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Simple, to Different People

Things like Gemini, BSD, SysV init, which are often popular among people who want to take a break from the growing complexity of computer software and the web, are often described as 'simple'. But simple means different things to different people. Gemini is 'simple' to me as a computer nerd / programmer because 'simple' means to me that it is less complex under the hood than the world of HTTP, HTML, JS, etc.

It's important to remember, though, that simple is either something that is less complex, or something that is easier to do or use. These sometimes go together but often they don't. I feel like a lot of people, not really in the Gemini world but elsewhere, try to argue less complex software is more or less always easier to use without thinking outside of their perspective as knowledgable developers, admins, or power users.

Gemini is simple to me, as a programmer, but it's not simple to someone who is used to turning on a PC, opening a web browser and reading things on the web. It's simple to understand (and write content for), but not simple as in easy to use as a reader. You can certainly get a nice client for Windows and Mac but you have to find them first. To search you need have discovered that GUS exists and how to get there. You don't have to find a web browser. It's just there on your computer already and will likely Google whatever words you type into the address bar... simple... I mean easy!

Simple is one of those overloaded words in the software world, like 'Free'. I've talked to people and told them x is simple, and realize that it's usually the wrong word to use. The default out there is simple as easy to use, not simple as in easy to understand. I'll have to start saying 'less complex' or 'easier to understand' a lot more instead.