Zapping the Nostr Community with Zapper.fun

If you’re part of the Nostr ecosystem, you’ve likely heard of "zaps"—those delightful little Lightning Network payments that let you tip or reward others with Bitcoin satoshis (sats).

Whether it’s for a witty meme, a helpful relay operator, or a hardworking developer, zapping is a fun way to show appreciation in this decentralized social media world.

Enter Zapper.fun, a micro-app that makes zapping easier and more versatile than ever.

Let’s explore what Zapper.fun is, how it works, and how you can use it to bulk zap Nostr developers, relay operators, memers, and others.

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What is Zapper.fun?

Zapper.fun is a lightweight web application designed to streamline the process of sending zaps on Nostr, a decentralized protocol for social media that’s all about freedom, privacy, and community.

Unlike some Nostr clients that limit zapping to specific events or users, Zapper.fun lets you zap any Nostr event—be it a post, a profile, or something else entirely.

It’s built for flexibility, with features like zap splits (sharing tips among multiple recipients) and seamless integration into other apps.

Think of it as your go-to zapping Swiss Army knife.

Whether you’re rewarding a single user or spreading sats across a group, Zapper.fun has you covered. It’s accessible via zapper.fun or its sibling domain zapper.nostrapps.org, and it leverages the Lightning Network for fast, low-cost transactions.

How Does Zapper.fun Work?

At its core, Zapper.fun simplifies the zapping process by acting as a bridge between your Lightning wallet and the Nostr network. Here’s a quick rundown of how it operates:

1. Access the Tool: Visit zapper.fun or zapper.nostrapps.org. You’ll need a browser with JavaScript enabled, as it’s a web-based micro-app.
2. Specify Your Target: Zapper.fun uses Nostr’s bech32 identifiers—like npub (for user profiles), note (for posts), nevent (for event references), or naddr (for addressable content)—to pinpoint who or what you’re zapping. You pass this info via a URL query parameter (more on that below).
3. Set the Amount and Options: You can customize the zap amount in sats, add a comment, and choose the zap type (e.g., public, anonymous, or a standard Lightning payment). There’s even an auto_send option to automate the process.
4. Pay with Lightning: Once you confirm the details, Zapper.fun generates a Lightning invoice. You pay it using your preferred Lightning wallet (like Alby, Wallet of Satoshi, or Phoenix), and the zap is sent.
5. Broadcast to Relays: After payment, the zap is broadcast as a Nostr event (kind 9735, per NIP-57) to specified relays, letting the recipient and the network know about your generosity.

The technical magic happens via an endpoint called /zap, which accepts parameters like:

• id: The target’s bech32 identifier (required).
• amount: The number of sats (optional).
• comment: A message to include (optional).
• type: Options like "zap" (default), "anon-zap," or "send-sats" (optional).
• auto_send: Set to "true" for automatic sending (optional).

For example, a URL like https://zapper.fun/zap?id=npub1example&amount=100&comment=Great%20work! would zap 100 sats to the user with the npub1example public key, along with a "Great work!" note.

Bulk Zapping Nostr Developers, Relay Operators, Memers, and More

Now, let’s get to the fun part: bulk zapping! Imagine you want to reward a group of Nostr contributors—developers building cool clients, relay operators keeping the network alive, or memers making you laugh.

Zapper.fun doesn’t have a built-in "bulk zap" button (yet!), but with a little creativity, you can use it to zap multiple people efficiently. Here’s how:

Step 1: Gather Your Targets

First, collect the npub public keys of the people you want to zap. These are the unique identifiers for Nostr users. For example:

• Developers: Find their npubs from project GitHub pages, Nostr profiles, or community lists (e.g., zapper.nostrapps.com lists app developers).
• Relay Operators: Check relay directories or posts on Nostr where operators share their npubs.
• Memers: Scroll your feed, note the npubs of meme lords, or ask them directly!

