I would like to receive some feedback on this idea I have been kicking around, and see if others might be interested in contributing. I have a basic prototype that proves out most of the technology, but not much beyond that.

The basic general description is an Iroh based identity layer for the open web. This platform would serve three primary functions:

Preserve and consolidate social graph data in an encrypted local storage vault, allowing for import, display, and management of media and posts from both walled garden platforms and open platforms.
A "universal translator" across open platforms, allowing for seamless connection between activitypub, AT protocol, and rss subscriptions. You are able to link mastodon, Lemmy, pixelfed, loops, and blusky accounts and your legacy social media imports can also generate RSS subscription feeds for your previous Instagram or YouTube (among other platforms) subscriptions, with all this content showing up in a single filterable fleed.
Identities can be linked to any unique URL, using an umbrella DID. That URL can be any location the user chooses, including an indieweb page, a spacehey.com profile, or any other site the user controls and is able to host the corresponding DID document for cross platform identification.

There are many more details and features I have in mind that this architecture could facilitate, but this is the overarching basics of what I had in mind. I am very open to critique or analysis of this architecture, potential issues and limitations, as well as ideas for modification.

I would also welcome collaborators and contributors if there is interest, and I can open up the project for whoever may be interested. Let me know!

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[–] Auster@thebrainbin.org 4 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

If I'm getting it right, sounds like a more refined and self-hosted form of Linktree, a.k.a. a hub for your social medias so people can find you more easily. Is that it?

[–] robert.meyer86@piefed.social 3 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (1 children)

That's kind of it, but it's more behind the scenes than linktree. What I am proposing would be a new platform, like Lemmy or mastodon, that allows you to link in all of your identities and view them all in one place. Other users can then link to your personal website or whatever link your identity is tied to (could be a default Bytescape "profile" page), with all social media handles you have linked to that identity. These could either be simply linked like a link tree, or shown on a profile feed display page so users and yourself can view all of your activity across the web on one place.

[–] Auster@thebrainbin.org 2 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

I think I get it.

Personally, I like the idea.

And something that comes to mind, Mastodon, Lemmy and PieFed all have methods of account migration. Perhaps such Bytescape tool could integrate to those too?

And further on that, apparently Piefed doesn't import info that it doesn't federate with, e.g. Kbin.Social since iirc it can't be reached (correct me if I'm wrong pls). Also maybe that happens with Mastodon and Lemmy but haven't checked. But if I'm right on that, it would also apply to active but defederated instances. So maybe such potential integration could be used to preserve information that would otherwise be lost as it's not imported?

[–] robert.meyer86@piefed.social 2 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

This would definitely integrate with data migration tools of all sorts, it already works with meta and bluesky data export/access systems. Activitypub is next on the list. I'd like it to be as seamless as possible, something like an oAuth login. It would be especially useful in cases where users want to move to a totally local storage solution. The goal is not to replace existing platforms per se, but to give users the ability to have a complete locally available copy of their data at all times. Whether that data is mirrored or distributed elsewhere on the web is ultimately up to the user.

With regard to displaying defederated content, this would put that choice in the hands of the user as well. It should take the headache out of seeing the content you want to see, but should also obviously have some level of moderation and safety in place at a basic level.