# Instance features

On top of the regular [Mastodon features](https://joinmastodon.org/) like per-post visibility, content warnings and real time feed, Mementomori.social has the following features.

### Mastodon Bird UI

Mastodon Bird UI is something I've been designing since March, 2023. It's a new kind of modern Mastodon UI, inspired by Twitter UI in its good era. Yes, I know, the word bird and Twitter may be a turn-off for some, but I actually like what Twitter made to its UI in [2021](https://twitter.com/TwitterDesign/status/1425505308563099650). The changes after that are not that good, so I took the UI in 2021 as an inspiration and created this:

<figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2F6H8bQxWRVMOWqBdXf2UM%2Fmementomori.social_home%20(4).png?alt=media&#x26;token=6714bc85-0887-46ca-a92f-e170763de019" alt="Screenshot of Mastodon Bird UI with main feed active, Forbes posting Home Run Derby Odds: Here&#x27;s How The Derby Works - And Who Has The Best Change of Winning"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The UI can be found on [GitHub](https://github.com/ronilaukkarinen/mastodon-bird-ui) and its updates can be followed under hashtags [#BirdUI](https://mementomori.social/tags/birdui) and [#MastodonBirdUI](https://mementomori.social/tags/MastodonBirdUI) on Mastodon.

{% embed url="<https://github.com/ronilaukkarinen/mastodon-bird-ui>" %}

### Multiple Site themes

On Mementomori.social you get to choose from two major themes with variations:

* Original Mastodon UI (Dark, Light and High contrast versions)
* [Mastodon Bird UI](https://github.com/ronilaukkarinen/mastodon-bird-ui#make-mastodon-bird-ui-as-optional-by-integrating-it-as-site-theme-in-settings-for-all-users) (Dark, Light, High contrast, Ultra accessible versions)

<figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2FzSZiLXF90SasNpRpFnoQ%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=9b310bc4-d8c4-49cc-b3ec-5318a6a63565" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Ultra accessible theme

On our instance we have focused to accessibility with a special touch towards users with acromatopsia, vision impairment or age vision. **Mastodon Bird UI (Ultra accessible)** theme consists of features such as

* Hashtags, links and mentions are in different colors
* Contrast is even starker than in default High contrast themes, black background with white text
* Font sizes are much larger throughout the site
* The font size is even larger on mobile
* All input boxes and modals have color to distinguish them from the background
* All colors are tested with a contrast checker and with a real person so that they have sufficient contrast ratios

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2FpTDa95V3kSrcxrvauJg7%2Fmementomori.social_home%20(12).png?alt=media&#x26;token=2c34db19-86e1-47e3-ba31-b32bd3e22a05" alt="Screenshot of an ultra accessible theme with larger font sizes, better contrast and so forth"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### Bigger link preview cards

~~Default Mastodon has small link previews for URLs. I wanted to make them big and was inspired by~~ [~~this ongoing feature request~~](https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/19984#issuecomment-1328066798). This is actually now in the Mastodon core, so our instance just follows the core card, but styles it to be more minimal.

{% embed url="<https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/commit/e97868ac3d6a72af8cb3c39d9e7fef6892c164f4>" %}

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2FOatBY6LA3FTxgM1DPjYg%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c82e5cf2-42d4-4fc0-832c-a9271f955274" alt="Bigger Twitter-like link previews in a screenshot"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### Top and bottom bar scroll out of the way

A subtle change, suggested by [ikkeT](https://mementomori.social/@ikkeT/110685294209812168). See [the post](https://mementomori.social/@rolle/110685777440679654) presenting it. See [JavaScript changes here](https://github.com/ronilaukkarinen/mastodon/blob/e633ae29cd1f5f179da8c7b6f9a3f8478bff5e03/app/javascript/mastodon/common.js#L14-L109) and [Style changes here](https://github.com/ronilaukkarinen/mastodon/blob/e633ae29cd1f5f179da8c7b6f9a3f8478bff5e03/app/javascript/styles/mastodon/basics.scss#L9-L46).

<figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2FmBYIBb4yLPmDe9ypaZv4%2Fezgif.com-video-to-gif%20(5).gif?alt=media&#x26;token=3529ce3d-444b-4c89-b7e3-4825a8dd78e0" alt="Video presenting the scrolling animation"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Allow max. 15 hashtags in the advanced interface columns

The default Mastodon Advanced interface allows 4 hashtags per column. We allow 15. There is [a closed issue](https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/15194) that is still an issue on 4.1.4.

{% embed url="<https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/commit/d8026ca6ae4352c9b2785fae269fc7e77abfa64a>" %}

<figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2FoZlr2xz0AkOpjuN4OAG1%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=416bb7f9-2d71-482d-9ddc-b56ff7cedb4e" alt="Show case of adding 6 example hashtags in the column"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Lots of custom emojis

Mementomori.social has a lot of custom emojis. You can also request your own by sending a post to [@rolle](https://mementomori.social/@rolle). Good emoji source: [Slackmojis](https://slackmojis.com/).

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2FMGhcodqXLH8GpZLfY1m8%2Fezgif.com-video-to-gif%20(1).gif?alt=media&#x26;token=29579e67-1b62-49bb-af89-1cad7f2cd31a" alt="A GIF animation video scrolling all the wonderful emojis"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### Polls with 15 options and 150 character limit per option

Default Mastodon allows max. 4 options and 50 character limit per option. I have increased them so that posting polls is not too strict.

