Ask HN: What would the internet look like if we could create it from scratch?

3 points by eaplant 5 years ago | 5 comments

I was talking about technical debt with a friend and we took it to the logical extreme, so I wanted to hear an answer from more senior technologists. What did we get right the first time? What would be completely different?

effie 5 years ago |

Good question. The obvious errors were 1) artificial scarcity - too small address space leading to a situation where direct connection/communication between members is impeded by various NAT schemes; and 2) too naive attack-susceptible protocols allowing subversion of DNS, IP routing, email forging/spam. If we ever start again, the system should solve at least these issues.

The bigger issue is the control over internet services that we are witnessing (deplatforming, censorship). Technological ideas can help to prevent those but I tend to think no matter the protocols chosen, it will be the powerful who have the most power to control the network. So better design it in a way that no single power can control it all.

kkevv 5 years ago |

I loved this essay https://knightcolumbia.org/content/protocols-not-platforms-a... that gives a glimpse of what could have been if RSS won over NewsFeed!

eaplant 5 years ago | |

That's a great essay - interesting to see how things could have been and used to be.

Aside, this article is now the #1 post. Seems you've got a good taste in reading. Any other recommendations?

wmf 5 years ago |

There have been several "blank slate" research projects about this topic like CCNx, RINA, DTN, SCION, etc.

eaplant 5 years ago | |

Interesting! I'd never heard of these