A Hacker News user released Microwave, a native iOS app delivering a TikTok-like short-form video experience built entirely on Bluesky's AT Protocol. Instead of a proprietary backend, the app acts as a thin client, reading and publishing content directly to the decentralized social network's existing infrastructure.

This approach tests whether open protocols can support the rapid-fire, algorithmic discovery users expect from mainstream platforms. The developer is openly seeking feedback on client-only tradeoffs, including ranking, discovery, and moderation challenges that typically require server-side control.

Microwave is currently available as a limited TestFlight beta. The project represents a broader push to see if federated networks can host the multimedia experiences usually locked inside walled gardens, challenging the dominant social media model.