Can't reply, so I'm quoting. They're not completely wrong, it is important to have a PDS you trust because that is your gateway to The Atmosphere. It holds the private key that signs your records, the part I always think is missed here though is it's a two-way relationship/validation... context:
Who Actually Owns Your ATProto Identity? Hint: It's Probably Not You
kevinak.se
Ariel M. (she/her)
cc @pds.dad bc this writing feels a lil over sensationalized but idk and yknow, he is pds dad
Aug 17, 2026 at 4:30 PM
What is required to make a PDS implementation?
This Github thread from July 2024 had a long answer by Bryan Newbold that is included below:
Spinning Up Your Own Corner of the ATmosphere - Mostly Protocols
How to set up your own PDS from scratch - server, domain, email, migration, and all the little details that actually matter when you're trying to run your own piece of the ATmosphere.
Other PDS
Compare other ATproto Personal Data Servers (PDS): see providers, regions, and tips for choosing where your handle and social data should live.
Other PDS
Compare other ATproto Personal Data Servers (PDS): see providers, regions, and tips for choosing where your handle and social data should live.
What the hell is a rotation key? - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Atmosphere
Why it's important that YOU should have a rotation key and backups for your Bluesky/AT Protocol account that is hosted on a third party PDS
What the hell is a rotation key? - HItchhikers Guide to the atmosphere
Why it's important that YOU should have a rotation key and backups for your Bluesky/AT Protocol account that is hosted on a third party PDS
Host a PDS via a Cloudflare Tunnel - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Atmosphere
Learn how to use a Cloudflare Tunnel to host your PDS on a local network.
Can't reply, so I'm quoting. They're not completely wrong, it is important to have a PDS you trust because that is your gateway to The Atmosphere. It holds the private key that signs your records, the part I always think is missed here though is it's a two-way relationship/validation... context:
Who Actually Owns Your ATProto Identity? Hint: It's Probably Not You
kevinak.seAriel M. (she/her)
cc @pds.dad bc this writing feels a lil over sensationalized but idk and yknow, he is pds dad
It's true — fetching authenticated data directly from a PDS is a pain in the butt. And it's totally worth it.
Making Websites is More Complicated These Days - And That's a Good Thing
alexanderson.leaflet.pubHow can a lay person "own their data" if they have no idea what a PDS is and that they are granted authority over that server and it's data? The idea that they only need to know about "credible exit" if bluesky becomes hostile plays right into the computationally passive cycle we live in.
𝕮
”The distinction between programmer and user is reinforced and maintained by a tech industry that benefits from a population rendered computationally passive. If we accept and adopt the role of less agency, we then make it harder for ourselves to come into more agency.”
So Streamplace has some personal-private data of yours in our PostgreSQL database, like your multistream targets (Twitch stream keys) and Discord webhook URLs. I'd love to move those into a personal-private space on your PDS, let's design what that looks like? We need six things: 🧵
daniel holmgren 🫠
here it is folks! lots of details to still nail down, but this is roughly where our heads are at for the design of a permissioned data protocol give it a read and let me know your thoughts!
