Pubky uses a homeserver model, which is chosen by the key holder. (Via PKDNS).

To bootstrap the network, we are of course providing a free homeserver, so people can post in the app.

That means, like with relays, spammers can infinitely make accounts and use diskspace.

...but we arent ready for that, or for scale, we are still in beta!

So, instead of charging fees or asking for SMS, or Gmail, Bluesky or others, we are regulating the flow with invite codes until we, and the code, is ready for primetime.

In the end, people will be able to host themselves, or choose any host provider as homeserver, all while still controlling their own discovery via pkdns/pkarr. That just is not very easy yet.

So, the codes help me regulate flow into the beta, and prevent spam before we have ways to mitigate it. Nothing nefarious!