{% embed url="<https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/commit/9f58a0d95172fe64d9b5c37576d88dd6e5aaa3f4>" %}

<figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2FFKU9DMNylKZJkGy1LHFZ%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=de364b38-446f-46ba-9b8d-435350541255" alt="Posted poll presented with more than 4 choices, compose form example with 12 choices and long answer."><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Increased character limit to 10000 characters

Mastodon's default is 500. We have 10000. Never have to think about the lenght of your posts any more.

{% embed url="<https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/commit/9a0e13db2558dacd0fecc4d66655f82d13d7784f>" %}

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2F45RZSZI0NBG1wBEvQr36%2Fezgif.com-video-to-gif%20(2).gif?alt=media&#x26;token=2581433c-34d7-41cb-9fe6-00010134e48c" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### Show full comment, boost and fav amounts in posts instead of just "1+" or nothing

The Vanilla Mastodon doesn't show these amounts and will likely never show them natively as per [this comment](https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/420#issuecomment-270891339). However as an OCD person the metrics matter so on Mementomori.social you'll see full amount of comments. (Related [issue on Mastodon](https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/6600))

Metrics show up on Explore, Bookmarks and Favourites from [31st of July, 2023](https://mementomori.social/@rolle/110807565483442187). Comment count is accurate everywhere.

{% hint style="info" %}
Please note, currently this is reversed to default due to unreliable method.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2FAvgpnRtojmK0uhvEXmhL%2Fmementomori.social_home%20(14).png?alt=media&#x26;token=6f5102c6-2099-4494-8d14-c9cf65b0168c" alt="Metrics shown on home feed"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% embed url="<https://github.com/ronilaukkarinen/mastodon/commit/aaec9c8fc3f047624bf46edeeba116f510cf8270>" %}

{% embed url="<https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/commit/70c748b65ce6b8b33227cf31b3f999a0c2ea8170>" %}

### Extended full-text post and account search

~~By default Mastodon searches only for your own posts and the ones you have answered to, if that. Search provided by~~ [~~Elasticsearch~~](https://docs.joinmastodon.org/admin/optional/elasticsearch/)~~. On Mementomori.social you can search all posts the Mastodon instance is aware of, from the users who want to be found ("Include public posts in search results" enabled on settings).~~ This is actually now in the Mastodon core, so our instance just follows the core feature.

<figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2FCf7cDhZsufI6J2tM9WEc%2Fmementomori.social_search.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4253b7e7-e518-4eed-9b3e-7818ac0796f7" alt="Mastodon search screenshot for &#x22;politics&#x22;, last found post 6min ago."><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% embed url="<https://github.com/VyrCossont/mastodon/pull/8>" %}

### DeepL translations

For posts other than your language (set in profile) a "Translate" link is shown, by pressing it you can see accurate translation provided by [DeepL](https://www.deepl.com/en/translator).

<figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2FbVIxsVpJR34C3FHWrpww%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e6a7f8a9-3429-4df1-aa0e-32254b951869" alt="DeepL translate feature screenshot"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### 500 posts on the Explore tab

By default Mastodon shows 100 posts on the Explore tab. We show 500.

{% embed url="<https://github.com/ronilaukkarinen/mastodon/commit/62c3258ccaf43688a84aab47e6ee4c9992d5cba9>" %}

### Snow during winter holidays

Let it snow! [❄️](https://emojipedia.org/snowflake) See [update](https://mementomori.social/@rolle/113708984297929316).

{% embed url="<https://github.com/ronilaukkarinen/mastodon/commit/9bf1563af50842a5f61b34b7cc095fb746e5d15b#diff-5fcd1b6168ec33e0eff0a05fcdeacfab68e261215bbdb719be6b3526173be770>" %}

<div align="left" data-full-width="false"><figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2Fp6n3yUTL2QAn03y6pwI6%2FIMG_5655-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=11d85751-aa21-4db0-b225-8aa2bc05edc2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### Fix link previews for youtu.be and m.youtube.com links

{% embed url="<https://github.com/ronilaukkarinen/mastodon/commit/ccd406378df2c7e27d9cf67b4f2b15221853b852>" %}

In the core version, only [www.youtube.com](http://www.youtube.com) previews work. On mementomori.social, all YouTube link variations generate a preview.

<figure><img src="https://1093035678-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FULEVti9kJFpMSvkNx1SP%2Fuploads%2FFjAWCrpmNtBSXY0jaDt6%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=0ab0241c-3500-4424-af32-7a60eb110207" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Autoplay gifs and videos without sound if reduced motion is disabled

Vanilla Mastodon doesn't have a feature for this, gifs and videos are not autoplaying - especially for guests.

{% embed url="<https://github.com/mementomori-social/mastodon/commit/08789386ef4f558ce2ad395b4bb5ee15d6cfe4a3>" %}

{% embed url="<https://github.com/mementomori-social/mastodon/commit/ffb941a03800795c88d4cb87c1176978b6f2ef0f>" %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://help.mementomori.social/mementomori.social/instance-features.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.