The Atproto Spaces Alpha is Live

Atproto has released an alpha version of its Spaces feature, an update from its initial launch that allows for the development and testing of non-public data. This feature has been in development with various names and iterations, including private data, permissioned data, buckets, and now Spaces. The design has evolved through feedback and contributions from the ecosystem, marking a significant undertaking for the Blueksy team and the broader Atmosphere.

Unlike the public data currently stored on the protocol, Spaces enable the storage and syncing of private data such as settings, drafts, bookmarks, and subscription-only publications. Each Space functions as a miniature Atproto network, capable of storing from a single record to a billion records, with lightweight and low overhead.

Access to a Space is controlled by a Space Authority, a DID (Decentralized Identifier) similar to any other account. Records in Spaces live in per-space permissioned repositories on the author's Personal Data Store (PDS). While Spaces provide access control, they do not offer confidentiality, as the data is readable by any user or application with access to the Space.

The sync protocol for Spaces is designed to be lightweight, enabling real-time sync without the need for data rebroadcasting, unlike the public broadcast protocol. This allows for efficient syncing of data directly from PDS hosts. For those who wish to test the protocol without running infrastructure, a hosted PDS is available, requiring an invite code from a Blueksy account.

This alpha version comes with the caveat that it may undergo breaking changes, and users should avoid using it for production purposes. The data stored in the hosted PDS is not permanent or stable, and the data model may change or be deleted without warning. The PDS and SDKs will be updated on Thursdays, with changes announced on the Atmosphere community. Users are encouraged to explore Spaces, provide feedback and report bugs, with example applications available at bulletin.my and on GitHub.