# Hometown

> fork of Mastodon and a open-source, self-hosted and federated social network service

**Wikidata**: [Q116077772](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116077772)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hometown

## Summary
Hometown is a free and open-source, self-hosted, and federated social network service primarily used for microblogging. It operates as a web service and is part of the Fediverse, utilizing the ActivityPub protocol for decentralized communication.

## Key Facts
*   Hometown is founded by Darius Kazemi.
*   It is based on Mastodon, a popular federated social network.
*   Hometown is a component of the Fediverse, an open social media network.
*   It uses the ActivityPub protocol for its federated functionality.
*   Hometown is classified as free software, allowing users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it.
*   Its primary use is microblogging.
*   It is a distributed social network, decentralized across distinct providers.
*   The source code repository is available at `https://github.com/hometown-fork/hometown`.
*   An official list of Hometown servers is maintained at `https://github.com/hometown-fork/hometown/wiki/Hometown-servers`.
*   Hometown is copyrighted.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Hometown?
A: Hometown is a free and open-source, self-hosted, and federated social network service. It is designed for microblogging and operates as part of the Fediverse, using the ActivityPub protocol.

### Q: Who founded Hometown?
A: Hometown was founded by Darius Kazemi, who is known as a programmer and artist.

### Q: What is Hometown based on?
A: Hometown is based on Mastodon, another prominent federated social network. It extends or modifies the Mastodon codebase.

### Q: What protocol does Hometown use?
A: Hometown uses the ActivityPub protocol. This protocol enables it to federate and interact with other compatible services within the Fediverse.

### Q: Is Hometown free software?
A: Yes, Hometown is free and open-source software. This means users have the freedom to run, study, change, and distribute the software and its modified versions.

## Why It Matters
Hometown plays a significant role in the landscape of decentralized social media by offering an alternative to large, centralized platforms. As a free and open-source, self-hosted, and federated social network service, it empowers users with greater control over their data and online interactions. Its foundation as a fork of Mastodon, combined with its integration into the Fediverse via the ActivityPub protocol, contributes to a more diverse and resilient social media ecosystem. By enabling individuals and communities to host their own instances, Hometown fosters a distributed model of communication that can be more resistant to censorship and corporate control. This approach aligns with the principles of digital freedom and user autonomy, providing a platform for microblogging that prioritizes community governance and interoperability over proprietary systems. Its existence underscores the growing demand for social media solutions that respect privacy, encourage transparency, and allow for greater customization and self-determination.

## Notable For
*   Being a free and open-source, self-hosted, and federated social network service.
*   Its origin as a fork of Mastodon, building upon an established federated platform.
*   Its integration into the Fediverse through the ActivityPub protocol, enabling interoperability with other decentralized services.
*   Being founded by Darius Kazemi, a programmer and artist.
*   Its primary use case as a microblogging platform within a distributed network structure.

## Body

### Overview
Hometown is defined as a free and open-source, self-hosted, and federated social network service. It functions as a web service and is categorized as free software, a distributed social network, and fediverse server software. Its primary application is microblogging.

### Technical Details
Hometown operates using the ActivityPub protocol, which facilitates its federated nature within the Fediverse. The service is based on Mastodon, indicating it shares a common codebase or architecture with the well-known federated microblogging platform. It operates under a license identified by Q27017232, with its details available in its GitHub repository's LICENSE file as of January 7, 2023. Hometown is copyrighted.

### Development and Access
Hometown was founded by Darius Kazemi, a programmer and artist. The project's source code is publicly accessible through its repository on GitHub at `https://github.com/hometown-fork/hometown`. An official list of Hometown servers is maintained and available in English at `https://github.com/hometown-fork/hometown/wiki/Hometown-servers`.

## References

1. [GitHub](https://github.com/hometown-fork/hometown)
2. [GitHub](https://github.com/hometown-fork/hometown/blob/hometown-dev/LICENSE)