2d ago

We are excited to announce pixelfed.ca, a new Pixelfed instance run by Canadians and hosted in Canada

Pixelfed.ca is run by Canadians and hosted in Canada. However, it is not restricted to Canadians and all are welcome! This platform is an instance of Pixelfed. It is an image sharing platform, and an ethical alternative to centralized platforms. We are managed by the Fedecan non-profit organizatio...

After moving in to our new server last month, our next large project is to set up some new Fediverse platforms. One of the most requested of those was Pixelfed, which is an image sharing platform.

You should be able to sign up here: pixelfed.ca

As with any new instance, some issues are to be expected and while we've done some testing already, please bear with us as things get going. For any support related issues with pixelfed.ca, please post in the new !pixelfed@lemmy.ca community

Fediverse @lemmy.world

Otter @lemmy.ca

2d ago

edited

We are excited to announce pixelfed.ca, a new Pixelfed instance run by Canadians and hosted in Canada

pixelfed.ca

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76 comments

I've turned off registration temporarily while we resolve the below question, since people would have to re-register if we migrate domains.
Sooo uh. Right after we launched this, Dan (pixelfed dev) got back to us and said we could have pixelfed.ca if we want it.
How does everyone feel about pixelfed.ca vs pixeld.ca for our base domain? Now's the time to pivot!
Edit: We're up at https://pixelfed.ca/ now instead, come on over! You probably do not want to to try to migrate an existing account.
- I do think pixelfed.ca sounds more organic.
  
  I agree. I'm inclined to switch once the domain transfer finishes.
- I like pixelfed.ca for the simple reason that it shares the name with the service, same as Lemmy.
- Pixelfed.ca is way better. If you type pixeld.ca on mobile, autocorrect will try to change it to pixels.ca. Constantly. It’s very annoying. pixelfed gets suggested to pixel fed or pixelated, both which are a bit more obvious
- Pixeld.ca feels really awkward to say/read, pixelfed.ca is definitely better.
- A bit too late to vote (pixelfed.ca would have been mine anyway), but I love how something like this can happen on the fediverse. Other types of services (eg: x.com) are all about competition and screwing over the other guy, and then here you have one instance handing over a perfect domain to another so they can have a better presence.
  Huge props to Dan for giving up his domain, as well as to the lemmy.ca team for expanding the fediverse.
- Pixelfed.ca is the winner, I say.
  
  Agreed, it sounds better to my ears!
- I like pixelfed.ca. I love feeding myself with some pixel cats photos (get it?... Yeah...).
  
  Hey I can see people interpreting it that way. Like binging on social media, except this isn't addicting so you just get fed then live on with your life.
- So glad this worked out! It's a better choice domain wise!
- I'm sure "pixeld" would be pronounced like "pixelled" but when I saw it my immediate thought was "pixel dee".
  While I do like the "pixelled" pronunciation, I think "pixelfed" is less ambiguous and it's clear what service it is running.
- My vote is for pixelfed.ca
- +1 pixelfed.ca
- You (or otter) should update the post as well. I was super confused by the redirect 🙂
  
  Surprisingly, lemmy won't let me edit his post since we're both admins. He'll update it soon I'm sure.
- pixeld.ca sounds better to me.
  That said, maybe pixelfed.ca sounds more formal, plus it might avoid confusion if both pixelfed.ca and pixeld.ca are instances.

Hey, quick question:
If we import our content from Instagram, what's the default visibility? I tried importing it on another instance and the default was "unlisted" meaning it was still public, but not displayed in searches and public feeds.
Is that something you guys can set server side? If so, I'd prefer they be private and only visible to my approved followers.
- I don't think there is an option in the main admin console for that, but we can look around for any settings in the config.
  On that other instance, was your account set to private initially?
  
  Yes it was.
  I think there is an open bug about this in their github. This might change in the future.
  Also, is it normal that I see no posts in the main page feed? Will I only see posts of people I exclusively follow?

I love how it's just pet pics and nature haha

Is it possible to just use our lemmy accounts to log in? My understanding of activity pub and the fedeverse is that it should be possible, but maybe I'm misunderstanding something.
- Unfortunately you can't do that yet. That's one of those things that will hopefully be possible eventually with the Fediverse. Right now you can view content from elsewhere, but the accounts are tied to the instance that you are on.
  It is possible to sign in with a Mastodon account on some instances, thanks to an integration they set up. It might be possible to do something similar with Lemmy, but I imagine it would be more difficult. Mastodon and Pixelfed were relatively similar already.
  For example, it's technically possible to view your lemmy user on pixelfed.ca: https://pixelfed.ca/i/web/profile/798599852495369073
  You can also view a pixelfed.ca user on here: https://lemmy.ca/u/shadow@pixelfed.ca
  However both profiles are blank, so federation between Pixelfed and Lemmy isn't as smooth as say, Pixelfed and Mastodon

