☿️ gemini — existentialism

[Petite Abeille]

??://??

Toward the end of his seminal "The Mercury protocol" gemlog ?, Solderpunk raises the following questions:

? How much more difficult is Gemini to implement than Mercury?
? What are the things Gemini can do which Mercury cannot?
? How much do we value those things?
? Is the difference in implementation effort commensurate with the value of the extra abilities gained?
? Is there anything Mercury can do which Gemini can't?


With a concrete ?? Gemini definition at hand, we can now compare and contrast it with Gemini proper:

?? gemini ? a minimalist gemini protocol
https://mailing-list-archive.gemi.dev/www/2021/005851.html

?? gemini ? esthetics
https://mailing-list-archive.gemi.dev/www/2021/005852.html


? HOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT IS GEMINI TO IMPLEMENT THAN MERCURY?

Both are trivial to implement ? everything else being equal. 

?? Gemini is more essentialist than Gemini proper ? less moving parts overall
?? Gemini doesn't mandate TLS by default ? Gemini's albatross
?? Gemini text/gemini is more streamlined, with only one essential construct: the link


? WHAT ARE THE THINGS GEMINI CAN DO WHICH MERCURY CANNOT?

None. 

?? Gemini can run over TLS like Gemini proper, given the appropriate multiaddr support: /dns/host.xyz/tcp/1965/tls
?? Gemini can express all of Gemini various line types solely using the link construct
?? Gemini can do all of what Gemini proper can ? just differently


? HOW MUCH DO WE VALUE THOSE THINGS?

Depends who "we" is.

Technically speaking, there are no capabilities differences ? it all boils down to esthetics and sensibilities.


? IS THE DIFFERENCE IN IMPLEMENTATION EFFORT COMMENSURATE WITH THE VALUE OF THE EXTRA ABILITIES GAINED?

?? Gemini has a more focused value proposition than Gemini proper ? which doesn't add any extra abilities per se. Both protocols do the same ?just differently. 


? IS THERE ANYTHING MERCURY CAN DO WHICH GEMINI CAN'T?

Yes.

?? Gemini frees Gemini proper from its TLS albatross ? a significant simplification
?? Gemini introduces a flexible connection mechanism ? multiaddr
?? Gemini is conceptually more consistent and streamlined ? the very essence of Gemini

In conclusion:

?? Gemini can do more with less
?? Gemini embodies the essential qualities of Gemini proper


That's all folks.

?0?


? https://portal.mozz.us/gemini/gemini.circumlunar.space/users/solderpunk/gemlog/the-mercury-protocol.gmi?raw=1

Archived at: https://web.archive.org/web/20210302133216/https://portal.mozz.us/gemini/gemini.circumlunar.space/users/solderpunk/gemlog/the-mercury-protocol.gmi?raw=1