If there’s one thing I can give Gemini credit for, is that it’s simple enough that should something break HTTP everywhere all at once, maybe this could be brought up, where nerds could talk to each other. Actually, nerds can talk to each via Gemini now even without a total internet apocalypse.
It’s a novelty kind of communication, like cups tied with a taut string, or short wave radio.
While I mostly agree with this, I would point out that mandatory TLS introduces a decent bit of complexity, both in implementing TLS itself (where you should really use one of the established TLS libraries in your language of choice) and in figuring out what to do with certificates (TOFU, etc).
It’s still a very simple protocol of course, but not quite so simple that you can negotiate a connecting manually over telnet, for example. (Some versions of netcat, on the other hand, do support TLS.)
Isn’t that a (implementation) detail beyond the point of uselessness though? The big point for me is there. To keep it with the metaphor, that tree is also quite a complex structure, yet still useless.
Excuse me if i’m a bit evangelical, but IPFS (or maybe scuttlebutt for multi-way communication) would be much better suited to that.
I really fail to see the point in server-based stuff nowadays unless you’re in a specific controlled environment where distribution would just be inefficient. P2P is simply the way to go for something that you want to work with whatever infrastructure can be cobbled together from tin cans and hairpins.
Please please point me to how I can join the p2p community. I too strongly believe it’s the way forward but don’t know what protocols/things people are using
If there’s one thing I can give Gemini credit for, is that it’s simple enough that should something break HTTP everywhere all at once, maybe this could be brought up, where nerds could talk to each other. Actually, nerds can talk to each via Gemini now even without a total internet apocalypse.
It’s a novelty kind of communication, like cups tied with a taut string, or short wave radio.
Some of us still browse gopher.
This made me lol
While I mostly agree with this, I would point out that mandatory TLS introduces a decent bit of complexity, both in implementing TLS itself (where you should really use one of the established TLS libraries in your language of choice) and in figuring out what to do with certificates (TOFU, etc).
It’s still a very simple protocol of course, but not quite so simple that you can negotiate a connecting manually over telnet, for example. (Some versions of netcat, on the other hand, do support TLS.)
Isn’t that a (implementation) detail beyond the point of uselessness though? The big point for me is there. To keep it with the metaphor, that tree is also quite a complex structure, yet still useless.
Yes, I agree. My comment was more a response to the parent comment’s suggestion that it is akin to a cup and string in terms of simplicity.
Excuse me if i’m a bit evangelical, but IPFS (or maybe scuttlebutt for multi-way communication) would be much better suited to that.
I really fail to see the point in server-based stuff nowadays unless you’re in a specific controlled environment where distribution would just be inefficient. P2P is simply the way to go for something that you want to work with whatever infrastructure can be cobbled together from tin cans and hairpins.
Please please point me to how I can join the p2p community. I too strongly believe it’s the way forward but don’t know what protocols/things people are using