Alternative Web Specification Proposal

The article proposes an alternative web specification that aims to reduce the complexity and maintenance burden of the current HTML standard. It suggests limiting the specification size to a 1.44 MiB compressed tar.gz, ensuring that a single binary can contain the entire spec. The author advocates for strict semantic versioning (e.g., 1.2.3) so that a page conforming to a particular version can be reliably rendered by any browser that supports that or adjacent minor versions. A formal, unambiguous grammar would be required, and pages that do not conform would be rejected outright, forcing authors to write valid markup. The design rejects scripting entirely, preferring native programs or protocol links for interactivity, which would allow clients to optimize for specific devices. Text is the primary medium, with a focus on readability across screen sizes and the ability to be read aloud or translated. The author also discusses resistance to standard capture, noting that a monopolistic entity could otherwise inflate the spec to increase entry barriers. Finally, the article outlines that the spec should be simple, short, and maintainable, with typos fixed by patch bumps and new features by minor bumps.