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Background knowledge about Loops, the federated short-form video sharing platform (TikTok/Vine alternative for the Fediverse). Covers the key federation design decision of using Note objects with video attachments instead of Video objects for maximum cross-platform compatibility, the instance actor and shared inbox implementation, HTTP Signatures with SHA-256 digests, WebFinger discovery, the graph-walking comment validator (rejects top-level Notes, creates Comment and CommentReply objects), cross-platform interactions (follow, comment, like, Announce across Mastodon/Pixelfed/PeerTube), the tech stack (Laravel/PHP, Vue 3, Tailwind, Expo/React Native mobile), features (vertical swipe feed, For You algorithm, duets, 3-minute videos, playlists, threaded comments), the relationship to Pixelfed and creator Daniel Supernault, federation beta status, and comparison with PeerTube (Note vs Video object types, short-form vs long-form). Load when the user asks about Loops; how short-form video federates in the Fediverse

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kb-mastodon

reiver/vibefed

Background knowledge about Mastodon, the dominant federated microblogging platform and de facto reference implementation for ActivityPub social networking. Covers Mastodon's JSON-LD @context structure (three-element array: activitystreams, security/v1, inline object defining toot: http://joinmastodon.org/ns# with Emoji/discoverable/featured/featuredTags/ blurhash/votersCount/indexable/memorial/suspended/attributionDomains, schema: http://schema.org# with PropertyValue/value, as: with Hashtag/manuallyApprovesFollowers/movedTo/sensitive), content-type and Accept header requirements (application/activity+json or application/ ld+json with ActivityStreams profile, content negotiation for actor discovery), HTTP signature requirements (RSA-SHA256, Digest header mandatory for POST, signed headers include request-target/host/date/ digest), authorized fetch / secure mode (AUTHORIZED_FETCH env var, requires signatures on GET requests too, breaks unsigned federation), supported object types (Note and Question first-class

2026-03-238

kb-writefreely

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Background knowledge about WriteFreely, the open-source federated blogging platform written in Go (AGPL-3.0) by Matt Baer / Musing Studio. Covers the origin story (Write.as anonymous writing platform launched 2014, open-sourced as WriteFreely November 2018 after adding ActivityPub), the write-only/broadcast federation model (blogs can be followed but cannot follow others, no incoming comments/replies displayed, no moderation), the actor model (each blog/collection is a Person actor with handle @blog@instance.com), the Article vs Note object type distinction (double-line break heuristic, notes_only config option), supported activities (outbound Create/Update/Delete, inbound Follow/Undo/Like), RSA-SHA256 HTTP signatures with per-blog keypairs, the tech stack (Go/MySQL or SQLite/single binary deployment/256 MB RAM/Raspberry Pi), configuration (single-user vs multi-user modes, federation toggle, .ini config file), NodeInfo with WriteFreely-specific metadata, the RESTful API (Posts/Collections/Users with token aut

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kb-mbin

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Background knowledge about Mbin, the federated content aggregator and microblogging platform (active community fork of Kbin). Covers the hybrid dual content model (threads as Page + microblogs as Note in one platform), magazines as Group actors with Announce relay, the three actor types (Application instance actor at /i/actor, Person user at /u/username, Group magazine at /m/name), the full activity reference (Create, Update, Delete, Like, Dislike, Announce, Follow, Accept, Block, Flag, Lock, Add, Remove), the voting system (Like for upvotes, Dislike for downvotes with historical federation issues, Announce for boosts — boosts and votes are separate unlike Lemmy), the hybrid thread+microblog model and why it enables superior Mastodon integration, the tech stack (PHP 8.3+/Symfony 7.4/ PostgreSQL/RabbitMQ/Redis, AGPL-3.0), the async message processing architecture (Symfony Messenger with 15 inbox + 15 outbox message types), the REST API with OAuth2 and Swagger docs, the Mbin fork history (forked from Kbin Octob

