Why we built outing.social

When you want to organize a group ride or a weekend hike, the options are kind of bleak. You're either herding cats across three different group chats, paying for a platform that locks in your data, or scrolling through a general-purpose social feed hoping someone posted about it.

We thought there had to be a better way. So we started building outing.social — a platform specifically designed for organizing outdoor activities, built on the AT Protocol so your data actually belongs to you.

Why the AT Protocol?

If you're familiar with Bluesky, you already know the basics. The AT Protocol gives every user a Personal Data Server (PDS) where their content lives. Your events, your routes, your RSVPs — they're all stored in your own repository, signed with your cryptographic keys, and portable to any compatible app.

This isn't just a philosophical stance. It has real practical benefits:

• No vendor lock-in. If a better app comes along, take your data and go.
• Interoperability. Your Bluesky identity works here. No new account needed.
• Transparency. Every action is cryptographically signed. You can verify who posted what.

What we're building

The core idea is simple: make it easy to find and organize outdoor activities with people near you. Cycling, running, hiking, swimming, skiing, rowing, walking — with events, routes, clubs, and an activity feed to tie it all together.

We shipped the first version with a map, event creation, RSVPs, and OAuth login via any AT Protocol identity. It's rough around the edges, but the bones are good. We'll be writing more here as the project evolves. If you're into outdoor activities and open protocols, we'd love to have you along for the ride.