For people who want to know -- Gemini is a new Internet protocol that:
* Is heavier than gopher
* Is lighter than the web
* Will not replace either
* Strives for maximum power to weight ratio
* Takes user privacy very seriously
@atomicpoet why do some programmers like to reinvent the wheel?
@voidabyss What is being re-invented?
@atomicpoet http protocol if I understand correctly
@voidabyss No, this works differently. For one thing, there's nothing resembling HTML. You can't even send images through Gemini.
Basically, this is somewhere between gopher and the web. You can create headings, but you there's no rich media.
@atomicpoet wow so it's worst then http, I appreciate the effort developing a new protocol, but why the hassle? There are some many beautiful projects a programmer can contribute to I.E #activitypub #fediverse etc.. Why bother with a protocole with no rich media support and needs a special browser to access the content?
@voidabyss It was interesting to read about Gemini, but I agree with you, it seems to be reinventing a lot without enough justification.
I just kept thinking, Why not write a dumbed down web browser without the functions they don't want? And then their website addresses that very question... unconvincingly.
It seems to me they're mainly writing a protocol to bind users' hands and overcome a problem of finding content, which is not what I'd consider a protocol-level task.
@crcarlin expecting a normal user (not in the tech space) to use another browser to access a text based web content is dilutional, we are not in 1984 anymore.
For me I am just impressed by the passion and determination some programmers have to develop a new protocol from scratch even though there is no adoption nor monetization path to it, it's remarquable!
>Sounds like they're avoiding rich media so that people with only marginal communication links can still access text-centric content, and that group of users will be smaller every year as fast communication continues to expand.
They need to develop a service that convert modern blogs news site, social media posts etc... to Gemini compatible format so it is accessible with their browser. Who is going to pay for that service?
>Seems to me a filtering web proxy would realize that goal, though.
Agree, nitter and invidious both do a great job to proxy twitter and youtube content.
@voidabyss I don't disagree, however, keep in mind that one of their goals seems to be providing access to content for people who can't really access the web as it is now.
Sounds like they're avoiding rich media so that people with only marginal communication links can still access text-centric content, and that group of users will be smaller every year as fast communication continues to expand.
Seems to me a filtering web proxy would realize the same goal, though.