIC [73] [74] Federation protocol for OSN services MIT beta (updated: 2018)
Tent [75] Profiles, Developer-extensible Post and Profile Types, Data Import, Groups, Privacy Controls, Content versioning MIT (reference implementation)alpha (0.2)
Thimbl [76] Microbloggingalpha
Zot/Zapsocial network, microblogging, cloud storage MIT stable, repository deleted [77]

See also

References

  1. ↑ bluesky-social/social-app, bluesky-social, 16 January 2025, retrieved 16 January 2025
  2. ↑ "Bluesky: An Open Social Web". Bluesky. Archived from the original on 14 November 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Fediverse Observer checks all servers in the fediverse and gives you an easy way to find a home". diaspora.fediverse.observer. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "FediDB, Fediverse Network Statistics". fedidb.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "Hubzilla - info@hubzilla.org". hubzilla.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  6. ↑ "FediDB, Fediverse Network Statistics". fedidb.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "FediDB, Fediverse Network Statistics". fedidb.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "Libervia progress note 2022-W45". salut-a-toi.org. November 2022. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  9. ↑ "Libervia". Libervia. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "FediDB, Fediverse Network Statistics". fedidb.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  11. ↑ "FediDB, Fediverse Network Statistics". fedidb.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "FediDB, Fediverse Network Statistics". fedidb.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "Join Movim · Servers list". Join Movim. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  14. ↑ "FediDB, Fediverse Network Statistics". fedidb.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  15. ↑ "FediDB, Fediverse Network Statistics". fedidb.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "FediDB, Fediverse Network Statistics". fedidb.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  17. ↑ Plume (11 December 2018). "Plume - The federated blogging engine". JoinPlu.me. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  18. ↑ "FediDB, Fediverse Network Statistics". fedidb.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  19. ↑ "Jaywink/Socialhome". GitHub . Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  20. ↑ "FediDB, Fediverse Network Statistics". fedidb.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  21. ↑ "Jappix.org". Jappix.org. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  22. ↑ "Numaverse Gateway". GitHub . 20 June 2021.
  23. ↑ "Creating a free, open, and decentralized social networking platform". OneSocialWeb. Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  24. ↑ "Developers - OneSocialWeb - Creating a free, open, and decentralized social networking platform". OneSocialWeb. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  25. ↑ "Draft protocol specification". Onesocialweb.org. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  26. ↑ "Prismosuite / Prismo".
  27. ↑ "Social Igniter". Social Igniter. Archived from the original on 12 July 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  28. ↑ "it's your life, let it flow". SocialRiver. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  29. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". Socialriver. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011.
  30. ↑ "socialze". SourceForge. 25 April 2013. Archived from the original on 24 August 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  31. ↑ "Fully Decentralized Peer-to-peer Microblogging Platform". David Roden. Archived from the original on 10 June 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  32. ↑ "2024 Protocol Roadmap | Bluesky". docs.bsky.app. 6 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  33. ↑ mary (16 January 2025), mary-ext/atproto-scraping , retrieved 16 January 2025
  34. ↑ "Peergos". GitHub . Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  35. ↑ "Decentralised, minimalist microblogging service for hackers". GitHub . 16 January 2019.
  36. ↑ "get6d.com/". 20 September 2011. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  37. ↑ "nehbit/aether". GitHub. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  38. ↑ "Aether". getaether.net. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  39. ↑ The Appleseed Project. "The Appleseed Project - Open Source Social Networking". Opensource.appleseedproject.org. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  40. ↑ "Appleseed QuickSocial Protocol". The Appleseed Project. Archived from the original on 18 October 2010.
  41. ↑ "buddycloud". buddycloud. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  42. ↑ "Buddycloud". Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  43. ↑ "buddycloud/buddycloud-server-java". GitHub. 13 November 2018.
  44. ↑ "Home". cunity.net. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  45. ↑ "Diatum – A Digital Identity Project".
  46. ↑ "CoreDB Releases". GitHub.
  47. ↑ "DiSo Project". diso-project.org. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  48. ↑ "Main Page - DiSo wiki". Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  49. 1 2 Adrian D. Thurston. "DSNP: Distributed Social Networking Protocol". Complang.org. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  50. ↑ "Friend2Friend". Altruists International. 17 November 2010. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  51. ↑ "Knowee.org". Archived from the original on 23 December 2010.
  52. ↑ "Knowee.org - Download". Archived from the original on 11 October 2010.
  53. ↑ "kopal". Google Project Hosting. Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  54. ↑ "Kopal_Connect - kopal - Specifications for Kopal Connect protocol (revision 0.1.draft) - Distributed and Decentralised Social Networking Platform. - Google Project Hosting". 20 April 2010. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  55. ↑ "Kopal_Feed - kopal - Specifications for Kopal Feed protocol (revision 0.1.draft) - Distributed and Decentralised Social Networking Platform. - Google Project Hosting". Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  56. ↑ Libertree. "Libertree". Libertree. Archived from the original on 31 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  57. ↑ "Lorea". Lorea. Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  58. ↑ "Lorea". Lorea. Archived from the original on 22 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  59. ↑ "rhizomatik — Bitbucket". Bitbucket.org. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  60. ↑ ""Mr. Privacy" Is an Alternative to Facebook Worth Sharing | MIT Technology Review". MIT Technology Review. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  61. 1 2 "Github: 153/multichan". GitHub . 9 October 2021. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
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  63. ↑ "Newebe - Freedom To Share". newebe.org. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  64. ↑ "The home of decentralized, social networks". NoseRub. Archived from the original on 10 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  65. ↑ "Quick Facts about". NoseRub. Archived from the original on 6 January 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  66. ↑ "Download the application and NoseRub merchandise". NoseRub. Archived from the original on 25 September 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  67. ↑ "Open Autonomy Inc". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  68. ↑ "OpenAutonomy Reference Implementation". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  69. ↑ "VOS: OpenLink Data Spaces". us: Ods.openlinksw.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  70. ↑ "(PSYC) Public_server". about.psyc.eu. Archived from the original on 28 May 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  71. ↑ "Safebook". Eurecom. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  72. ↑ "Safebook Architecture Overview". Safebook. Eurecom. Archived from the original on 13 April 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  73. ↑ "SOcial Network InterConnect". Sebastian Göndör. 2018. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  74. ↑ Göndör, Sebastian Jürg (2018). "Seamless interoperability and data portability in the social web for facilitating an open and heterogeneous online social network federation". FG Service-centric Networking. doi:10.14279/depositonce-7239.
  75. ↑ "Tent — All your data in one place". Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  76. ↑ "Free Open Source Distributed Micro-blogging". Thimbl. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  77. ↑ "Zap". zotlabs.org. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
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