Virtual temple's technical side
The "virtual temple" should be
- open source;
- decentalized ;
- reddit-like community with possibility to upvote content.
I am currently exploring the following possibilities: Mastadon, Bastyon and Lemmy. The first two are more Twitter-like. Lemmy functions more like Reddit.
Lemmy
Lemmy is an open-source, federated platform that allows users to create and participate in community-driven discussions similar to Reddit. It is based on the ActivityPub protocol, enabling federation with other platforms within the Fediverse, such as Mastodon. Users can set up their own instances, which can host multiple communities (called "lemmy instances"), and engage in threaded discussions, upvoting, and sharing content.
Key Features:
- Federated Communities: Users can join and interact with communities across different Lemmy instances.
- Custom Instances: Anyone can deploy their own instance with unique moderation policies and themes.
- Open Source: Being open-source allows for community contributions and continuous development.
Site and examples of instances: https://join-lemmy.org/
Setting up a Lemmy instance overview:
General Time Estimates:
- Basic Setup: If you are familiar with server management and Docker (the preferred method for Lemmy deployment), setting up an instance can take 1-2 hours. This includes configuring the server, installing Docker, and running the Lemmy container.
- Configuration and Testing: Adding configurations, security settings, and testing the instance may take an additional few hours, depending on the depth of customization and the server environment.
- Complete Setup with Customization: For those adding extra features or customizations (like SSL certificates, integrating with other parts of the Fediverse, or configuring moderation tools), it could take a few days to fine-tune everything.
Steps Involved:
- Server Setup: Choose a VPS or cloud server provider and ensure it meets the required specifications (e.g., RAM, CPU, storage).
- Install Docker and Docker Compose: Lemmy relies on these tools for containerized deployment, which simplifies the setup.
- Deploy Lemmy: Use the Lemmy repository and Docker Compose files to deploy the service.
- Configuration: Set up environment variables for database connections, admin details, etc.
- Testing and Tweaking: Ensure that the instance runs smoothly, apply security patches, and test basic functionality.