[jsnell]

The title feels pretty clickbaity. I might be missing something, but this feels like another distributed annotation system for the web, an idea that's been tried and retried for what feels like decades a this point. Why will this one work when the other attempts didn't? Is it just about this being more restricted than those past systems?

(The example that came to mind first was Google Sidewiki, but it looks like there's a bunch of these listed in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_annotation)

[dang]

Ok, let's switch to the subtitle instead.

[camtarn]

I guess the focus in this one is on adding links rather than discussion, which from a look at that Wikipedia page, seems unique.

But yes, it seems a bit like a small twist on an extremely old idea.

[photonthug]

Also there’s really not that many systems on the page, some were not actually launched, or were proprietary. So old idea or not, it kinda looks like any contributions in this area would be worthwhile.

[saaaaaam]

To answer your question “why will this one work when the other attempts didn’t?” - from my perspective, this one got my attention enough that I’m going to try it. I’ve seen lots of ‘annotate the web’ things and none has piqued my interest.

So I guess “clickbaity title” maybe actually means “clear vision to attract people” and “good storytelling to engage users”.

[jerf]

It does seem a variant on annotation. I'd commend to the poster my analysis of the network utility of such systems I developed after pondering on them for quite a few years (I was interacting with them in the 1990s): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23576213

I commend that to the author in the spirit of learning about the space and thinking through the implications, because I believe people are more likely to solve problems when they understand what they are, and think through them, and don't just try to blunder past them with hope and moxie.

That post was written about generalized text annotation and I stand by it in that context.

However, as you deviate from the system being analyzed, the analysis becomes less appropriate. One of the problems generalized annotation systems have is that there are an arbitrary amount of textual comments that can be added to a page. That is what turns the popular pages into a unpleasant cacophony. The range of links is somewhat more restrained. Plus, links are just... links. Textual comments are arguing and flames and generally tiring on any popular page. (Though I'd watch out for people learning how to turn "links" into arguments.)

It is possible that a shared cross-linking system might work, but I'd strenuously suggest thinking very very hard before adding in any sort of inline "conversation" system. It is very, very obvious and very, very tempting... and it immediately puts you back into the generalized web annotation space, which is strewn with corpses, many of them very very well funded. You can have a "community forum" where people can talk, and perhaps even should, but putting it inline on the page is basically a known-fail. If you think you've got a solution to that I'd try to be very sure that you've got a very strong proposition on exactly how yours is different than the previous attempts.

Anyhow, I would just generally suggest to the author that this is one of those "obvious ideas" that hasn't happened because in general they flame out so quickly that you don't even find out they existed before they've already collapsed, not because nobody has ever tried it. Be sure to consider what has happened in the past.

Also, as a hint from previous efforts: It looks like you may be trying to bind links to specific text on the page. As you've probably already discovered, that's harder than it looks, and however much code you've written for it, I guarantee you it's even harder than that. I'd strongly suggest considering just binding links to pages and not trying to bind it to text at all.

[onlyfootnotes]

Thanks for linking to your comment on the Hypothes.is post! Will check it out. I by no means think this (or related ideas) have not been built / attempted. This is an experiment, not meant to be well-funded or even large. But, I take your feedback in good spirits, appreciate the thoughts!