We propose the symbol ⁂ to represent the fediverse.

We propose the symbol ⁂ to represent the fediverse.

…

⁂ is called an asterism. In astronomy, it refers to groups of stars in the sky, akin to constellations. We suggest that it’s a very fitting symbol for the fediverse, a galaxy of interconnected spaces which is decentralised and has an astronomically-themed name. It represents several stars coming together, connecting but each their own, without a centre.

…

@ is the symbol for e-mail. # is the symbol for hashtags. ☮ is the symbol for peace. ♻ is the symbol for recycling. ⁂ can be the symbol for the fediverse. ⁂ is standardised as Unicode U+2042, making it ready to copy and insert anywhere.

Git Repository: fediverse-symbol/fediverse-symbol

  • elrik@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    5 months ago

    Its use looks contrived to me on the linked GitHub page. The comparison with @ and # is flawed because those symbols are part of the resource name, whereas here the symbol is superfluous. It’s like adding a 🌐 in front of every web URL.

  • m-p{3}@lemmy.caEnglish
    0·
    5 months ago

    I’d rather see the current Fediverse logo added to Unicode than reuse an existing symbol. It’s not impossible, considering that the Bitcoin symbol (₿) ended up making it.

    • korendian@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      14 hours ago

      Not that these are the common denominator we should be catering to, but I think a lot of religious folks would get some negative connotations from that symbol, considering how much it looks like a pentagram.

    • Clot@lemm.eeEnglish
      0·
      5 months ago

      I think it’s too complex to be a Unicode character

      • ulterno@lemmy.kde.socialEnglish
        0·
        5 months ago

        Looking at how current emojis tend to be hard to distinguish without increasing the font size (I see ~13 px on this page), I’d say the fediverse icon fits the criterion well enough.

        Also, I can see the icon in here well enough

      • AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        5 months ago

        Most Egyptian hieroglyphics are in unicode. However, there are many other reasons for it not to be included.

  • asudox@programming.devEnglish
    0·
    5 months ago

    Why though? We don’t need a symbol. Is it that hard to type “fediverse”? The fediverse logo is good enough.

  • astro_ray@piefed.socialEnglish
    0·
    5 months ago

    Do we need to address the typographical issues for the existing symbol? I am not using that symbol every time I talk about fedi. Fedi accounts are identified as @username@instance, so there’s no need to use some obscure unicode.

    • Handles@leminal.spaceEnglish
      0·
      5 months ago

      Exactly. And if needs be, get the existing symbol included in Unicode. It might already be in FontAwesome.

  • asdfasdfasdf@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    5 months ago

    Did someone just slap this together by copying and pasting an asterisk three times? I know we’re an open source, nerdy community but could we hire a graphic designer?

  • Hal-5700X@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    0·
    5 months ago

    It looks like a bunch of snowflakes, making it very representative.

    EDIT Why change something that isn’t broken?

  • aeronmelon@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    5 months ago

    I like it because it reminds me of the Japanese kanji 森 Mori (Forest).

    Which is in and of itself brilliant because it’s the kanji 木 Ki (Tree) repeated three times and bunched together.

    • chiisana@lemmy.chiisana.netEnglish
      0·
      5 months ago

      Technically, the words are adopted from Chinese (in this case both Traditional and Simplified are the same and have not diverged yet); but same meaning and reasoning, just different pronunciation.

      • aeronmelon@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        5 months ago

        I know that Kanji was originally derived from Chinese but I don’t know which Chinese characters are the same and which are different without doing research.

        It is nice that in this case the symbols are the same all the way across the board. 5/5 design choice on both counts.