https://github.com/letsblockit/letsblockit/discussions/663 Skip to content Toggle navigation Sign in * Product + Actions Automate any workflow + Packages Host and manage packages + Security Find and fix vulnerabilities + Codespaces Instant dev environments + Copilot Write better code with AI + Code review Manage code changes + Issues Plan and track work + Discussions Collaborate outside of code Explore + All features + Documentation + GitHub Skills + Blog * Solutions For + Enterprise + Teams + Startups + Education By Solution + CI/CD & Automation + DevOps + DevSecOps Resources + Learning Pathways + White papers, Ebooks, Webinars + Customer Stories + Partners * Open Source + GitHub Sponsors Fund open source developers + The ReadME Project GitHub community articles Repositories + Topics + Trending + Collections * Pricing Search or jump to... Search code, repositories, users, issues, pull requests... Search [ ] Clear Search syntax tips Provide feedback We read every piece of feedback, and take your input very seriously. [ ] [ ] Include my email address so I can be contacted Cancel Submit feedback Saved searches Use saved searches to filter your results more quickly Name [ ] Query [ ] To see all available qualifiers, see our documentation. Cancel Create saved search Sign in Sign up You signed in with another tab or window. Reload to refresh your session. You signed out in another tab or window. Reload to refresh your session. You switched accounts on another tab or window. Reload to refresh your session. Dismiss alert {{ message }} letsblockit / letsblockit Public * Notifications * Fork 32 * Star 788 * Code * Issues 20 * Pull requests 0 * Discussions * Actions * Security * Insights Additional navigation options * Code * Issues * Pull requests * Discussions * Actions * Security * Insights Shutting down the letsblock.it project and its official instance #663 Pinned xvello announced in Announcements Shutting down the letsblock.it project and its official instance #663 @xvello xvello Mar 30, 2024 * 7 comments * 2 replies Return to top Discussion options * {{title}} Something went wrong. Quote reply edited * {{editor}}'s edit {{actor}} deleted this content . {{editor}}'s edit Something went wrong. [624] xvello Mar 30, 2024 Maintainer - The letsblock.it project enables users to remove low-quality content and useless nags, to tailor their online experience and focus on what matters. It has been running for more than two years now and its official instance currently serves more than 800 active users and hundreds of anonymous visitors every day. We achieved this thanks to dozens of contributors and financial sponsors who I am grateful for. I started this project in 2021 as a way to help people regain agency over their online experience: enshittification of the commercial web had already started, but deceptive patterns and user-hostile features were not so prevalent yet. In that context, I naively hoped to be able to contain most of this through content filters and started writing the templates that became letsblock.it. Unfortunately, the commercial web is getting worse every day, with: * user-hostile design becoming the norm, as big tech corporations are set to extract as much money from society as possible * the "generative AI" bubble wasting precious water and electricity to drown good content into a sea of derivative low-quality content * the advertising company Google continuing their efforts to deny people control over their browser, neutering content-blocking extensions with MV3 under false security claims and planning to lock down the OS and browser with DRM. This project is making the commercial web more bearable, but I'd rather spend my energy on making the non-commercial web more attractive. I want to support communities and applications that respect their users and value what we have to say. These websites don't need letsblock.it rules, because they don't shove low-quality content and anti-features down our throats. What will happen * The official instance hosted at https://letsblock.it/ will be shut down at the end of June 2024. Because its database contains personal information, I will not hand over its operations to a third party. Its database will be destroyed after users get a chance to migrate out. * Limited maintenance to guarantee security will continue in the meantime, but the rules will not receive any fix or update. * If a group of users wants to carry these efforts forward, I'll support them in forking the project and setting up a new server if they wish. I'll happily publicize this fork and assist users in migrating their data. Provisional timeline March 2024: official announcement * [*] Announcement on OpenCollective and removal of all contribution options * [*] Announcement on a GitHub discussion April 2024: allowing users to migrate out * [ ] Registrations of new accounts on the official instance will be disabled and a notice linking to this discussion added * [ ] Import and export functions will be added and documented * [ ] Recommended alternatives will be listed to help users move on June 2024: shutdown of the official instance, archival of the project Assuming that no external factors (cost increase, cyber attack...) require to shorten this delay: * [ ] The official instance will be shutdown and all user data deleted at the end of the month * [ ] The GitHub project will be archived and not further updates released, even for security fixes What's next? After several failed projects and abandoned hobbies, launching letsblock.it and keeping it running for over two years is a big success in my book. I am very grateful to everyone who contributed to this project and made it possible. My motivation has always been to be useful to others and I think it's better to give our users a controlled shutdown than keep the project stale and unmaintained. This is not a call for contributors or new maintainers. If users want to take over this project's legacy, I'd prefer it to be done under a new name to avoid any confusion. Feel free to coordinate on this discussion though, and I'd be happy to support you with the setup. Beta Was this translation helpful? Give feedback. 