When a lemmy instance federates, does it connect to one big lemmy network, or can there be multiple disconnected, yet locally federated instances? What I’d like to know is, can I simply join any Lemmy server and choose “All” to view everything Lemmy has to offer, or is there still hidden content?
I understand that some servers are unfederated. I guess I’m curious about the reach of the “All” mode.
Your instance connects directly to other instances. All of the lemmy instances doing that with each other is the lemmy network.
Each instance can connect with any other instance unless blocked, but will not do so until someone on your instance follows a community on the remote instance.
In short, there is no way to see everything, and there is no one true view
I thought viewing on the browser without logging in may show everything? Is that not true?
It may show everything that the instance itself knows about.
The “true view” they’re saying is like if there’s an instance that federates with every single other instance but that’s highly improbable
More impossible than improbable. An instance that willingly federates with every other instance would be blocked in a heart beat by many other instance admins, because if they’re fine federating with CSAM, nazis and the like, then they’re not going to be welcome.
You’ll only see what the instance you’re viewing has federated with (as well as it’s own, obvs)
I think what many find confusing is that there is no master lemmy server to facilitate instances finding each other. I know they use the Activitypub protocol, but I dont know what it does.
I also dont understand how torrent clients find each other.