Getting Started

Every fedtail release ships as a self-contained single file with Python and Qt bundled inside — no extra dependencies needed.

Method 1. Single Binary, No Installation (Recommended)

Linux (x86_64)

Debian 12 or newer, Ubuntu 22.04 or newer and the like. The commands are for the latest release, 0.16.0:

# Download and make it executable:
curl -LO https://github.com/eugene-vereshchagin/fedtail/releases/download/v0.16.0/fedtail-0.16.0-linux-x86_64
chmod +x fedtail-0.16.0-linux-x86_64

# put it in the menu with its icon (and exit), then run it
./fedtail-0.16.0-linux-x86_64 --install-desktop
./fedtail-0.16.0-linux-x86_64

Windows (10 and 11)

1. Download fedtail-0.16.0-windows.exe.
2. Run the executable.
3. To add a shortcut to your Start menu, run from a command prompt:
   cmd Copy

   fedtail-0.16.0-windows.exe --install-desktop

4. Note: Windows SmartScreen might show an unsigned app warning on the first run: click “More info” → “Run anyway”.

Method 2. Debian / Ubuntu Package (.deb)

For Debian 13 (trixie) and compatible distros, a .deb package using system Qt packages is available:

# Debian 13 (trixie) and the like; Qt comes from the distro:
curl -LO https://github.com/eugene-vereshchagin/fedtail/releases/download/v0.16.0/fedtail_0.16.0_all.deb
sudo apt install ./fedtail_0.16.0_all.deb
fedtail

Method 3. Running from Source

Requires Python ≥ 3.11.

On Debian 13 / Ubuntu:

# Install system Qt6 and emoji fonts
sudo apt install python3-pyside6.qtwidgets python3-pyside6.qtdbus python3-requests \
    qt6-image-formats-plugins fonts-noto-color-emoji libnotify-bin

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/eugene-vereshchagin/fedtail.git
cd fedtail

# Run the app
python3 -m fedtail

On Other Systems:

git clone https://github.com/eugene-vereshchagin/fedtail.git
cd fedtail
pip install requests PySide6-Essentials
python3 -m fedtail

First Account Sign-in

On the initial run:

1. fedtail prompts for your fediverse instance domain (e.g. social.example.com or your GoToSocial/Mastodon/Akkoma server).
2. It automatically opens the sign-in authorization page in your web browser.
3. Paste the authorization code returned by the server back into fedtail.
4. Tip: Log in with your standard user account, not an instance admin account.

Storage and Configuration Paths

fedtail strictly follows XDG directory standards:

The default profile is named default. To run or create an isolated secondary profile:

fedtail --profile work

Useful Command-Line Flags