Before social media took over, internet forums were the go-to online communities. Even today, millions of forums remain active, making it significant that a leading forum software provider, NodeBB, is integrating with the fediverse—also known as the open social web.
The fediverse is home to decentralized platforms like Mastodon (an alternative to X), Pixelfed (similar to Instagram), PeerTube (a YouTube competitor), and more. These platforms operate using ActivityPub, a protocol that enables decentralized social networking.
As users move away from traditional, centralized social networks controlled by tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta and Elon Musk’s X, ActivityPub has gained traction across various applications. Platforms like WordPress, Flipboard, Medium, and even Meta’s Instagram Threads have adopted or experimented with federation. Substack rival Ghost is also working on integrating with the protocol.
With NodeBB’s participation, forum administrators now have the option to connect their communities to the broader decentralized web.
According to NodeBB co-founder Julian Lam, the idea first emerged in mid-2023 when he explored linking NodeBB forums together. Initially conceived as a centralized system, his research led him to Mastodon and ActivityPub, inspiring a shift toward a decentralized approach.
Support from the NLNet Foundation played a key role in speeding up the ActivityPub integration. “Their funding was instrumental in providing the financial stability to experiment with ActivityPub and to participate in developer circles, such as the SWICG, FediForum, and much more,” Lam shared.
Moving forward, newly created NodeBB forums will automatically integrate with the decentralized social web. Existing forums, meanwhile, will have the option to connect with other NodeBB communities and any ActivityPub-powered platforms like Mastodon.
Source: Forum software NodeBB joins the fediverse | TechCrunch
The fediverse is home to decentralized platforms like Mastodon (an alternative to X), Pixelfed (similar to Instagram), PeerTube (a YouTube competitor), and more. These platforms operate using ActivityPub, a protocol that enables decentralized social networking.
As users move away from traditional, centralized social networks controlled by tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta and Elon Musk’s X, ActivityPub has gained traction across various applications. Platforms like WordPress, Flipboard, Medium, and even Meta’s Instagram Threads have adopted or experimented with federation. Substack rival Ghost is also working on integrating with the protocol.
With NodeBB’s participation, forum administrators now have the option to connect their communities to the broader decentralized web.
According to NodeBB co-founder Julian Lam, the idea first emerged in mid-2023 when he explored linking NodeBB forums together. Initially conceived as a centralized system, his research led him to Mastodon and ActivityPub, inspiring a shift toward a decentralized approach.
Support from the NLNet Foundation played a key role in speeding up the ActivityPub integration. “Their funding was instrumental in providing the financial stability to experiment with ActivityPub and to participate in developer circles, such as the SWICG, FediForum, and much more,” Lam shared.
Moving forward, newly created NodeBB forums will automatically integrate with the decentralized social web. Existing forums, meanwhile, will have the option to connect with other NodeBB communities and any ActivityPub-powered platforms like Mastodon.
Source: Forum software NodeBB joins the fediverse | TechCrunch
