ActivityPub
ActivityPub is a decentralized social networking protocol that enables different social platforms to communicate with each other, allowing users to interact across independent servers. It provides a standardized way for servers to exchange social activities like posts, likes, and follows, forming a federated network where no single entity controls the entire system. This protocol underpins many modern federated social networks, promoting interoperability and user autonomy.
Developers should learn ActivityPub when building or integrating social features that require decentralization, privacy, or resistance to censorship, as it allows creating platforms that can interact with others like Mastodon or PeerTube. It's essential for projects aiming to avoid centralized control, such as community-run social networks, academic collaborations, or privacy-focused applications, enabling users to own their data and choose their hosting providers.