Communities

Bluesky and Mastodon

Developer and open-source circles have moved here in part. Reach is smaller but friendly.

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Cost
Free

Free to use. No paid tier is needed to list or post.

Verdict
slow burn

Slow burn: smaller reach, but developer and open-source circles are active.

Difficulty
Medium

Needs preparation, a review, or a steady habit before results.

Effort
Medium

About 5 to 10 hours a month.

First result
1 to 3 months

A rough range for one person working on it part-time.

Payoff
Compounds

keeps growing while you keep at it.

Best for

Open-source and developer products.

Not for

Mass consumer reach.

Pros

  • Friendly developer and open-source circles
  • Less noise than X

Cons

  • Smaller reach
  • Growth is slow

The full guide

Last verified 2026-10-30

Links checked 2026-10-30 · All links answer

01What it is and who is there

Bluesky and Mastodon are social networks outside X. Bluesky has a single app with custom feeds; Mastodon is a network of independent servers. Both have active developer, open-source and science circles. Reach is smaller than on X, but replies are often friendlier and more thoughtful.

02Cost and what you actually pay for

Both are free to use. Your cost is time to post and reply.

03Is it right for you?

It fits open-source projects, developer tools and products for communities that moved away from X. It fits poorly for mass consumer reach. If your users are not there, it will be slow.

04Before you start

  • On Mastodon, pick a server that fits your topic and read its rules.
  • On Bluesky, set up your profile and find custom feeds for your topic.
  • Write a bio that says what you build.
  • Read each platform's community guidelines.

05Step-by-step: how to distribute here

  1. Follow people in your field and reply to their posts.
  2. Post updates on what you build, with screenshots and links.
  3. Use relevant hashtags on Mastodon, where discovery relies on them.
  4. Share technical details and lessons, not only announcements.
  5. Cross-post selectively; tailor posts rather than copying from X.

06What to post or submit

Post template:

[What you shipped or learned]. [One detail that makes it interesting]. [Link]. #[topic] #[tool]

07Common mistakes and do-nots

  • Do not auto-post every X post without adapting it.
  • Do not use many hashtags unrelated to the post.
  • Do not ignore server rules on Mastodon.
  • Do not post only promotion.

08How to measure it

  • Track followers and replies weekly.
  • Track visits from bsky.app and Mastodon servers.
  • A realistic test: two months of steady posting.

09Time budget

  • Ongoing: 2 to 4 hours a week.

10Pair it with

11Sources

Sources