NI PY, short for Nate's Inane Post Yeeter, is a free command-line client written in Python for people who want to publish plain text posts from a terminal. It goes a step beyond a single network: one message can be sent to several Nostr relays, to servers that support the Mastodon API, and to BlueSky in the same run. It suits developers, hobbyists and anyone who would rather script social posts than click through a graphical app.
Treat it as an experimental project. The last code update was in May 2024, more than two years before this page was written, and the author calls it a work in progress. The documentation mentions Windows and gives an install route through Python and pip, but treat Windows support as unverified. Read the safety notes below before you run anything.
What Is NI PY and Who Is It For?
NI PY is aimed at people who want to post text from a keyboard rather than a phone or browser. Think of developers who automate status updates, hobbyists who like working in a terminal, or open source contributors who want a small tool they can read from start to finish.
The project's name is deliberately playful. The author describes it as a serious project with a joking name, and the tool reflects that mix. It does one job, plain text posting, and leaves the rest to you.
Typical use cases include announcing a release of your own software to several networks at once, sharing a short note from a machine where a graphical client is impractical, or testing how the same message looks on different platforms. Because it is a Python script, it can also sit at the end of a larger workflow, where another program produces the text and NI PY sends it.
How Cross-Posting Works Across Networks
Cross-posting means sending the same message to more than one platform in a single action. NI PY applies that idea to three different systems, and each one works a little differently.
On Nostr, a post goes to relays you choose. Relays store and forward messages, so sending to several of them improves the chance that followers see the post. On servers that support the Mastodon API, the message is published to an account on that server. On BlueSky, which runs on the AT Protocol, the post goes to a user account through that network's own infrastructure.
Because each destination needs its own account or relay list, most of the work happens during setup. Expect to spend time on credentials and configuration before the first post goes out. Once that is done, one line of text can reach every destination you configured.
The same message will not always look identical everywhere. Character limits, formatting support and reply threading differ between systems, so a post written for one network may need trimming for another.
Key Terms: Relays, Keys and Accounts
Several terms come up repeatedly when you use a tool like this, and it helps to learn them before you start.
A relay is a server that accepts and distributes Nostr events. Anyone can run one, and most users connect to more than one. Choosing relays is a decision about reach and reliability, so it deserves more thought than a default setting.
On Nostr, your identity is a key pair. The public key is shared with others, while the private key signs your posts and must stay secret. Anyone who obtains the private key can publish as you.
The Mastodon API is an interface used by Mastodon and compatible servers, so a client can post to an account on any server that exposes it. AT Protocol is the open framework behind BlueSky, where accounts are tied to a handle and a hosting provider. Understanding these terms makes the configuration much easier to follow, and they apply across many other clients as well.
Key features
Multi-network posting
Plain text focus
Terminal-first design
Short Python script name
Supported coins
NI PY is associated with Nostr in its documentation. It posts to Nostr relays you choose, to servers that support the Mastodon API, and to BlueSky. It is a messaging tool rather than a wallet, so it does not hold or move coins.
How to install NI PY on Windows
- 1
Install Python and pip
Download Python only from the official website, python.org, and make sure pip is included in the installation. Open a terminal after installing and check that both python and pip respond with version numbers. Without these two tools, none of the following steps will work.
- 2
Install the required packages
In the terminal, run: pip install setuptools pynostr mastodon.py atproto keyring dbus-python. The project's documentation gives this command for Windows, for macOS, and for Linux distributions that lack keyring or dbus-python in their repositories. Let the installation finish before moving on, and note any errors it prints.
- 3
Get the program code
Download the source from the project's GitHub repository at github.com/0n4t3/nipy, or use the GitHub Releases page to get the latest version, currently v1.1.1. Extract the files into a folder you can find easily. Avoid placing the folder in a system directory where it may be harder to manage.
-
Verify and run
Before you run anything, read the code or compare a published checksum with your file if the release provides one. Then open a terminal in the program folder and start it with Python. Send a test message to an account you control to confirm the setup works.
System requirements
- Windows, as mentioned in the project documentation; Windows support has not been verified
- Python with pip installed, so the program can be set up from a terminal
- Python packages installed via pip for the command-line tool to run: setuptools, pynostr, mastodon.py, atproto, keyring and dbus-python
- An internet connection to reach the Nostr relays, Mastodon API servers or BlueSky you post to
- An account on each network you plan to post to
How to use NI PY
Once installed, NI PY is driven entirely from the terminal. The workflow is simple: decide where the message should go, write it as plain text, and send it.
