How to use NOSTR

How to use Nostr

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use Nostr, designed for beginners:

Step 1: Understanding the Basics

What You Need:

  • An understanding of what Nostr is (a decentralized protocol for communication).
  • A device (phone, tablet, or computer) with internet access.

TL;DR: Think of Nostr like an open, decentralized version of Twitter. But instead of all the messages being controlled by of a single company, Nostr uses a network of servers (called “relays”) allowing anyone to store and host your messages.

The beauty of Nostr, is that it is a PROTOCOL, not a platform. Your “account” is simply a pair of cryptgraphic keys, which means you can switch the Nostr client you use at any time.

Your data is also portable, because it’s not locked into a single service. instead, it’s distributed across the network of relays you choose, giving you control over where your information is stored and how it’s shared.

Step 2: Choose a Nostr Client

There are multiple options for accesing the network of Nostr data, and different clients can present the same Nostr data in specialized ways. For example, they may emulate the look and feel of X/Twitter, Reddit, Instagram or Telegram.

Here are some of our current favourites.

You can find a comprehensive directory of Nostr apps and clients at Nostr Apps.

Choose the client based on your preference. Each client connects to the same Nostr network!

Step 3: Set Up Your Identity

When you first open a Nostr client, it will ask you to generate a key pair:

  • Public Key (npub): This is your unique identifier or “username” in Nostr. Others can follow you with this key.
  • Private Key: (nsec) This is your “password”. Keep this safe; losing it means you can’t access your account again.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Like Bitcoin, your private key is unique and unchangeable. If you share it with others, they can use Nostr as you. And you can’t stop them… there is no password reset!

The only thing you can do is abandon your old key pair and start again.

For that reason, you should keep your Private Key (nsec) secret and use a NIP-07 signer instead of giving it out.

The signers we personally use are Nos2X (Google Chrome) and Nostore (IOS).

Step 4: Choose Your Relays

Relays are servers where your posts are stored and from where you fetch posts.

Your client might come with default relays, but you can add more for better connectivity:

  • Look for “Add Relay” or “Relay Settings” in your client
  • Use relay lists from the community or start with known ones

Many popular relays, such as those provided by Primal, Damus and Snort, are free.

You can also subscribe to premium relays for a monthly or per-post fee, or host your own if you are technically minded!

Step 5: Following People

Following people works much the same way as following someone on X (Twitter).

You simply open your favourite Nostr client and search for their profile by public key (or Nostr Address, if they have one).

In their profile, you’ll see some kind of option to follow them. Click it, and confirm the action. Your client will then start fetching updates from this user’s posts, which will appear in your feed.

Tips for Following:

  • Following someone on Nostr is generally public, but privacy levels can vary depending on the Nostr client’s settings and how users manage their relays.
  • Like regular social media, you can discover new people to follow through existing connections. Some clients show mutual follows or suggest users based on common interests or interactions.
  • You can unfollow or mute people if you find their content is not to your taste or if you need to declutter your feed.
  • Include your public key or Nostr Address in your other social media bios to make it easy for others to follow you.
  • A Nostr Address is the most user friendly way for people to ensure they are following the right person.

Remember, due to Nostr’s decentralized nature, you might not immediately see all the posts from someone you just followed if they’re using different relays than you are. Over time, as you adjust your relay settings or if the person you follow is popular, their content should become more visible in your feed.

Step 6: Posting Content

Creating posts works just like in any other social media platform. You simply:

  • Write your post in the text field provided by your client.
  • Choose which relays to publish your note to (some clients do this automatically).
  • Hit send…

Yes, it really is that easy. The only thing to note is that you will be required to SIGN your note using your private key.

This is where using a NIP-07 signer comes in handy, because the signer can do it without you needing to share your private key with the Nostr client.

Step 7: Engage with the Community

The Nostr protocol allows for NOTES and OTHER STUFF to be transmitted to relays.

The ‘other stuff’ – known as “Events” – allow clients to add all kinds of social engagement features, including:

  • Reactions: Many clients support reactions to notes, such as emojis, hearts etc
  • Reply: You can reply directly to posts, and clients may show these threaded, like Twitter.
  • Zaps: If your client supports it, you can send micro-payments (in Bitcoin via Lightning Network) known as “zaps” to show appreciation. This is known as giving “value for value”.