37 You must be logged in to vote [?] 103 All reactions * [?] 103 Replies: 7 comments * 2 replies * Oldest * Newest * Top Comment options * {{title}} Something went wrong. Quote reply [213] onedr0p Mar 31, 2024 - Thanks for the years maintaining this project, sad to see you drop it but I understand. Take care! Beta Was this translation helpful? Give feedback. 10 You must be logged in to vote [?] 19 All reactions * [?] 19 0 replies Comment options * {{title}} Something went wrong. Quote reply [405] marc-mccarthy Mar 31, 2024 - I have never heard of this project before and am upset that I didn't... Wondering if there is somewhere to get more information on the applications you are trying to support moving forward? Thank you for your influence and the links above in your words! Beta Was this translation helpful? Give feedback. 8 You must be logged in to vote [?] 7 All reactions * [?] 7 1 reply @xvello Comment options * {{title}} Something went wrong. Quote reply edited * {{editor}}'s edit {{actor}} deleted this content . {{editor}}'s edit Something went wrong. xvello Mar 31, 2024 Maintainer Author - Heya, thanks for your kind words! I will take a break before committing to anything, but I'm currently poking around the Fediverse and have a couple of ideas I'd like to try out. You can follow me there if you wish! I am also moving to the non-commercial forge https://codeberg.org/ for hosting my next projects and evaluating whether I could be useful to them. Beta Was this translation helpful? Give feedback. All reactions Comment options * {{title}} Something went wrong. Quote reply [463] Welding-Torch Mar 31, 2024 - I'm surprised I didn't find this project before, I love ublock and more filters for ublock are welcome. Beta Was this translation helpful? Give feedback. 4 You must be logged in to vote [?] 3 All reactions * [?] 3 0 replies Comment options * {{title}} Something went wrong. Quote reply [203] lez Mar 31, 2024 - Deshittifying commercial web is like trying to run away from a (fast moving) zombie who keeps chasing you forever. Building non-commercial web is like finding a quiet place and build everything from the ground up with your family and best friends. See you later on Nostr, my friend! Beta Was this translation helpful? Give feedback. 4 You must be logged in to vote 5 All reactions * 5 0 replies Comment options * {{title}} Something went wrong. Quote reply [234] holdit Mar 31, 2024 - Sad news. I know the right thing to do is to stop using certain services, but we can't always do that. To the creator and every contributor, thank you for your work! It made my web experience much better. Beta Was this translation helpful? Give feedback. 2 You must be logged in to vote [?] 3 All reactions * [?] 3 0 replies Comment options * {{title}} Something went wrong. Quote reply edited * {{editor}}'s edit {{actor}} deleted this content . {{editor}}'s edit Something went wrong. [813] OldGuyInTheClub Mar 31, 2024 - Please know that your project has made my web life much more bearable. Thanks to you and all the contributors for your efforts and all the best to you. Beta Was this translation helpful? Give feedback. 2 You must be logged in to vote 1 [?] 2 All reactions * 1 * [?] 2 0 replies Comment options * {{title}} Something went wrong. Quote reply [158] johnnydecimal Mar 31, 2024 - The customer-facing page needs an update, it currently makes no mention of this. Beta Was this translation helpful? Give feedback. 1 You must be logged in to vote 1 All reactions * 1 1 reply @xvello Comment options * {{title}} Something went wrong. Quote reply edited * {{editor}}'s edit {{actor}} deleted this content . {{editor}}'s edit Something went wrong. xvello Mar 31, 2024 Maintainer Author - This volunteer-lead non-commercial project does not have any customers. Adding a notice to the interface is listed in the April 2024 items. My plan it to wait a few days in case a fork is happening. Beta Was this translation helpful? Give feedback. [?] 1 All reactions * [?] 1 Sign up for free to join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment Category Announcements Labels None yet 8 participants @xvello @lez @onedr0p @johnnydecimal @OldGuyInTheClub @holdit @marc-mccarthy @Welding-Torch Heading Bold Italic Quote Code Link --------------------------------------------------------------------- Numbered list Unordered list Task list --------------------------------------------------------------------- Attach files Mention Reference Menu * Heading * Bold * Italic * Quote * Code * Link * * Numbered list * Unordered list * Task list * * Attach files * Mention * Reference Select a reply Create a new saved reply 1 reacted with thumbs up emoji 1 reacted with thumbs down emoji 1 reacted with laugh emoji 1 reacted with hooray emoji 1 reacted with confused emoji [?] 1 reacted with heart emoji 1 reacted with rocket emoji 1 reacted with eyes emoji Footer (c) 2024 GitHub, Inc. Footer navigation * Terms * Privacy * Security * Status * Docs * Contact * Manage cookies * Do not share my personal information You can't perform that action at this time.