(...continuation:)
Aliases
So, lets talk about aliases!
SSB Identifiers are these long codes, and sometimes we try to share them on other social platforms. But the problem is that even if you copy-paste these IDs into your SSB app, that still doesn't create a connection with the peer, so you end up still not getting their data. What you need is both the ID and an invite code to a server. So you need 2 complicated codes to copy-paste, just to connect with a friend. With aliases, we're going to simplify all of this.
An alias is a web link, pointing to the room server. Each member of the room can have their own alias link. In this case, let's say you want to connect with staltz, his alias is staltz.hermies.club. When you visit that link, under the hood it will present to you an SSB URI that opens your SSB app automatically.
How about we see a demo of this working in practice? In your browser, type staltz.hermies.club
The website automatically asks you to open an SSB app that supports aliases, in this case, Manyverse.
The app opens, and then it immediately opens staltz's profile, and you're now directly connected with staltz! That's how simple it is!
Registering aliases
You can also register an alias! You just have to be an official member of the room, and you need an app that supports aliases. The first such app is Manyverse, so let's see how this works over there.
When you're connected to the room, open your profile screen, and then press "Edit profile". At the bottom, you'll see a button "Register new alias". Then, choose which room you want an alias, in this case let's pick "hermies.club". Input the name you want for your alias, submit it, and that's it! Now the new alias is shown on your profile, and you can put it anywhere on the web and it's a real link people can click.
Sign-in with SSB
Next, let's talk about sign-in with SSB, another feature exclusive for members of the room server.
hermies.club, like any other rooms 2.0 server, has a website with a beautiful frontpage. On the top right corner you can press Sign-in. There are two ways you can sign-in. There is the traditional username & password method, but let's take a look at sign-in with SSB.
If your desktop has an SSB app that supports this method, you can just press the green button. In this case, I don't have one on this desktop, but I can use my phone with Manyverse. I can scan the QR code on the desktop, and it will open the website on my phone. Just press the green button, and it will open Manyverse. I authorize the sign-in, and then the desktop is now signed in! Sweet!
As a signed-in member, there's lots of things I can do. I can create new invite links, for instance.
Invite management
An invite will allow my friend to become an official member of the room.
Here's how it works. On the signed-in website, I go to "Invites", then I press "Create new invite", and it gives me an invite link in this pink box. I can copy this link, and pass it to my friend. An invite link works only once, so remember to make one link for each friend you want to invite.
Then, my friend can just click the invite link. It will open a page on the room server, and then they just need to press "Join this room". It will open a compatible SSB app, in this case Manyverse, and it will automatically connect to the room. That it's! My friend is now an official member of the room, and they can also invite their own friends, register aliases, and so forth.
Member management
Some members are promoted to moderators, and they have the power to remove members. The role of moderators is to uphold the code of conduct. Let's take a look how moderation works!
On the website, there is a "Members" page where we can see all the current members. We can also open up the details for each member, check their SSB ID, and if they broke the code of conduct, the moderator can remove them. It's also easy to reinsert the member back, by inputting their SSB ID. Administrators can also promote a member to Moderator role. And, they can also remove aliases of a member.
We also support denying people any kind of access to a room, via a banned list. This makes it so that they cannot initiate tunnelled connections. For instance, they cannot even connect to alias links. We want rooms to create a safe environment for its members.
Rooms have some additional goodies, like support for multiple languages.
And the frontpage, the privacy policy, and the code of conduct can be easily edited by members. We implemented a simple content management system with support for markdown and localisation.
We really hope people will like hermies.club and we welcome folks to also deploy their own room 2.0 servers! This will be fantastic for scuttlebutt! Thanks for watching