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kb-nodebb

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Background knowledge about NodeBB, the modern open-source forum software built on Node.js with native ActivityPub federation (core feature since v4.0.0, January 2025). Covers the three actor types (Person user at /u/username, Group category at /category/<cid> implementing FEP-1b12 Group Federation with Announce relay pattern, Application instance actor), the two-level content hierarchy (category as audience → topic as context → post), how topics map to resolvable OrderedCollection contexts per FEP-7888 and posts are Note/Article objects, extensive FEP support (12 implemented: FEP-1b12 Group Federation, FEP-7888 context property, FEP-f228 Backfilling Conversations, FEP-4f05 Soft Deletion, FEP-9098 Custom emojis, FEP-b2b8 Long-form Text, FEP-fe34 Origin-based security, FEP-ae0c Relay Protocols, FEP-11dd Context Ownership, FEP-f15d Context Relocation, FEP-fb2a Actor metadata, FEP-0151 NodeInfo), the tech stack (Node.js/WebSocket/Socket.IO/ MongoDB or Redis or PostgreSQL, GPL-3.0), content discovery (follow- base

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kb-kbin

reiver/vibefed

Background knowledge about Kbin and its active community fork Mbin, the decentralized content aggregator and microblogging platform for the Fediverse (Reddit + Mastodon hybrid). Covers the dual content model (threads/link aggregation via Page objects + microblogging via Note objects in a single platform), magazines as Group actors with Announce relay (same pattern as Lemmy communities), the three actor types (Application instance actor at /i/actor, Person user at /u/username, Group magazine at /m/name), supported activities (Follow, Like, Announce, Create, Update, Delete, Block, Flag, Lock, Add, Remove), the critical detail that downvotes do NOT federate, content object mapping (threads as Page, microblogs as Note, comments as Note with inReplyTo, private messages as ChatMessage), the tech stack (PHP 8.2+/Symfony/PostgreSQL/RabbitMQ/Redis, AGPL-3.0), the REST API with OAuth2 and Swagger docs at /api/docs, the Mbin fork history (Kbin discontinued after creator Ernest Wisniewski's absences, Mbin forked October

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kb-piefed

reiver/vibefed

Background knowledge about PieFed, the federated link aggregation and discussion platform (Python-based Reddit/Lemmy alternative in the Threadiverse). Covers PieFed's tech stack (Python/Flask, PostgreSQL, Celery/Redis, htmx, Jinja2, AGPL-3.0), the Lemmy-compatible ActivityPub implementation (Community as Group, Post as Page, Comment as Note, Like/Dislike voting, Announce relay pattern, ChatMessage for DMs), the unique Feed actor type (FEP-1d80 for federated multi- community collections), private/anonymous voting via proxy user profiles, additional activity types (EmojiReact, PollVote, ChooseAnswer for Q&A mode, Event objects with startTime/endTime), the 95%-Lemmy-compatible REST API (/api/alpha/ with Swagger docs, enabling Voyager/Interstellar/Blorp/Summit mobile apps), custom JSON-LD extensions (genAI, nsfl, flair, postingWarning, interactionPolicy, lemmy:tagsForPosts compatibility), the federation architecture (Celery async processing, Redis dedup with 90s TTL, RSA-SHA256 HTTP signatures, LD signature fallb

2026-03-138

name	kb-loops
description	Background knowledge about Loops, the federated short-form video sharing platform (TikTok/Vine alternative for the Fediverse). Covers the key federation design decision of using Note objects with video attachments instead of Video objects for maximum cross-platform compatibility, the instance actor and shared inbox implementation, HTTP Signatures with SHA-256 digests, WebFinger discovery, the graph-walking comment validator (rejects top-level Notes, creates Comment and CommentReply objects), cross-platform interactions (follow, comment, like, Announce across Mastodon/Pixelfed/PeerTube), the tech stack (Laravel/PHP, Vue 3, Tailwind, Expo/React Native mobile), features (vertical swipe feed, For You algorithm, duets, 3-minute videos, playlists, threaded comments), the relationship to Pixelfed and creator Daniel Supernault, federation beta status, and comparison with PeerTube (Note vs Video object types, short-form vs long-form). Load when the user asks about Loops; how short-form video federates in the Fediverse; why Loops uses Note instead of Video objects; how to federate with Loops instances; the Fediverse TikTok alternative; how video content works in ActivityPub with Note attachments; Loops federation protocol details; or comparing Loops with PeerTube.
user-invocable	false

Loops — Complete Reference

Overview

Loops is a federated, open-source short-form video sharing platform — the Fediverse equivalent of TikTok/Vine. Its tagline is "Short videos. Your community. Your rules." Created by Daniel Supernault (aka Dansup), the Canadian developer also behind Pixelfed (the Fediverse Instagram alternative). Branded as "Loops by Pixelfed," it is a separate platform under the Pixelfed project umbrella.

