From 0ec62615bbef98912e2692b08782cc7bcff26e4b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: rimu <3310831+rimu@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2024 15:00:20 +1300
Subject: [PATCH] update documentation #40

---
 INSTALL.md | 10 ++++++++++
 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+)

diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
index 042862d5..68678526 100644
--- a/INSTALL.md
+++ b/INSTALL.md
@@ -167,3 +167,13 @@ create a migration based on recent changes to app/models.py:
 run migrations
 
     flask db upgrade
+
+Federation during development
+---
+
+Federation doesn't work without SSL, without a domain name or without your server being accessible from outside your network. So, when running on http://127.0.0.1:5000 you have none of those.
+
+The site will still run without federation. You can create local communities and post in them...
+
+My way around this is to use ngrok.com, which is a quick and simple way to create a temporary VPN with a domain and SSL. On the free plan your domain changes often, which will break federation every time you reconnect. $10 per month will get you https://yourwhatever.ngrok.app which won't change.
+