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Phil Leblanc philanc at gmail.com
Thu Jun 25 19:48:04 BST 2020
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On Thu, Jun 25, 2020 at 4:04 PM solderpunk <solderpunk at sdf.org> wrote:
a quick request for disambiguation, regarding the SUV
analogy: is the objection here mostly on the grounds of prefering
minimalism, simplicity, easier DIYability? Or is there actually an
explicit environmental component here, regarding the energy overhead of
encryption?
_minimalism_: as a personal taste and aesthetic principle, Yes. Alsoa guiding principle, as frugality.
_simplicity_: Yes, by far the most important reason -- as in "lessmoving parts", "no black box". Easily understanding all the core partsto the ground Grasping it all at the same time without digging deep.
It relates to "_explainability_": explain sockets and basic networkto a beginner and they will grasp Gemini without pain - it could evenbe a basic example of how to use sockets
Back to the analogy: Show me a bicycle, I understand immediately howit works - except maybe the freewheel :-) Show me the modern SUVengine fuel injection system. I somehow _know_ what it does. I know itis very efficient. I know the black box contains powerful MCUs withsophisticated algorithms. I don't really feel I understand it.
I remember a Python core developer coming up with a nice motto for aPython conference many years ago: "It fits my brain". Gemini, withoutTLS fits my brain. A bicycle, even an old car may fit my brain. Amodern car does not anymore.
_easier DIYability_: Yes. closely related to simplicity. A _veryrefreshing_ aspect of Gemini is "it is so simple you can implement itin a few hours. -- Ooops... and for TLS? -- it is very simple. Justcall this [big] shared library. -- Hmm ... if I call a big TLS librarywhere it becomes complex, I could as well _very easily_ build aHTTP/HTML client by calling libcurl, right? And arguably, I can findlibcurl in as many platforms as libtls!
I think it relates also to hardware hobbyists. I don't mean theRaspberry Pi sort of thing (actually more powerful than hardly oldPCs). I mean rather Arduino-like boards. I could imagine some smartguys will or have already implemented a ultra minimal TCP stack, andPPP to an internet gateway and could use Gemini -- ... probably notwith TLS.
Phil