"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."
— T.S. Eliot
The Original Vision
The early vision of the internet was to create a space for preserving, sharing, and accessing public information across borders, platforms, and communities. It was a vision of a vast, decentralized library where knowledge would be freely accessible and resilient over time.
However, the current model, dominated by centralized servers and managed DNS systems, has deviated significantly from that original goal.
The Current Challenge
Today, information is often tied to centralized systems that depend on:
- Proprietary servers
- Costly infrastructure
- Ongoing support of individual content creators
- Company maintenance
If a server fails, a domain name expires, or a service is no longer maintained, valuable content can disappear from the public domain, sometimes permanently.
The Inefficient Model
Imagine this: a small website, designed to share niche information, must run a server 24/7, much like leaving the lights on in an empty house, hoping someone will walk by. The costs are significant:
- Energy consumption
- Network traffic
- Security risks
- Maintenance overhead
For many creators, maintaining always-on infrastructure to share a single article or a handful of blog posts is excessive.
A New Path Forward
A new model built around Markdown files as a distributed, perpetual content database could provide a solution. This approach offers several advantages:
- Simplicity: Easy to create and edit content
- Portability: Files can be shared and preserved locally
- Durability: Content survives beyond server lifetimes
- Accessibility: Readable by both humans and machines
How It Works
The preservation cycle consists of four key stages:
-
Content Creation
- Authors write in markdown format
- Content is version controlled
- Metadata is clearly defined
-
Markdown Files
- Simple text-based format
- Platform independent
- Human and machine readable
- Easy to validate and verify
-
Local Storage
- Personal archives
- Community repositories
- Distributed backups
- Offline accessibility
-
Community Sharing
- Peer-to-peer distribution
- Community archiving
- Cross-platform sharing
- Format preservation
The cycle is continuous, with preserved content inspiring new creation, leading to:
- Increased content resilience
- Broader distribution
- Long-term accessibility
- Community engagement
This creates a resilient network of content that doesn't rely on any single server or authority to remain accessible.
The Vision in Practice
Imagine a website as a collection of Markdown files, which anyone interested in the content could:
- Save locally
- Archive for preservation
- Share with others
- Render with simple HTML
"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."
— Alan Kay
Benefits for Different Stakeholders
| Stakeholder | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Creators | Focus on content, not maintenance |
| Readers | Reliable access to information |
| Community | Active role in preservation |
| Future Generations | Durable access to knowledge |
Looking Forward
This approach represents a fundamental shift in content ownership and responsibility. It transforms the internet back into what it was meant to be: a truly decentralized, durable space for public information.
Further Reading
Last updated: March 20, 2024