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Petite Abeille petite.abeille at gmail.com
Wed Mar 3 09:18:43 GMT 2021
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☿️://☿️
Toward the end of his seminal "The Mercury protocol" gemlog †, Solderpunk raises the following questions:
• How much more difficult is Gemini to implement than Mercury?• What are the things Gemini can do which Mercury cannot?• How much do we value those things?• Is the difference in implementation effort commensurate with the value of the extra abilities gained?• Is there anything Mercury can do which Gemini can't?
With a concrete ☿️ Gemini definition at hand, we can now compare and contrast it with Gemini proper:
☿️ gemini — a minimalist gemini protocolhttps://lists.orbitalfox.eu/archives/gemini/2021/005851.html
☿️ gemini — estheticshttps://lists.orbitalfox.eu/archives/gemini/2021/005852.html
➊ HOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT IS GEMINI TO IMPLEMENT THAN MERCURY?
Both are trivial to implement — everything else being equal.
☿️ Gemini is more essentialist than Gemini proper — less moving parts overall☿️ Gemini doesn't mandate TLS by default — Gemini's albatross☿️ Gemini text/gemini is more streamlined, with only one essential construct: the link
➋ WHAT ARE THE THINGS GEMINI CAN DO WHICH MERCURY CANNOT?
None.
☿️ Gemini can run over TLS like Gemini proper, given the appropriate multiaddr support: /dns/host.xyz/tcp/1965/tls☿️ Gemini can express all of Gemini various line types solely using the link construct☿️ Gemini can do all of what Gemini proper can — just differently
➌ HOW MUCH DO WE VALUE THOSE THINGS?
Depends who "we" is.
Technically speaking, there are no capabilities differences — it all boils down to esthetics and sensibilities.
➍ IS THE DIFFERENCE IN IMPLEMENTATION EFFORT COMMENSURATE WITH THE VALUE OF THE EXTRA ABILITIES GAINED?
☿️ Gemini has a more focused value proposition than Gemini proper — which doesn't add any extra abilities per se. Both protocols do the same —just differently.
➎ IS THERE ANYTHING MERCURY CAN DO WHICH GEMINI CAN'T?
Yes.
☿️ Gemini frees Gemini proper from its TLS albatross — a significant simplification☿️ Gemini introduces a flexible connection mechanism — multiaddr☿️ Gemini is conceptually more consistent and streamlined — the very essence of Gemini
In conclusion:
☿️ Gemini can do more with less☿️ Gemini embodies the essential qualities of Gemini proper
That's all folks.
±0¢
† https://portal.mozz.us/gemini/gemini.circumlunar.space/users/solderpunk/gemlog/the-mercury-protocol.gmi?raw=1
Archived at: https://web.archive.org/web/20210302133216/https://portal.mozz.us/gemini/gemini.circumlunar.space/users/solderpunk/gemlog/the-mercury-protocol.gmi?raw=1