The free open source forum software NodeBB is now working on official Fediverse support. Federation isn't ready yet, but if this interests you, you might want to follow their account:
Their official website is at https://nodebb.org and the co-founder of NodeBB is at @devnull
Hi @bgtlover — that's a great question! I follow along with Lemmy and /kbin dev, and wish them all the best. They've been instrumental in providing a landing zone for the #RedditMigration.
Both of them are link aggregators, and while LemmyBB is a frontend to the Lemmy API, it is (I think?) still quite green and doesn't support more of the forum specific features that we've come to expect including themes, a robust theming and extension system, SSO, chat/DMs, robust mod tooling, and more
@devnull what do you mean by linear? The only forum software I know is PanBB, phpbb and discourse, I don't understand what you mean, given those analogies
@devnull hmm, interesting, I've always seen a forum as basically just that interface, more accessible that's true, but kinda like that. Can't lemmy's moderation tools be used in this case? Also, how does this thing federate with stuff like mastodon, groups like lemmy?
@bgtlover I'll be honest and say "I don't know" to both the Lemmy moderation question and details about the finer points of #ActivityPub integration
I'm still working my way through the initial steps of this integration and the biggest hurdle is finding common relationships between AP objects and verbs and their NodeBB equivalent. There's lots in common, but the more specific implementation details (like reporting) will require lots of thinking through, because we definitely want to do it right
@bgtlover the basics on my wish list, though:
- User to user follows
- Bidirectional communication, likes, bookmarks
- Ability to browse the wider fediverse from within NodeBB itself (bit vague ATM though)
Thanks @feditips for the shout-out, and an enthusiastic welcome to all of our new followers! @devnull is working on our #ActivityPub support out in the open, and updates will come from this (nodebb) account.
We're excited for what the #fediverse represents, and can't wait to have our software (developed over a decade OUTSIDE of the fediverse) take its first baby steps into this new world
@feditips this and Discourse, very neat!
I personally am a gal of RSS, but more access is better.
A lot of Fedi platforms support RSS too, for example you can follow Mastodon accounts by adding .rss to the URL of their profile, PeerTube has an RSS option in its subscribe button, and Friendica has extensive RSS support including using Friendica accounts as feed readers.
@feditips I know, I mean that in a "I don't follow forums via Mastodon I do it via RSS" kind of way, but I'm fully in favour of federation being a thing
It’s absolutely their right and choice, but this is very commercial pricing. I wonder how it will hold up after federation and more implementations. I want to see entry level community pricing for these kinds of products. cc @atomicpoet.
@shoq @feditips @nodebb @devnull @atomicpoet My understanding is those are the prices where they are doing the hosting and include daily backups. Software is free for all who want to install and host themselves.
@amart @shoq @nodebb @devnull @atomicpoet
Yeah, this is a similar model to how many FOSS projects work. The software itself is totally free and can be hosted elsewhere, but development is partially funded by people who want to use the developers' official hosting and/or tech support services.
The idea is to help keep the free service going by offering extra services to those who can pay.
@feditips @amart @atomicpoet
Sure, I understand the model well. Not criticizing it or them. Just expressing the need for lower entry level pricing. The classic forum model is an awesome tool that can make a BIG comeback in the Fedi. But it will need much wider propagation. I’ve known $60 hosting plans supporting a phpBB instance with 100k registered users. Assuming NodeBB is the better tool (about to test), it needs a much smaller entry-level price tag, imo.
@shoq @feditips @amart @atomicpoet we use self-hosted Discourse on a VPS, but they do offer hosted plans. $25 for small private forum, and then $100 for public and up. It's quite expensive. Self-hosted option works really well, but requires a bit of tech knowledge.
@shoq correct, and you're right that there's a need for a lower price point for those smaller hobbyist communities. We currently encourage self-hosting for those, but we have been discussing internally about revising our prices to better match demand.
@big_louse @feditips @devnull that's ok, next year we'll release RustBB just for you, ok?