Smallnet or SmolNet (also known as Small/Smol Internet/Web, etc.) is a movement of small-scale Internet networking that emphasizes the smallness of the servers (including low system requirements) as well as that of the user communities. It can be regarded as a counter-movement to the centralization and bloatedness of WWW.
The small web is beautiful
A vision for the "small web", small software, and small architectures.
How the small web is creating an anti-slop internet
What is the small web? A new crop of platforms are answering algorithmic fatigue with a return to human-curated basics.
Usenet
Usenet, short for User's Network, is a worldwide distributed discussion system available on computers. It was developed from the general-purpose Unix-to-Unix Copy (UUCP) dial-up network architecture. Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979, and it was established in 1980. Users read and post messages to one or more topic categories, known as newsgroups. Usenet resembles a bulletin board system (BBS) in many respects and is the precursor to the Internet forums that were developed after the introduction of the World Wide Web. Discussions are threaded, as with web forums and BBSes, though posts are stored on the server sequentially.
Minimum viable decentralization – John Backus – Medium
If you want people to use your product, decentralize the bare minimum. Lessons from Freenet, I2P, Darknet markets, and Reddit.
Freenet
Freenet is a peer-to-peer platform for decentralized applications: communication, collaboration, and commerce without reliance on big tech. Your computer becomes part of a global network where apps are unstoppable, interoperable, and built on open protocols.
Kagi Small Web | Kagi Blog
As a part of our ongoing pursuit to humanize the web, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Kagi Small Web initiative. ----------------------- What is Kagi Small Web? ----------------------- To begin with, while there is no single definition, “small web” typically refers to the non-commercial part of the web, crafted by individuals to express themselves or share knowledge without seeking any financial gain.
wander
A tiny, decentralised tool you can host with just two files to explore the small web
Internet
The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a network of networks that comprises private, public, academic, business, and government networks of local to global scope, linked by electronic, wireless, and optical networking technologies. The Internet carries a vast range of information services and resources, such as the interlinked hypertext documents and applications of the World Wide Web (WWW), electronic mail, discussion groups, internet telephony, streaming media and file sharing.
What is the Small Web?
Updated June 19th, 2023 Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. But that doesn’t mean you can’t watch it! You can download Small Is Beautiful #23 directly, and watch it with your favourite video player. Small Is Beautiful (Oct, 2022): What is the Small Web and why do we need it? Today, I want to introduce you to a concept – and a vision for the future of our species in the digital and networked age – that I’ve spoken about for a while but never specifically written about:
Freenet - Services Without Servers
Introduction - S5 Network Docs
S5 is a decentralized network that puts you in control of your data and identity.
Build Community Online with Decentralized Tools | Blacksky
Decentralized tools to build community online. The intercommunal net where communities govern, pool funds and stay safe on their own terms.
Build Community Online with Decentralized Tools | Blacksky
Decentralized tools to build community online. The intercommunal net where communities govern, pool funds and stay safe on their own terms.
This started up as a write-up for a cool hack I made (Atproto DID + Tailscale, coming soon 😎), but like many times before it started taking a life of its own, about how an integration of small scale networks is a more sustainable version of "internet scale" than large tech monopoly data centers.
Increasing lot sizes of our digital homes
thinking-with-portals.leaflet.pub