diff --git a/content/en/usage/basics.md b/content/en/usage/basics.md index f41a704..d925bd9 100644 --- a/content/en/usage/basics.md +++ b/content/en/usage/basics.md @@ -6,8 +6,62 @@ menu: weight: 1 --- ## Sign up + +You have to choose a server to sign up on, like you would choose an e-mail provider, or a World of Warcraft realm for your new character. The server will be hosting your account and your home feed. + +You can [browse a list of servers by categories and languages on joinmastodon.org](https://joinmastodon.org/#getting-started). + ## Edit profile ### Picture, name and bio + +- You can upload a profile picture +- You can upload a header image for your profile +- You can set a display name different to your username +- You can write about yourself in the bio +- You can mention people and use hashtags and custom emoji in your bio + ### Profile metadata + +Profile metadata is a way to add extra information to your profile that is easy to skim. You have 4 rows where you can define the label and the value. For example: + +|Label|Content| +|-----|-------| +|Age|25| +|Country|Germany| +|Pronouns|he/him| + +It's completely up to you what you put there. The content can contain mentions, hashtags, custom emojis and links. + ### Link verification + +If you put a link in your profile metadata, Mastodon checks if the linked page links back to your Mastodon profile. If so, you get a verification checkmark next to that link, since you are confirmed as the owner. + +Behind the scenes, Mastodon checks for the `rel="me"` attribute on the link back. Likewise, Mastodon puts `rel="me"` on the links within profile metadata. + ## Posting +### Text + +- You can use up to 500 characters +- You can mention other people like `@alice` or `@alice@example.com` +- When mentioning other people, the domain part of their username is not counted +- If you post links, they must begin with `http://` or `https://` +- When posting links, all links are counted as 23 characters, no matter how long +- You can use hashtags like `#example` so others can find your post by that tag +- You can add a content warning to your post +- The content warning is plain text. It does not support mentions, hashtags or links + +### Media + +- You can upload PNG and JPG images +- Uploaded GIFs are converted to soundless MP4s like on Imgur/Gfycat (GIFV) +- You can also directly upload soundless MP4s and WebMs (GIFV) +- You can upload videos in the MP4, WebM or MOV format +- Upload limit for images is 8 MB +- Upload limit for videos is 40 MB +- Images with a surface area larger than 1280² pixels are downsized +- All media in a post can be hidden behind a spoiler + +### Custom emoji + +- Each server offers a set of custom emoji you can use, like on Discord +- You can use an emoji using its shortcode like `:thounking:`