[tech] dumb vs. dumber

[Petite Abeille]

> On Dec 21, 2020, at 14:36, Björn Wärmedal <bjorn.warmedal at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> * Gemini will not inline things or transclude things, because gemini
> transactions are expensive in that regard. We don't reuse connections,
> and that's a *big* thing about the philosophy and simplicity of
> implementations.

As this is meant to be a [tech] topic, I have to point out that data: URIs are fully embedded in the text/gemini document itself. Not further network connection is required (assuming self-contained resources).

To illustrate the point, a popular Gemini custom requires an additional network connection to retrieve a favicon.txt  document containing one UTF8 character for decorative purpose*. Fantastic.

An alternative approach would embed such decorative emoji in a data: URI link:

=> data:text/plain;charset=utf-8;base64,8J+QsA== favicon.txt
=> data:text/plain;charset=utf-8,%F0%9F%90%B0 favicon.txt

Monstrous, I know. Oh well.

[1] https://gemini.rootkey.co.uk/x/mozz.us/files/rfc_gemini_favicon.gmi