After quite some time, I’m finally ready to share this.

MastoBlaster is now available in public testing on TestFlight.

It is a lightweight, privacy-first Fediverse client for iOS, built around a simple idea: fast, small, predictable behavior, and first-class support for snac.

What makes it different:
• snac-first by design, not "compatible by accident"
• Works with all Mastodon API compatible software, including Mastodon, snac, GoToSocial, Akkoma, and others
• EXIF stripping on upload (HDR and orientation preserved)
• Optional on-device alt text generation via Apple Intelligence for your uploads and for images in your timeline
• Markdown posting for snac
• Granular notifications, grouping, multi-account
• Blocking and moderation tools
• Very small footprint, very low RAM usage

Alt text generation happens entirely on device via Apple APIs on supported hardware. Nothing is sent to external services.

It is built around my own workflow and priorities. It may not be for everyone, and that is perfectly fine.

Important note:
MastoBlaster will always be free for BSD Cafe users, illumos Cafe users, and for anyone connecting to a snac instance, including self-hosted ones.

The app is already usable, but this is still a test phase. I am looking for feedback, bug reports, and real-world usage insights.

TestFlight link:
https://testflight.apple.com/join/Pkxa5R1k

Stay tuned.

#MastoBlaster #iOS #Fediverse #Mastodon #snac #snac2 #Akkoma #GoToSocial #ActivityPub #OwnYourData

EDIT: Build 68 should also run on iOS 18.x but it currently crashes. I'll see if I can fix it.

After quite some time, I’m finally ready to share this.

MastoBlaster is now available in public testing on TestFlight.

It is a lightweight, privacy-first Fediverse client for iOS, built around a simple idea: fast, small, predictable behavior, and first-class support for snac.

What makes it different:
• snac-first by design, not "compatible by accident"
• Works with all Mastodon API compatible software, including Mastodon, snac, GoToSocial, Akkoma, and others
• EXIF stripping on upload (HDR and orientation preserved)
• Optional on-device alt text generation via Apple Intelligence for your uploads and for images in your timeline
• Markdown posting for snac
• Granular notifications, grouping, multi-account
• Blocking and moderation tools
• Very small footprint, very low RAM usage

Alt text generation happens entirely on device via Apple APIs on supported hardware. Nothing is sent to external services.

It is built around my own workflow and priorities. It may not be for everyone, and that is perfectly fine.

Important note:
MastoBlaster will always be free for BSD Cafe users, illumos Cafe users, and for anyone connecting to a snac instance, including self-hosted ones.

The app is already usable, but this is still a test phase. I am looking for feedback, bug reports, and real-world usage insights.

TestFlight link:
https://testflight.apple.com/join/Pkxa5R1k

Stay tuned.

#MastoBlaster #iOS #Fediverse #Mastodon #snac #snac2 #Akkoma #GoToSocial #ActivityPub #OwnYourData

Also, thanks to: byte, dandelions, oxzi, davidrv00, ag-eitilt, pmjv, zen, daltux and anyone else I may have missed for contributing to this release!

I submitted a Pull Request to update MacPorts' snac to 2.90 here:

https://github.com/macports/macports-ports/pull/31230

1 of 3 GitHub Continuous Integration checks completed successfully.

Fingers crossed the other two go off without a hitch. If so, it's up to someone else with commit access to merge it.

#snac #MacPorts #OpenSource #ActivityPub #Mastodon #NoDatabaseNeeded
#NoJavaScript #NoCookiesEither #NotMuchBullShit #snacAnnounces

#snac2 #fediverse #frugalfediverse

Hi @grunfink,
where does one typically serve non-css assets for a #snac #theme?

The #illumosCafe #snac instance has been upgraded to 2.90

#illumosCafeAnnouncements #illumosCafeServices #snac2

The #BSDCafe #snac instance has been upgraded to 2.90

#BSDCafeUpdates #BSDCafeAnnouncements #BSDCafeServices #snac2

Minor tweak to improve signature key retrieving for some Wordpress configurations.

Fixed web UI incorrect links to actor public pages for some configurations.

Fixed mismatch in the accounts being followed number in the public and people pages.

Notifications can be filtered by category (contributed by byte).

Dates are shown adjusted to the account's time zone (contributed by dandelions).

Configurable limit for poll items (contributed by dandelions).

Fixed incorrect scope when editing a post (contributed by dandelions).

Change the strip_exif logic to work with the already existing OpenBSD sandbox (contributed by oxzi).

Mastodon API: Add poll creation (contributed by davidrv00), fixed a voting bug (contributed by davidrv00), added a fix to verify_credentials (contributed by ag-eitilt).

Updated Czech, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish translations (contributed by pmjv, zen, daltux).

https://comam.es/what-is-snac

If you find #snac useful, please consider buying grunfink a coffee or contributing via LiberaPay.

