# Firefish > discontinued open source, decentralized social media platform on the Fediverse **Wikidata**: [Q116174988](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116174988) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/firefish ## Summary Firefish was a free and open-source, decentralized social media platform that operated on the Fediverse using the ActivityPub protocol. It was built as a distributed social network and allowed users to microblog, with support for cross-platform deployment. Firefish was developed using TypeScript and relied on technologies like Node.js and Vue.js. ## Key Facts - Firefish was a decentralized social media platform based on Misskey and part of the Fediverse. - Built using TypeScript, it required Node.js and Vue.js for operation. - The project was cross-platform and supported microblogging. - It was discontinued in 2025, with its official website being [joinfirefish.org](https://joinfirefish.org/). - Firefish was an instance of free software, a social networking service, and a distributed social network. - The software was available under copyright restrictions, despite being open-source. - It used the ActivityPub protocol for federation. - The codebase was hosted on Codeberg under the username "firefish". - Firefish had a discontinuation notice posted in February 2025. - It was accessible in English and had a derivative work in Iceshrimp. - Firefish's source code was available at [firefish.dev/firefish/firefish](https://firefish.dev/firefish/firefish) starting February 6, 2024. - The project logo can be found at [Firefish_title.svg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Firefish_title.svg). ## FAQs **What is Firefish?** Firefish was a decentralized, open-source social media platform on the Fediverse. It allowed users to engage in microblogging and was built with a focus on user autonomy and interoperability across servers. **What happened to Firefish?** Firefish was discontinued in February 2025. Development ceased, and its official servers were taken offline. **What technologies did Firefish use?** Firefish was built using the following core technologies: - Programming Language: TypeScript - Runtime Environment: Node.js - Frontend Framework: Vue.js - Protocol: ActivityPub - Operating System Support: Cross-platform **Is Firefish still available?** No, Firefish was officially discontinued in February 2025. Its source code and documentation remain accessible, but the service itself is no longer operational. **What is the relationship between Firefish and Misskey?** Firefish was based on Misskey, a federated social networking service, and inherited much of its feature set from that lineage. **What protocols did Firefish support?** Firefish used the ActivityPub protocol, enabling it to interoperate with other Fediverse platforms. **Where can I find Firefish’s source code?** The source code is available at [firefish.dev/firefish/firefish](https://firefish.dev/firefish/firefish), with a preferred qualifier indicating its availability starting February 6, 2024. ## Why It Matters Firefish played a significant role in the evolution of decentralized social networks by contributing to the Fediverse ecosystem. As a platform, it enabled users to maintain control over their data while participating in a global network of interconnected servers. This approach countered the centralization seen in traditional social media by promoting user agency and data portability. Firefish also demonstrated how open-source development could support a more democratic and distributed internet, even as its own project was short-lived. ## Notable For - Being a decentralized alternative to centralized platforms like Twitter and Facebook. - Supporting the ActivityPub protocol, aligning with the broader Fediverse. - Leveraging modern web technologies like TypeScript, Node.js, and Vue.js. - Being based on Misskey, a well-known federated platform. - Hosting its codebase publicly to encourage transparency and community contributions. ## Body ### History and Development Firefish was an open-source, decentralized social media platform developed to operate within the Fediverse. It was designed to support user-driven content creation and sharing through a microblogging interface. The project was built using TypeScript, a language that compiles to JavaScript, and used libraries like Node.js and Vue.js for backend and frontend functionality, respectively. The platform was part of the Fediverse, a network of decentralized platforms that communicate using the ActivityPub protocol. Firefish aimed to provide users with a space for independent publishing while ensuring privacy and user control. ### Technical Architecture Firefish was engineered as a distributed system, relying on: - **TypeScript** for type-safe development - **Node.js** for server-side logic - **Vue.js** for frontend interfaces The system was cross-platform, supporting various operating systems. It was structured to run on the ActivityPub protocol, enabling it to communicate with other Fediverse instances like Misskey and Iceshrimp. ### Ecosystem and Community Firefish was part of the Fediverse, a network of decentralized platforms that use the ActivityPub protocol. It allowed for federation between servers and supported user-generated content in a distributed manner. Firefish had a growing community of developers and users who supported its open-source nature. However, the project was not completed before its discontinuation in 2025. ### Discontinuation and Legacy Firefish was officially discontinued in February 2025. The project's source code and documentation remain available for review at [joinfirefish.org](https://joinfirefish.org/). The platform's end was noted in a public statement, citing the need for the project to sunset due to development and community challenges. ### Related Projects Firefish was based on **Misskey**, a federated social networking service. It also shared architectural traits with **Iceshrimp**, another Fediverse project implementing ActivityPub. Both platforms emphasized data portability and user-driven content sharing. ### Software and Licensing Firefish was distributed as free software, allowing modification and redistribution under compatible licenses. The project maintained its source code on Codeberg under the username "firefish", and its official server list was available at [joinfirefish.org/join/](https://joinfirefish.org/join/). ## References 1. [Source](https://codeberg.org/calckey/calckey) 2. [Source](https://info.firefish.dev/notes/9xsukr38m3komd63)