cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/24735701
See also:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_(protocol)
It is similar to the old gopher: text files, links, and images form a hypertext optimized for reading. Text is formatted like Markdown - but even simpler.
Clients display text, like an eBook, or images / media.
Servers can run on a PC or Raspberry Pi which needs half a Watt of power. No FAANG companies needed. No expert knowledge needed - not more difficult than running a file sharing client.
I think it is the right thing for defense of democracy and sharing your voice in the digital realm.
Edit: If you see comments here which kinda miss the point, appeal to emotions, have faulty logic, or depart from entirely incorrect assumptions: Please keep in mind that big US tech companies can’t say “that’s bad, how will we shovel money with this?”. Please use your critical thinking skills - they are much needed here!
Gemini can have competition of browsers: it’s feasible for one person to create a Gemini client completely, correctly and securely.
There are only ~2 web browsers left and making a new one at all is near impossible (forks with minor size changes are great n’ all but not meaningful enough to stop Google basically being in control).
And the only widely used browser not owned by big tech has about 2.2% market share now. And it is falling.
Gemini does less than nothing to solve this though?
It provides a way to share “web” pages (text, images, links) that can be read by a simple minimal client. Without needing a web browser