The problem with federated web apps

Re:The problem with federated web apps by syllablehq on Saturday July 01, 2023 @01:42PM (#36552740)

I've had the opinion for years that any federated social media platform should fallback to email as a default. This helps solve the problem of bootstrapping an audience. You should be able to "tweet" at your friends by using their emails. It should show up on the public record as an unclaimed account.

That account could authenticate at any time through their email to claim it. You could send a "tweet" by just sending an email to [email protected]. [follow-up verification link can be sent to approve with one click to prove email.]

I don't understand how this idea isn't more obvious to all these new platforms. We need to lower barriers to entry to decentralization.

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Re:The problem with federated web apps by johnnyanmac on Saturday July 01, 2023 @07:17PM (#36556355)

My assumption here is that ActivityPub doesn't have a full implementation of email protocols. I don't know how difficult it is to bridge this.

Also, unfortunately eMail has long fallen to spam. If I'm not searching for it, I won't actively look too deeply into an email from an unknown user.

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Re:The problem with federated web apps by numpad0 on Saturday July 01, 2023 @08:17PM (#36556772)

I don't know, but I dont remember POP/IMAP/SMTP to be lean enough for that kind of usage. Fast social media timelines are in few kpost/sec. range.

e: but sounds like a correct approach too

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