I don't deal in protocol wars, I place lots of bets on open tech. But there's a reason I don't typically expect durable open protocols to come from VC backed for-profit. If ATProto succeeds long term — it does show promise — it'll be in spite of Bluesky PBC, and thanks to the rest of the ecosystem.
May 7, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Why a New Protocol? The History and Future of AT Protocol - AT Protocol
Bluesky CTO Paul Frazee and Head of Protocol Daniel Holmgren join for a wide-ranging conversation about what atproto is, why it exists, how it got built, and where it's going next. From a Twitter consultancy to an IETF working group, this is where to get started.
ATProto ideas
If AT Protocol becomes “a meaningful layer of the web” — even if it’s only tens of millions of users — then the winning ideas probably won’t only be futuristic...
I am very excited about AT Protocol
AT Protocol (atproto) is the right mix of useful, practical, personal, and fun. I think it could save the internet.
#protocolsforpublishers #atproto #mcp #webapplets | Chad Kohalyk
Web publishing is facing its next challenge: a new iteration of centralizing platforms. BUT there is also a new wave of open protocols and standards that can help us gain our independence. Next month in NYC we are gathering a group of frontier technologists and popular web publishers to discuss how we can sail into this next platform shift as captains. #ProtocolsForPublishers Learn more and sign up here: https://pfp.unternet.co We will be hosting talks on #atproto #mcp #webapplets and web payments, and give publishers the opportunity to interact directly with developers working on these frontier technologies. Thank you to Unternet, Graze Social, Free our Feeds, and betaworks for their support.
FediForum Talk: Atproto: A Technical Introduction
By Daniel Holmgren, head of protocol at Bluesky PBC. AT Protocol (atproto) is the open protocol powering Bluesky and the emerging Atmosphere. This talk gives a high-level overview of atproto's app...
Understanding Atproto - AT Protocol Docs - AT Protocol
Dive deeper into the concepts behind the AT Protocol.
Supporting the npmx Alpha Launch - AT Protocol
The launch of npmx is an incredible showcase for how open source communities can build quickly on top of atproto.
Protocol Reader - Summer of Protocols
The Protocol Reader The Protocol Reader is an 358-page book (currently only available as an epub) comprising 26 foundational essays by 31 authors from the Summer of Protocols program, carefully edited and sequenced to introduce you to the fascinating new discipline of Protocol Studies. It can serve as
What If npm Ran on AT Protocol?
A thought experiment about what a package registry would look like if built on atproto.
A Government Guide to Open Protocols
Public sector teams must go beyond the in-house or off-the-shelf dichotomy to take advantage of open protocols, which offer a unique way to manage both software costs and geopolitical exposure
Imagine all the times you’ve downloaded a one-off app for a conference where you made all valuable connections with colleagues only to never use the app again. We could integrate the conference experience into your professional networks on the Atmosphere. ATproto can make networking so much better.
Ariel M. (she/her)
conferences conferences conferences cc @richferro.com @mariaa.bsky.social we deserve better than 2-star rating conference apps lmao
If WSocial sold people on the idea that everyone they would interact with is ID-verified, then indeed, every single open ATProto community would act as a back door of sorts. The only way for them to deliver would be to de-federate entirely. And it's always a bad idea to bet against openness.
Wimster9030 🇪🇺 🇧🇪
I know, Daniel, but that's not the way WSocial "sold" it to us. We could only access trough ID-verification so we know for 100% they are EU and a "real person". That was the whole point. So we went trough that process, but now it seems that the backdoor are the other ATProt platforms to get in too.
The most significant extension to the protocol since launch—atproto spaces—is now officially alpha software you can start testing with. Here's more about the goals and how to start testing. atproto.com/blog/atproto-spaces-alpha
The Atproto Spaces Alpha is Live
atproto.com
