Publishing Anchor Lexicons

This document explains how the app.dropanchor.* lexicons are published using the AT Protocol's repository-based lexicon resolution.

The Anchor lexicons are published as AT Protocol records on hamster.farm:

~/go/bin/glot status lexicons/
# 🟣 app.dropanchor.checkin
# 🟣 app.dropanchor.comment
# 🟣 app.dropanchor.like

Lexicons are published as com.atproto.lexicon.schema records in an AT Protocol repository, following the official spec.

1. NSID: app.dropanchor.checkin
2. Reverse domain: dropanchor.app
3. DNS TXT lookup: _lexicon.dropanchor.app → did:plc:aq7owa5y7ndc2hzjz37wy7ma
4. DID resolves to PDS: https://hamster.farm
5. Fetch record: at://did:plc:aq7owa5y7ndc2hzjz37wy7ma/com.atproto.lexicon.schema/app.dropanchor.checkin

To republish lexicons after making changes:

# Set credentials
export HANDLE=tijs.org
export APP_PASSWORD=your-app-password

# Run the publish script
deno run --allow-net --allow-read --allow-env scripts/publish-lexicons.ts

The script uses putRecord so it will update existing records.

The DNS TXT record maps the app.dropanchor namespace to a DID:

_lexicon.dropanchor.app. IN TXT "did=did:plc:aq7owa5y7ndc2hzjz37wy7ma"

This DID (tijs.org on hamster.farm) hosts the lexicon schema records.

The repository-based approach (vs HTTP file hosting) provides:

• Self-hosted: Lexicons live on hamster.farm, fully under our control
• AT Protocol native: Uses standard record types and resolution
• Change detection: Updates visible via the firehose
• Portable: Can migrate to another PDS if needed

# Check DNS resolution
dig TXT _lexicon.dropanchor.app +short

# Check glot can find them
~/go/bin/glot status lexicons/
~/go/bin/glot check-dns lexicons/

# Fetch directly from PDS
curl -s "https://hamster.farm/xrpc/com.atproto.repo.getRecord?repo=did:plc:aq7owa5y7ndc2hzjz37wy7ma&collection=com.atproto.lexicon.schema&rkey=app.dropanchor.checkin" | jq .value.id

• AT Protocol Lexicon Spec
• Lexicon Resolution RFC