I want to host a fediverse instance but I need it to be light (limited system resources). Mastodon seems to be kinda heavy. GotoSocial is supposedly very light? (but limited on functionality?) is Pixelfed much heavier? Bonfire is built on elixir so should also be light? Akkoma? Pleroma?

Also, I need it to be engaging to people migrating mostly from IG, so I do need some bells/whistles I guess

thanks!

EDIT: The instance is supposed to be hosting a community of 100-200 people. Maybe even more in the future (in which case we would probably migrate to another server)

Having a "facebook pages" / mini website / pixelfed portfolio is very functional for the people I plan to invite.

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[–] JupiterRowland@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago (3 children)

If you want Instagram users to move, there's no real alternative to Pixelfed. You can literally move an entire account full of images and posts over from Instagram to Pixelfed.

If, however, you're seriously eyeing Bonfire, check Hubzilla. Bonfire promises lots of stuff. Hubzilla offers more than what Bonfire even only promises and then some. Also, while Bonfire is still in fairly early development, Hubzilla is tried-and-true, stable software that has been in development since 2012, for even longer than Mastodon. And Hubzilla only needs a LAMP stack. Basically, Bonfire is Hubzilla from Wish.com at best. And AFAIK, Hubzilla even needs fewer server resources per user than Friendica.

Downsides: There's no phone app (but then, there's none for Bonfire either). You've got no other choice but to use the Web interface; at least Hubzilla can be installed on phones as a Progressive Web App. On top of that, especially the default theme is not really user-friendly and kind of stuck in the early 2010s, and for alternative themes, you need to include third-party repositories into your installation. Posting images isn't as straight-forward as on typical social media; it's more like a blog in the sense of having to upload image files before you can use them. And if you want alt-texts, you have to learn to get your hands dirty on BBcode.

[–] geoma@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

IMHO PWAs are ok... there's really no need for an app for every web service

[–] JupiterRowland@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

It's just that hardly anyone knows that PWAs exist, much less how to "install" them.

That, and most phone users prefer native mobile app UIs to Web UIs that don't look like native apps.

Then again, I guess it's theoretically possible to build a Hubzilla theme that does look like an iOS app.

[–] geoma@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

pp (but then, there’s none for Bonfire either). You’ve got no other choice but to use the Web interface; at least Hubzilla can be installed on phones as a Progressive Web App. On top of that, especially the default theme is not really user-friendly and kind of stuck in the early 2010s, and for alternative themes, you

I've messed a bit with Hubzilla but found its interface to be kinda old dated looking. It is not a problem for me, but I want to host a server in which I can manage to gradually migrate users from IG to the fedi, and I'm not sure if Hubzilla fits the bill. IOne thing I do love about Hubzilla is that ist kinda allows you to host your own "site", like facebook pages... IMHO this is a great niche for the Fediverse by allowing people that don't have a website, to solve their website needs and social network needs in one place. Of course a website is a website and I hope every entrepreneur has one, but in real life sadly most people don't, as IG sequestered this function.

[–] JupiterRowland@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

Of course, if you're hosting your own hub, you aren't bound to the vanilla features and the one standard theme or whatever some hub admin has installed. Hubzilla is not only modular, it's also extensible by simply adding a third-party git repository with apps and/or themes to your hub installation.

I think the currently best third-party theme bundle is the Utsukta Themes.

[–] geoma@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 weeks ago

theme

these themes look awesome. Seems I will be giving hubzilla another try.

[–] geoma@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago

t out., but no, this is for a community

will check out this. thanks!!

[–] abeorch@friendica.ginestes.es 2 points 4 weeks ago

@geoma @JupiterRowland This is really useful info. I get the feeling that Hubzilla would be good for #coops #charities #communitygroup and #nonprofit orgs.