Mastodon is a huge opportunity
Many indie hackers in the past have profited by riding the wave of an emerging platform. Mastodon just hit one million users and is growing fast at the moment.
It's also a beautifully open and permissionless platform, which makes it easy to dev for. If you have done any Twitter dev in the past and run up against all those difficult rules and restrictions, you will find it a breath of fresh air.
Check out the apps API documentation to get started.
Who's building stuff on Mastodon? Can we get a Mastodon group on IH?
Honest question, why do you think Mastodon will succeed?
It is hard to setup and use correctly. The admin of your server can ban you at any time correct?
I'm confused by the question. What do you mean by "succeed"?
For my definition of "succeed" it's already there, but I'm curious what your definition is.
I personally didn't find it difficult but you're probably right, there are people who would will find it hard.
Like any piece of software it's not for everybody. So far it is easy enough for one million people (myself included). It probably has a more technical audience right now, which I am ok with. It's a bit like early Twitter.
Yes. If you're worried about that you can run your own instance, or find an instance where you trust the admins not to do that.
I set up my own instance in half an hour using Digital Ocean marketplace.
PS my Mastodon is here: https://mccormick.cx/@chris
Just checked out your profile. You are not following anyone. Seems like you are missing out on the best part of Mastodon.