#snacAnnounces #FrugalFediverse

Mhhh.. #snac crashes when it start's in my Dual Pentium II system. It's performing at start a heavy job "started deferred data integrity check", which does lot IO.
When I turn off the traffic from outside, it seems to run (takes ages). But when I turn on the traffic to it, it crashes with
`Illegal instruction (core dumped)`

I took the installation over from the PIII system and activated the MP #OpenBSD kernel. (Do you really have to cp it from the CD by yourself??)

#retrocomputing #retroserver

First I thought it was some rejection of my instance since I changed server, but since I've noticed it happens even with instances I hadn't seen before.

So, I built a new instance and you can find me at @mookie@weredreaming.com.

That doesn't mean that https://lifeiswoohoo.net is going away, it's staying for a while -- but lifeiswoohoo.net will be the instance that goes away if I ever want to change domains.

We're Dreaming (https://weredreaming.com) is an attempt at having an instance with permanence. It is where I plan to write and post without having posts disappear when I move instances, because it's obvious I'll always want to be building and destroying instances.

I'm still figuring out what I'll be posting here and what I'll be posting at We're Dreaming. But the initial thought is that more personal posts will go on We're Dreaming along with my movie posts.

I have already followed those of you that I interact with on a regular basis, if you wouldn't mind following back that would be awesome.

I am keeping the We're Dreaming account as one where I approve followers.

#fediverse #fediadmin #snac #snac2 #mastodon #mastoadmin #home

Regarding an OpenBSD package, I'm sure it would be very easy to do. OpenBSD for me is first class, and #snac works great there.

The time is probably right.

Back in 2022, when I was still using iOS, I wasn’t completely happy with the Fediverse apps that were available. I was mostly using Akkoma, and the interface I liked the most was actually its web UI, even on mobile. So I started playing with Xcode and put together the foundations of an app tailored to my needs.

A lot has changed since then and today we have great alternatives like IceCubes, Mona, Ivory, etc. Each one has strengths and weaknesses though, so I picked up my old project again and kept pushing it forward.

So I’m happy to announce that my app will finally see the light: I’ve been using it for the past few days and, in my spare time, I’m fixing bugs and adding missing features. I’m building it around my own needs, so it doesn’t have to “appeal to everyone”. I wouldn’t call it opinionated, but it’s definitely targeted.

The app will have one key trait: #snac2 support will be a first-class feature, not an incidental one. Many apps, especially on iOS, support snac as a side effect, but the experience is often not optimal. In this case, the choice is deliberate and it strictly follows the Mastodon API support implemented by snac. So snac will work properly (within the limits of the platform, of course).

Among the features already implemented: the app is minimal and lightweight (under 10 MB, including debug code), easy on RAM, and privacy-first (for example it strips EXIF data from media before posting, so the server will never see it). On snac it also cleans up the "Boosted by Aoderelay" messages that appear when using a relay, removes the character limit, and supports posting in Markdown.

I also added support for Apple Intelligence to generate alt text, both for the media I post and for media posted by others that is missing alt text.

Everything is processed locally through Apple APIs and only on supported devices. The results aren't amazing, Apple Intelligence is extremely limited, but in my opinion it's the only privacy-friendly and ethical way to approach it. And of course, you can disable it.

On Mastodon it supports all the main features: lists, quote posts, granular notifications (you can choose what you want for each category), notification grouping, multi-account support, and it works.

It's still missing a few things (block, etc.) and has some bugs, which I’m spotting as I keep using it.
As soon as it's stable enough, I'll invite a few people to test it. I still haven't fully decided how I'll distribute it: an Apple Developer account has a yearly cost, and I hope to reuse it for other projects too. So this app might be paid, with a trial period, but if possible (I still need to check what’s feasible) I'd like it to be free if you connect to one of the BSD Cafe instances, illumos Cafe, or any snac instance, including your own.

I don't know how long it will take before it's ready... but I can already tell you what it will be called.
It already has a name, and it's... MastoBlaster.

This name was chosen for personal reasons, and also because of its similarity to Master Blaster by Stevie Wonder, which even today feels relevant and fitting for the Fediverse.

Stay tuned!

#MastoBlaster #Fediverse #Mastodon #iOS #FediverseApp #Announcement #Apple #snac #snac2 #BSDCafe #illumosCafe

Alt...

MastoBlaster, showing my profile on my phone

https://fedi-relay.gyptazy.com is a tech related relay instance that connects over 100 instances, focussing on things like #FreeBSD, #BGP, #IPv6, #Proxmox, #Homelab, #Linux and many other things! You can easily add a really when using #snac / #snac2, #mastodon, #pleroma and many other ones!

#community #activitypub #socialmedia #fedi #fediwall #relay #opensource #tech #federated #social

Alt...

Overview of the fedi-relay gyptazy instance for the Fediverse

Of course I'm using #snac on my blog posting bot. Still the best software to self host :)