A simple web we own
This article passionately argues for reclaiming the web from corporate control, proposing that individuals and cooperatives should own their hardware and use simple software like Markdown to create content. It challenges the 'Big Co' monopoly on web publication by highlighting the affordability of small computers and the ease of modern static site generation. Hacker News readers are drawn to the anti-Big Tech sentiment and the author's concrete vision for a more user-owned internet, despite some skepticism about its practical implementation.
The Lowdown
The author champions a return to a "simple web we own," advocating for a paradigm shift where individuals and cooperatives exert ownership and control over their hardware and software, thereby decoupling from the corporate-dominated internet. This shift is presented as a counter-narrative to the current state of a surveillance-driven and "enshittified" web.
- The piece critiques the prevailing assumption that only large corporations can facilitate easy web publication, arguing that such systems are prone to decay and lack true innovation, primarily serving to maintain a hype cycle for profit.
- It highlights Markdown as a crucial, simple tool for content creation, dramatically lowering the technical barrier to publishing compared to the early web or complex Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress.
- The author emphasizes the revolutionary change in computing costs, showcasing how inexpensive devices like the Raspberry Pi can serve as personal web servers, making individual ownership of computing resources more accessible than ever before.
- A key distinction is made between merely owning hardware and actually controlling the software on it, illustrating how corporate control over software can undermine hardware ownership (e.g., forced obsolescence).
- The article promotes a local-first approach to the web, where content is managed on personal devices or small home networks, offering a path to aggregate news and interact with content without corporate intermediaries.
- The author introduces their open-source
Antenna Appas a practical example of software that simplifies the process of converting Markdown into full websites with features like RSS feeds and sitemaps.
Ultimately, the author encourages individuals to reassert their agency by owning and controlling their digital infrastructure, fostering a web where users are co-owners and participants rather than mere tenants and products, offering a "tiny home" approach to the internet.
The Gossip
The GitHub Pages Paradox
A prominent critique emerged, highlighting the irony that the author, while advocating against reliance on "Big Co," hosts their public website via GitHub Pages, a service owned by Microsoft. This observation sparked debate about the practicalities and compromises inherent in trying to de-corporate the web, suggesting that complete independence is extremely difficult, if not impossible, in the current ecosystem.
Decentralization's Demands
Commenters explored the significant technical and social challenges of truly decentralizing the web. Concerns were raised about exposing personal IP addresses (and thus home locations) when self-hosting, the need for intermediary proxy services, and the cost/effort involved. Beyond technical hurdles, the discussion delved into the social complexities of co-ownership, including questions of trust, responsibility, power dynamics, and the critical need for effective content moderation and identity verification in federated systems.
Simple Solutions' Supporters
Despite the critiques, many commenters resonated with the article's core message and shared similar aspirations for a simpler, more user-controlled web. Some chimed in with their own projects and initiatives aimed at making self-hosting and accessible web content creation a reality, indicating a shared desire within the HN community for alternatives to the corporate-dominated internet.