My wish list

Putting on my product developer hat, here’s what I want for Christmas:

1. A single-document basic interop spec, ie.

  * when I have written code for everything it says, my code will interoperate in some basic fashion with all other software that has implemented this document
  * no need to consult or understand other implementations
  * may be quite basic, e.g. text content only, only a minimal set of activity types
  * enables implementors to have a “MVP”-style interop at lowest-possible engineering effort (including the time required to read/understand the specs!)
  * This could be done as a “minimal profile” of a stack that contains a subset of AP, AS, and Webfinger


2. A test suite for that profile

  * suitable to add to my automated test suite
  * over time, this test suite can grow beyond the minimal profile


3. A branding program for products that have passed the test suite

  * As an implementor, you get to put the sticker on your product.
  * In particular, in the places in the product where users “connect” to other servers in the Fediverse, like “Visa” is displayed at the POS terminal
  * I believe this will become critical if/when larger orgs with potentially different value systems connect to the Fediverse


4. A set of web "intent buttons” for Like, Follow, Post, etc that work across sites

  * like they exist for centralized social media
  * as easy to use for the user
  * we can argue how this can be accomplished technically. I have opinions, but for this wish list, they are immaterial, as long as I get those buttons :-)


5. A standardized way to express terms under which content is provided

  * As I understand it, Bob Wyman calls that a Rights Expression Language
  * This probably should start with a use case collection


6. A design for search that meets the requirements of all relevant parties and points of view

  * This is probably far less a technical problem than one of successful communication


7. A design to reduce certain loads

  * Fan-out
  * Video
  * (Not my area of expertise, so I don’t have details)


8. Improved identity management across the Fediverse

  * Easy-to-use single-sign-on across servers. Use case: I use several apps for different content types (like micro blog and video). Bonus: they all post from the same identifier
  * Easy-to-use persona management. Use case: I have a personal and a work account, bonus if they can be on the same server
  * Identifiers not tied to the ___domain name system


Some of this squarely falls in the ___domain of this group, some is adjacent. It could be pulled in, or it can be done somewhere else. I don’t particularly care about that either, as long as it gets done and done consistently with the rest.

Now I’m sure you all are going to tell me why I can’t have all those things for Christmas, and certainly not this Christmas. But I can wish, no? (More seriously, I think they are all essential for continued successful growth of the ActivityPub network as new parties connect)

Best,



Johannes.


Johannes Ernst
Blog: https://reb00ted.org/
FediForum: https://fediforum.org/
Dazzle: https://dazzle.town/