Microblog.pub vs Shuttlecraft
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted blogging platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Microblog.pub | Shuttlecraft |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 9 · At risk |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Python | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,161 | ★ 271 |
| First released | 2018 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Tumblr | Twitter, Mastodon |
What are Microblog.pub and Shuttlecraft?
Microblog.pub
Microblog.pub is a self-hosted, single-user ActivityPub server for microblogging. It lets one person run their own federated microblog that interacts with Mastodon and the wider fediverse.
- Single-user ActivityPub server
- Federates with Mastodon
- Lightweight footprint
- Markdown posts
Shuttlecraft
Shuttlecraft is a single-user, self-hosted microblogging server that follows IndieWeb principles and federates over ActivityPub. It lets one person publish notes and posts that can be followed from the fediverse.
- Single-user microblog
- ActivityPub federation
- IndieWeb support
- Lightweight design
Microblog.pub vs Shuttlecraft: key differences
Microblog.pub is written in Python, while Shuttlecraft is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Microblog.pub versus MIT for Shuttlecraft. Microblog.pub is the more established project (first released 2018), while Shuttlecraft arrived in 2023. Microblog.pub has the considerably larger community, at 1,161 GitHub stars versus 271.
Why pick each one
Choose Microblog.pub if…
- Own your microblog identity
- Lightweight to run
Watch out for
- Single-user only
- Requires fediverse familiarity
Choose Shuttlecraft if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in JavaScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Watch out for
- One user only
- Manual setup
Frequently asked questions
Is Microblog.pub or Shuttlecraft better?
Neither is universally better. Microblog.pub has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Microblog.pub and Shuttlecraft free and open-source?
Yes. Microblog.pub is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Shuttlecraft under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Microblog.pub and Shuttlecraft with Docker?
Microblog.pub: yes. Shuttlecraft: yes.