[...] a massively decentralized Internet, consisting of a huge number of small communities, requires database management systems that are built from the ground up for the purpose.
The systems available today are built to support massive, centralized, owned datasets, at immense complexity and cost, with intentions that go against the principles of a free and open Internet.
@chrisg I run plenty of mysql instances, including on a Raspberry Pi for development. If used on a small scale it just works and requires no management.
Android has SQLITE built in - that is what holds your text messages - and that just works too.
What do we need to fix specifically?
@mike805
The problem i am identifying is not technical, but political. It's about what are the intentions behind the infrastructure we develop, and my position is that we need to encourage a new wave of free software built specifically against centralization.
So yeah, we have the tech today to build small sites. SQLite is an excellent example of that. What we need is a widespread, explicit movement against big tech.
Shout out to @aral and @laura who (AFAIK) spoke about this idea first.
@chrisg
I support the goal of an easy to use decentralized internet.
What problem is there with the SQLite licensing?
@railmeat I could have. But the ergonomics of a native, in-memory, append-only transition log fit my use case better and mean I can simplify the authoring and deployment of Small Web places.
I’m trying to get having your own place on the Small Web down to a 30 second process that requires zero technical knowledge to setup/maintain so every component that’s fully under my control and optimised for my needs helps. Complexity happens; simplicity you have to strive for :)
Chris Gioran 💔
mike805
Aral Balkan
railmeat