How to Install Mastodon on NetBSD

Mastodon is an open-source social media platform that lets you create your own social network. It allows users to post short messages, pictures, and videos called "toots." Although Mastodon is relatively easy to install, it is a complex platform that requires some level of technical expertise to set up.

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of installing Mastodon on NetBSD.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

  • A server running NetBSD.
  • A domain name pointing to the server's IP address.
  • A user account with root privileges.

Step 1: Install the Required Dependencies

Before installing Mastodon, you need to install some dependencies. Run the following commands to install the required packages:

$ su
# pkg_add postfix modern-ruby
# pkgin install postgresql13-server redis

Step 2: Create a New PostgreSQL User and Database

Next, you need to create a new PostgreSQL user and database for Mastodon. Run the following commands:

# su - postgres
$ createuser mastodon -P --interactive
$ createdb --owner=mastodon mastodon_production
$ exit

Step 3: Install Mastodon

First, you need to clone the Mastodon Git repository:

$ cd /opt
$ git clone https://github.com/tootsuite/mastodon.git live
$ cd live

Next, install the required Ruby Gems:

$ gem install bundler
$ bundle install --deployment --without development test

Finally, generate a configuration file:

$ RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rails mastodon:setup

Step 4: Configure Mastodon

Open the configuration file ~/live/.env.production with your favorite text editor and make the following changes:

  1. Set the LOCAL_DOMAIN variable to your domain name.
  2. Set the SMTP_* variables to your email server settings.

Save and close the file.

Step 5: Start the Mastodon Services

Start the required Mastodon services by running the following commands:

$ systemctl start postgresql13
$ systemctl start redis
$ su mastodon
$ cd /opt/live
$ RAILS_ENV=production bin/tootctl media remove
$ RAILS_ENV=production bin/tootctl db:migrate
$ RAILS_ENV=production DISABLE_ESLINT=1 bin/rails assets:precompile
$ exit
$ su
$ systemctl start postfix
$ cd /opt/live
$ RAILS_ENV=production bin/tootctl start

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you have learned how to install Mastodon on NetBSD. Although the installation process may seem daunting, it is worth the effort to create your own decentralized social network.