tommi (@tommi@pan.rent)
Federating knowledge: exploring ways to bridge wikis and notes
Join the workshop at #39C3! Day 1, 17:00 @ Free Knowledge Habitat Workshop Area.
Most people and organisations have their very own way of acquiring, organising, archiving, sharing, and collaborating on knowledge repositories. A broad spectrum of opinions and approaches resulted in a diverse and rich ecosystem of knowledge management solutions. Nevertheless, this also implies scattered and disconnected knowledge sources. What would it mean to build bridges among wikis and federate knowledge?
This workshop is going to be heavily centred on a twofold discussion, exploring the challenge of federated knowledge starting from two questions.
- What does it mean to federate knowledge repositories?
- Instead of pursuing a silver-bullet solution to embrace all use-cases, what would it mean to foster and enable interoperability for different software?
These questions stem from years of questioning and wondering how to integrate my personal note-taking and collective, participatory knowledge management at work, in organisations, institutions, and informal collectives. Recently, I began actively researching this topic as I started playing with the MediaWiki API to cross-synchronise my local Markdown notes and the XPUB wiki, the public learning wiki of the Experimental Publishing master. I am puzzled by taking advantage of the potential of a specific software (in this case, MediaWiki) while fearing of being locked-in.
Some further, more specific, insights and questions:
- Local-first approaches and software (e.g. Reflection)
- Interesting experiments based on existing protocols, such as Ibis
- What do we take of semi-open and obscure yet very cool initiatives like Anytype
- The power and the limits of plain-text: how to enable collaboration on simple Markdown files and build on top of it, as Obsidian does
Cc: @modal @p2panda @obsidian @wikimediaDE @dweb
#knowledge #FreeKnowledge #wiki #MediaWiki #API #Obsidian #Anytype #Ibis #IbisWiki #Reflection #CCC #Federation #federatedKnowledge #docs #PKM #knowledgeManagement #personalKnowledgeManagement #collectiveKnowledgeManagement #DWeb #decentralization #ActivityPub
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Sebastian (@Sebastian@Pertsch.social)
Hui! đĄïž
https://socialwebfoundation.org/2025/12/19/implementing-encrypted-messaging-over-activitypub/
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reclus (@reclus@sunbeam.city)
#Enshittification is an excellent book, but I hope a horde of nerds will correct @pluralistic at his talk at #39c9 that #Threads is not a #Mastodon instance (but supports #ActivityPub) and #TruthSocial is based on Mastodon software but never tried to federate (with the #Fediverse). #CoryDoctorow đ
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destroying-autocracy-december-25-2025 (@destroying-autocracy-december-25-2025@battalion.mobileatom.net)
Destroying Autocracy â December 25, 2025
Welcome to this weekâs âDestroying Autocracyâ.
Itâs your source for curated news affecting democracy in the cyber arena with a focus on protecting it. That necessitates an opinionated Butlerian jihad against big tech as well as evangelizing for open-source and the Fediverse. Since big mediaâs journalism wing is flailing and failing in its core duty to democracy, this is also a collection of alternative reporting on the eternal battle between autocracy and democracy. We also cover the cybersecurity world. You canât be free without safety and privacy.
FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists. Fuck ÂŽem.
So folks, this is the final edition of Destroying Autocracy. Recently, I ran across a quote that fits with why I ran this project:
âI am absolutely convinced that only a small minority, a very small minority, among us, are seriously reached and profoundly moved by our propaganda of criticism, of doubt, of rebellion, of free investigation, of independent research. On the other hand, it is clear that our first interest lies always in seeking to increase this minority; to keep it, under all circumstances alive, active, refreshed. Our own happiness depends on it.
â Emile Armandâ
Thanks for following us. Now, on to whatâs next.
The Programmerâs Fulcrum is now the home for a fusion of Symfony Station and Battalion. Its tagline is Devs Defending Democracy, Destroying Autocracy, and Developing the OMN.
You can sign up now.
We are posting on the Fediverse now at @thefulcrum
Please copy and paste our handle into you favorite client to follow us. Original website content will start next week.
Featured Item(s)
I ran across these last week.
The Resonant Computing Manifesto
These are principles that should be implementing when developing for the Open Media Network.
Jan Wideboer writes:
Over the past few months, I thought a lot about Digital Sovereignty. I talked to experts, from analysts over legal experts to people running companies and public authorities. I tried to distill what is really at the core of the principle.
OCT â My Framework for Digital Sovereignty, Part 1
This is a good way to look at it.
We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.
