FAQ

Installation

The curl install failed. What should I check?

• Ensure you have Git installed: git --version
• Check your internet connection
• Try running with verbose output: curl -fsSL https://epress.world/install.sh | bash -x
• If nvm installation fails, install Node.js manually first

Port 8543 is already in use. How do I change it?

For curl installs, edit the environment configuration:

cd ~/epress
echo "PORT=8545" >> .env.local
npm run stop && npm run start

For Docker, adjust the -p mapping: -p 8545:8543

Where is my data stored?

• Curl install: ~/epress/data/
• Docker: In the epress-data volume

Back up this directory regularly to preserve your content.

How do I back up my node?

• Curl install: Copy the ~/epress/data/ directory
• Docker: Use docker cp my-epress-node:/app/data ./backup

Identity & Wallet

Why do I need an Ethereum wallet?

Your wallet provides cryptographic identity that works across all epress nodes:

• Your address is your unique identifier
• Signing content proves you authored it
• Other nodes verify signatures to confirm authenticity
• No central identity server required

Can I use wallets other than MetaMask?

Yes. epress supports any wallet that implements WalletConnect or browser wallet injection:

• Rainbow
• Coinbase Wallet
• Trust Wallet
• Brave Wallet
• Any WalletConnect-compatible wallet

Are there gas fees for connecting my wallet?

No. Connecting your wallet and signing content are off-chain operations. You only sign messages, not blockchain transactions. No ETH is spent.

Is my wallet address visible to others?

Yes, your address is public and serves as your identity. However, your private key and seed phrase never leave your device. They are only used to sign messages locally.

Can I move my identity to a different wallet?

Your identity is tied to your wallet address. To use a different address, you would need to re-establish follow relationships from the new address. Your content remains on your node regardless of wallet.

Usage

What is the difference between local and signed publish?

• Local publish: Content stored only on your node. Good for drafts and private content.
• Signed publish: Content is cryptographically signed and can be verified by other nodes. Required for content to appear in followers timelines.

Why is my timeline empty?

Your timeline shows signed content from nodes you follow. If empty:

• Follow some nodes to receive their content
• Wait for followed nodes to publish signed content
• Check that your node can reach other nodes (network connectivity)

How do I make my node publicly accessible?

• Set up a domain with DNS pointing to your server
• Configure your router/firewall to forward port 8543
• Set your node URL in settings to your public domain
• Consider using a reverse proxy (nginx, Caddy) with HTTPS

Content

Can I delete content after publishing?

Yes, you can delete content from your node. However, content that has been replicated to other nodes may persist there. Signed content includes timestamps, so deleted content cannot be republished with the same signature.

How does epress prevent content forgery?

Every signed publication includes:

• A content hash that uniquely identifies the content
• A timestamp to establish publication order
• An EIP-712 signature from the author wallet

Other nodes verify this signature before accepting content. Without the private key, content cannot be forged.

Does epress support private messages?

Currently, epress focuses on public content. Private messaging is not yet implemented but may be added in future versions.

What is the difference between epress world, epress world protocol, and epress node?

• epress world is the decentralized social network as a whole.
• epress world protocol is the interoperability protocol used by nodes.
• epress node is the node software you install and operate.

I cannot open http://localhost:8543. What should I check?

• Curl install: Run cd ~/epress && npm run status
• Docker: Run docker ps to confirm container is running
• Check logs for errors: docker logs -f my-epress-node
• Verify port 8543 is not occupied by another service

How do I restart my node?

Curl install:

cd ~/epress && npm run stop && npm run start

Docker:

docker stop my-epress-node
docker start my-epress-node

How do I update to the latest version?

Curl install:

cd ~/epress && git pull && npm install && npm run build && npm run stop && npm run start

Docker:

docker pull ghcr.io/epressworld/epress
docker stop my-epress-node
docker rm my-epress-node
docker run -d -p 8543:8543 -p 8544:8544 -v epress-data:/app/data --name my-epress-node ghcr.io/epressworld/epress

Can I change default ports?

Yes. Adjust the port mappings or environment variables. Keep internal ports unchanged and only modify the host-side ports.