fediverse-server

A persistent ActivityPub server that uses the apkit library.

The server has two sides:

1. the one facing the Fediverse that speaks ActivityPub
2. an internal API to send status messages and retrieve information

Connection to the internet

You need a TLS endpoint to make the server visible on the internet. I use the Caddy webserver on a VPS for that. Let's assume the server is available at https://fedi.example.com

Set an environment variable with that domain name:

export APKIT_DOMAIN=fedi.example.com

Local testing

For testing purpouses you can also use ngrok expose it on the internet:

ngrok http 8000

ngrok will show you an address like https://846e26f1e1ee.ngrok-free.app that can be used to access your server from the internet.

Set an environment variable with that domain name:

export APKIT_DOMAIN=846e26f1e1ee.ngrok-free.app 

Run the server

If you have poetry on your system you can simple run

poetry install # needed only the first time
poetry run uvicorn --host=0.0.0.0 server:app

Without poetry

If you do not use poetry you can manually install the required libraries in a virtual environment:

python -m venv .venv
. .venv/bin/activate
pip install fastapi uvicorn sqlalchemy apkit[server]
uvicorn --host=0.0.0.0 server:app

Using the server

The server will display it's Fediverse user name (currently starting with demo). You can interact with this account from the Fediverse.

Local API

• http://localhost:8000/api/followers list of all followers
• http://localhost:8000/api/notes list of all status messages you sent
• http://localhost:8000/api/comments list of all responses to you status messages

You can send a status message to all your followers by POSTing to http://localhost:8000/api/status like this:

curl -XPOST -d 'Hello, world!' http://localhost:8000/api/status

This message will be send to all accounts that follow your account.