A developer has created Threadsky, a Reddit-style client for the decentralized social media platform Bluesky. It organizes Bluesky content into threaded conversations similar to Reddit, offering features like nested replies, upvote/downvote buttons, and customizable feeds. The project is still in its early stages of development and the creator is actively seeking feedback and ideas for improvement. The aim is to provide a more familiar and organized browsing experience for Bluesky users, leveraging a popular forum structure.
The original poster is seeking alternatives to Facebook for organizing local communities, specifically for sharing information, coordinating events, and facilitating discussions among neighbors. They desire a platform that prioritizes privacy, avoids algorithms and advertising, and offers robust moderation tools to prevent spam and maintain a positive environment. They're open to existing solutions or ideas for building a new platform, and prefer something accessible on both desktop and mobile.
HN users discuss alternatives to Facebook for organizing local communities. Several suggest platforms like Nextdoor, Discord, Slack, and Groups.io, highlighting their varying strengths for different community types. Some emphasize the importance of a dedicated website and email list, while others advocate for simpler solutions like a shared calendar or even a WhatsApp group for smaller, close-knit communities. The desire for a decentralized or federated platform also comes up, with Mastodon and Fediverse instances mentioned as possibilities, although concerns about their complexity and discoverability are raised. Several commenters express frustration with existing options, citing issues like privacy concerns, algorithmic feeds, and the general "toxicity" of larger platforms. A recurring theme is the importance of clear communication, moderation, and a defined purpose for the community, regardless of the chosen platform.
Paul Graham's 2009 post argues that Twitter's significance stems not from its seeming triviality, but from its unique blend of messaging and public broadcast. It's a new kind of medium, distinct from email or IM, offering a low-friction way to share thoughts and information publicly. This public nature fosters a sense of ambient awareness, keeping users connected to a wider circle than traditional communication methods. Its brevity and immediacy contribute to a feeling of being "present," allowing participation in real-time events and fostering a sense of shared experience. While seemingly inconsequential updates create this presence, they also pave the way for sharing genuinely valuable information within the established network.
HN commenters discuss Paul Graham's 2009 essay on Twitter's significance. Several highlight the prescience of his observations about its future potential, particularly regarding real-time news and conversation. Some contrast Twitter's early simplicity with its current complexity, lamenting feature bloat and the rise of performative posting. Others note how Graham correctly predicted the platform's role as a powerful distribution channel, even envisioning its use for customer support. A few express skepticism about its long-term value, echoing early criticisms about the triviality of its content. Overall, the comments reflect a mix of admiration for Graham's foresight and a wistful look back at a simpler era of social media.
Summary of Comments ( 3 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43058285
HN commenters generally expressed interest in Threadsky, the Bluesky client showcased. Several appreciated the familiar Reddit-like interface and suggested improvements like keyboard navigation, infinite scrolling, and better integration with Bluesky's features like muting and blocking. Some questioned the longevity of Bluesky itself and the need for another client, while others encouraged the developer to add features like custom feeds and threaded replies. A few commenters shared alternative Bluesky clients they preferred, highlighting the emerging ecosystem around the platform. Overall, the reception was positive, with commenters offering constructive feedback and expressing curiosity about the project's future development.
The Hacker News post "Show HN: I Built a Reddit-style Bluesky client – still rough, but open to ideas" linking to threadsky.app has generated a number of comments discussing the project.
Several commenters express enthusiasm for the Reddit-style interface applied to Bluesky, finding it a more familiar and user-friendly way to interact with the platform. They see potential in offering an alternative to the current Bluesky interface, which some find less intuitive. One user specifically praises the infinite scroll feature.
Some discussion revolves around the technical aspects of the project. One commenter inquires about the architecture and technologies used, particularly regarding the handling of Bluesky's decentralized nature using the AT Protocol. The creator responds, explaining their use of the bsky library and detailing the process of fetching and displaying threads. This exchange offers insight into the development process and the challenges of building on a decentralized platform.
There are suggestions for improvement and additional features. Commenters propose ideas like incorporating a "mark as read" function, implementing keyboard shortcuts, and allowing users to follow hashtags. The importance of mobile compatibility is also raised.
A few commenters mention existing alternative Bluesky clients, comparing and contrasting their features with Threadsky. This provides context and demonstrates the evolving landscape of third-party Bluesky apps.
A point of concern raised is the performance, with some users experiencing slow loading times. The creator acknowledges this and indicates it's a priority for future optimization.
Finally, there's a brief discussion about the name "Threadsky," with a suggestion to consider alternative names.
Overall, the comments section shows a generally positive reception to Threadsky, with users appreciating the alternative interface and offering constructive feedback for its development. The discussion highlights the demand for diverse client options within the Bluesky ecosystem and the ongoing experimentation with different approaches to navigating the decentralized social media landscape.