Re: Reviving the terminal internet — lo oking for collaborators

Hi Mayank,
Tossing out  my thoughts.
First, I suggest reading an article from wired magazine entitled.
"I turned off Javascript for a week, and it was glorious."
Illustrates there would be quite a market for  simple text focused=20
Internet..but there may be a few factors to focus on first.
1.  the assumptions some have that text browsing means less secure=20
browsing.
Whenever I raise the need for say progressive enhancement design, the=20
almost immediate, and wrong, thought is that JavaScript makes things safer.
So, any text tool will need to manage submit buttons, Lynx can do this if=
=20
the button is properly coded.
second, profile around non graphical browsing in general..that somehow=20
graphics equals modern, and text does not.
You might want to check out some lower graphic operating systems that are=
=20
currently in active development.
Freedos for example would firmly support your project.  They are hoping=20
for  a build of Lynx incorporating its current bells.

www.freedos.org
Likewise, because Linux and the Mac both have terminal environments,  You=
=20
may find support in Linux users communities who are tired of the mess googl=
e=20
makes of site development.
I am keen for something new, along side Lynx.
Unfortunately little has been done to improve the pr around Lynx.  Was in=
=20
a surprisingly misinformed discussion about keyboard function with the w3c=
=20
web  access community just last week.
Someone spouted off about lynx, with my noting  that it was updated in the=
=20
past few months...only for them to reference lynx 2.0.
I am serious.
So, you will need to lead with the kind of coding that insures text=20
browsing can equal security.
You may want to partner with folks keeping low graphics computing current=
=20
and creative.
And, drop a note to that Wired Magazine's author.
Good publicity will be a bonus.
Keep us posted,

Kare



On Mon, 3 Aug 2026, mayankbhardwaj.25979--- via Lynx-dev wrote:

> Hi Lynx devs,
>
> Long-time user of Lynx (and w3m) here, and a bit of a fan of what this pr=
oject has always stood for: a web that's fast, keyboard-driven, and readabl=
e in the dark on a 1998 ThinkPad.
> Lately I've been thinking that "surfing" the internet is gone =E2=80=94 y=
ou don't browse anymore, you get pushed. The terminal is the one place left=
 that's calm, focused, and weirdly beautiful. So I want to build a modern t=
erminal-based internet service in the spirit of Lynx, but remixed for today=
:
> - text-first, zero-noise browsing
> - terminal-native feeds (RSS/Atom, maybe Mastodon)
> - collaborative browsing sessions (think SSH for the web)
> - fast startup, no tracking, no dark patterns
>
> I know this list's culture: newcomers are welcome, but suggestions usuall=
y come with patches. So my first step here is to listen =E2=80=94 I'd love =
to hear from the people who've been maintaining and improving Lynx for deca=
des:
> 1. What do you see as the biggest pain points / missing pieces in text-mo=
de browsing today?
> 2. Is anyone interested in a more modern side-project in the same spirit =
(new engine, not a Lynx fork), or is that a fool's errand you'd advise agai=
nst?
> 3. If someone wanted to contribute meaningfully to Lynx itself, where wou=
ld you point them first?
> I'm prepared to write code, not just ideas. I'd rather spend my weekends =
building something with people who actually know this domain than polishing=
 a toy alone.
>
> Happy to share a rough spec or prototype with anyone curious. Thanks for =
keeping text-mode browsing alive.
>
> Mayank
>