MASTODON GROUPS TUTORIAL!
(ACTIVITYPUB GROUPS IN THE FEDIVERSE!)

NO EXTRA SIGNUP NEEDED...
USE YOUR FEDIVERSE ACCOUNT

TUTORIAL BELOW:

- SEE A LIST OF GROUPS !
- FOLLOW A GROUP !
- MAKE A GROUP !
- POST IN A GROUP !

ALSO
- HOW TO SEE POSTS?
- TESTING / NOT SURE?

After doing some digging here's my near mini-tutorial about groups...
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- SEE LIST OF GROUPS!
https://a.gup.pe/
Also shows follower numbers.

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FOLLOW A GROUP !
- Following a group is done a few ways but I found this way as 100% / BEST WAY so far:

Step 1. Find the name of any group (on https://a.gup.pe/ website)... "Plants" group for example...

2. Put name "Plants" with @ before it in Mastodon Search Box (the top left box):
@plants (and hit enter)

3. The Mastodon search result will show @ plants @ a.gup.pe (without the spaces) as a group

4. Click to follow group!
Done!

(If you see two entries in the search results then one might be an old server from before - just follow what the newest which is "a.gup.pe" <--- newest has extra "a." in the address)

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MAKE A GROUP !

- Anyone can make a group.
It's done in 2 ways (your choice both is ok and can't go wrong even if you do both)

METHOD 1 - New groups can be created in the Mastodon Search box. So at the same time as when you use the search to search for it then the group it's automatically made for you in the process if it doesn't already exist! Then it shows up a few seconds later!

METHOD 2 Another way to create group is to *mention it* in a post and also at the same time it is created for you.
Example if I mention:
@ Freeschool @ a.gup.pe (without spaces) then the group will be made!

This group it's now created and if you start typing @ freeschool then you can autocomplete @ Freeschool @ a.gup.pe

SUMMARY
Whatever method you choose from it will create a new group name as you do that method and it will show up when you put that in search box results or mention it in future!
*Immediately* anyone else looking can find the group!

It will not show in the https://a.gup.pe/ website as it has to be more populate to show up there... and better for privacy not to show the smaller groups.
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MY OTHER COMMENTS:

I personally like they way to create group using no external signup AND using existing Mastodon account.

The Mastodon search box name provides a direct and powerful interface to see things
e.g. "@ freeschool @ a.gup.pe " shows " freeschool " group.

After creating group you can post and mention the group name to people in your group and can be quite private.

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HOW TO SEE POSTS?

Posts show up in timeline like following a person.

To see posts just Mastodon search box in Mastodon with group name (like @ plants) and then click the group name to natively show the existing posts.

I don't think you can enable notifications on these groups (yet) but the usual mentioning / replying / favouriting can show you immediately someone read it or replied.
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POST IN A GROUP !
To post to a group yourself, mention the " @ plants @gup.pe " address (without spaces) in your post. If you start typing @plants now it will attempt to autocomplete for you so just select the a.gup.pe address from that and you don't have to type out the full address!

Just remember for posting just the group name is needed... use @group and autocomplete will do the rest in your compose box and you can choose the appropriate.

If you delete-redraft post don't worry it will only show once - I re-draft my posts a lot so I know !

Hope this info is worth it to you!

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TESTING / NOT SURE?
If you want to test some messages, feel free to use the Freeschool group by mentioning @ FreeSchool @ a.gup.pe (without the spaces)
or
use search "@freeschool" and select the a.gup.pe group from there.

OTHER NOTES / DETAILS / READING
- Newest website is a.gup.pe
(notice the "a." prefix - Old website was gup.pe which changed earlier in 2022, around April)

- a.gup.pe is the server that is used as a middle between Mastodon without needing separate accounts but rather creates accounts itself on-the-fly / as you ask or search for it!

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THANKS & CREDITS

-Thanks FediTips @feditips for initial tip about this - Hope you liked my tutorial :)

- Thanks Will datatitian@social.coop for initially creating guppe groups

Github Info + Description:

https://github.com/wmurphyrd/guppe

"Decentralized social groups with ActivityPub, NodeJS, Express, and Mongodb"

another description:

Guppe is an ActivityPub server that automatically generates group actors and provides distribution functions.

Searching for and following any account in the gup.pe domain, such as in Mastodon, will create a new group which you can then follow.
https://a.gup.pe/

IS THERE A GROUP TALKING ABOUT GUPPE ITSELF?

- A group talking about a.gup.pe itself is at link below. Use if you want to follow / get updates / chat about a.gup.pe itself:
@guppegroups
(or search @guppegroups)

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FAQ / INTERESTING QUESTIONS
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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HASHTAG AND GUPPE GROUP?

@GuppeGroups helps actively grow your network of people around topics of interest. So if two unconnected people both participate in same group, it will cause them to become connected and see each other.
Hashtag doesn't have this unless you happen to post at same time and look yourself at hashtag page more aggressively / manually etc.
The Guppe group way *let's you* know and choose to follow it more actively listening.

Hashtags are more a way of organizing toots and checking when you want (not sure if a tool exists or worth it for high-traffic hashtags)

POSTING TO GROUP VIA PUBLIC OR UNLISTED POST?

"Public" in your post setting (when writing any post) will get it seen asap.

"Unlisted" level of post means everyone in the group will still get it, but it won't appear in local or global timelines, just when someone is looking in the group specifically.

RECOMMEND ANY GROUPS / ANY OTHER EXAMPLES?
@ retrocomputing @ gup.pe is the OLD group without a. in server (still can see the posts

so use newest
@ retrocomputing @ a.gup.pe

#retrocomputing is also great

NOTE!
Searching "@ groupname" is good / works best but also creates the group if not already existing!

NEED HELP? LET ME KNOW AS USUAL FROM THE FREESCHOOL / FREEDOM LOVER.

#Fediverse #ActivityPub #Mastodon #Pleroma, #GNU Social, #Mastodon, #Friendica, #Hubzilla, #Diaspora, #PixelFed,
#PeerTube, #Funkwhale, #Mobilizon
#fediverseInfo #fedi #aguppe