Built on Laravel (PHP), Vue 3, and Tailwind CSS with a custom ActivityPub implementation. Licensed AGPL-3.0. ActivityPub federation entered beta on October 14, 2025. As of March 2026, the latest release is v1.0.0-beta.10.

1. Technology Stack

Component	Technology
Backend	PHP / Laravel
Frontend	Vue 3 + TypeScript
CSS	Tailwind CSS
Build tool	Vite
Mobile app	React Native (Expo)
Deployment	Docker / Docker Compose
CDN	Fastly (Fast Forward program)
License	AGPL-3.0

Repositories

Repository	URL
Server	https://github.com/joinloops/loops-server
Mobile app	https://github.com/joinloops/loops-expo
API docs	https://docs.joinloops.org/

2. The Key Design Decision: Note, Not Video

The most important technical decision in Loops' federation: Loops uses Note objects with video attachments instead of Video objects for maximum cross-platform compatibility.

From Daniel Supernault:

"The fediverse is optimized for notes. Mastodon, Pleroma, Misskey — they all handle notes beautifully. By wrapping video content as notes with video attachments, loops federate seamlessly across the entire fediverse without requiring special handling."

"This pragmatic approach means loops show up properly everywhere, not just on platforms that specifically understand video objects. It's about meeting the fediverse where it is, not where we wish it would be."

What Gets Federated

When a loop is posted, the federation sends:

A Note object with rich video attachments
Multiple video encodings for different devices (where supported)
Generated thumbnails and preview images (where supported)
Captions and content warnings
All standard interaction capabilities (Like, Announce, Reply)

Why Not Video Objects?

PeerTube uses Video objects, which provide richer video-specific metadata. However, many Fediverse platforms (especially microblogging platforms like Mastodon, Misskey, Pleroma) either don't handle Video objects at all or display them with degraded UX. By using Note — the type every Fediverse platform handles natively — Loops videos appear correctly in timelines across the entire Fediverse without special handling.

Comparison

Approach	Used by	Pros	Cons
`Note` + video attachment	Loops	Universal compatibility; shows up in all timelines	Less video-specific metadata
`Video` object	PeerTube	Rich metadata (duration, resolution, chapters)	Many platforms ignore or poorly display `Video` type

3. Federation Implementation

Instance Actor and Shared Inbox

Every Loops instance has a server-level actor that handles:

Server-to-server authentication
Instance metadata exchange
Account deletions and relay subscriptions

A shared inbox is implemented for optimized delivery — remote instances send activities once to the shared inbox rather than per- follower, reducing network overhead as instances grow.

HTTP Signatures

Request signing with:

SHA-256 digests
Date header parsing (handling format variations across servers)
Non-standard port number handling
Every federated request is cryptographically signed

WebFinger Discovery

Standard WebFinger discovery for both individual users and the instance actor, enabling seamless follow operations across the Fediverse.

Federation-Aware Comments

Loops implements a graph-walking validator that traces reply chains:

Top-level Note objects from remote servers are rejected — Loops is for videos only, not microblog posts
Replies to videos create Comment objects
Replies to comments become CommentReply objects with correct parent relationships
This enables nested conversations that work across platforms

This validator is important for interoperability: when a Mastodon user replies to a loop, the reply is accepted as a Comment. But if a Mastodon user tries to create a top-level post that arrives at a Loops instance, it is rejected.

