API v2 · stable · ap.clikkin.com

Build on the open protocol.

Clikkin is an open ecosystem. Build a third-party client, ship a Space App, sell a theme, or fork the protocol entirely — our docs treat all four as first-class citizens.

4,200+apps in ecosystem
12msp50 API latency
99.98%API uptime 90d
0deprecations in 18 months
Quickstart — post to a space
# Install the SDK
$ npm install @clikkin/sdk

# Authenticate with a scoped token
import { Clikkin } from '@clikkin/sdk';

const cl = new Clikkin({
  token: process.env.CLIKKIN_TOKEN,
  space: '@maker.garage',
});

# Post to your space
await cl.posts.create({
  body: 'Hello from the open web 👋',
  audience: 'members',
});

✓ Posted · ID cl_01HT9...

Four developer surfaces

Pick where you want to plug in.

Quickstarts

Ship a hello-world in ten minutes.

Each quickstart is a single-file demo with copy-pasteable code and a sandbox you can fork.

Open protocol

A spec, not a platform.

Clikkin is an implementation of an open protocol. The wire format, identity layer, and federation rules are published and versioned. If Clikkin disappeared tomorrow, someone else could run it — or you could.

  • v2.0 spec · signed, versioned, BCP-14 language. Read →
  • Reference implementation · BSD-licensed, ~14k LOC. GitHub →
  • Conformance test suite · 420 tests. Run →
  • RFC process · propose changes openly. Open RFCs →
  • ActivityPub bridge · interop with Mastodon and friends. Bridge →

PROTOCOL-v2.0.3

Stable

Message envelope

Envelope ::= SEQUENCE {
  version      INTEGER,
  sender       Identity,
  audience     Audience,
  timestamp    UtcTime,
  payload      OCTET STRING,
  signature    Ed25519Sig
}

-- Signatures are verified at each hop.
-- Envelopes are content-addressed by
-- BLAKE3(canonical_cbor(body)).
Last RFC: RFC-014 (merged) Next review: Apr 2025

In the wild

Things the community has already built.

Client

Starling

A terminal-first Clikkin client with a tiling UI and keyboard-only workflow. Vim bindings, 0 dependencies.

by @nico.term · 8.2k stars
Space App

Tally

Lightweight polling and ranked-choice voting for spaces. Used in 600+ spaces for governance votes.

by @civic.tools · open source
Theme

Letterpress

A print-inspired theme with Linotype-style headings and generous margins. Pairs well with writing-focused spaces.

by @sable · $14 in Store
Integration

Figma → Clikkin

Post Figma changes to a design space as threaded updates. Attaches frames as inline media.

by @framebot · free
Bot framework

Koi

Declarative bot framework for Space Apps. YAML-configurable, deploys to Cloudflare Workers in one command.

by @kois.dev · MIT
Bridge

mastoport

Two-way bridge between Clikkin spaces and Mastodon instances. Maintains thread identity across protocols.

by @bridgeops · AGPL

Rate limits

Generous by default. Honest when you hit them.

Unauthenticated60 req / min
Authenticated (member)600 req / min
Authenticated (space bot)3,000 req / min
Bulk exportsoft-metered

Every response includes X-RateLimit-Remaining and X-RateLimit-Reset. Bursts up to 2x for short windows.

Sandbox

Full replica. Free. No approval needed.

Your sandbox space is provisioned at signup — real API, real webhooks, synthetic members. Spin up test data with one command:

$ clikkin sandbox seed \
  --members 50 \
  --posts 400 \
  --over 7days
Sandbox docs →

Deprecation

12 months' notice. Always.

When we deprecate an endpoint — rare — we commit to at least 12 months of parallel support, with monthly email reminders. Every deprecation goes through the RFC process first.

No surprise deprecations in the last 18 months. Track the feed: /changelog.atom.

Developer programs

We invest in people who build on top of us.

Clikkin for Creators fund

$1M/yr in grants and infrastructure credits for open-source Space Apps, clients, and bridges. Rolling applications.

Apply →

Early access program

Get protocol RFCs, SDK betas, and API changes 60 days before general availability. Quarterly office hours with the core team.

Join →

Store vendor program

Sell themes, templates, and badge packs in the Clikkin Store. 80/20 revenue split. We handle tax, fraud, and refunds.

Become a vendor →

Security researcher bounties

Up to $10,000 for qualifying reports. Hall of Fame. PGP: 0x8E1D4A2F.

Bounty rules →

Need help?

We answer on Discord, forum, and email.

Core engineers rotate through developer support. Median response: 2 hours in the dev Discord, 6 hours on the forum, 24 hours via email.