The url must be the hostname only, NO SLASHES, like this: lemmy.dbzer0.com, don't use https://, don't append a slash afterwards (lemmy.dbzer0.com/), only the hostname including the subdomain if it has it (in this case, lemmy).
If the instance has blocked the IP address from the server, or it is stuck and its API is not working correctly, it returns "Not a Lemmy instance" (I am too busy to fix this right now).
If the url is not formatted in a way it can process it, it will say Invalid URL. Better processing can come in the future. I won't be updating it now.
In the backend, it just scrapes https://fba.ryona.agency/?domain={url} and uses the api https://{instance}/api/v3/federated_instances
PRs welcome.
Honestly it works better when deployed locally in a development environment. I think Vercel's IP address is just blocked by cloudflare and other blacklists that stop automated stuff? Idk. Can check back in a few days.
If you read the post, that's a known bug. It doesn't work for lemmy world. I think lemmy world doesn't allow the API to be used from the ip address I send the requests from. A local deploy fixes this issue as the IP address of your local computer would fare better. This is just a speculation. It worked for me locally. Sorry to disappoint.
No worries, I'm just trying to learn and looking for tools that can help me support the broader community as a fellow God.
For example, I'm still not sure I've got federation set up correctly because of some funniness around discovery. I think it might actually be the way lemmy.ml is set up.
Any tools that could help admin are just golden so keep cracking.
Maybe check out my hover cards on /c/plugins@sh.itjust.works, I use them to check account ages, amount of posts and stuff like that just by hovering. This helps with moderation. Dunno if you need to moderate rn. Hopefully I can add more buttons to it later like block, ban, send message, etc.