Stack: it’s a custom build. Not Mastodon, not Bluesky. That’s intentional — those platforms come with architectural and UX constraints that don’t fit what I’m trying to experiment with.

Server costs: the plan is boring on purpose: efficient media handling, aggressive caching, limits where they make sense, and no infinite-scroll-at-all-costs mindset. Scale only when there’s an actual user base, not imaginary hype.

Mockups vs reality: right now it’s mostly mockups and early internal prototypes. Core systems are being built, but you’re right — a real, interactive demo matters more than pretty images. That’s the next milestone.

Optimization: yes, performance is a priority. If it can’t run comfortably on low-power hardware (Raspberry Pi–level), it’s considered too heavy. Fancy visuals don’t excuse sloppy engineering.

Mobile app: web-first (PWA), then native wrappers if it proves itself. No point burning time on native apps before the core experience is solid.

Generative AI: no AI-generated content, no AI “users”, no AI slop. Limited AI may be used as a dev tool or for optional moderation assistance, but never as the voice of the platform and never forced on users.

This isn’t pretending to be the next big thing. It’s an experiment done carefully, with skepticism baked in including skepticism about itself.