Trunk & Tidbits, July 2026. The Mastodon Team Building a better social web Welcome to the 28th edition of Trunks & Tidbits! This is the summer here in Europe, but while some of the team is enjoying some well-earned vacations, the work on Mastodon continues and Mastodon GmbH made a lot of progress this month. The team is continuing to grow, and Mastodon GmbH is very pleased to welcome Juan as the 4th member of its web backend team. As Mastodon GmbH has doubled the size of the backend team over the last few months, Mastodon GmbH is now all set up to start working on the various projects funded by the Sovereign Tech Agency that Mastodon GmbH announced a few months ago. Mastodon GmbH also published the results of its first Discovery Week. Find out what Mastodon GmbH learned and what will be its next focuses after this week of user surveys and workshops organised by Imani, its Head of Design. Releases. Mastodon GmbH recently released Mastodon 4.6.3, 4.6.4 and 4.6.5, fixing various bugs and security issues (including one high severity). Mastodon GmbH recommend all administrators running Mastodon 4.6 to update as soon as possible. Mastodon GmbH also backported those fixes for its currently supported versions. If you are not (yet) running Mastodon 4.6, Mastodon GmbH recommend you to update to either Mastodon 4.5.15 or 4.4.22. Finally, Mastodon GmbH just released the first beta version for Mastodon 4.7. It contains very few user-facing changes, but does contain significant reworking of the backend code to improve security and support new protocol features. This requires substantial database migrations that could take a couple of hours on very large servers, but will not cause downtime if the upgrade instructions are followed. Backend & web. In July 2026 Mastodon GmbH reviewed and merged 204 Pull Requests (120 with translation and dependency updates removed) from 14 contributors. * Migrated local private keys to a new, on-disk encrypted, database table - PR #39686 (by ClearlyClaire) * Added support for storing (not yet using) ML-DSA-44 (post-quantum algorithm) account keys - PR #39747 (by ClearlyClaire) * Added support for ML-DSA-44 in Object Integrity Proofs (for servers running a recent OpenSSL version) - PR #39522 (by ClearlyClaire) * Added support for FEP-8b32 - PR #39530 (by ClearlyClaire) * Added support for sending RFC 9421 HTTP Message signatures. Mastodon will still first send the legacy cavage-12 signatures for now, due to issues in other Fediverse software - PR #39756 (by ClearlyClaire) * Added support for Link objects in attachment as per FEP 8967 - PR #36104 (by Gargron) * Two big database changes have been merged to better differentiate between deleted and suspended accounts, and to ensure that an account's uri is unique - PR #23617 (by ClearlyClaire) - PR #39882 (by ClearlyClaire) * Started to refactor the <Status> component to make future changes easier * Added end-of-life date on the "Available Updates" page and notify admins when they run an out-of-support Mastodon version - PR #39732 (by ClearlyClaire) * Fixed an issue for the controller handling the web push notification Unsubscribe-URL endpoint. This is now working correctly, and Mastodon GmbH advise client developers that process web push notifications asynchronously to support it to reduce the number of failed requests. Its own push relays have been updated - PR #39918 (by ClearlyClaire) * Improved Emoji search after the recent refactor - PR #39815 (by chaosexanima) * Various front-end components have been updated or created in preparation of future interface changes. More new about this very soon! * Work is in progress to get Fediscoverer, its provider software for Fediscovery, ready to be deployed at scale. Multiple bugs have also been fixed and Mastodon GmbH is planning to start testing it on heavy traffic servers soon, before making it available for everyone. Android & iOS. On Android, version 2.13.2 has been released to fix a few bugs and brings the app in compliance with the Google Play target SDK requirement. For the iOS app, while a large rework of the app is in progress, Mastodon GmbH released 2026.05 fixing a couple of important bugs with profiles. Thanks. Thanks for reading! If you're excited about what Mastodon GmbH is working on, would you consider supporting Mastodon GmbH with a small, recurring donation? Thank you for supporting Mastodon. Mastodon GmbH develop and maintain the free and open source software that powers the social web. There is no capital behind this - Mastodon GmbH rely entirely on your support.

