338

A symbol for the fediverse ⁂ (symbol.fediverse.info)

submitted 3 months ago by pnutzh4x0r@lemmy.ndlug.org to c/fediverse@lemmy.world

106 comments fedilink hide all child comments

We propose the symbol ⁂ to represent the fediverse.

...

⁂ is called an asterism. In astronomy, it refers to groups of stars in the sky, akin to constellations. We suggest that it’s a very fitting symbol for the fediverse, a galaxy of interconnected spaces which is decentralised and has an astronomically-themed name. It represents several stars coming together, connecting but each their own, without a centre.

...

@ is the symbol for e-mail. # is the symbol for hashtags. ☮ is the symbol for peace. ♻ is the symbol for recycling. ⁂ can be the symbol for the fediverse. ⁂ is standardised as Unicode U+2042, making it ready to copy and insert anywhere.

Git Repository: fediverse-symbol/fediverse-symbol

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[+] dudenas@lemmy.ml 65 points 3 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

[deleted]

[-] kittykittycatboys 29 points 3 months ago

is said in webpage: the pentagram symbol is hard to distinguish at smaller typographicl sizes

[-] Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 33 points 3 months ago

I'm reading this thread on mobile, and the fediverse logo next to the community name is much easier to see than the three stars. If I didn't already know what the three stars were from the rest of the post, I wouldn't have a clue what they were supposed to be in the body. They look like a blurry capital A.

Obviously the fediverse logo is bigger there, which helps, but it's not significantly bigger, and would still be clearer at a smaller size

[-] MagicShel@programming.dev 7 points 3 months ago

I recommend the asterism to instead be adopted as the symbol for astigmatism.

[-] Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 months ago

I like it! 😁

[-] variants@possumpat.io 12 points 3 months ago

Don't typograh so small

[-] kittykittycatboys 4 points 3 months ago

1 thats not how typography works

2 im not webpage authour what u wan me to do about it moew?

[-] aasatru@kbin.earth 16 points 3 months ago

So they touch upon it on their site:

The pentagram icon is the original symbol for the fediverse, created back in 2018 by Dr. Quadragon and Eukombos. It’s a great depiction of the decentralised nature of the fediverse, and has been serving the community well. However, its design is a little too complex to be used at small sizes, as you would in text or in a button. It’s also only available in image form, not as a typographical character.

I think they have a valid point. Currently on my website I use a Mastodon logo next to email and git and all that jazz. It's not ideal, as it's not so important that I'm on Mastodon specifically (and I might move to a self-hosted #Seppo instance in the future), but the existing fediverse icon would not work well at that scale.

It's a huge branding effort to make it catch on though. And part of me likes the pentagram better.

[-] citrusface@lemmy.world 14 points 3 months ago

my friend, please read the article. it does a great job of explaining the why. it only takes a minute to read.

[-] arudesalad@sh.itjust.works 13 points 3 months ago

My guess is because it's unicode. But that doesn't really matter. How often are you going to want to put the icon instead of just typing the fediverse