Let’s say you’ve got these three:

• Developer: npub1dev123
• Relay Operator: npub1relay456
• Memer: npub1meme789

Step 2: Plan Your Zap Strategy

Decide how much to zap each person. You could:

• Send a fixed amount (e.g., 100 sats each).
• Use zap splits to divide a total amount (e.g., 300 sats split evenly or weighted).

Zapper.fun supports zap splits, though the exact implementation might depend on how you structure the request. For simplicity, we’ll zap each person individually here, but you could experiment with splits by including multiple p tags in a custom zap request (more advanced—check the GitHub repo for details).

Step 3: Automate with a Script or Manual URLs

Since Zapper.fun works via URL parameters, you can either:

• Manually Zap: Open multiple browser tabs with pre-built URLs.
• Script It: Use a simple tool or script to automate the process.

Manual Method

Create URLs for each target. For example:

• Developer: https://zapper.fun/zap?id=npub1dev123&amount=100&comment=Thanks%20for%20the%20client!
• Relay Operator: https://zapper.fun/zap?id=npub1relay456&amount=100&comment=Keeping%20Nostr%20alive!
• Memer: https://zapper.fun/zap?id=npub1meme789&amount=100&comment=Top-tier%20meme!

Open each URL in a tab, pay the invoice with your Lightning wallet, and repeat. It’s quick for a small group but tedious for dozens.

Bulk Method with a Script

For a larger group, automate it! Here’s a basic Python script to generate and open Zapper.fun URLs (you’ll still need to pay manually unless your wallet supports automation):

python
import webbrowser

# List of targets: [npub, amount, comment]
targets = [
    ["npub1dev123", 100, "Thanks for the client!"],
    ["npub1relay456", 100, "Keeping Nostr alive!"],
    ["npub1meme789", 100, "Top-tier meme!"]
]

# Base URL
base_url = "https://zapper.fun/zap"

# Open each zap URL in a new tab
for npub, amount, comment in targets:
    url = f"{base_url}?id={npub}&amount={amount}&comment={comment.replace(' ', '%20')}"
    webbrowser.open_new_tab(url)

Save this as bulk_zap.py, edit the targets list with your npubs, amounts, and comments, then run it. It’ll open a tab for each zap—pay each invoice as they pop up. (Note: You’ll need Python installed, and this assumes your wallet can handle multiple payments quickly.)

Step 4: Execute and Celebrate

Whether manual or scripted, once you pay the invoices, Zapper.fun broadcasts the zaps to Nostr relays. Recipients will see the sats in their Lightning wallets, and if public, the zaps might show up on their profiles or posts (depending on their client). You’ve just spread some Nostr love!

Bonus: Zap Everyone with Nostrapps.com

Want to zap all Nostr app developers at once?

The zapper.nostrapps.com site has a handy feature under its "Nostr Zap" section.

Clicking the "Open Zapper" button there uses Zapper.fun to zap every developer listed on the site. It takes a moment to process, but it’s a one-click way to support the ecosystem.

Check it out if you’re feeling extra generous!

Why Bulk Zap?

Bulk zapping isn’t just about flexing your sats—it’s a way to:

• Support Developers: Fund the folks building Nostr clients and tools.
• Thank Relay Operators: Keep the network decentralized and running.
• Boost Memers: Encourage the creativity that makes Nostr fun.

Plus, it’s a great way to engage with the community and maybe get some zaps back in return!

Final Thoughts

Zapper.fun is a game-changer for Nostr zapping, offering flexibility and ease of use that standard clients can’t match.

Whether you’re tipping one person or bulk zapping a crowd, it’s a powerful tool to spread value in this decentralized world.

So, grab your Lightning wallet, fire up Zapper.fun, and start zapping—developers, relay operators, memers, and anyone else who’s making Nostr awesome.

Have you tried bulk zapping yet?

Share your experiences or favorite zap targets in the comments below (or on Nostr, of course).

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