[WIP] Smilodon changes overview
Add this to the README as each part is true... (This is a draft, may include bad ideas.)
How is Smilodon different to Mastodon?
Smilodon inherits all the great design decisions that make Mastodon preferable to other social server applications. In addition to that we implement:
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Consent-based workflow. You see only what you opt into.
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No unfiltered timelines (aka local and global timelines).
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Notifications of boosts, favorites and replies are off by default. (Turn them on with a convenient all-in-one switch if you crave the dopamine hit.)
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Search results and posts from users you follow are considered opt-in.
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No direct messages. We suggest using an encrypted channel with better harassment control.
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No "hide your network". Your network is stored in cleartext on the server, so we do not pretend to secure it. You can instead compartmentalize your network with separate accounts.
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Hashtag constraints. We honor only the first five hashtags in a post (inbound and outbound). We ignore hashtags hidden by content warnings. Less is more.
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Policy signal. By convention, a Smilodon instance is assumed to follow Librem One policy. We signal this to aid in moderation decisions on foreign servers.
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Custom hashtags. You can tag other posts, and opt into filtering based on hashtags from your network.
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Ignore replies after 30 days. By default, the server will ignore replies, favorites and boosts made to your posts after 30 days. If you like that sort of thing, you can enable it.
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Promote replies. By default, the server will display replies to your post only if you favorite them. Non-favorited replies are still accessible from the web interface with a second click. If you want to open the floodgates, you can enable it.
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Complementary client. Our reference client implements client-side equivalents of these features, with additional client-specific logic.
These design patterns are freely available for others to adopt. If you would like to see them in Mastodon, please open a ticket upstream and we will happily assist.