Yes! It's finally here! My first experience with Pixelfed was back in 2019 on an instance which got shut down shortly after I signed up. It really demonstrated the importance of picking the "right" instance. Given Fedecan's track record with Lemmy.ca, I know Pixelfed.ca won't suffer the same fate. 😊

Is there a way to login with my mstdn.ca account like I can with the main server?
- Update: It should be working now!
- We're going to explore some more. We didn't disable it, so it might be in the config somewhere
  It's been out for a while: https://mastodon.social/@pixelfed/110727848627479712
  Personally I found the mastodon sign up to be unreliable, and ended up making an account separately, back when I was on another Pixelfed instance

American here. Fantastic job, guys! Keeping my fingers crossed for you. Don't break this boycott, you have more power than the fascists want the world to think!
You can do this. I believe in you!

Great. I'm slowly but surely leaving American social networks, so it's great to ee more options.
- I can’t wait for the day we have Fedecan: Friendica, Matrix and Peertube instances. That way we keep our data in Canada!

Have y'all been in contact with Chad over at mstdn.ca? Would be pretty cool if we could support the mastodon folks in some way as well!
- We've messaged back and forth :) Nothing official yet
  Would be pretty cool if we could support the mastodon folks in some way as well!
  Agreed!

This is great. I downloaded the app a while back but held off on proceeding past the instance selection, as I was hoping to see a simple .ca option. Guess I'll go back and sign up!

Awesome! I dropped my barely-used account and set up a new one on our instance.
It’s all cat pictures!
- I always need more cat pictures

Oh there was already one called pxlfd.ca to mimic mstdn.ca in terms of hostname.

Woohoo another nail in the Meta coffin! Lets use canadian social media!

Amazing work! Made an account as a placeholder (for now) and the site's really snappy.
Edit: Goodbye account. It was nice knowin' ya 🫡
\ Edit2: Hello, even newer account! 🫡
- ~~Welcome~~ Welcome!

Now that I’m all set up i put my profile on Facebook to see if I can attract some more “regular” people.
I have an artist friend who was interested in the idea of running a Pixelfed account side-by-side with his instagram, but Instagram linking to the Pixelfed with some bonus content there. I’m gonna see if he needs help with that later today.

Good, can we do some kind of CAN/UE fusion ? There's apparently nothing left of any ideal worth pursuing in the US. Time to stand together I guess.

I’m an existing user on pixelfed.social, are you going to support migrating accounts? Or is that on by default with pixelfed?
- I think it's on by default, I'm not seeing any config options. If you have trouble let me know!
  
  Just a heads up, migration seems to be broken :(

Is the lemmy community also being migrated over to !pixelfed@lemmy.ca?
- Yes

This is awesome. Thanks for doing this!

Super. Been looking forward to this.

I’m trying to sign up through the Pixelfed app, but it doesn’t show this server and I don’t see anywhere to type it in. Help?
Edit: Oh I found the entry box under Other, way down at the bottom then sign-in to custom server.
I’m thinking I need to sign up on the webpage though.
Edit: signup isn’t working for me the mobile website. I’ll try on desktop later.
- Thats a bad login flow for a fediverse app if you arent clearly presented with a homeserver choice at first run :/ There are other (possibly better) pixelfed apps but i havent tried pixelfed at all so cant really comment on them.
  Gotta scroll down a bit https://pixelfed.org/mobile-apps
  
  Yes the UX needs some work =(
  
  It is very bad. Thanks for the link :)
- Where are you getting stuck?
  Edit: I think hcaptcha was breaking things. I've turned it off for now.
  
  I’m still stuck on the registration screen. I didn’t see a captcha before and it would just do nothing. I don’t see one now either, but now it’s telling me my password confirmation doesn’t match every time I try. Or I messed it up 10 times. 🤔
  Edit: I guess I did mess it up ten times because it just worked :)
  
  Well I just got stuck in the kitchen making quesadillas, but now I’m stuck on the couch. I’ll give it a shot!
- Sign up doesn't seem to be working on desktop for me either..
  
  Where are you getting stuck?
  Edit: I think hcaptcha was breaking things. I've turned it off for now. Try again?

Pretty exciting news! 💜

Oh boy, exciting! Will move my account there when it's ready!
....is it reaaaaady yet?
- Yes!

This is great! Thanks!

I'll have to migrate after Jiu Jitsu.
- OSS

Is migration possible from another instance?

Can't sign up through the web app. The web form sends the request, then the password fields clear, then nothing. Just stays there.
- Is this still an issue?
  
  Retried just now on pixelfed.ca and it worked fine. 🙏
  Here's a bike for you.

Is this like fediverse Canadian Twitter? Is this meant to replace lemmy.ca?
- pixelfed is a fediverse version of Instagram. and no, not a replacement. more like a complimentary service.

76 comments