What Works in Federation Beta

Feature	Status
Follow any ActivityPub user	Working
Be followed from Mastodon/Pixelfed/etc	Working
Cross-platform comments	Working
Cross-platform likes	Working
Share/Announce to followers	Working
Federated notifications	Working
Multi-instance video distribution	Working
Account migration with follower transfer	Planned

Federation Configuration

Federation is opt-in during beta for self-hosted instances:

Enable in instance settings
HTTPS required
Configure domain properly
Allocate storage for remote media caching
Documented in FEDERATION.md in the repository

4. Features

Available Now

Vertical swipe short-video feed
Following feed (chronological) and For You feed (algorithmic, powered by engagement/hashtags/social graph)
Videos up to 3 minutes (originally 30 seconds, extended over time)
In-app camera with multi-lens switching and caption editor
Duets (collaborative video creation)
Nested/threaded comments with @mentions across the Fediverse
Like, share, boost/repost
Hashtag browsing and trending topics
Profile and video search
Pinned videos (up to 3)
Playlists & Collections
Favourites (private bookmarks)
Sound library
Full ActivityPub federation (beta)
Native iOS and Android apps
Admin dashboard
Public API with OpenAPI documentation

Roadmap (2026)

Quarter	Features
Q1	Advanced moderation, push notifications, multi-account, stitches
Q2	Creator analytics, AR filters, collaborative moderation, accessibility
Q3	Embeddable player, account migration, live streaming, video editor
Q4	Challenges, monetization options

5. Loops vs PeerTube

Aspect	Loops	PeerTube
Focus	Short-form vertical video (TikTok/Vine)	Long-form video (YouTube)
Video length	Up to 3 minutes	No practical limit
UI	Mobile-first vertical swipe	Web-first video library
Discovery	For You algorithmic feed + hashtags	Federated search, channels
AP object type	`Note` with video attachments	`Video`
Tech stack	Laravel (PHP) + Vue.js	Node.js + Angular
P2P delivery	No	Yes (WebRTC)
Live streaming	Planned Q3 2026	Yes
Maturity	Beta (v1.0.0-beta.10)	Stable (v6+, since 2018)

Loops and PeerTube are complementary, not competing — they target fundamentally different video use cases. PeerTube is for long-form content hosting (channels, playlists, educational videos). Loops is for short-form social video (trends, creativity, casual sharing).

6. Interoperability Notes for Implementers

Loops videos arrive as Note objects — if your software handles Note with video attachments, Loops content will display correctly in timelines. No special Video type handling needed.
Replying to a Loop — send a standard Note reply with inReplyTo pointing to the loop's Note ID. Loops will accept it as a Comment.
Top-level Notes are rejected — Loops only accepts video content for top-level posts. If a Mastodon user mentions a Loops user in a standalone post (not a reply), Loops will not ingest it as a post.
Like and Announce work normally — standard Like and Announce activities targeting a loop's Note ID work as expected.
Video stays on origin server — when a loop federates, remote instances receive the Note metadata but the video file is served from the original Loops instance. This reduces storage requirements for remote instances but depends on the origin server's availability.
Multiple encodings — Loops may include multiple video file attachments (different resolutions/encodings) in the Note object. Consumers should select the appropriate encoding for their display context.

7. API

Loops provides a full public REST API (OpenAPI spec v1.0.0):

OAuth authentication with 2FA support
Video upload and management
Duets
Playlists and collections
Explore/trending endpoints
For You feed with impression tracking
Full-text search
Privacy controls
25+ language support
AI content detection flags
Alt text and content sensitivity marking

Documentation: https://docs.joinloops.org/

8. Known Considerations

Beta federation: ActivityPub support is in beta (since October 2025). Some edge cases with remote platforms may still need work.
Opt-in federation: Self-hosted instances must explicitly enable federation in settings during the beta period.
Video bandwidth: Short-form video demands significant bandwidth and storage. Instance operators should plan for CDN/object storage costs. Loops benefits from Fastly Fast Forward sponsorship for its premiere instance.
No monetization yet: Creator monetization features are planned for Q4 2026. This may affect creator adoption in the near term.
Recommendation algorithm limitations: The "For You" feed uses engagement, hashtags, and social graph signals, but federated privacy constraints limit the data available compared to centralized platforms like TikTok.