i think the article does a wonderful job at illustrating the point without even uttering a single word

  • HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.orgEnglish
    44·
    21 hours ago

    Interestingly, there is a “small web” or “frugal” tech alternative which goes back to the basics:

    http://geminiprotocol.net/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_(protocol)

    https://github.com/kr1sp1n/awesome-gemini

    With a client/browser like Amfora or Rosy Crow, this “small web” is very pleasant to read! (And easy to set up an own server on a Raspberry Pi).

    (Note: It’s not related in any manner to the Google AI stuff.)

    • gandalf_der_13te@feddit.orgOPEnglish
      2·
      14 hours ago

      yeah i’ve heard about gemini but i don’t like that they don’t just work over HTTP (which would be entirely doable, btw). so i need to download a custom client or a browser plug-in, and i don’t like it. i shouldn’t have to install another 3rd-party software on my device just to interact with online content which the browser can already do perfectly fine.

      • HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.orgEnglish
        5·
        10 hours ago

        An important point is that advertising, tracking, all the junk which the OP link demonstrates, is technically not possible in the gemini protocol. It is designed to be minimal and serve text and single media files.

        The gemini client is not a site-specific app, but a very lightweight browser for this protocol. All available clients are free and libre ipen source programs.

        • gandalf_der_13te@feddit.orgOPEnglish
          2·
          6 hours ago

          An important point is that advertising, tracking, all the junk which the OP link demonstrates, is technically not possible in the gemini protocol.

          btw this is false. companies can still write a small text to advertise their product or create an advertisement image and distribute it over gemini. if the protocol allows data transfer, then it also allows distribution of ads.

      • HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.orgEnglish
        4·
        10 hours ago

        so i need to download a custom client or a browser plug-in, and i don’t like it.

        The slight technical ceremony is, a bit tongue-in-cheek, needed to keep the umwashed masses away.

        And the technical and media limitations are - and here I am totally serious - needed to keep boundless greedy corporarions away which sooner or later destroy every living or creative thing they touch.

        • gandalf_der_13te@feddit.orgOPEnglish
          1·
          6 hours ago

          needed to keep the umwashed masses away.

          and it also keeps me away. i don’t like non-standard software for use-cases where existing software can already do the job well. that’s just artificially fucked-up architecture. artificial scarcity