How the network is organised: spaces, groups, events and channels

A question I get from almost every new member: what is the difference between a space and a group, and where should I post? Fair question. Here is the map of how the network is put together, and the reasoning behind it.

The building blocks

• Spaces are the big themed areas, like UNA Builders, Help & Support or Outdoor Adventures Club. Think of them as floors in a building. Some have smaller spaces inside them.
• Groups are for people who share a role or a project, such as Neighbourhood Organisers or the Self-Hosting Club. They are smaller, often private, and the conversation is more personal.
• Events belong to a space or a group and carry the date, the place or the call link, and the list of who is coming.
• Channels collect posts on one topic from everywhere, so if you follow astronomy you see astronomy posts wherever they were written.
• Your own timeline is for everything else: small wins, photos, questions that don't fit anywhere yet.

Why it's split up this way

When we started, everything lived in one feed, and it got noisy fast. Builders talking about database indexes sat right next to someone's hiking photos, and both sides felt like they were in the wrong room. Splitting by theme (spaces) and by people (groups) let each part of the network find its own tone without walling it off from the rest.

The rule of thumb I give people: if the post is for anyone interested in the topic, post it in the space. If it is for the people you work or organise with, post it in the group. If you're not sure, post it on your own timeline and someone will usually point you to the right place.

What's changing next

Over the holidays I'm tidying up the space directory, merging a couple of spaces that never really took off and making sure every space has a clear description and at least one active admin. If you run a space or group and want a hand with yours, send me a message.