# Sharkey

> free and open-source federated social networking service

**Wikidata**: [Q133248545](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133248545)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sharkey

## Summary  
Sharkey is a free and open‑source federated social networking service that enables microblogging across the Fediverse using the ActivityPub protocol. It is built on the Misskey codebase, runs on multiple platforms, and is written primarily in TypeScript.

## Key Facts  
- **Service type:** Free and open‑source federated social networking service (microblogging).  
- **Foundation:** Based on the Misskey platform and part of the Fediverse.  
- **Protocol:** Implements ActivityPub for decentralized communication.  
- **Technology stack:** Runs on Node.js and Vue.js; primary programming language is TypeScript.  
- **Cross‑platform:** Designed to operate on any operating system that supports its runtime dependencies.  
- **Licensing:** Distributed under the license identified by Wikidata item Q27017232.  
- **Naming:** Named after the popular plush shark “Blåhaj.”  
- **Aliases:** Also known as “Шарки.”  
- **Package availability:** Provided in the Nix Packages collection (`sharkey`) and the Arch User Repository (`sharkey`).  
- **Contact address:** `sharkey@sharkey.team` (Mastodon address, active since 13 January 2025).  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Sharkey?  
A: Sharkey is a free, open‑source platform for microblogging that operates as a federated server within the Fediverse, allowing users to interact with other ActivityPub‑compatible services.  

### Q: How does Sharkey differ from Mastodon?  
A: While both use ActivityPub, Sharkey is built on the Misskey codebase, written in TypeScript, and emphasizes a different user interface and feature set, such as its own reaction system and customization options.  

### Q: Is Sharkey free to use and modify?  
A: Yes. Sharkey is released under a free software license (Wikidata Q27017232), permitting anyone to run, study, modify, and redistribute the software.  

### Q: What platforms can I run Sharkey on?  
A: Sharkey is cross‑platform; it can be deployed on any operating system that supports Node.js and Vue.js, including Linux, macOS, and Windows.  

### Q: Where can I find Sharkey’s source code?  
A: The source repository is hosted at https://activitypub.software/TransFem-org/Sharkey.  

## Why It Matters  
Sharkey contributes to the growing ecosystem of decentralized social media by offering an open‑source alternative to centralized platforms. Its ActivityPub compatibility ensures seamless interaction with other Fediverse services like Mastodon, PeerTube, and Misskey, fostering user autonomy and data sovereignty. By leveraging modern web technologies such as TypeScript, Node.js, and Vue.js, Sharkey provides a responsive and extensible experience that can be tailored by developers and communities. Its cross‑platform nature lowers barriers to entry for self‑hosting, encouraging diverse deployments worldwide. As concerns over privacy, algorithmic control, and platform monopolies intensify, Sharkey’s free‑software ethos and federated architecture empower users to build and maintain their own social spaces without reliance on a single corporate entity.  

## Notable For  
- **Misskey heritage:** Directly based on the Misskey project, inheriting its feature set and community‑driven development model.  
- **ActivityPub implementation:** Fully compatible with the Fediverse’s open protocol, enabling cross‑platform social interaction.  
- **TypeScript core:** One of the few Fediverse servers primarily written in TypeScript, offering strong typing and modern JavaScript tooling.  
- **Cross‑platform deployment:** Designed to run on any OS supporting Node.js, simplifying self‑hosting for a wide audience.  
- **Unique branding:** Named after the popular “Blåhaj” plush shark, giving it a distinctive cultural reference.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Sharkey is a microblogging service that operates as a server within the Fediverse. Users can post short messages, react, and follow accounts across different ActivityPub‑compatible platforms. The service is released under a free software license (Wikidata Q27017232), ensuring that the code can be freely used, modified, and redistributed.

### Architecture  
- **Core language:** TypeScript (Wikidata Q2005).  
- **Runtime:** Node.js, providing a JavaScript execution environment.  
- **Frontend framework:** Vue.js, delivering a reactive user interface.  
- **Protocol:** ActivityPub, the standard for decentralized social networking.  

### Deployment  
- **Cross‑platform:** Works on Linux, macOS, and Windows.  
- **Package managers:** Available as `sharkey` in Nixpkgs and as an AUR package for Arch Linux users.  
- **Installation:** Users can clone the source repository from https://activitypub.software/TransFem-org/Sharkey and follow the provided setup scripts.  

### Licensing & Copyright  
- **License identifier:** Q27017232 (specific license name not provided).  
- **Copyright status:** Copyrighted, but the license grants the freedoms typical of free software.  

### Community & Identity  
- **Naming:** The project is named after “Blåhaj,” a popular plush shark, reflecting a playful community culture.  
- **Alias:** In Cyrillic contexts, it is also known as “Шарки.”  
- **Contact:** The official Mastodon address is `sharkey@sharkey.team`, active since 13 January 2025.  

### Ecosystem Integration  
Sharkey’s ActivityPub support allows it to interoperate with other Fediverse services such as Mastodon, PeerTube, and its parent project Misskey. This interoperability enables users to follow, reply to, and boost content across platforms, fostering a unified decentralized social experience.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Sharkey",
  "description": "Free and open-source federated social networking service for microblogging, based on Misskey and part of the Fediverse.",
  "additionalType": "SoftwareApplication"
}