no one knows the magical number of relays to use, however i recommend somewhere around a 8-10. this number can change if you're using specific relays for specific reasons such as local relays, archive relays, DM relays, contact list relays, search relays ,etc. that said, less is more does apply here.
Discussion
The thing I still don't have a good handle on is how events can propagate across relays. If I limit my publishing to one relay, how do they get to other relays?
When an npub who is connected to their relays responds with a comment or repost, the original note gets broadcast to the relays of the commentor
Ah, that answers it! Does that apply to zapped posts as well?
They don't, unless people's clients broadcast to their relays when they share or comment, such as Amethyst.
Are there any videos on this? I’m still trying my best to understand how relays work
I'm a software developer and a longtime enthusiastic user of decentralized technologies. the relay management and inspection is by far the part of nostr that eludes me the most and brings me the most anxiety.
I feel like I don't have (and can't get) a good handle on:
- which of my relays are being used for what across which clients
- what relay settings are being shared between clients (and how)
- how my .well-known/nostr.json relay list interacts with this
- given my current relay settings, which npubs' notes can I access very reliably vs which I'm getting by proxy/broadcast/reply
- no good way to keep notes on my current relay settings and why I have certain ones selected (after spending some time working on relay settings it seems rational, then 3 months later I don't remember what's what and/or what may have changed out in the world)
- etc....
I think one or two write relay is enough
I think I have about 10 going... I may narrow it down here soon. I'm still trying to figure out which ones are working the best/are the most reliable.
Quality > quantity
I have found this resource to explain quite well how to setup your relays - https://njump.me/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzq3svyhng9ld8sv44950j957j9vchdktj7cxumsep9mvvjthc2pjuqythwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnwdaehgu3wvfskuep0qq9hyetvv9uj6um9w36hqdkx3jn
I let go a few that were being targeted by the reply bots.
I'm seeing very few of those relies now but I don't know if they're still hitting every note like they were.