Diaspora* is a decentralized social network that allows users to connect with each other while retaining full control over their data. In this tutorial, you will learn how to install Diaspora* on Void Linux.
Before proceeding with this tutorial, you should have the following:
It's always a good practice to update your system before installing any new software. To do this, run the following command:
sudo xbps-install -Syu
This will update your package manager and upgrade your system.
Before installing Diaspora*, we need to install the required dependencies. Run the following command to install them:
sudo xbps-install -S postgresql nginx nodejs yarn libyaml libxml2 libxslt
This will install the PostgreSQL database, Nginx web server, Node.js, yarn package manager, and the required libraries.
To download and install Diaspora*, first, create a system user named diaspora:
sudo useradd -r diaspora
Now switch to the diaspora user:
sudo su - diaspora
Download the latest Diaspora* source code using the following command:
git clone https://github.com/diaspora/diaspora.git
```
The command above will create a new directory named diaspora in your home directory.
Switch to the diaspora directory:
```
cd diaspora
```
Install the dependencies required for Diaspora* using Yarn:
```
yarn install --production --pure-lockfile
```
Once the installation is complete, you can now run Diaspora* using the following command:
```
RAILS_ENV=production bin/bundle exec rails server
```
## Step 4: Configure Nginx
To access your Diaspora* instance over HTTP, you need to configure Nginx as a reverse proxy.
Create a new Nginx server block and add the following configuration:
```
sudo nano /etc/nginx/conf.d/diaspora.conf
# Paste the configuration below inside the file
server {
listen 80;
server_name _;
location / {
proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:3000;
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
}
}
```
Save and exit the file.
Restart Nginx for the changes to take effect:
```
sudo service nginx restart
```
## Step 5: Access Diaspora* from your web browser
Now that Diaspora* is installed and configured, you can access it from your web browser by going to http://your-server-ip.
You can now create an account, connect with people and start sharing posts!
## Conclusion
Diaspora* is a great open-source social network solution that will give you complete control over your data. By following this tutorial, you should now have a server up and running with Diaspora* installed.
Keep in mind that Diaspora* is a complex application, so it's important to always keep your system up-to-date and secure.
If you want to self-host in an easy, hands free way, need an external IP address, or simply want your data in your own hands, give [IPv6.rs](https://ipv6.rs) a try!
Alternatively, for the best virtual desktop, try <a href='https://www.shells.com/?_a=1Viyms'>Shells</a>!
