Mastodon

Description

Mastodon is a free, open-source microblogging platform that runs on the ActivityPub protocol, letting anyone host their own social network that interoperates with the wider "fediverse." It offers a self-hosted, ad-free, algorithm-free alternative to Twitter/X with full control over moderation and data.

Features

• Federation: Interoperates with thousands of independently run servers via ActivityPub.
• Chronological Timeline: Shows posts in order with no engagement-driven algorithm.
• Granular Moderation: Gives each server admin full control over rules, blocklists, and reports.
• Rich Media Posts: Supports images, video, polls, content warnings, and alt text natively.
• No Ads, No Tracking: Runs ad-free with no algorithmic amplification or data resale.
• Multi-Account Clients: Works with dozens of official and third-party mobile and desktop apps.

Technology Stack

Backend built with Ruby on Rails and Node.js streaming server; frontend in React and Redux. Uses PostgreSQL for storage, Redis for caching and queues, and Sidekiq for background jobs.

Requirements

Linux server (Docker supported); PostgreSQL and Redis; at least 2 GB RAM for a small single-user instance (larger communities need significantly more); a domain name and SMTP server for email verification.