{
"path": "/3l6fvi44arm2u",
"site": "at://did:plc:ofrbh253gwicbkc5nktqepol/site.standard.publication/3m3x4bgbsh22k",
"tags": [
"atproto",
"reflection"
],
"$type": "site.standard.document",
"title": "Gazing Into the Bluesky",
"content": {
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"pages": [
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"blocks": [
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],
"plaintext": "Bluesky, bsky, whatever."
}
},
{
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"block": {
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"facets": [
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]
},
{
"index": {
"byteEnd": 110,
"byteStart": 102
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"features": [
{
"uri": "https://joinmastodon.org",
"$type": "pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link"
}
]
},
{
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"features": [
{
"uri": "https://atproto.com/",
"$type": "pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link"
}
]
}
],
"plaintext": "It's an alternative to Twitter (yes, I am still calling it Twitter, not X) and the Fediverse (such as Mastodon), running atop the AT Protocol (also known as 'ATProto')."
}
},
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"facets": [
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"features": [
{
"uri": "https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ofrbh253gwicbkc5nktqepol",
"$type": "pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link"
}
]
},
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"features": [
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{
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},
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"features": [
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]
},
{
"index": {
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},
"features": [
{
"uri": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Well-known_URI",
"$type": "pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link"
}
]
},
{
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"features": [
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"features": [
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],
"plaintext": "I decided to test it out a few days ago, with my account being @ewancroft.uk. Yes! Even domains can be used as the handles, with the default being a subdomain under bsky.social (i.e., ewancroft.bsky.social) however ATProto has a nice trick where if you add a /.well-known/ file called atproto-did and add the identifier (which you can find under Settings > Change Handle) on your website, you can have the domain as the handle!"
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.header",
"level": 2,
"facets": [],
"plaintext": "My Thoughts"
}
},
{
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"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.text",
"facets": [
{
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"features": [
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"$type": "pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#italic"
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]
},
{
"index": {
"byteEnd": 392,
"byteStart": 373
},
"features": [
{
"uri": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benefit_corporation",
"$type": "pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link"
}
]
}
],
"plaintext": "Bluesky has a pretty similar feel to Twitter (in particular - early Twitter c. 2008-2013) and a similar UI. It's not much of a surprise when co-founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, was on Bluesky's board of directors. He initially announced Bluesky as an initiative while CEO of Twitter in 2019 and continued on with it as a board member when it was incorporated as a separate benefit corporation from Twitter in late 2021"
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.text",
"facets": [],
"plaintext": "Anyway, enough of reading off of Wikipedia. Let me talk about what I think."
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.header",
"level": 3,
"facets": [],
"plaintext": "User Interface"
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.text",
"facets": [],
"plaintext": "I quite like the UI, it's familiar for those coming from Twitter and has the familiar layout as such. No real complaints."
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.header",
"level": 3,
"facets": [],
"plaintext": "My Annoyances"
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.text",
"facets": [
{
"index": {
"byteEnd": 109,
"byteStart": 101
},
"features": [
{
"uri": "https://graysky.app/",
"$type": "pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link"
}
]
}
],
"plaintext": "There is an ever-present feeling of loneliness for me while I'm browsing Bluesky. Maybe I should use Graysky?"
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.text",
"facets": [],
"plaintext": "I personally have trouble finding people on the platform, despite there being a 'Discover' feed, and this gives me a disconnect. I think this is the rose-tinted glasses but I feel like Mastodon's 'Explore' page is better because it shows posts, people and hashtags. Bluesky's equivalent feels off... I don't know why."
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.text",
"facets": [
{
"index": {
"byteEnd": 42,
"byteStart": 23
},
"features": [
{
"uri": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markdown",
"$type": "pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link"
}
]
},
{
"index": {
"byteEnd": 96,
"byteStart": 73
},
"features": [
{
"uri": "https://glitch-soc.github.io/docs/",
"$type": "pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link"
}
]
},
{
"index": {
"byteEnd": 113,
"byteStart": 109
},
"features": [
{
"uri": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork_(software_development)",
"$type": "pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link"
}
]
}
],
"plaintext": "I know I'm spoiled for Markdown formatting, with my website using it and Mastodon Glitch Edition (a Mastodon fork) using it too, but I don't know why even the most basic Markdown syntax is ignored, such as"
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList",
"children": [
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem",
"content": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.text",
"facets": [
{
"index": {
"byteEnd": 9,
"byteStart": 0
},
"features": [
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],
"plaintext": "*italics*"
},
"children": []
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem",
"content": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.text",
"facets": [
{
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"byteStart": 0
},
"features": [
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}
]
}
],
"plaintext": "**bold**"
},
"children": []
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem",
"content": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.text",
"facets": [
{
"index": {
"byteEnd": 17,
"byteStart": 0
},
"features": [
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#code"
}
]
}
],
"plaintext": "~~strikethrough~~"
},
"children": []
}
]
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.text",
"facets": [],
"plaintext": "when they are very helpful!"
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.header",
"level": 3,
"facets": [],
"plaintext": "Short and sweet... not."
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.text",
"facets": [
{
"index": {
"byteEnd": 118,
"byteStart": 102
},
"features": [
{
"uri": "https://infosec.exchange",
"$type": "pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link"
}
]
}
],
"plaintext": "I'm definitely spoiled because Mastodon by default supplies 500 characters to play with per post, and infosec.exchange, my Mastodon server, supplies me with an overly generous 11000 characters."
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.text",
"facets": [],
"plaintext": "Another notable absence is the inability to edit posts after they've been published. This lack of editing is annoying for me because I sometimes make mistakes and being able to edit them is a godsend."
}
},
{
"$type": "pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block",
"block": {
"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.header",
"level": 2,
"facets": [],
"plaintext": "Conclusion"
}
},
{
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"$type": "pub.leaflet.blocks.text",
"facets": [],
"plaintext": "In conclusion, my initial exploration of Bluesky has revealed both promising aspects and areas for improvement. The platform's familiar interface, and its community reminiscent of early Twitter, offer a comfortable experience for users transitioning from other social media platforms. The integration of the AT Protocol allows for unique handle customisation, showcasing Bluesky's flexibility and potential for personalisation."
}
}
]
}
]
},
"description": "Another alternative... In the skies?",
"publishedAt": "2024-04-17T01:14:10.000Z"
}