Notices by Richard MacManus (ricmac@mastodon.social), page 5

If you all think JavaScript frameworks spit out horrendous code, try editing an epub file in Calibra (it’s XHTML). As well as dealing with mountains of span tags, it took me hours to track down the cause of a bug where numbers in my ebook were formatted differently from the text…the reason, it turned out: one of the meta files had an Arabic language setting! I only discovered this when I looked closer at the settings on my kindle. All part of the fun of being a self-published author :)

@evan @social I feel the same way about the BBC ( @BBCRD) , which also seems to have given up on its fediverse experiment. I remember BBC was an active early adopter in Web 2.0, which worked out well for them in the end. Same could apply here.

56 years ago! It all started here: It's December 9, 1968, and Douglas Engelbart is about to showcase the world’s first personal, networked, computer — as a live demo. It’s the computing equivalent of a high-wire trapeze act with no net. https://cybercultural.com/p/1968-the-mother-of-all-demos/ #ComputerHistory

MozillaCrunch? https://mastodon.social/@linuxiac/113599261613693627

@andypiper Not to mention, you cannot reply to Mastodon accounts from Threads yet — a rather crucial part of two-way web functionality.

Just to note that although Threads has enabled (mostly) two-way federation now, there are still restrictions and glitches. Eg in this screenshot from Threads, @andypiper links to his Mastodon account, but I couldn’t actually click on that link. Also, a commenter pointed out that Europe residents still cannot use Threads’ fediverse functionality. So while we should say congrats to Meta for finally turning 2-way on, it’s far from a full fediverse instance at this time.

@evan Almost there ;) They just need to enable replies…kinda crucial for a two-way web. But I’m certainly pleased they are moving forward again.

Well they’ve finally done it — you can now follow Mastodon users from Threads (with some restrictions; see screenshot). Easiest way to test this is to search for your Threads account here, like the latest post, then check back on Threads. Follow your Mastodon self from there. Once this gets 100% functionality, I will hopefully be able to start pointing Threads users to my Mastodon profile.

@_elena nice :) Looking forward to seeing mine soon.

Cool, love these fun social things. I haven’t checked on my computer yet, but Eugen says: “You'll get a notification in the web app when it's ready.” https://mastodon.social/@Gargron/113585943468420939

@evan @Gargron I will always defer to you @evan on technical matters of the fediverse. I'll just add that Meta has stated its goal is two-way federation...but it hasn't delivered that yet.

"Our vision is for Threads to enable communication between you and people on other servers we don’t own or control. This means that your Threads profile can be followed by people using different servers on the fediverse, and eventually, you’ll be able to follow them from Threads." https://help.instagram.com/169559812696339

@Gargron @evan well said Eugen. I replied at the same time, and removed Tim from the conversation (as he didn't ask to be in it...sorry Tim :))

@evan @timbray honestly I don't count Threads as being part of the fediverse any more, since they haven't enabled two-way federation. If/when they do, then (IMHO anyway) they will be part of the fediverse. Flipboard is a different matter, because they do support the fediverse in good faith. But would you say it's a full fediverse app, on the level of Mastodon?

I was particularly pleased to get this screenshot of Mastodon in there, which by coincidence included content that matched the sentiment I was going for to close the post. (thanks @timbray and @evan for the timely toots!)

Here's my take on the #enshittification of internet technology over the 2010s, based on the word @pluralistic coined. I've added "developer enshittification" to the mix (see: React). https://cybercultural.com/p/enshittification/

However, I do end on a note of optimism: the decentralized web as represented by the fediverse, Mastodon and potentially Bluesky. "It's a new world for those who have chosen to leave the Enshittocene behind them. Won't you join us?"

The Spinoff, perhaps New Zealand’s most popular indie website, and even it is struggling to survive in this media climate. They say that not only is ad revenue falling, but what remains of it is going to big tech: “While the current economic cycle may change, conservative estimates suggest 70% of advertising spend now goes to large, unregulated overseas technology companies.”

What a bummer. How can less popular indies survive if even the popular ones can’t?

https://thespinoff.co.nz/open-letter-2024

Received this 2025 prediction about developers from Jeff Hollan, head of dev at Snowflake:

"In 2025, we’ll see a much larger pool of people able to participate in developer tasks and workflows. The distinction between certain types of developers — like front end vs. back end vs. SQL — will ultimately carry less weight as developer tools are democratized and the role of the developer becomes generalized."

He goes on to talk about AI, etc. If you're a dev, what do you think of this prediction?

Meanwhile on X, the elites (the accounts you see when you click the home button) are laying down the law to the plebs. Thou shalt not be your full self.

Cut the cord, @Gargron, cut the cord!! #OneWayFederation https://www.threads.net/@bestbuy/post/DCzd6sMPZQA

@cwebber in a *very* detailed technical analysis of Bluesky, says that it isn't currently decentralized or federated. Instead, "...this should actually be the way Bluesky brands itself, which I believe would be more honest: an open architecture (that's fair to say!) with the possibility of credible exit." https://dustycloud.org/blog/how-decentralized-is-bluesky/