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

is it safe to backup #snac2 like this:

any plans to use sqlite or some other database?

also thank you for creating #snac2. i love it!

see also
https://comam.es/snac-doc/snac.5.html

# rcctl stop snac 
# cd /var/snac
# tar -cpf /tmp/snac data
# rcctl start snac

# rcctl stop snac 
# cd /var/snac
# tar -xpf /tmp/snac.tgz
# rcctl start snac

any plans to use sqlite or some other database?

also thank you for creating #snac2. i love it!

ballreiter successfully moved from Mastodon to snac. Even though it is highly doubtful that football (soccer) is or ever will be a prolific topic in the Fediverse...

$ tail -f /var/log/daemon

here is what i've added/changed so far:

{
"host": "romanzolotarev.com",
"prefix": "/pub",
"cssurls": ["/pub/style.css"],
"favicon_url": "/favicon.ico",
"admin_email": "hi@romanzolotarev.com",
"admin_account": "hi",
"title": "romanzolotarev.com",
"short_description": "/pub",
"strict_public_timelines": true,
"disable_emojireact": true,
"dbglevel": 3,
"fastcgi": true,
...
}

like/favorite if this appears in your feed please :)

#selfhosting #snac2 #openbsd

now i'm reading #snac2 manual.

looks like i broke my instance by rsyncing from server to server...

will try to restore in a few days and re-follow you all again.

/cc @grunfink @joel

@joel can't figure out why my #snac2 instance can't follow tumfaig users... is there a way to debug it?

i did a few changes in server.js

• enabled fastcgi
• linked css (https://codeberg.org/voron/snac-style/src/branch/master/next.css)
• linked favicon.ico

not bad for a tiny server
#runbsd #openbsd #snac2

#openbsd #snac2

#activitypub #smallweb #snac2 #snac

moving to @hi

#activitypub #snac2 #selfhosting

testing #snac2 (version 2.89)

- installed on #openbsd 7.8
- served by httpd/slowcgi https://pub.romanzolotarev.com
- added user @hi - posted from ivory.app (ios 18)
- posted from https://pinafore.social
- updated my profile from apps and snac web ui

todo
- maybe move to @hi@romanzolotarev.com
- post from mastodon.app (ios18): creates empty posts
- fix security headers on my server: auth is not as smooth as should be
- follow, boost, favorite, reply, etc
- migrate followers

/cc @FiLiS @fd0 @jpmens

It looks like the migration off of my #snac #snac2 instance @fd0@social.freebsd.amsterdam to mastodon.nl is almost complete.
Some weird thing is happening, that not all my followers there have migrated with me...
It may be an #ActivityPub thingy... not sure. I have seen the notification being sent out to all the followers

This is the screen waiting using the official mastodon app on iphone, connected to #snac #snac2 account

@jpmens
@fd0@social.freebsd.amsterdam @romanzolotarev @FiLiS

Alt...

waiting screen

And I filed a bugreport at https://codeberg.org/grunfink/snac2/issues/542

@fd0@social.freebsd.amsterdam

#snac #snac2

@fd0 why is that? (Thinking about moving to a personal #snac2 instance and wonder why you're doing the opposite)

My public notification that I am moving away from a #snac2 instance with @fd0@social.freebsd.amsterdam to here.
Spread the word...

#FediMeteo #FediMeteoAnnouncements #FediMeteoUpdates #snac #snac2

@fd0 why migrating away from #snac2? i'm looking for a way to run my own personal instance and considering using snac. any pro/cons?

Hello world, from. new location 😃
It seems that the account migration from a #snac2 instance is *not* going very smoothly

My followers on @fd0@social.freebsd.amsterdam do not get notified of the move 😞

Searching for a solution

Ti sei dimenticato #snac2.

@informapirata@mastodon.uno @fediverso@feddit.it

If I press: "open in Webbrowser" to see the conversation and not only the post, then it will go to some /ap/ endpoint that is 404.
I think that was not always the case, but maybe I misremember it.
@grunfink@comam.es

#snac2 #mastodon #fediverse

I notice that the /people/ section of snac gives broken links to follower and followee profiles.

For instance entries for mastodon users are like this:

https://mastodon.social/ap/users/253190229248136435

Which appears to be an API endpoint rather than a web link. Links like this lead to a not found page.

#snac2 #mastodon #fediverse

自用或极少用户的实例可考虑 #snac2
@NatsumeMio @cdn0x12

Get snac'd up (not just) for #fossdem !

You can now purchase #snac propaganda stickers and apparel to show your allegiance or to wage war with.

https://www.redbubble.com/people/analognowhere/shop?artistUserName=analognowhere&asc=u&collections=4443355&iaCode=all-departments&sortOrder=top%20selling

Blessed be the hacker @grunfink for they can C.

#snac2 #runbsd #linux #unix_surrealism #fediverse

Alt...

snac's suzie qr, points to comam.es/what-is-snac

Alt...

snac alien SINCE YOU LEFT ME IVE BEEN SNACPILLED comam.es/what-is-snac

#snac2 #fediverse #frugalfediverse

#GotoSocial ist auch immer eine Erwähung wert wenn es ums selber hosten geht.

So I renamed my send button at snac... 🙂

#Snac2 #Mastodon

Alt...

Screenshot of snac instance, the "send message" button isnt labeled but has a Mastodon emoji with a wind emoji at the back instead.