A deep dive into Mastodon
Setting Up Ruby
Mastodon is written in Ruby, and in the next steps, you will create a mastodon user and install the tools to build and set up a Ruby environment. In this environment, you will install and run Mastodon.
Make sure you create the user without password access, so you can only access it via root:
adduser --disabled-login mastodon
Log into the new mastodon user:
su - mastodon
Install the tools to set up the Ruby environment (Listing 2).
Listing 2
Tools for Ruby Environment
git clone https://github.com/rbenv/rbenv.git ~/.rbenv cd ~/.rbenv && src/configure && make -C src echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.rbenv/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc echo 'eval "$(rbenv init -)"' >> ~/.bashrc exec bash git clone https://github.com/rbenv/ruby-build.git ~/.rbenv/plugins/ruby-build
Finally, install the correct version of Ruby:
RUBY_CONFIGURE_OPTS=--with-jemalloc rbenv install 3.0.4 rbenv global 3.0.4
You will also need to install Bundler, a package manager for Ruby gems:
gem install bundler --no-document
Configuring PostgreSQL
Exit the mastodon user to go back to root and configure your database manager. Tweak the file located at /etc/postgresql/VERSION NUMBER/main/postgresql.conf
to best adapt it to your hardware. Then restart the server with:
systemctl restart postgresql
Next you need to create a database user for your instance, so log into PostgreSQL:
sudo -u postgres psql
And run the following at the psql
prompt:
CREATE USER mastodon CREATEDB;
This creates both a mastodon user and a mastodon database associated with the user.
To exit psql
type \q
and press Enter.
Setting Up Mastodon
To download and install the actual Mastodon code, you again switch to the mastodon user:
su - mastodon
and clone and check out the latest version of the Mastodon server code (Listing 3).
Listing 3
Getting the Mastodon Code
git clone https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon.git live && cd live git checkout $(git tag -l | grep -v 'rc[0-9]*$' | sort -V | tail -n 1)
Install some more dependencies for Ruby and JavaScript (Listing 4).
Listing 4
Ruby and JS Dependencies
bundle config deployment 'true' bundle config without 'development test' bundle install -j$(getconf _NPROCESSORS_ONLN) yarn install --pure-lockfile
And you can now run Mastodon's built-in configuration wizard:
RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rake mastodon:setup
The configuration wizard will ask you whether you want to run your instance for only one person (supposedly you) or if you will be accepting other users. It will also ask you to provide details about an email address for the maintainers. With this information, the wizard will set up an admin user and give you a one-time, randomly generated password so you can log in.
Note that all the info created by the wizard is stored in a hidden file called .env.production
in the top Mastodon directory. You can change any of the values by editing that file.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.