The response to Russiaâs War Crimes, Techno Feudalism, and other douchebaggery
TechCrunch reports:
Stanfordâs star reporter takes on Silicon Valleyâs âmoney-soakedâ startup culture
TechPolicy shares:
Making the Digital Markets Act Developer-Friendly
The Guardian reports:
This is Europeâs secret weapon against Trump: it could burst his AI bubble
The Guardian view on Australiaâs social media ban: dragging tech companies into action
MPs question UK Palantir contracts after investigation reveals security concerns
BleepingComputer reports:
Italy fines Apple $116 million over App Store privacy policy issues
Waterfox announces:
No AI* Here â A Response to Mozillaâs Next Chapter
The Register notes:
Waterfox browser goes AI-free, targets the Firefox faithful
You donât need Linux to run free and open source software
This is one you should read and take action on. đ
Airbus to migrate critical apps to a sovereign Euro cloud
Europe gets serious about cutting digital umbilical cord with Uncle Samâs big tech
Itâs FOSS reports:
Denmark Begins its Exit from Microsoft â and This is Just the Beginning
At least the enemies of privacy are slowly telling Microsoft to fuck off.
NextCloud shares:
The Republic of Serbia deploys Nextcloud for compliant, on-premises collaboration
Robert Riemann asks:
EU OS: Which Linux Distribution fits Europe best?
Hamish Campbell asks:
What Did We Learn from Web3, Crypto?
Signal has:
This was 2025 for Signal: strong growth and many new features
CoMaps shares:
CoMaps and its community at the end of 2025
Neutral
The Center for Democracy and Technology has:
TechPolicy Press reports:
The Path to a Sovereign Tech Stack is Via a Commodified Tech Stack
Platforms Report to EU Regulators Under DSA With an Eye on US Politics
Europe Tried to Take Control of Its Digital Stack in 2025. Where Does It Stand Now?
The Evil Empire (AKA Autocracy) Strikes Back
Krebs on Security reports:
Dismantling Defenses: Trump 2.0 Cyber Year in Review
Cory Doctorow says:
Americaâs collapsing consumption is the worldâs disenshittification opportunity
Tech Dadu reports:
EU Prepares Wider Data Retention Rules, VPN Providers Could Be Affected
The Register reports:
Denmark takes a Viking swing at VPN-enabled piracy
Pariah States
And:
Amazon security boss blames Russiaâs GRU for years-long energy-sector hacks
China, Iran are having a field day with React2Shell, Google warns
BleepingComputer reports:
France arrests Latvian for installing malware on Italian ferry
Denmark blames Russia for destructive cyberattack on water utility
DarkReading reports:
Russia Hits Critical Orgs Via Misconfigured Edge Devices
Dormant Iran APT is Still Alive, Spying on Dissidents
EuronNews reports:
Pro-Russian hackers claim French postal service cyberattack
Big Media
Ben Werdmuller asks:
Just for brain-dead people.
Nieman Labâs Predictions for Journalism 2026
Journalists talk about the elephant in the room: our relationship with Big Tech
CyberCultural shares:
My 2025 Indie Web Report and Thoughts on the Open Web
404 Media reports:
Archivists Posted the 60 Minutes CECOT Segment Bari Weiss Killed
Big Tech
The Nerd Reich reports:
Tech Billionaires Flirt With the Guillotine
JD Vanceâs Theo Bro Network: Silicon Valley Meets âGodâ
Futurism reports:
Professor Warns That the Wealthy Are Trying to Use AI to Seize Control of Everything
The Rebel Tech Alliance reports on:
404 Media reports:
Hack Reveals the a16z-Backed Phone Farm Flooding TikTok With AI Influencers
SuperBloom examines:
From Content to Interface: Rethinking Platform Transparency Through Design
Wanna-be Big Tech
Mozilla spouts techbro delusions:
Mozillaâs Next Chapter: Building the Worldâs Most Trusted Software Company
Fuck Firefox.
Pivot to AI has the reality:
Firefox browser falls to AI. What do we do now?
Zen, Waterfox, or LibreWolf, peeps.
Cybersecurity/Privacy
The Register reports:
New React vulns leak secrets, invite DoS attacks
Poisoned WhatsApp API package steals messages and accounts
Krebs on Security reports:
Most Parked Domains Now Serving Malicious Content
DarkReading reports:
Attackers Use Stolen AWS Credentials in Cryptomining Campaign
BleepingComputer reports:
Microsoft 365 accounts targeted in wave of OAuth phishing attacks
Mullvad is:
Announcing GotaTun, the future of WireGuard at Mullvad VPN
Framasoft asks:
Qui suis-je et quelle est mon identité ?
