microblog.pub/docs/user_guide.md

# User's guide

[TOC]

## ActivityPub

Using microblog.pub efficiently requires knowing a bit about how [ActivityPub](https://activitypub.rocks/) works.

Skimming over the [Overview section of the ActivityPub specification](https://www.w3.org/TR/activitypub/#Overview) should be enough.

Also, you should know that the **Fediverse** is a common name used to describe all the interconnected/federated instances of servers supporting ActivityPub (like Mastodon, Pleroma, PeerTube, PixelFed...).

## Configuration

### Profile

You initial profile configuration is generated via the setup wizard.

You can manually edit the configuration file stored in `data/profile.toml` ([TOML](https://toml.io/en/)), note that the following config items cannot be updated (without breaking federation):

 - `domain`
 - `username`

As these two config items define your ActivityPub handle `@handle@domain`.

You can tweak your profile by tweaking these items:

 - `name`
 - `summary` (using Markdown)
 - `icon_url`

Whenever one of these config items is updated, an `Update` activity will be sent to all known servers to update your remote profile.

The server will need to be restarted for taking changes into account.

Before restarting the server, you can ensure you haven't made any mistakes by running the [configuration checking task](/user_guide.html#configuration-checking).


### Profile metadata

You can add metadata to your profile with the `metadata` config item.

Markdown is supported in the `value` field.

Be aware that most other software like Mastodon will limit the number of key/value to 4.

```toml
metadata = [
  {key = "Documentation", value = "[https://docs.microblog.pub](https://docs.microblog.pub)"},
  {key = "Source code", value = "[https://sr.ht/~tsileo/microblog.pub/](https://sr.ht/~tsileo/microblog.pub/)"},
]
```

### Manually approving followers

If you wish to manually approve followers, add this config item to `profile.toml`:

```toml
manually_approves_followers = true
```

The default value is `false`.

### Hiding followers

If you wish to hide your followers, add this config item to `profile.toml`:

```toml
hides_followers = true
```

The default value is `false`.

### Hiding who you are following

If you wish to hide who you are following, add this config item to `profile.toml`:

```toml
hides_following = true
```

The default value is `false`.

### Privacy replace

You can define domains to be rewritten to more "privacy friendly" alternatives, like [Invidious](https://invidious.io/)
or [Nitter](https://nitter.net/about).

To do so, add these extra config items. This is a sample config that rewrite URLs for Twitter, Youtube, Reddit and Medium:

```toml
privacy_replace = [
    {domain = "youtube.com", replace_by  = "yewtu.be"},
    {domain = "youtu.be", replace_by  = "yewtu.be"},
    {domain = "twitter.com", replace_by = "nitter.fdn.fr"},
    {domain = "medium.com", replace_by = "scribe.rip"},
    {domain = "reddit.com", replace_by = "teddit.net"},
]
```

### Customization

#### Default emoji

If you don't like cats, or need more emoji, you can add your favorite emoji in `profile.toml` and it will replace the default ones:

```
emoji = "🙂🐹📌"
```

You can copy/paste them from [getemoji.com](https://getemoji.com/).

#### Custom emoji

You can add custom emoji in the `data/custom_emoji` directory and they will be picked automatically.

#### Custom CSS

The CSS is written with [SCSS](https://sass-lang.com/documentation/syntax).

You can override colors by editing `data/_theme.scss`:

```scss
$primary-color: #e14eea;                                                                            
$secondary-color: #32cd32;
```

See `app/scss/main.scss` to see what variables can be overridden.

#### Custom templates

If you'd like to customize your instance's theme beyond CSS, you can modify the app's HTML by placing templates in `data/templates` which overwrite the defaults in `app/templates`.

#### Code highlighting theme

You can switch to one of the [styles supported by Pygments](https://pygments.org/styles/) by adding a line in `profile.toml`:

```toml
code_highlighting_theme = "solarized-dark"
```

### Blocking servers

In addition to blocking "single actors" via the admin interface, you can also prevent any communication with entire servers.

Add a `blocked_servers` config item into `profile.toml`.

The `reason` field is just there to help you document/remember why a server was blocked.

You should unfollow any account from a server before blocking it.

```toml
blocked_servers = [
    {hostname = "bad.tld", reason = "Bot spam"},
]
```

## Public website

Public notes will be visible on the homepage.

Only the last 20 followers/follows you have will be shown on the public website.

And only the last 20 interactions (likes/shares/webmentions) will be displayed, to keep things simple/clean.

## Admin section

You can login to the admin section by clicking on the `Admin` link in the footer or by visiting `https://yourdomain.tld/admin/login`.
The password is the one set during the initial configuration.

### Lookup

The `Lookup` section allows you to interact with any remote remote objects/content on the Fediverse.

The lookup supports:

 - profile page, like `https://testing.microblog.pub`
 - content page, like `https://testing.microblog.pub/o/4bccd2e31fad43a7896b5a33f0b8ded9`
 - username handle like `@testing@testing.microblog.pub`
 - ActivityPub ID, like `https://testing.microblog.pub/o/4bccd2e31fad43a7896b5a33f0b8ded9`

## Authoring notes

Notes are authored in [Markdown](https://commonmark.org/). There is no imposed characters limit.

If you fill the content warning, the note will be automatically marked as sensitive.

You can add attachments/upload files.
When attaching pictures, EXIF metadata (like GPS location) will be removed automatically before being stored.

Consider marking attachments as sensitive using the checkbox if needed.

## Webmentions

Public notes that link to "Webmention-compatible" website will trigger an outgoing webmention.
Most websites that support Webmention will display your profile on the mentioned page.

