This book will be released on the web in January, 2020. If you backed the Kickstarter campaign, you'll get an update with a link to read the book. If you missed the Kickstarter campaign, you can pre-order the book now.
Table of Contents
Introduction
How the web used to be, and how it should be again.
- What is microblogging?
- Uses for a microblog
- Leaving Twitter
- Mission to movement
- The way forward
Part 1: Rewind
Looking back.
- Penn Station
- Pulled away from blogs
- Competing platforms
- App.net
- Leaving Twitter
- Tumblr acquired
- Interview
Part 2: Foundation
All the basics. Setting up WordPress and other blogging platforms.
- Domain names
- Syndication
- RSS for microblogs
- JSON Feed
- Introducing Micro.blog
- Starting with WordPress
- Alternative platforms
- Micro.blog and feeds
- Connecting to the web
- Migration
- Blogging workflow
- Why indie microblogging
- Interview with Brent Simmons
Part 3: IndieWeb
History of the IndieWeb. Microformats, Micropub, and posting tools.
- Permanence
- Silos
- Cross-posting
- Decentralization
- Owning your content
- Microformats
- Blog archive format
- IndieAuth
- Micropub
- Posting tools
- Interview with Tantek Çelik and Aaron Parecki
Part 4: Hypertext
Links and photos. The impact of design choices.
- Photography
- Influence
- Reposts
- UI impacts behavior
- Square photos
- Using HTML
- Starting a new photo blog
- Posting photos
- Grid pages
- Sunlit
- Photo feeds
- Linkblogging conventions
- Interview
Part 5: Notifications
Improving the blogging user experience. The rise of Mastodon. Real-time notifications with WebSub.
- Mastodon
- Microblog.pub
- Pixelfed
- WebFinger
- ActivityPub
- Your blog
- WebSub
- Indie readers
- Interview
Part 6: Community
Conversations across blogs. Curation and discovery.
- Replies
- Webmention
- Bridgy
- Harassment
- Misinformation
- Unattended algorithms
- Open gardens
- Discovery
- Popularity contests
- Micro Monday
- Banning users
- Interview with Jean MacDonald
Conclusion
What's next.
- Breaking up Facebook
- Regulation
- The way out
- Sticking to the mission statement
- Special thanks