The Fediverse Schema Observatory is a website that tracks the types and shapes of data exchanged between thousands of social media servers that are running dozens of different kinds of software, advancing interoperability across the Fediverse. Public domain database snapshots are also provided if you want to explore the data on your own terms or use it in your own applications.
The Fediverse (short for “federated universe”) is a decentralized network of independently hosted social media platforms and online communities that can communicate with one another. Instead of being controlled by a single company (such as Meta, or X), the Fediverse is made up of thousands of servers (“instances”), each run by different people or organizations, but all using open protocols (such as ActivityPub) so users can interact across platforms seamlessly.
Vision
To strengthen interoperability by offering a comprehensive view of real-world data flows across diverse platforms on the Fediverse.
Goals
The project aims to provide advanced tooling that
- Helps the implementers of federated social media software make informed decisions about building interoperable software
- Provides quantitative data to guide the design and refinement of standards and APIs
- Enables experts to annotate and share insights on data types found “in the wild.”
Why This Matters
Because the Fediverse is dozens of different applications talking to one another, it can be hard to make sure every application is compatible with every other application. The Observatory provides actionable intelligence so developers can ensure their software is maximally compatible with the broader ecosystem.
How It Works
The Observatory receives public-addressed ActivityPub data, scrubs it of user-generated content, and records a schema to a database that is released in the public domain.
Think of it like this: the Observatory does not read everyone’s mail. It measures the dimensions and weight of some mail and uses that information to help build better mail trucks.
The demo video above showcases how the Fediverse Schema Observatory works in action.
Who Can Benefit
The Observatory serves anyone working to improve, understand, or maintain interoperability across the Fediverse, including
- Software developers building or maintaining ActivityPub-compatible applications
- Standards designers refining protocols, extensions, or APIs
- Researchers and analysts studying decentralized network data flows
Get Involved
You can browse the live Fediverse Schema Observatory here, and email dkazemi@law.harvard.edu to request an account that would allow you to annotate data. You can also obtain a public domain database snapshot you are free to use how you wish.
Team
