💾 Archived View for fallible.dev › 2021 › hello.gmi captured on 2021-12-03 at 12:44:48. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
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Nov. 23, 2021
Today, I have launched my Gemini server. Gemini is a protocol for the distribution of information in a minimalist way. You can distribute any file using Gemini, but the core is lightweight pages written in a plain text format. Besides that, the protocol takes care to keep privacy by avoiding any tracking feature.
Gemini has a preference for written communication. Gemini pages can have only text. The text format includes paragraphs, lists, headers, quotes, preformatted text, and links. For any other format, links provide a way to download files to your local computer.
For a long time, I have hesitated about starting my website. After two or three first steps, I stopped being overwhelmed by the current complexity that web standards have reached. If you want to have control of your publication, you need to take care of many technical specifications and produce an appealing visual design. You ended up diverting attention from the content.
One thing that bothers me a lot is the demand that publications should have illustrations to attract reader's attention. If your publications do not have pictures, many readers do not stop to review the content. Moreover, they tend to underestimate your work without seeing it. I am not discrediting audiovisual content; what I am saying that it is not appropriate for all cases.
If you want to have a spot in the web world, you have to work hard to keep your site running. Of course, you can take the easy way: using corporate-controlled platforms in which you publish immediately, but you lose control of how you are delivering content, especially about privacy. I refuse that.
Regardless of all the above, I think written content is the best way to share thoughts; I like doing that most simply. Therefore, Gemini has become the dream platform I was waiting for. I am excited to interact with a community that shares my values about simplicity in communication.