The fediverse as we know it today came about because some software started bridging both the OStatus and Diaspora networks. This convinced developers that it was possible to create a social web protocol that would work for both, which led to the standardisation of ActivityPub.
If the developer who'd implemented OStatus and Diaspora protocols in Hubzilla, Friendica faced the level of vitriol @snarfed.org has, ActivityPub might never have happened.
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