Federated Apps I’m Using

This means using software that is decentralized and uses protocols or standards to connect across the web. A common example is email, which most of us already use. Email relies on Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) to send messages, meaning you can have your email through one service provider and send a message to someone on a completely different provider and communicate seamlessly. There are other protocols that accomplish similar things like file sharing, calendars, address books, and social networking, and they work on the same principle.

I’ve been using federated software for some time now, starting with Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) to store, collaboratively edit, and share files. I use this alongside CalDAV for calendar management and sharing, and CardDAV for address book and contact management. Together, these three web extensions offer powerful ways to manage your data and protect your privacy. For this, I’ve been using Nextcloud for the past few years.

Another avenue I’m just beginning to explore is the Fediverse, with this website using WordPress and ActivityPub. ActivityPub is a protocol for decentralized social networking. Similar to the email example above, you can post content and share it across a federated network of software and servers, while also receiving messages and interactions back. This gives you powerful ways to manage your online identity, post your content on your own site first, then share it outward.

I’m sharing these two approaches because I plan to document and share how I’ve been using these apps and what I’m learning along the way. Hopefully it helps someone as they venture into the world of federated apps.