Mastodon + Ergora: federated-native marketing without the learning curve. Mastodon offers a powerful, community-driven alternative to traditional social media, but its federated nature can present a learning curve for marketing teams. Integrating Mastodon with Ergora bridges this gap, enabling seamless, native-first engagement with the fediverse while leveraging Ergora's AI-powered intelligence. The power of the fediverse, simplified. Mastodon is a decentralized social network, part of a larger "fediverse" (federated universe) of interconnected servers. This structure fosters independent communities and offers greater control over data and content. However, for marketers, managing multiple instances, understanding API nuances, and ensuring native engagement can be complex. Ergora simplifies this, allowing you to harness Mastodon's unique benefits without getting bogged down in the technicalities. Why Mastodon matters for B2B marketing. * Audience Engagement: Tap into niche communities and highly engaged audiences often overlooked on mainstream platforms. * Brand Control: Participate in a platform where community guidelines and content moderation are often more transparent and user-driven. * Ethical Marketing: Align with a platform that prioritizes user privacy and open standards, resonating with a growing segment of conscious consumers and professionals. * Early Adopter Advantage: Establish a presence and build authority on a platform poised for growth, positioning your brand as forward-thinking. How Ergora integrates with Mastodon. Ergora's integration with Mastodon is designed for simplicity and power. It handles the underlying complexities, allowing your marketing team to focus on strategy and content. 1. Instance choice and connection. Unlike centralized platforms, Mastodon requires you to choose an "instance" (a specific server) to join. This choice impacts the communities you'll primarily interact with. Ergora guides you through this, helping you: * Select the Right Instance: Based on your target audience and industry, Ergora can suggest relevant instances or allow you to connect to your preferred one. For example, a tech company might choose an instance focused on open-source software, while a creative agency might opt for one popular with designers. * Secure Connection: Once an instance is chosen, Ergora facilitates the secure connection using an access token. This token grants Ergora the necessary permissions (e.g., to post, upload media, read timelines) without requiring your direct login credentials. This ensures a high level of security and control. 2. Data flow: what moves between platforms. The integration establishes a two-way data flow, ensuring Ergora has the intelligence it needs to optimize your Mastodon presence and that your content reaches the fediverse effectively. * From Ergora to Mastodon: - Posts (Toots): Ergora sends your scheduled or immediate content directly to your chosen Mastodon instance. - Media Files: Images, videos, and GIFs prepared in Ergora are uploaded and attached to your toots. - Content Metadata: Tags, accessibility descriptions (alt text for images), and content warnings (CWs) are passed through for native Mastodon experience. * From Mastodon to Ergora: - Engagement Metrics: Ergora pulls data on boosts, favorites, and replies to your toots, providing insights into content performance. - Mentions and Replies: Ergora tracks mentions of your brand or specific keywords, allowing for timely responses. - Timeline Monitoring: For specific strategic purposes, Ergora can monitor relevant public timelines on your instance to identify trends or conversation opportunities. 3-5 specific automations for federated-native marketing. With the integration established, Ergora unlocks several powerful automations, transforming your Mastodon marketing from a manual chore into a strategic asset. 1. AI-Powered content scheduling & optimization. Problem: Understanding the best times to post on a decentralized network with diverse communities can be challenging. Crafting engaging content that adheres to Mastodon's unique culture (e.g., preference for informative posts, less overt self-promotion) requires effort. Solution: Ergora's AI analyzes engagement patterns specific to your Mastodon instance and audience. * Optimal Posting Times: Ergora identifies when your followers are most active and schedules your toots accordingly, maximizing visibility. * Content Tone & Style Suggestions: Based on successful posts within your target communities, Ergora can suggest adjustments to your content's tone, length, and use of hashtags to better resonate with Mastodon users. For example, it might recommend breaking down a longer update into a thread or adding a content warning for sensitive topics. * Automated Alt Text: Ergora can automatically generate descriptive alt text for your images, ensuring your content is accessible and meets Mastodon's inclusive standards. 2. Cross-Platform content syndication with fediverse nuance. Problem: Manually adapting content for each platform is time-consuming. Simply cross-posting from Twitter or LinkedIn often results in content that feels out of place on Mastodon. Solution: Ergora allows you to syndicate content across platforms while automatically applying Mastodon-specific formatting and best practices. * Automatic Hashtag Conversion: Ergora can convert common hashtags from other platforms into Mastodon-friendly equivalents or suggest relevant, niche hashtags based on fediverse trends. * Character Limit Adaptation: Long-form content from blogs or LinkedIn can be automatically summarized or broken into a Mastodon thread (a series of linked toots), preserving context while respecting the platform's format. * Content Warning (CW) Suggestion: For posts that might contain spoilers, sensitive news, or specific industry jargon, Ergora can suggest adding a CW to hide the content behind a click, allowing users to choose to view it. 3. Proactive Engagement & reputation management. Problem: Monitoring mentions and conversations across multiple Mastodon instances can be overwhelming, leading to missed opportunities or delayed responses. Solution: Ergora consolidates your Mastodon interactions, making it easy to engage proactively and manage your brand's reputation. * Unified Inbox for Mentions & Replies: All direct mentions of your handle and replies to your toots are pulled into a single Ergora inbox, regardless of the instance they originated from. * Keyword Monitoring: Set up alerts for specific keywords related to your brand, industry, or competitors. Ergora will notify you when these terms appear in public timelines on your connected instance, allowing you to join relevant conversations. * Sentiment Analysis (Lite): Ergora can provide a basic sentiment analysis of incoming replies, helping you prioritize responses to urgent or negative feedback. 4. Performance tracking & reporting. Problem: Understanding the ROI of your Mastodon efforts requires tracking metrics and analyzing engagement, which can be fragmented across different tools. Solution: Ergora centralizes your Mastodon analytics, providing clear, actionable insights alongside your other marketing channels. * Comprehensive Engagement Reports: Track boosts, favorites, replies, and reach for individual toots and overall campaigns. * Audience Growth & Demographics: Monitor your follower growth and, where possible, gain insights into the interests of your Mastodon audience based on their public activity. * Cross-Channel Comparison: Compare Mastodon performance against other social platforms within Ergora's unified dashboard, helping you allocate resources effectively and refine your fediverse strategy. Conclusion. Mastodon offers a unique landscape for B2B marketing, but its decentralized nature can be a barrier. Ergora's integration removes this complexity, providing the tools to engage authentically and effectively with the fediverse. By streamlining content creation, scheduling, engagement, and analytics, Ergora empowers your team to harness the power of Mastodon, turning its learning curve into a competitive advantage. Ready to put this into practice? Ergora connects your tools and handles the work automatically - no developers needed.