I'd use gotosocial over mastodon/*key for self-hosting. I heard masto/*keys are pretty heavy to host
this post was submitted on 22 Apr 2025
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misskey/sharkey are also very heavy on the client side due to excessive javascript. Great looks on the browser, tho
Thanks! Do you know if that is true for the two lemmy alternatives?
Can't say much abt mbin, but piefeds easier/lighter to host than Lemmy. Personally if I had to host an instance for myself I'd go with piefed (theres already an alpha API at can be enabled with FLASK_DEBUG, Pferd and interstellar already support piefed)
Very happy with it. I’m running it with an SQLite database, so no extra database server is needed. And I’m using Elk as a frontend for when I don’t feel like using an app.
Oh that’s very nice! Do you use that db for other services too?
Whenever it is supported, yes. I’m a huge fan of SQLite.
I’ve only run docker containers with their own db. It sounds more logical to run one db, right? My only concern would be if that db corrupts then they all do.
Why do you like that over postgresql
Ohh, SQLite isn't "one" db. SQLite is file-based. I.e. a database in e.g. PostgreSQL (containing several tables, views, indexes, etc.) would translate to one SQLite file (e.g. mydatabase.db3 or myappdata.sqlite). And each app has its own file/database. If the file corrupts, then it's only affecting that specific app. (However, SQLite is pretty robust.) And since these are just files, you can backup them together with the application. No need to export data or shutdown the database first.
That’s very helpful! Thank you for taking the time to explain
I think that the lightest you can get is SNAC: written in portable C, it requires only an ngix server, and no database.
It's ideal for single used instances or automated projects
Here some background and how tos: https://encrypted.tesio.it/2024/12/18/how-to-run-your-own-social-network.html
And here the description of fedimeteo, that provides forecasts for thousands of cities on the fediverse using a slim low cost vps' https://it-notes.dragas.net/2025/02/26/fedimeteo-how-a-tiny-freebsd-vps-became-a-global-weather-service-for-thousands/
I like it. Its worked well for the last year or so.
I like the look of phanpy on my own little machine.
I personally enjoy GTS. I use it for two accounts. It's still alpha, so not feature complete, but it does all the basics I'd need and I find it to be stable.
I think it’s moved to beta since last Fall. Thanks for sharing! Does it only interact with Mastodon?
It interacts with the Fediverse in general. Peertube follows are bugged, but Peertube is working on it. It can't really follow some Lemmy things, but van with others. Idk. :-D.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing ;)
What do you mean by lightweight? Like lightweight on the client, requiring less javascript? Or on the server hoster, because the server-side is more efficient?
Could not find any more sources on this …
I mean server side.