MicroFed

Zero-dependency ActivityPub library. Pure JavaScript for embedded and edge deployments.

Overview

MicroFed is a minimal ActivityPub implementation designed for environments where size and dependencies matter. No external packages — just pure JavaScript that runs anywhere.

Philosophy

Traditional Libraries	MicroFed
Many dependencies	Zero dependencies
Full-featured	Essential features only
Server-focused	Runs anywhere (browser, edge, embedded)
Complex setup	Drop-in ready

Key Features

Zero Dependencies

No npm packages to install, audit, or update. The entire library is self-contained.

Universal Runtime

Works in:

• Node.js
• Deno
• Browsers
• Cloudflare Workers
• Edge functions
• Embedded devices

Core ActivityPub Support

Implements the essential ActivityPub operations:

• Actor creation and management
• Activity serialization/deserialization
• Inbox/Outbox handling
• HTTP Signatures (signing and verification)
• WebFinger discovery

Small Footprint

Minimal code size for constrained environments.

Quick Start

import { Actor, Activity, sign } from 'microfed';

// Create an actor
const actor = new Actor({
  id: 'https://example.com/users/alice',
  type: 'Person',
  preferredUsername: 'alice',
  inbox: 'https://example.com/users/alice/inbox',
  outbox: 'https://example.com/users/alice/outbox'
});

// Create an activity
const note = Activity.create({
  type: 'Create',
  actor: actor.id,
  object: {
    type: 'Note',
    content: 'Hello from MicroFed!'
  }
});

// Sign for federation
const signed = await sign(note, privateKey);

Use Cases

Edge Functions

Deploy ActivityPub endpoints on Cloudflare Workers, Vercel Edge, or Deno Deploy without cold start penalties from large dependency trees.

Browser-Based Clients

Build ActivityPub clients that run entirely in the browser.

IoT and Embedded

Run federated services on resource-constrained devices.

Serverless

Minimal bundle size means faster cold starts and lower costs.

Learning

Understand ActivityPub by reading a simple, self-contained implementation.

Comparison with FedBox

Aspect	MicroFed	FedBox
Language	JavaScript	Go
Dependencies	Zero	Go modules
Storage	Bring your own	Built-in (Bolt, SQLite, etc.)
Scope	Library	Full server
Best for	Embedding	Standalone server

Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│          Your Application           │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│             MicroFed                │
│  ┌─────────┬──────────┬──────────┐  │
│  │  Actor  │ Activity │  Crypto  │  │
│  │ Manager │ Handler  │  (sigs)  │  │
│  └─────────┴──────────┴──────────┘  │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│        Your Storage Layer           │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

MicroFed handles the protocol — you provide the storage and HTTP layer.

Links

• Website: microfed.org
• npm: Coming soon
• GitHub: In development

See Also

• ActivityPub Protocol — The specification
• FedBox — Full Go server
• Ditto — Nostr + ActivityPub server
• Federation — The concept