this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2024

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GenZedong

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How do I start my own Lemmy instance? (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

21 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Help me out.

I want to start a Lemmy with a focus on American and Indigenous history through a communist lens.

Among other things.

I'm willing to learn coding, tbf.

all 22 comments

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Aside from the technical details of running a fediverse instance, I think you should also be aware of the legal implications. For example, in your region, what is your obligation to actively moderate and delete illegal content (for example CP added by a troll or bot). Can you get in trouble even if you didn't see it was there, but it's on your server? How quickly do you need to react and how thoroughly must it be deleted?

If it was me, I'd also make sure I understand how this intersects with federation, and whether or not this could copy illegal content from other instances into my instance's database.

Of course we're all communists here, and you may have your own opinion and risks what you feel comfortable hosting, but it's worth thinking through.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago

These... are all very good points. I hadn't considered, tbh...

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago

I havent done a lemmy instance but i would recommend doing a pihole tutorial first, its a good starting point for hosting services.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

You don't need to know coding at all, but some familiarity with Unix/Linux commands is a must. The real difficulty is in the time and money you will need to put into it overtime.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Why Unix/Linux?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Because UNIX-like systems such as GNU/Linux or the BSDs are FOSS (free open source software) where the user owns the means of computing. They're proven to be extremely flexible while consuming few resources. Not only do they cost nothing, but the user also has access to all the Source code which allows anyone to break and bend the system to fit any shape. For instance the entire Internet right now runs on Computers with some custom variant GNU/Linux or BSD. Every modem/router you've come across either runs some version of GNU/Linux or OpenBSD. Every PlayStation starting with 4 runs FreeBSD, Sony just modified it to suit their needs. Netflix's entire infrastructure runs on computers with FreeBSD. Android and ChromeOS are built on top of Linux, Google just modified it to fit their needs. Valve's Steam Deck runs SteamOS which is a custom variant of Arch Linux. Etc.

Literally the only scenario where Windows Server would make sense is if you're a company that relies on decades old software that only runs on real Windows and most if not all your clients also run Windows. And even then it's more of a "putting up with it" thing. Legitimate Windows Server licenses cost so much not because it's quality software, but because Microsoft knows there is a lot of money to be made from people who are locked into their ecosystem. If you use Windows then Microsoft owns your computer and they call the shots. They just let you use it. Not to mention Windows phones home all the time and shows ads in many places and there is nothing you can do about it. If you have the choice why would you want to run a Server for a communist cause on such an OS?

UNIX-like systems aren't perfect, but they're much better than the alternatives.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago

Remember when Windows literally skipped the number "9" to get to number 10? Just for the sake of branding?

I feel like that's all Windows has, tbh.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

That's the most popular option for web server. The other option typically will be a Windows server. The Lemmy documentation assumes that the server will be Unix-like, I don't know if Windows is supported.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm hoping that Windows is supported.

I tried to install Linux in the computer but my dyslexia got the best of me.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

I’ve never run Lemmy myself. It would be somewhat easy for me to run it, but that’s only because this kind of stuff was my job. But even then I’m sure it would be a lot of work. People who say it’s easy don’t remember how much latent knowledge they already have that makes it easy for them.

This search returns no hits, so I wouldn’t even consider running it on Windows: https://join-lemmy.org/docs/index.html?search=windows

Lemmy isn’t just this one app that you run; it’s several that interoperate with each other, including a database server (PostgreSQL):

$ curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LemmyNet/lemmy/main/docker/docker-compose.yml | yq '.services | keys'
[
  "lemmy",
  "lemmy-ui",
  "pictrs",
  "postgres",
  "proxy"
]

Each of the above represents its own Linux virtual machine running one or more services.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago

People who say it’s easy don’t remember how much latent knowledge they already have that makes it easy for them.

Yeah, there's the rub; it's like a boomer forgetting what he went through when he was young or in his twenties/thirties.

"Lemmy isn’t just this one app that you run; it’s several that interoperate with each other, including a database server (PostgreSQL):"

Right off the bat, that sounds more complicated.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I don't mean this in a way to dismiss your question but wouldn't that be better as a community than an instance? I feel like with it being such a niche topic you might have issues gaining traction in terms of growth

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago

I disagree.

We already have "general" instances in general. I just want a community connected to the Lemmyverse and find like-minded people as well. I'm not a PatSoc, btw. I'm anti-PatSoc. But I'm trying to attract people that are interested in organizing in America today.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Especially when there's already two indigenous communities, one on Lemmygrad (which would be strictly ML lens) and one on Hexbear (which is a bit more left unity but still Decolonial, anti imperial, etc) the Hexbear one being about 5x more populous but features some solid comrades I know from some other decolonial groups outside of Lemmy.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Running a Lemmy instance is more about (IaaS or PaaS) operations knowledge/experience than coding. I wouldn’t recommend trying to run one yourself without any such background. I’d look for someone who does to partner with. If some company were providing “Lemmy as a service,” I would recommend paying them to run it, but I don’t see that appearing anytime soon.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago

what about a company providing "hosting as a product"

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Interesting...

So this is different from coding...

I was also thinking about starting a forum with a comrade of mine that's also making YouTube videos.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Writing some code and checking it in to GitHub is one thing; running that code reliably 24/7 and accessible by the whole world is quite another.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago

I'm willing to learn, though it will be hard, and I may need some help.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

No one will be able to explain the whole process to you in one reply. There are a lot of steps and moving pieces.

First thing you will need is a server to run Lemmy on. Second you will need to buy a domain name that to associate with your instance.

Once you have these two you will have to follow the instructions here to set up Lemmy on it: https://join-lemmy.org/docs/administration/administration.html

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago

Honestly, the first two steps, I can definitely do.

Thanks for the link!