Wander – A tiny, decentralised tool (just 2 files) to explore the small web
Wander offers a refreshingly minimalist, two-file solution for exploring the 'small web' of personal websites, echoing an earlier, more decentralized internet. This DIY, community-driven approach to web discovery resonates with Hacker News's appreciation for technical simplicity and self-hosting. It's a delightful throwback to personal web pages, fostering connection without the algorithmic noise of modern platforms.
The Lowdown
Wander is presented as an intriguing, lightweight tool designed to facilitate exploration of the 'small web,' a network composed of individual, self-maintained personal websites. It acts as a 'Wander console' that randomly navigates through sites contributed by its community, offering a stark contrast to the commercialized and algorithm-driven mainstream internet. The project emphasizes decentralization and a return to the roots of web publishing.
- Users set up their own Wander console by downloading a small ZIP file containing just two core files: 'index.html' and 'wander.js'.
- These files are then extracted and placed into a '/wander/' directory on their personal website.
- Further configuration involves editing the 'wander.js' file, following instructions provided on the project's Codeberg repository.
- Once their console is operational on their web server, users are encouraged to share its link in a community thread.
- The system operates on the principle that other Wander users will then add new consoles to their own networks, thereby organically expanding the 'Wander network' and fostering a interconnected web of personal content. This initiative aims to create a more intimate, human-curated browsing experience, allowing individuals to discover and share content within a self-organizing, decentralized community, bypassing the centralized gatekeepers of the modern internet.