A lightweight Wikipedia proxy for vintage computers and retro web browsers.
Modern Wikipedia is filled JavaScript, complex CSS, high-resolution images, and it makes use of lots of modern browser features that old machines can't handle. HTTPedia strips all that away and serves clean HTML 3.2 that works on browsers from the 1990s and earlier. In addition to cutting down on complexity, HTTPedia is served over HTTP meaning there are no minimum HTTPS or TLS requirements.
Check it out: http://httpedia.samwarr.net
- No HTTPS required! Works on machines that can't handle modern TLS
- Pure,
validated HTML 3.2 output (no JavaScript or CSS)
- All images converted to GIFs for compatibility
- Light and dark modes
- Option to load one, all, or disable images entirely
- Works on Netscape, Mosaic, early IE, text browsers, even Microweb on an 8088!
- [COMING SOON] Support for multiple languages
Tested and working on:
- Netscape Navigator 2.0+
- Mosaic
- Internet Explorer 3.0+
- Lynx and other text browsers
- Microweb on an 8088 PC clone
- Basically anything that can render HTML
- User requests an article
- HTTPedia fetches the page from Wikipedia
- HTML is parsed and stripped down to essential content
- Images are fetched and converted to GIF
- Pure HTML 3.2 is returned to the user
All processing happens server-side, so the client just receives simple, lightweight HTML.
To protect both the server and Wikipedia's API:
- General requests: 2 per second per IP
- Image requests: 5 per second per IP
Found a bug? Have a feature request? Want to improve compatibility with an obscure browser?
Open an issue or submit a pull request!
If HTTPedia felt like a blast from the past on your vintage hardware, consider supporting the project and others like it :)
Donations go toward server hosting costs, and hopefully more projects like this one.
GNU General Public License v3.0, see LICENSE for details.
- Content sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Inspired by FrogFind and 68k.news, go check them out!
