Intro to AT Protocol & Bluesky 🦋

Explore how the AT Protocol powers your social experience on Bluesky

Bluesky is an application built on the AT Protocol, a decentralized social networking technology

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How does this work?

1

Your Identity (DID & Handle)

Your core identity on AT Protocol is a permanent DID (e.g., did:plc:...). You use a memorable handle (like @you.bsky.social) to make it easy for others to find you. Think of the DID as your fundamental ability to 'do social media', independent of any single app.

2

Your Data Repository (PDS)

Your posts, likes, follows, etc., are stored in your Personal Data Server (PDS), like a digital backpack you own. Bluesky Social currently hosts a PDS for you by default, but the AT Protocol is designed so you could potentially move this data to a different PDS host without losing your identity or connections.

3

The Network & Your Feed

AT Protocol allows PDSs to connect (federation), so you can follow and interact with anyone, no matter which PDS hosts their data. When you open an app like Bluesky, it typically uses an Indexing Service (like Bluesky's AppView) that gathers data from many PDSs to quickly build your personalized feed.

The Email Analogy

  • AT Protocol is like the email protocols (SMTP, IMAP) – the technical rules that allow different systems to talk
  • Your DID is like your permanent identity capability, independent of any provider
  • Your PDS is like your mailbox storage, hosted by a specific provider (or you!)
  • Bluesky (the app) is like Gmail – one specific provider and client that uses the protocols
  • Your Handle is somewhat like your email address, but more flexible since it can be changed while keeping the same DID