☿️ 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://lists.orbitalfox.eu/archives/gemini/2021/005851.html

☿️ gemini — esthetics
https://lists.orbitalfox.eu/archives/gemini/2021/005852.html


➊ 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


➋ 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


➌ 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.


➍ 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. 


➎ 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