404 Media reports:
Flock Exposed Its AI-Powered Cameras to the Internet. We Tracked Ourselves
Fediverse
Tim Chambres shares:
My 2026 Open Social Web Predictions
Ploum shares:
How We Lost Communication to Entertainment
The Social Web Foundation explores:
Implementing Encrypted Messaging over ActivityPub
Literally, awesome.
Connected Places has:
PeerTube announces:
Publish your videos with PeerTube for mobile!
Itâs FOSS reports:
Decentralized YouTube Alternative PeerTube Adds Creator Mode
Holos shares:
ActivityPub for WordPress has:
Jose Murilo shares:
Museums in the Fediverse: Experiments with Tainacan, ActivityPub, and WebSocial
DeadSuperHerson says:
Ghostâs ActivityPub Integration Feels Half-Baked
I feel the same way. And itâs why I am running a backup of The Programmerâs Fulcrum on WordPress to keep Ghost honest. Weâll see where TPF ends up in 2027.
Mastodon shares its:
Piefed announces:
PieFed 1.4 is released â emoji, federated stackoverflow and AI content filters
Empathy Forward announces:
Fedify shares:
Fedify 1.10.0: Observability foundations for the future debug dashboard
Slightly Decentralized Social Media
Connected Places has:
ATmosphere Report 147 â Yearâs end reflections
ATProto Community has:
Ăndra Rininsland: Supporting and growing ATProto development in 2025 and beyond
I am going to check Leaflet out.
TechCrunch reports:
Bluesky launches a privacy-focused âFind Friendsâ feature without invite spam
CTAs (aka show us some free love)
- Thatâs it for this week. Please share this edition of Destroying Autocracy.
- Follow me on the Fediverse. Or this site via the button in the footer. Or via RSS. Or even our future home in 2026, if you want a head start.
Never stop fighting!
Ringleader, Battalion
Reuben Walker
Follow me on the Fediverse
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grishka (@grishka@mastodon.social)
I need opinions on #Smithereen API.
For notifications, which format would you prefer more, this https://smithereen.software/docs/api/methods/notifications.get/ or something even more deduplicated with `wall_posts`, `comments`, `photos`, and `board_topics` as separate arrays? Or maybe something else?
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MIfoodie (@MIfoodie@social.vivaldi.net)
i absolutely hate how #mastodon / #activitypub / #fediverse users are treated like second class citizens. like every once in a while (twice a month if lucky) @ wikipedia@wikis.world posts something but peeking at their official bluesky account they are super active with many posts in the last 24 hours.
whyyyyyy
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smallcircles (@smallcircles@social.coop)
#SocialHub community forum has the #ActivityPub plugin enabled yet 1st with full open, untweaked federation settings. Accessiblity for any #fedizen got a real boost. Yet with big negative impact on 'sense of community'. It's up for debate whether adding #fediverse support in early stages of dev was a wise move. And whether the result is net negative or positive (I think the former).
Any fedi dev: Think hard what it means to be federated. It's more than just 'plugging in'. Consider the #SX side.
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smallcircles (@smallcircles@social.coop)
"Mastodon better than expected.." on HN
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46376652
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novaTopFlex (@novaTopFlex@mastodon.social)
Does anyone else believe #Amherst and #Northampton (MA) feel like the #ActivityPub and the #Fediverse platforms?
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TheVoidTLMB (@TheVoidTLMB@social.vivaldi.net)
And... my last Mastodon archive is now imported into my #Wordpress via #ActivityPub. (Thx #Dreamhost support for help!) Phew! đ
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display (@display@my-place.social)
Salut le #FĂ©divers et la #FĂ©diverse !
Mon instance #Friendica ferme dans 1 semaine et je cherche 1 endroit fiable d'oĂč publier mon actu musicale.
Dans l'idéal
- compatible avec tout les réseaux #ActivityPub et #Diaspora
- durable dans le temps
- pas limité aux 500 signes du microblogging (pas #mastodon donc)
Une suggestion ?
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objects (@objects@epiktistes.com)
I rolled out a lot of features over the last several weeks and created a lot of bugs in the process. Release v3.2.5 of Ktistec is mostly about fixing those bugs. I did implement two requested features, however: support for editing posts in Markdown and support for Open Graph metadata. Here's the full list of new features:
Added
- Support for editing posts in Markdown. (fixes #25)
- Support for Open Graph metadata on actors and objects. (fixes #71)
- Support for uploading a site image.
- Internal table of contents page.
- Poll expiry notifications.
đ I'm working on support for poll creation and management now. It's also time for a performance improvement pass or two.
#ktistec #crystallang #activitypub #fediverse
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