Returning to the Root: Architecting a New Model for Digital Preservation
"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."
— T.S. Eliot
The early vision of the internet was to create a space for preserving, sharing, and accessing public information across borders, platforms, and communities. It was a vision of a vast, decentralized library where knowledge would be freely accessible and resilient over time. However, the current model, dominated by centralized servers and managed DNS systems, has deviated significantly from that original goal. Today, information is often tied to centralized systems that depend on proprietary servers, costly infrastructure, and the ongoing support of individual content creators or companies. If a server fails, a domain name expires, or a service is no longer maintained, valuable content can disappear from the public domain, sometimes permanently.
Imagine this: a small website, designed to share niche information, must run a server 24/7, much like leaving the lights on in an empty house, hoping someone will walk by. For many creators, the maintenance of always-on infrastructure to share a single article or a handful of blog posts is excessive, especially considering the energy consumption, network traffic, and security risks involved. In a world where millions of small sites are kept “always on,” the inefficiency is staggering, both environmentally and economically.
Ironically, this model often fails to achieve its primary goal: public accessibility. Websites open to everyone theoretically can reach anyone, yet often serve very few. For a creator running a server to support only a few visits a month, the balance of effort and outcome is unsustainable. Many creators simply can’t maintain this model long-term, leading to sites that are either taken down or become vulnerable to abandonment and decay, especially when security updates and server upkeep go unaddressed.
Another issue is the centralization of network traffic. Large portions of internet traffic are funneled through specific servers and data centers, creating chokepoints that make the system fragile, slow, and vulnerable to attack. This model places the responsibility for accessibility and resilience on individual creators, who often lack the resources to address large-scale network and security issues.
A new model built around Markdown files as a distributed, perpetual content database could provide a solution. In this model, creators could contribute content as easily distributable Markdown files, designed to be simple, lightweight, and easily readable both by humans and computers, including AI. These files could then be shared, saved, and preserved by anyone who finds them valuable, creating a resilient network of content that doesn’t rely on any single server or authority to remain accessible.
Imagine a website as a collection of Markdown files, which anyone interested in the content could save, archive, or pass along. This content could be hosted locally, stored in personal or community archives, or even distributed through peer-to-peer networks. As people save and share these files, the content becomes more resilient to loss—no longer tied to a single server or domain that could disappear. Generations could access the same Markdown files, re-rendering them with simple, open-source HTML files on local browsers, free from the constraints of traditional web infrastructure.
This approach represents a fundamental shift in content ownership and responsibility. Content creators can contribute knowledge without feeling chained to the ongoing demands of website upkeep. The community, in turn, can take an active role in preserving content, ensuring that valuable information endures even when the original creators or hosting platforms no longer exist. This new model aligns more closely with the founding principles of the internet, transforming it back into a truly decentralized, durable space for public information, where knowledge can indeed be passed down for generations.
The Vision in Practice
Imagine a website as a collection of Markdown files, which anyone interested in the content could:
- Save locally
- Archive for preservation
- Share with others
- Render with simple HTML
"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."
— Alan Kay
Looking Forward
This approach represents a fundamental shift in content ownership and responsibility. It transforms the internet back into what it was meant to be: a truly decentralized, durable space for public information.
Further Reading
Last updated: March 20, 2024