# User's guide [TOC] ## ActivityPub Using microblog.pub efficiently requires knowing a bit about how [ActivityPub](https://activitypub.rocks/) works. Skimming over the [Overview section of the ActivityPub specification](https://www.w3.org/TR/activitypub/#Overview) should be enough. Also, you should know that the **Fediverse** is a common name used to describe all the interconnected/federated instances of servers supporting ActivityPub (like Mastodon, Pleroma, PeerTube, PixelFed...). ## Configuration ### Profile You initial profile configuration is generated via the setup wizard. You can manually edit the configuration file stored in `data/profile.toml` ([TOML](https://toml.io/en/)), note that the following config items cannot be updated (without breaking federation): - `domain` - `username` As these two config items define your ActivityPub handle `@handle@domain`. You can tweak your profile by tweaking these items: - `name` - `summary` (using Markdown) - `icon_url` Whenever one of these config items is updated, an `Update` activity will be sent to all know server to update your remote profile. The server will need to be restarted for taking changes into account. ### Profile metadata You can add metadata to your profile with the `metadata` config item. Markdown is supported in the `value` field. Be aware that most other softwares like Mastodon will limit the number of key/value to 4. ```toml metadata = [ {key = "Documentation", value = "[https://docs.microblog.pub](https://docs.microblog.pub)"}, {key = "Source code", value = "[https://sr.ht/~tsileo/microblog.pub/](https://sr.ht/~tsileo/microblog.pub/)"}, ] ``` ### Manually approving followers If you wish to manually approve followers, add this config item to `profile.toml`: ```toml manually_approves_followers = true ``` The default value is `false`. ### Privacy replace You can define domain to be rewrited to more "privacy friendly" alternatives, like [Invidious](https://invidious.io/) or [Nitter](https://nitter.net/about). To do so, just add as these extra config items, this is a sample config that rewrite URLs for Twitter, Youtube, Reddit and Medium: ```toml privacy_replace = [ {domain = "youtube.com", replace_by = "yewtu.be"}, {domain = "youtu.be", replace_by = "yewtu.be"}, {domain = "twitter.com", replace_by = "nitter.fdn.fr"}, {domain = "medium.com", replace_by = "scribe.rip"}, {domain = "reddit.com", replace_by = "teddit.net"}, ] ``` ### Customization #### Custom emoji You can add custom emoji in the `data/custom_emoji` directory and they will be picked automatically. #### Custom CSS The CSS is written with [SCSS](https://sass-lang.com/documentation/syntax). You can override colors by editing `data/_theme.scss`: ```scss $primary-color: #e14eea; $secondary-color: #32cd32; ``` See `app/scss/main.scss` to see what variables can be overidden. #### Code highlighting theme You can switch to one of the [styles supported by Pygments](https://pygments.org/styles/) by adding a line in `profile.toml`: ```toml code_highlighting_theme = "solarized-dark" ``` ### Blocking servers In addition to blocking "single actors" via the admin interface, you can also prevent any communications with whole servers. Add a `blocked_servers` config item into `profile.toml`. The `reason` field is just there to help you document/remember why a server was blocked. You should unfollow any account from a server before blocking it. ```toml blocked_servers = [ {hostname = "bad.tld", reason = "Bot spam"}, ] ``` ## Public website Public notes will be visible on the homepage. Only the last 20 followers/follows you be showing on the public website. And only the last 20 interactions (likes/shares/webmentions) will be displayed, to keep things simple/clean. ## Admin section You can login to the admin section by clicking on the `Admin` link in the footer or by visiting `https://yourdomain.tld/admin`. The password is the one set during the initial configuration. ### Lookup The `Lookup` section allows you to interact with any remote remote objects/content on the Fediverse. The lookup supports: - profile page, like `https://testing.microblog.pub` - content page, like `https://testing.microblog.pub/o/4bccd2e31fad43a7896b5a33f0b8ded9` - username handle like `@testing@testing.microblog.pub` - ActivityPub ID, like `https://testing.microblog.pub/o/4bccd2e31fad43a7896b5a33f0b8ded9` ## Authoring notes Notes are authored in [Markdown](https://commonmark.org/). There is no imposed characters limit. If you fill the content warning, the note will be automatically marked as sensitive. You can add attachments/upload files. When attaching pictures, EXIF metadata (like GPS location) will be removed automatically before being stored. Consider marking attachments as sensitive using the checkbox if needed. ## Webmentions Public notes that link to "Webmention-compatible" website will trigger an outgoing webmention. Most websites that support Webmention will display your profile on the mentioned page. ### Fenced code blocks You can include code blocks in notes, using the triple backtick syntax. The code will be highlighted using [Pygments](https://pygments.org/). Example: ~~~ Hello ```python print("I will be highlighted") ``` ~~~ ## Interactions microblog.pub supports the most common interactions supported by the Fediverse. ### Shares Sharing (or announcing) an object will relay it to your followers and notify the author. It will also be displayed on the homepage. Most receiving servers will increment the number of shares. Receiving a share will trigger a notification, increment the shares counter on the object and the actor avatar will be displayed on the object permalink. ### Likes Liking an object will notify the author. Unlike sharing, liked object are not displayed on the homepage. Most receiving servers will increment the number of likes. Receiving a like will trigger a notification, increment the likes counter on the object and the actor avatar will be displayed on the object permalink. ### Bookmarks Bookmarks allow you to like objects without notifying the author. It is basically a "private like", and allow you to easily access them later. It will also prevent objects to be pruned. ### Webmentions Sending webmention to ping mentioned websites is done automatically once a public note is authored. Receiving a webmention will trigger a notification, increment the webmentions counter on the object and the source page will be displayed on the object permalink. ## Backup and restore All the data generated by the server is located in the `data/` directory: - Configuration files - Server secrets - SQLite3 database - Theme modifications - Custom emoji - Uploaded media Restoring is as easy as adding your backed up `data/` directory into a fresh deployment.