More description

main
Bob Mottram 2021-06-29 10:04:07 +01:00
parent f1f3efc009
commit 30c2c02be1
1 changed files with 5 additions and 3 deletions

View File

@ -18,11 +18,13 @@ The design of this system is opinionated, and to a large extent informed by year
### Resisting Centralization
Centralization is characterized by the typical fixation upon "scale" within the software industry. In general, methods have been preferred which do not vertically scale. This includes the decision not to use a database, and the way that the inbox is processed. Lack of scalability also simplifies the design.
Centralization is characterized by the typical fixation upon "scale" within the software industry. Systems which scale, in the way which is commonly understood, mean that a few individuals can control the social lives of many, and extract value from them in often cynical and manipulative ways.
Being hostile towards the common notion of scaling means that this system will be of no interest to "big tech" and can't easily be used within extractive economic models without needing a substantial rewrite.
In general, methods have been preferred which do not vertically scale. This includes the decision not to use a database, and the way that the inbox is processed. Lack of scalability also simplifies the design.
This system should however be able to scale rhizomatically with the deployment of many small instances federated together.
Being hostile towards the common notion of scaling means that this system will be of no interest to "big tech" and can't easily be used within extractive economic models without needing a substantial rewrite. This avoids the typical cooption strategies in which large companies eventually take over what was originally software developed by grassroots activists to address real community needs.
This system should however be able to scale rhizomatically with the deployment of many small instances federated together. Instead of scaling up, scale out. In a network of many small instances nobody has overall control and corporate capture is much more unlikely. Small instances also minimize the bureaucratic requirements for governance processes, which at medium to large scale eventually becomes tyrannical.
### No Javascript