I say this as someone who has used Gemini (smolnet) extensively, but not participated in much of the dev discussion, and just read along:

Perhaps it is time to stop work on the protocol aspect of smolnet.

For so much frenzied activity, it does certainly seem something supposed to be very simple has ballooned into something complex.

The complexity isn’t in the actual protocol, because of the necessary simplicity of it, it seems like the complexity is being “pushed elsewhere”. Does that make sense?

I also question whether the beneficent dictator model of authority for final decisions is a good one. I am actually an advocate for design by committee.

I absolutely love smolnet, though. I think it has definitely achieved its aims, and I agree with its principles. I just want to express how I feel on the matter.

That said, perhaps all the discussion, negotiation, and friendly jostling is a sign of health and life in the dev community aspect.

I was inspired to say this from a thread that @Sandra intervened in last night my time. These arguments are not that person’s views, but I do agree with the spirit of taking smolnet seriously.