Skip to main content


Besides Mastodon, what other cool apps are being built on the #Fediverse and with #ActivityPub?

How about a food delivery service!

Already, @andresmh and @princeton are hard at work on this initiative!

We're not just taking on Twitter, we're taking on DoorDash and UberEats too! https://hci.social/@andresmh/109252466002148360
in reply to rockybandit 🥊

@rockybandit I definitely think a decentralized and federated marketplace could be good provided that no central entity owns it, and attempts at cryptocurrency hijacking are thwarted.

Would love if financial transparency methods were built to combat potential exploitation.
in reply to Chris Trottier

yes, there are federated marketplaces but all of them use crypto exclusively. looking for something that is p2p and uses contemporary payment methods (Venmo, PayPal, etc.) -- anything BUT crypto.
in reply to rockybandit 🥊

@rockybandit That's another thing to consider: we need payment methods validated by non-profits and co-ops.

This is a chance for credit unions to move into the 21st century.
in reply to Chris Trottier

I hope preferred mobile client includes normal web browsers, though.

I was just now reading someone complaining about temptation toward client lockin as people try new platforms other than Twitter.
in reply to Chris Trottier

I had this exact idea back in 2017, my plan was to make an open source app that you could register your restaurant and have free delivery, then extend it to other countries (I didn't know activitypub back then and was thinking about Blockchain) and finally extend the service to any work, sort of like Yelp did.
After over a year of development I had some few clients and supporters in 2019 but most people didn't like the idea saying, why not just use Google maps?
in reply to Felipe :wyd:

The most difficult part was to convince people why is this needed.
I heard things like "if you are making a Yelp why don't use yelp?" very easy answer: yelp isn't available in my country!
-Then why not g maps?
-is YOUR restaurant there?
-no
-why not?
-I don't know how to put it there...

Then Uber eats, glovo and rappi launched and everyone who said no was there eventually, then in 2020 all business broke, then there were protests because of unionbusting
in reply to Felipe :wyd:

@Felipe_B I think the value prop is simple:

1. Why be a franchisee when you can be a member-owner? Might as well cut out the franchise middleman and claim more profit for yourself
2 Profit is derived by the means of distribution. When member-owners are served by their collectively owned distribution system, this increases their margins

This business model has been validated for hundreds of years!
in reply to Chris Trottier

@Felipe_B a lot to learn from your work, Felipe. Did you publish your source code by any chance?
in reply to Chris Trottier

federated dating app? 😋

And a FB marketplace replacement?
in reply to Chris Trottier

maybe some things doesn't need activity pub after all. Why would a food delivery service need to be connected with social media?
in reply to Dashtop

@Dashtop Why does anything need to be connected to social media?
in reply to Chris Trottier

it need not. I think it's okay if there's a branded white label app by a local restaurant consortium for door delivery service.
in reply to Dashtop

@Dashtop It's also okay to try new ideas with an open protocol.