Bluesky Backs Project to Bridge Mastodon and Bluesky Networks
SkyBridge Aims to Make Bluesky Accessible from Mastodon Apps
In a move that could potentially expand its reach, Bluesky, the decentralized social network originally incubated within Twitter, is supporting a project called SkyBridge. The goal of SkyBridge is to translate Mastodon API calls into Bluesky API calls, allowing Mastodon apps like Ivory to be compatible with Bluesky’s network. Bluesky recently distributed $4,800 in grants to various projects, with SkyBridge receiving $800 as the second-largest recipient in the current cohort.
Bluesky’s AT Protocol Grant Program Encourages Developer Ecosystem
While the AT Protocol Grant program is modest in size, with only $10,000 in total grants and $4,800 already distributed, it serves as a way to incentivize developers who are interested in exploring the new AT Protocol. The program also provides insight into the type of development work Bluesky endorses, which could help attract developers who have been previously and repeatedly burned by Twitter and its shifting priorities.
Other Grant Recipients Contribute to Bluesky Ecosystem
In addition to SkyBridge, other grant recipients are working on valuable projects for the Bluesky ecosystem. For instance, Blacksky Algorithms is developing a suite of services to offer custom moderation for Bluesky’s Black users. Other projects include Bluesky consumer apps, developer tools, and analytics resources.
SkyBridge Could Open Bluesky to Wider Audience
Unlike Mastodon and other decentralized apps built on the older ActivityPub protocol, Bluesky is developing a new, decentralized social networking protocol. This means that users currently have to switch apps to access Bluesky’s network, as they can’t use their preferred Mastodon app to browse Bluesky content. SkyBridge aims to change that by translating Mastodon API calls to Bluesky API calls, potentially enabling users to access Bluesky through their Mastodon apps.
The bridge is currently being tested on Ivory, the Mastodon app from the company behind the popular former third-party Twitter app, Tweetbot. According to SkyBridge’s developer @videah.net on Bluesky, the project is undergoing a significant rewrite from Dart to Rust, which explains the recent lack of activity on its GitHub repo. Despite this, videah is optimistic about the project’s progress:
It’s already proving to be much more stable, hoping to show it off soon.
Bluesky and Fediverse User Numbers
As of now, Bluesky has nearly 5.6 million users, while the wider ActivityPub-backed fediverse boasts over 10 million users. Meta’s Instagram Threads, which is integrating with ActivityPub, recently announced that it has surpassed 150 million monthly active users.
Bridging Bluesky and Mastodon Sparks Debate
The idea of bridging Bluesky and Mastodon has been a topic of recent debate. There have been disagreements on how bridging should be implemented, or whether it should be done at all. Another developer, Ryan Barrett, faced some backlash on GitHub when building a bridge called Bridgy Fed, which would be opt-out by default, meaning Mastodon posts would appear on Bluesky even if the author hadn’t opted in. In response to the criticism, Barrett adjusted his plans to create a discoverable opt-in, allowing users to request to follow accounts on different networks.
Bluesky Signals Desire to Blur Lines Between Networks
By supporting SkyBridge, Bluesky is indicating its interest in blurring the boundaries between Mastodon and Bluesky. In the future, people may not need to consider the underlying protocol of an app, similar to how email users don’t think about their client using SMTP, POP3, or IMAP. Ideally, users could connect with friends on any social network, regardless of its foundation, and see their friends’ replies as well.
2 Comments
Well, that’s one way to shake things up in the social media realm!
Guess the social media giants have to play nice now, huh?