Step 8: Privacy and Security

Nostr uses cryptographic signatures to verify that notes and events actually came from your key pair.

Each event or note embeds your public key, is then hashed to give it a unique ID, and then signed by your private key before being sent to the relays. This allows the relay receiving the note to quickly and easily check:

a) the note hasn’t been tampered with (by checking the hash)
b) the note came from you (by cryptographically checking the signature, hash and public key)

This means the Nostr network needs very little personal information to operate. You can therefore set up your profile with as much or as little information as you like. And none of the personal information included is checked / verified.

On the flip side, this means you need to be sure a person you follow or message is who you think they are!

Using a Nostr Address

A Nostr Address can be useful and user friendly to share your identify with others. That’s because it uniquely identifies the public key that corresponds to the Nostr Address in a two-way relationship.

Most Nostr clients will show some kind of verified badge when you are looking at the profile which the Nostr Address uniquely points to, confirming the person using that address is linked to that address.

Keep your Private Key (nsec) secure

Because Nostr clients need to sign notes and events on your behalf before sending them to relays, you need to be sure you trust the client before giving it your private key.

Although many clients still allow you to enter your private key for “write access” (or login), this is slowly being phased out in favor of using NIP-07 signers, as we discussed in Step 3 above.

A signer is a trusted app or Nostr browser extension that stores your private key securely. Whenever a client needs to sign a note or event on your behalf, it can ask the signer app to do it.

This means you never need to give out your private key.

Step 9: Troubleshooting and Learning More

Nostr is an evolving protocol, and relays can come and go. If you ever find yourself staring at a blank feed on Nostr, or find you can’t see someone’s posts, it’s usually a relay issue.

Think of relays as the postal workers of the Nostr world; if they’re not doing their job right, or they just don’t have the messages you want, they can’t do their job.

  • First Aid: Check if your client is connected to active relays. Many clients will show you which relays are up and which are down. You might need to manually add some new relays or check if the ones you’re using are healthy.
  • A Little DIY: Sometimes, it’s about basic troubleshooting. Are you connected to the internet? Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data to see if that’s the hiccup. It’s the digital equivalent of giving your router a good old restart.

Keeping Up with Updates

Nostr moves fast – like, really fast. It’s like trying to keep up with the latest tech trends, but in app form.

  • Stay Updated: Make it a habit to check for app updates regularly. Developers are always tweaking things, fixing bugs, or adding cool new features that can make your Nostr experience smoother or more secure.
  • Compatibility Checks: With updates come changes, and sometimes these changes mean you need to ensure all parts of your Nostr setup are playing nice together. An update to one client might require a tweak somewhere else to keep everything running smoothly.

Learning More – Diving Deeper into Nostr

Nostr’s not just a protocol; it’s a community. And like any good community, there’s always someone ready to lend a hand or share their latest discovery.

  • Community Hangouts: Jump into forums or chat groups on platforms like Telegram or Discord dedicated to Nostr. These are like the water cooler of the Nostr world where you can ask questions, share experiences, or just geek out about the latest developments.
  • Events and Gatherings: Keep an eye out for community events, whether they’re virtual meetups or conferences. These are goldmines for learning, networking, and sometimes even seeing what’s on the horizon for Nostr.

Following the Leaders

  • The Influencers: Follow key figures in the Nostr space. Fiatjaf, who kicked it all off, or Jack Dorsey, who’s thrown his weight behind it – these folks often share insights or updates that can enlighten or guide you through the Nostr landscape.
  • Content Creators: There’s a growing number of blogs, podcasts, and YouTube channels diving into the ins and outs of Nostr. They’re not just about keeping up; they’re about expanding your understanding of what’s possible with this tech.

In the end, whether you’re dealing with connectivity issues, chasing down the latest update, or just wanting to learn more, remember – Nostr’s strength is its community. Engage, ask, learn, and you’ll find that what might start as common issues turn into opportunities to deepen your involvement in this fascinating, decentralized world.

Step 10: Experiment and Explore

  • Try different clients to see which interface you like best.
  • Explore the different uses of Nostr; it’s not just for short posts but also for longer content, podcasts, or even games.

Conclusion

Using Nostr might feel different from traditional social media due to its decentralized nature, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll appreciate the control and freedom it offers. Remember, the community around Nostr is quite helpful, so don’t hesitate to reach out for help or to engage with others to learn more about this innovative platform.

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