KiwixMar 16
Terminal Tilt

Tired of Enshittification? Take your knowledge offline.

I am currently self hosting a @kiwix instance on my homelab. Having local, searchable copies of Wikipedia, the ArchWiki, and iFixit feels like a cheat code for digital sovereignty.

Spin up the Docker image, grab your ZIM files, and stop relying on big tech to keep the lights on for your reference data.

https://get.kiwix.org/en/

#Kiwix #SelfHosting #DigitalSovereignty #RightToRepair #ArchLinux #Docker #NoAI

Mar 15 at 7:25pmWeb
Show threadTerminal TiltMar 15

@kiwix

If you're on Artix (or Arch) and just want the wiki available locally in your terminal or browser without a full Kiwix setup, you can grab it directly from the repos:

Install the package: `sudo pacman -S arch-wiki-docs`

Access it: Open `/usr/share/doc/arch-wiki/html/en/Main_page.html` in your browser.

Also: Use `arch-wiki-lite` for a searchable terminal interface.

No internet required. Stay sovereign. ✊

#Arch #Artix

Show threadafewchoicewordsMar 15
@terminaltilt That sounds interesting, but I wouldn't call Wikipedia and the Archwiki "big tech". Also, if hosting this on a homelab, this is not truly offline, as in you can't use it from a remote location without internet access. Or am I missing the point entirely?
Show threadTerminal TiltMar 15

@afewchoicewords

To clarify the "Big Tech" bit: It’s less about the orgs themselves (Wikimedia is great) and more about centralization. If a backbone provider or your ISP goes down, those sites "disappear" for you. Hosting it yourself moves that data from "the cloud" to your own hardware.

If your ISP is out, you still have this on your LAN.

You can use a VPN (like WireGuard or Tailscale) to access your Kiwix server from anywhere.

It’s about Digital Sovereignty. You own the copy. No one can track your searches, put them behind a paywall, or take them away. These are all things we care about on the Fediverse.

While the pedantry is part of the fun of being a nerd, I’m always surprised to see pushback on the idea of owning your data. Sovereignty starts with having the info you need when the pipes get cut.

Show threadafewchoicewordsMar 16
@terminaltilt I see, yeah that makes sense
Show threadAlexMar 15

@terminaltilt @kiwix

Its one of those great projects to mention when you have friends or acquaintances who mention concern about censorship or possible repression.

Show threadTerminal TiltMar 15

@adubya @kiwix

Exactly! I would've liked to have it when I lived through hurricane Irma. Two weeks with no communications would've been a little easier with a pi running on a backup battery with this information.

Show threadAlexMar 15

@terminaltilt @kiwix

I downloaded the wiki one and then went on a tear because for sure there are so many helpful ones (and plenty of humorous & entertainment projects to pull).

Show threadSashinMar 16
@terminaltilt @kiwix do you need to consult the arch wiki much?
Show threadTerminal TiltMar 16

@sashin @kiwix

Not daily, but it is easily the most comprehensive educational tool I have found for GNU/Linux.

Show threadPete the Gopher KeeperMar 16
@terminaltilt @kiwix great to see thinking like this - it helps that we can now have affordable large drives to hold all this good stuff! I once foolishly thought that I'd never need 4Tb 😁. If you can find it, the WikiHow ZIM is really worth having - a fantastic resource.
Show threadPete the Gopher KeeperMar 16

@terminaltilt @kiwix Edit: there's a reason why it's no longer available but there are still copies available onljne.
https://hub.kiwix.org/weblog/2025/1/wikihow-content-has-been-deprecated/

#kiwix

WikiHow content has been deprecated

TL;DR: the WikiHow zim files have been deleted and there are no plans to bring them back. The longer story is that the WikiHow folks reached out around the end of 2024 asking for their removal. Their content is apparently being harvested left and right by LLMs for their training, and they are trying to

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