LemmyNet
Implement remote follow
This has been requested a lot recently. Basically remote follow allows you to interact directly with content while browsing another instance where you dont have an account. For example, I am browsing nrsk.no but my account is on lemmy.ml. Currently, if i click on the subscribe button, it shows an error about not being logged in.
Instead it could show a form like below, which redirects to my instance (lemmy.ml), lets me login, and then shows a confirmation form for subscribing to the community. This workflow is supported by multiple different fediverse platforms, including Peertube and Mastodon.
Here is a discussion about how it works: https://socialhub.activitypub.rocks/t/what-is-the-current-spec-for-remote-follow/2020
I think it would be better if it just did the steps to let you comment from your own instance - rather then having to copy the nrsk.no url and paste it into the servch on Lemmy.ml and then subscribe - just do those steps for you seamlessly.
That way you are making it easier to keep the traffic inside the Lemmy family and would help communities spread across instances.
To put it another way, if I am an existing Lemmy user - I want it as easy as possible to comment/vote using my existing Lemmy account - not to be pushed to some other system.
If I am not an existing Lemmy user - but am a user on multiple different fediverse platforms, including Peertube and Mastodon - then your suggestion makes sense. (Not sure how we know if they are)
If I am not a Fediverse user (Lemmy or others) we probably want to take them to the sign up page on the instance they are currently visiting.
What makes this difficult are that there are other actions besides commenting: there's subscribing, voting, creating new posts, etc. Basically any action that could give a "not logged in" error should maybe bring up a dialog to either:
- Log in
- Sign up here
- Show content on my instance
The 3rd option could then cache either the post or comment on your instance, and show you the page from your instance.
@dessalines This issue is only about remote follow, i dont think something like that exists for other functionality like voting or commenting. And based on the socialhub thread above, it would be a lot of effort to implement this for multiple types of actions. So lets keep it simple for now.