Skip to content

Comment on Ask HN: Why don't websites have 'text only' backup versions?

Comments

I guess that it is too much work, and perhaps because of ads. However, I believe there should be a project for a server that does a url screengrab and runs it through some scanning and OCR and perhaps some AI, that accomplishes what you are asking.

(Any takers?)

Readability already parses web sites to provide a simple reader view:

https://readability.com/

It doesn't do "just visit our page, enter the URL and you can read the other site without having the javascript on, and even if the original style sheets are wrong. Oh and we'll serve you some of our non-interactive adds."

Thinking about it, I would be ready to use such a site for the "unreadable" sites.

AboutSource Built by g1lg1l

Hackerly is an independent reader for Hacker News, built on the public HN API. Not affiliated with Y Combinator.