My Desire for Gemini

2023-05-24

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Recently there has been a big stir about a new service on Gemini called Geminispace^. Almost everything that can be said about the service can be said, so while I do have some thoughts about it, I won't belabor any points here. Instead, I found myself reflecting this evening on the protocol and what it means to me.

My attraction to Gemini largely stems from its ease of deployment relative to Web sites and other Internet services. Provisioning public access is usually the hardest part: otherwise, all one needs is a certificate, a ready-to-run server package, and an open port. I know Gopher is even easier to set up and manage, but Gemini's ability to provide user authentication gives it enough power for my use cases.

I had, and in many ways still have, hope that Gemini's simplicity might inspire more people to self-host. I love the concept of ordinary people running one program on their local device and instantly being able to share information with others around the world using simple, lightweight and open protocols. For me, Gemini fills such a niche perfectly.

I realize most people have no intention to self-host, and for the majority of devices--especially mobile ones--it's an outright impossibility. Gemini alone won't solve that problem, and if anything about the surging popularity of Geminispace saddens me, it's acceptance of that truth.

Maybe I'm misguided to view Gemini as a force for open, decentralized technology. But that won't stop me from using it as such.

^ Geminispace

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[Last updated: 2023-05-24]