- Open a terminal in the folder where you extracted the program.
- Set up the destinations you want to use: Nostr relays, a Mastodon API server account, and your BlueSky account.
- Check that the credentials for each network are stored correctly before sending anything.
- Write your message as plain text. Keep it short and do not rely on formatting.
- Run the program with your message and confirm the destinations in the output.
- Open each network in a browser or app to confirm the post appeared.
- Note which destinations worked so you can refine the list next time.
Start with a test message to an account you control. Once the output looks right and the posts appear where expected, use it for real announcements. Because the project is still a work in progress, reading the terminal output after every run is the best way to catch failures early.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the source code published on GitHub
- Sends one plain text message to Nostr, Mastodon API servers and BlueSky in one run
- Terminal-first design that fits scripts and repeatable workflows
- Small Python codebase that is easy to read and modify
- Last code update in May 2024, more than two years before 2026
- Described by its author as a work in progress
- Windows support is mentioned in the documentation but not verified
- Command line only, with no graphical interface
- Setup depends on several pip packages, and dbus-python can complicate installs on some systems
- Limited to plain text posting
Is NI PY safe?
NI PY is not a wallet, but it handles credentials for your social accounts, including Nostr private keys, so treat it with care. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository at github.com/0n4t3/nipy, and avoid copies offered on third-party download sites. If a release page lists a SHA-256 checksum or a signature, compare it with your file before running anything. Never enter a private key or account password on a third-party website, including sites that offer an upgraded or unlocked version. The project has not been updated since May 2024, so review the code before running it, and check the latest version on the official website.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/0n4t3/nipy. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
NI PY occupies a narrow niche. Nostr Commander RS is also a CLI-based Nostr client, but NI PY's distinctive feature is that it also sends the same text to Mastodon API servers and BlueSky. NAK is a console toolkit for working with Nostr at a detailed level, so it suits people who handle events directly rather than people who want multi-network posting. Gossip is a desktop client written in Rust, and Amethyst is a Nostr client for everyday use, so both give you a visual timeline that NI PY does not offer. If you want a window and a feed, choose one of those. If you want a scriptable poster, NI PY fits better.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v1.1.1
- Last update
- 5 May 2024
- Windows support
- Unverified (Windows mentioned in docs)
- Source code
- github.com/0n4t3/nipy
Frequently asked questions
NI PY is a command-line client that sends plain text posts to Nostr relays, to servers that support the Mastodon API, and to BlueSky. It is aimed at people who prefer scripting or terminal work over graphical apps. A single message can go to several destinations in one run, which saves copying the same text into multiple apps.
Yes. NI PY is free and open source, and its source code is published on GitHub. Accounts on the networks you post to, such as Nostr relays, Mastodon servers or BlueSky, are separate and follow their own rules. Check those rules before you automate posting.
The project's documentation mentions Windows and describes an install route through Python and pip. Windows support has not been verified, so expect to troubleshoot the setup. Start with a test post to an account you control, and read the terminal output carefully for errors.
It can be, if you get it from the official source and check the download. Use the project's GitHub repository, compare any published SHA-256 checksum or signature, and never enter a private key on a third-party website. Because the code was last updated in May 2024, review it before running it on your machine.
Yes, the program is designed to send the same plain text message to Nostr relays, servers that support the Mastodon API and BlueSky in one run. Each destination needs its own valid account or configuration. The post may also need editing to fit the rules and length limits of each network.
The last code update was in May 2024, which is more than two years before this page was written, so do not expect quick fixes for new platform changes. The latest version listed is v1.1.1, and the author calls the project a work in progress. Plan for manual troubleshooting if something breaks.
Nostr is an open protocol for social messaging built around relays, which are servers that store and pass along signed messages. Users are identified by cryptographic key pairs rather than a central account system. Clients such as NI PY post to relays that you choose, which gives you control over where your messages go.
Verdict
NI PY is a niche tool for people who are comfortable in a terminal and want to send plain text posts to Nostr, Mastodon-compatible servers and BlueSky in one step. It is free, open source and short to read, which makes it useful for experiments, personal scripts and quick announcements. It is not a good first choice for someone who wants a full social app. Its last code update in May 2024 and its work-in-progress status mean it may need manual fixes. Try it with a test account before relying on it for anything important.