Mastodawn

#GeminiProtocol #MercuryProtocol #SmallNet #SmallWeb #SmolNet #SmolWeb

We've had different application formats over the decades. There may be things we could learn from them.

For example, decades ago there was XUL.

(XUL used to power Boxee, ChatZilla, Firefox, Komodo, Miro, Netscape, Songbird, Thunderbird, etc)

If we were to create a "modernized" small-net / small-web version of XUL, how might that look like?

https://mastodon.social/@reiver/116458367287618358

Perhaps a "modernized" small-net / small-web version of XUL —

• would focus on intent
• would be declarative
• would have a simplified syntax (relative to XUL)
• would have high-level UI primitives
• would have reactive data bindings
• would aim for portability
• would be sandboxed by default
• would be adaptive by design

#GeminiProtocol #MercuryProtocol #SmallNet #SmallWeb #SmolNet #SmolWeb

#GeminiProtocol #MercuryProtocol #SmallNet #SmallWeb #SmolNet #SmolWeb

What else could a "modernized" small-net / small-web app format learn from?

A LOT of non-programmers create applications using spreadsheets.

What could we learn from them?

#GeminiProtocol #MercuryProtocol #SmallNet #SmallWeb #SmolNet #SmolWeb

Perhaps a "modernized" small-net / small-web version of XUL that incorporated lessons from spreadsheets —

• would provide a grid-first layout (while still allowing for other layouts)
• would support formulas/code in the same place data can go
• would support ways to allow the user to "draw" the UI

#GeminiProtocol #MercuryProtocol #SmallNet #SmallWeb #SmolNet #SmolWeb

Perhaps a "modernized" small-net / small-web version of XUL that incorporated lessons from spreadsheets —

Would let you "draw" the UI using the box-drawing characters, like from the DOS and Terminal eras.

And then, a small-net /small-web browser / app-runner could render these natively as mobile-phone UIs and desktop-computer UIs.

Nolwenn Maudet Apr 24

@reiver a question that could be of interest for @timotheegoguely or @vi perhaps?