Setting up Snac in OpenBSD

A simple, minimalistic microblogging ActivityPub instance that allows you to post in such of lightweight interface.

Features

Lightweight, minimal dependencies
Multiuser
Simple web interface
No database, javascript, or even cookies needed.
Supports unveil() in OpenBSD
Backend is completely written in C
Support FastCGI, Allowing setup with only OpenHTTPd

Configuring httpd.conf

Edit /etc/httpd.conf:

# $OpenBSD: httpd.conf,v 1.22 2020/11/04 10:34:18 denis Exp $

server "snac.example.com" {
	listen on * port 80

	location "/.well-known/acme-challenge/*" {
		root "/acme"
		request strip 2
	}

	location * {
		fastcgi socket tcp "127.0.0.1" 8001
	}

	connection { max request body 104857600 }
}

Replace snac.example.com with your hostname.

Save the file, Then enable and start httpd (as root):

# rcctl enable httpd
# rcctl start httpd

Get SSL Certificate with acme-client. Once successfully obtained SSL certs, Edit /etc/httpd.conf and add the following lines after listen on * port 80:

server "snac.example.com" {
	listen on * port 80
	listen on * tls port 443 # for TLS
	tls {
		certificate "/etc/ssl/snac.example.com.crt"
		key "/etc/ssl/private/snac.example.com.key"
	}

	location * {
		fastcgi socket tcp "127.0.0.1" 8001
	}

	connection { max request body 104857600 }
}

Replace snac.example.com with your hostname, and finally reload httpd by rcctl reload httpd and https should works.

Installation

Install required packages:

# pkg_add curl git nano

Clone the repository, then start installing.

$ git clone https://codeberg.org/grunfink/snac2
$ cd snac2
$ make
$ doas make install

Let's copy the examples/snac_openbsd to /etc/rc.d/, then start editing

# cp examples/snac_openbsd /etc/rc.d/snac
# chmod +x /etc/rc.d/snac
# nano /etc/rc.d/snac

Then you will see the code as the following:

#!/bin/ksh

daemon_args="httpd /PATH/TO/SNAC/BASEDIR"
daemon_logger="daemon.info"
daemon_user="SNACUSER"
daemon="/usr/local/bin/snac ${daemon_args}"

. /etc/rc.d/rc.subr

pexp="${daemon}.*"
rc_reload=NO
rc_bg=YES

rc_cmd $1

# this is an OpenBSD /etc/rc.d startup script. Edit and run as root:
#
# install snac_openbsd /etc/rc.d/snac
# rcctl enable snac
# rcctl start snac

Change /PATH/TO/SNAC/BASEDIR to /var/snac/data, and SNACUSER as snac

Save it by doing CTRL + S, Then close nano editor with CTRL + X.

Now, We will set up the user & the datadir.

# useradd -m -d /var/snac snac
# doas -u snac snac init /var/snac/data
Network address [127.0.0.1]:
Network port [8001]:
Host name: snac.example.com
URL prefix:
Admin email address (optional):
Done.

Replace snac.example.com with your domain.

Edit /var/snac/data/server.json (as root / snac user):

{
    "prefix": "",
    "address": "127.0.0.1",
    "port": 8001,
    "dbglevel": 0,
    "queue_retry_minutes": 2,
    "queue_retry_max": 10,
    "cssurls": [
        ""
    ],
    "max_timeline_entries": 128,
    "timeline_purge_days": 120,
    "local_purge_days": 0,
    "admin_account": "",
    "title": "",
    "short_description": "",
    "fastcgi": false,
    "layout": 2.7,
    "host": "snac.example.com",
    "admin_email": ""
}

Change "fastcgi": false to "fastcgi": true

Save the server.json file,

Now, create an user.

$ doas -u snac snac adduser /var/snac/data yourname
Creating RSA key...
Done.

User password is abcdefg1234567

Go to https://snac.example.com/yourname and continue configuring your user there.

Start the snac daemon, and visit your snac website.

# rcctl enable snac
# rcctl start snac