Implemented this a few years back by abstracting the upstream callbacks. You can mount pretty much any API endpoint as a filesystem with a bit of JavaScript glue. The FUSE layer is in Go: https://github.com/autovia/wfs

https://toot.io is a new free instance.

Ads? 3rd-party tracking?

There are ads (links to job postings of YC companies). They appear like regular submissions, but you can't vote or comment on them.

Better invest some bucks in open bounties for Diaspora* to close the gap and even to develop useful new features: https://www.bountysource.com/teams/diaspora

https://notein.com - open source, simple and powerful

Try https://diasporafoundation.org

It doesn't satisfy a number of the person's requirements.

Simple but powerful note taking: https://notein.com

The alternative is open source and decentralised: https://diasporafoundation.org

In diaspora* you own your data. You don’t sign over rights to a corporation or other interest who could use it. https://diasporafoundation.org

Written in ruby, difficult to install. Have a look at the install requirements.

Like all ruby apps you need a full build environment and tons of dependencies, and if by chance a specific gem fails to compile you are toast in dependency hell.

Given the goal of the project an easier to install and use stack would have helped them.

These aren't user issues, though!

All users have to do is go to https://podupti.me/ and pick a pod.

That's what I did a few weeks ago and I have begun drawing my friends over to it. Every few days I go on facebook and talk about what I've figured out about diaspora.

I've also begun posting my hobby content on diaspora first, then facebook a few days later. When I post on diaspora, I post the invitation to see it on diaspora.

Listening to Zuck's weaseling yesterday I felt vindicated.