### Fenced code blocks

You can include code blocks in notes,  using the triple backtick syntax.

The code will be highlighted using [Pygments](https://pygments.org/).

Example:

~~~
Hello

```python
print("I will be highlighted")
```

~~~

## Interactions

microblog.pub supports the most common interactions supported by the Fediverse.

### Shares

Sharing (or announcing) an object will relay it to your followers and notify the author.
It will also be displayed on the homepage.

Most receiving servers will increment the number of shares.

Receiving a share will trigger a notification, increment the shares counter on the object and the actor avatar will be displayed on the object permalink.

### Likes

Liking an object will notify the author.

Unlike sharing, liked objects are not displayed on the homepage.

Most receiving servers will increment the number of likes.

Receiving a like will trigger a notification, increment the likes counter on the object and the actor avatar will be displayed on the object permalink.

### Bookmarks

Bookmarks allow you to like objects without notifying the author.

It is basically a "private like", and allows you to easily access them later.

It will also prevent objects to be pruned.

### Webmentions

Sending webmentions to ping mentioned websites is done automatically once a public note is authored.

Receiving a webmention will trigger a notification, increment the webmentions counter on the object and the source page will be displayed on the object permalink.

## Backup and restore

All the data generated by the server is located in the `data/` directory:

 - Configuration files
 - Server secrets
 - SQLite3 database
 - Theme modifications
 - Custom emoji
 - Uploaded media

Restoring is as easy as adding your backed up `data/` directory into a fresh deployment.

## Moving from another instance

If you want to move followers from your existing account, ensure it is supported in your software documentation.

For [Mastodon you can look at Moving or leaving accounts](https://docs.joinmastodon.org/user/moving/).

If you wish to move **to** another instance, see [Moving to another instance](/user_guide.html#moving-to-another-instance).

First you need to grab the "ActivityPub actor URL" for your existing account:

### Python edition

```bash
# For a Python install
poetry run inv webfinger username@domain.tld
```

Edit the config.

### Docker edition

```bash
# For a Docker install
make account=username@domain.tld webfinger
```

Edit the config.

### Edit the config

And add a reference to your old/existing account in `profile.toml`:

```toml
also_known_as = "my@old-account.com"
```

Restart the server, and you should be able to complete the move from your existing account.

## Tasks

### Configuration checking

You can confirm that your configuration file (`data/profile.toml`) is valid using the `check-config`

#### Python edition

```bash
poetry run inv check-config
```

#### Docker edition

```bash
make check-config
```

### Recompiling CSS files

You can ensure your custom theme is valid by recompiling the CSS manually using the `compile-scss` task.

#### Python edition

```bash
poetry run inv compile-scss
```

#### Docker edition

```bash
make compile-scss
```


### Password reset

If have lost your password, you can generate a new one using the `reset-password` task.

#### Python edition

```bash
# shutdown supervisord
poetry run inv reset-password
# edit data/profile.toml
# restart supervisord
```

#### Docker edition

```bash
docker compose stop
make reset-password
# edit data/profile.toml
docker compose up -d
```

### Pruning old data

You should prune old data from time to time to free disk space.

The default retention for the inbox data is 15 days.

It's configurable via the `inbox_retention_days` config item in `profile.toml`:

```toml
inbox_retention_days = 30
```

Data owned by the server will never be deleted (at least for now), along with:

 - bookmarked objects
 - liked objects
 - shared objects
 - inbox objects mentioning the local actor
 - objects related to local conversations (i.e. direct messages, replies) 

For now, it's recommended to make a backup before running the task in case it deletes unwanted data.

You should shutdown the server before running the task.

#### Python edition

```bash
# shutdown supervisord
cp -r data/microblogpub.db data/microblogpub.db.bak
poetry run inv prune-old-data
# relaunch supervisord and ensure it works as expected
rm data/microblogpub.db.bak
```

#### Docker edition

```bash
docker compose stop
cp -r data/microblogpub.db data/microblogpub.db.bak
make prune-old-data
docker compose up -d
rm data/microblogpub.db.bak
```

### Moving to another instance

If you want to migrate to another instance, you have the ability to move your existing followers to your new account.

Your new account should reference the existing one, refer to your software configuration (for example [Moving or leaving accounts from the Mastodon doc](https://docs.joinmastodon.org/user/moving/)).

If you wish to move **from** another instance, see [Moving from another instance](/user_guide.html#moving-from-another-instance).

Execute the Move task:

#### Python edition

```bash
# For a Python install
poetry run inv move-to username@domain.tld
```

#### Docker edition

```bash
# For a Docker install
make account=username@domain.tld move-to
```

### Deleting the instance

If you want to delete your instance, you can request other instances to delete your remote profile.

Note that this is a best-effort delete as some instances may not delete your data.

The command won't remove any local data, it just broadcasts account deletion messages to all known servers.

After executing the command, you should let the server run until all the outgoing delete tasks are sent.

Once deleted, you won't be able to use your instance anymore, but you will be able to perform a fresh re-install of any ActivityPub software.

#### Python edition

```bash
# For a Python install
poetry run inv self-destruct
```

#### Docker edition

```bash
# For a Docker install
make self-destruct
```

## Troubleshooting

If the server is not (re)starting, you can:

 - [Ensure that the configuration is valid](/user_guide.html#configuration-checking)
 - [Verify if you haven't any syntax error in the custom theme by recompiling the CSS](/user_guide.html#recompiling-css-files)
 - Look at the log files