Good morning L

A client is a program that allows a user to subscribe to/publish notes.

An implementation is a specific way that source code can be written that adheres to the Nostr protocol. Strfry, Damus iOS app, Nostream, Amethyst are all implementations of the protocol, some to act as relays and some to act as clients.

An instance is an implementation that is currently running.

**Client**: Think of the client like a TV. It's what you use to watch your favorite shows. In the computer world, a client is a program (like a web browser or an app) that you use to look at websites or use online services.

**Instance**: it's like having your own personal diary. Imagine a lot of people have the same type of diary, but the one you write in is just yours. In the computer world, an instance is like having a program that many people can use, but each person is using their own separate copy of it.

**Implementation**: This is like the recipe for a cake. The recipe (implementation) is the instructions on how to make the cake (a program or feature). It tells you what ingredients you need and what steps to follow.

So, in the world of `nostr` (which is a way for people to share messages and stuff online without one big company controlling everything):

- The **client** is like the app on your phone or computer that you use to send messages or see what others have posted.

- An **instance** is like if you and a bunch of people are using the same app, but each one is separate and working on its own.

- **Implementation** is how the smart people who make the app decide to write the code that makes the app work. It's like their recipe for making the app.

A little less eli5 but more accurate:

1. **Client**: In the context of a software application or system, a client refers to the program or tool that a user directly interacts with. For instance, in the case of a web service, the client could be a web browser or a dedicated app that you use to access the service. The client communicates with a server or another system to request data or services.

2. **Instance**: An instance generally refers to a specific, single realization or occurrence of an application, service, or object. In the context of software, it often means a running copy of a program or an individual object created from a class (in object-oriented programming). For example, if you have a web server software, each running copy of that server on different machines or in different processes can be considered an instance.

3. **Implementation**: This is the actual coding or realization of a specific algorithm, functionality, or design. It is essentially how a concept or design is executed in practice. For instance, if you have a design for a messaging system, the implementation would be the actual code and technology stack used to make this messaging system work.

In the context of `nostr` these terms apply like so:

- A **client** would be the application or interface that you use to interact with the `nostr` network.

- An **instance** might refer to a particular running version of a `nostr` relay or server.

- An **implementation** in `nostr` would be the specific way in which the protocol is coded or realized in a particular client or relay.

i guess everyone else sufficiently explained the real differences between these things...

for awesome-nostr the instances itself is also a relic of the past - when i started it there were few running instances of clients so the popular one were listed there. over time that section became redundant and i'll remove it now