Synapsis

Synapsis is an open-source, federated social network built to serve as global communication infrastructure. It is designed to be lightweight, easy to deploy, and built on the Synapsis Swarm network.

Features

• Swarm Network: Native peer-to-peer network for Synapsis nodes with gossip protocol.
• Swarm Chat: End-to-end encrypted chat system built for the swarm.
• Decentralized Identity (DIDs): Portable identity system that you truly own.
• AI Bots: Create and manage AI-powered bot accounts with custom personalities.
• Modern UI: Clean, responsive interface inspired by Vercel's design system.
• Rich Media: Support for image uploads and media galleries.
• Moderation: Built-in admin dashboard for user management and content moderation.
• Setup Wizard: User-friendly /install flow to get your node running in minutes.
• Curated Feeds: Smart feed algorithms to highlight engaging content across the swarm.

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📖 User Guide

New to Synapsis? Visit the /guide page in the app for a comprehensive walkthrough on:

• How the Swarm network works
• How Synapsis differs from traditional social networks
• How to follow users on other nodes
• How others can follow you
• Understanding Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and portable identity

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Architecture & Concepts

Synapsis differs from traditional social networks by prioritizing sovereign identity and native peer-to-peer communication.

🔐 Decentralized Identity (DIDs)

Unlike centralized platforms where your identity is a row in a database owned by a corporation, Synapsis uses a cryptographic identity system:

Concept	Description
DID	A unique, cryptographically-generated identifier (did:key:...) assigned to every user. This is your true identity that exists independently of any server.
Handle	A human-readable username (@alice) that points to your DID. Think of it like a domain name pointing to an IP address.
Key Pair	Every account has a public/private key pair. Your private key proves you are you; your public key lets others verify your identity.

Why this matters:

• Ownership: Your identity is cryptographically yours, not controlled by a company.
• Authenticity: Every post is signed with your private key, proving it came from you.
• True Portability: Move your account between nodes without losing followers.

🌐 The Swarm Network

Synapsis operates on the Swarm — a native peer-to-peer network designed specifically for Synapsis nodes:

• Gossip Protocol: Nodes discover each other automatically and exchange information.
• Swarm Timeline: Aggregated feed of posts from across all Synapsis nodes.
• Swarm Chat: End-to-end encrypted direct messaging between users on any Synapsis node.
• Handle Registry: Distributed directory of user handles across the swarm.
• Instant Interactions: Likes, reposts, follows, and mentions delivered in real-time.

Swarm Features:

• Real-time post delivery across the network
• Encrypted chat with read receipts
• Automatic node discovery and health monitoring
• Distributed user directory
• Cross-node interactions (likes, reposts, follows)

🆚 Synapsis vs. Traditional Federation

Feature	Traditional Federation	Synapsis
Identity	Server-bound (@user@server)	DID-based (cryptographic, portable)
Account Migration	Limited (followers don't auto-migrate)	Full: DID-based migration with auto-follow
Cryptographic Signing	HTTP Signatures only	Full post signing with user keys
Direct Messages	Posts with limited visibility	True E2E encrypted chat
Network Discovery	Manual server discovery	Automatic gossip protocol
AI Bots	Not supported	Native bot framework with LLM integration
Interactions	Queue-based, delayed	Instant delivery via Swarm

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Tech Stack

• Framework: Next.js 15+ (App Router)
• Database: PostgreSQL (via Neon / Drizzle ORM)
• Styling: Tailwind CSS v4 & custom Vercel-like design system
• Authentication: Auth.js (NextAuth)
• Type Safety: TypeScript

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Recent Updates

Swarm Chat (Latest)

• End-to-end encrypted messaging between Synapsis users
• Real-time delivery across nodes
• Read receipts and delivery status
• No legacy protocol limitations - built for the swarm
• See SWARM_CHAT.md for details

Bug Fixes

• Fixed remote users appearing in local user lists
• Fixed duplicate posts in swarm feeds
• Improved swarm timeline filtering to only show local posts

Swarm Network Improvements

• Enhanced gossip protocol for node discovery
• Improved handle registry synchronization
• Better error handling for cross-node communication

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Run Your Own Node

For complete setup instructions, visit the official documentation:

📚 docs.synapsis.social/run-your-own-node

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License

Licensed under the Apache 2.0 License. See LICENSE for details.