Just published a post about Hackers' Pub's unique username change policy!
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Just published a post about Hackers' Pub's unique username change policy! Unlike most #fediverse platforms, they allow a one-time username change while preserving your connections and content history. It's all possible thanks to some clever #ActivityPub implementation using UUID-based actor URIs instead of username-based ones. If you're interested in trying it out, the platform is currently in invitation-only beta—check the post for details on how to request access!
Hackers' Pub Introduces Flexible Username Changes: Breaking the Fediverse Norm
Hackers' Pub, an ActivityPub-enabled social network, introduces a unique feature allowing users a one-time username change, a departure from the typical fediverse practice of permanent usernames. This policy acknowledges the evolving nature of personal identity, offering flexibility while maintaining network stability. When a username is changed, it becomes available for others, creating opportunities for new users to acquire desirable names. To prevent broken links, permalinks containing the original username will function until the username is claimed by someone else. This is made possible by using UUID-based actor URIs that don't include the username, unlike platforms like Mastodon where the username is embedded in the URI. Inspired by GitHub's username policy, Hackers' Pub aims to balance identity evolution with the benefits of federation. This approach allows users to correct initial username choices, evolve their online identity, and maintain their content history and social connections. This policy represents an experiment in fediverse identity management, testing whether flexibility can coexist with the stability required for federation, potentially influencing other platforms to adopt similar approaches.
Hackers' Pub (hackers.pub)
#HackersPub #fedidev
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Have you considered taking the next step and moving to DIDs? You not only don't need to be tied to a username, but you don't need to be tied to a DNS server name either.
FEP-8b32: Object Integrity Proofs
FEP-c390: Identity Proofs
FEP-ef61: Portable Objects -
@hongminhee@hollo.social username-based IDs was incredibly short-sighted of Mastodon (and others) to adopt.
Using an incrementing id or uuid is not novel, merely baseline expectation for something expected to be mutable like a username.
