LittleBit's Fediverse Handler

This tool will allow you to type "fedi:/@username@domain" into your browser's address bar to open a social media profile.

This was originally intended to work with Fediverse profiles, like @[email protected], but through testing it also works with other platforms.

Examples of handles

You can open any profile that would fit into the handle format of @[email protected], such as Mastodon, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, Meta Threads, and many others.

Some examples of handles (for my profiles): @[email protected], @[email protected], @[email protected], @[email protected].

How to install

Installing the script is quite simple.

Modify the .reg file

There is a Windows Registry file called FediverseOpener.reg in the repository. The file should look like this:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\fedi]
@="URL:LittleBit Fediverse Handler"
"URL Protocol"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\fedi\shell]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\fedi\shell\open]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\fedi\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\Users\\<YOUR USERNAME>\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Python\\Python310\\python.exe\" \"C:\\Users\\<YOUR USERNAME>\\.littlebitstudios\\FediNameOpener.py\" \"%1\""

; Replace <YOUR USERNAME> with your username.
; Your username is usually the first 5 letters of your email address if you set up the PC using a Microsoft Account.

Open this file in VS Code or Notepad and replace the spots that say <YOUR USERNAME> with your Windows user folder name. If you set up a PC using a Microsoft Account, this is usually the first 5 letters of your email address. All of the user folders on your system should be in C:\Users\.

Install Python

This tool is a Python script. You will need to install Python.

On most modern versions of Windows, you can install Python with winget:

winget install python

Depending on the version of Python, you may need to modify the .reg file with the correct directory for the Python interpreter.

Move the Python file

Create a folder in your user folder called .littlebitstudios. You may need to enable hidden files in Windows File Explorer. Move FediNameOpener.py to this folder.

Commit the registry entries

WARNING: Make sure you edited the .reg file in the first step! Committing bad registry entries may cause problems for your PC!

Double-click FediverseOpener.reg in File Explorer and accept the UAC prompt. Accept the prompt from Registry Editor to commit the registry entries to your system.

Usage

Open a web browser and type fedi:/@username@domain into the address bar. A message asking you if it's OK to open Python may appear. Try it with one of your own profiles! I tested it to work with Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Meta Threads, and Mastodon.

Licensing

As with most of my software, this is open-source software licensed with the MIT License.