the berkeley systems kitchen on october 12, 1997 @ 6:50 PM

https://web.archive.org/web/20000302152522fw_/http://www.berksys.com/cafeslack/takepic.html

sierra.com january 1997

to my knowledge, there is no formal name for this web site design style of the late 1990s.

this style is incredibly difficult to replicate in css, as bitmapped images and tables play a huge role in getting the formatting just right

https://web.archive.org/web/19970113092911/http://www1.sierra.com:80/

Just resurrected the demo of my first-ever visualization project from 2008 (which was part of my Dipl.-Ing thesis):

https://mariandoerk.de/visgets/

It is not mobile-friendly, but should work fine on desktop browsers featuring early @globalvoices posts (2008-2010).

Had to untangle the code from outdated CakePHP and a deprecated Google Maps API in favor of @leaflet. Hope to revive all my early vis projects that fell through the cracks due to server updates and site migrations…

Today is the annual celebration of #HTML! I am celebrating by writing this post within my HTML website. :)

#Blog #OldWeb #Blogging #Blaugust2025 #Blaugust

https://aywren.com/2025/08/02/today-is-html-day-2025

although i very much appreciate that this < 8pt pixel font wouldn't fly today, i sure as hell miss the tiny pixel font elite Flash aesthetics of 1999-2004

homepage: myUO server emulator
https://web.archive.org/web/20040802043851/http://myuo.sourceforge.net/

If and when RSS ever dies, I think I may finally be forced to empathize with people who complain about how bad web content is these days. Using anything other than RSS for content discovery seems like a bad time. #openweb #oldweb #rss

Webring Wednesday #13 | Devring Club

Devring Club is a straightforward webring for developers looking to connect and share their work. Joining is as simple as submitting a pull request with your site’s URL and getting it added to the list. Once you’re in, you can browse through a random assortment of other developer sites or find something specific by browsing the directory. The webring’s minimalist design keeps the focus on the content, making it easy for developers to find each other’s work and learn from one another.

It’s a great space for developers of all kinds—whether you’re into coding, software, or web development. The low-frills setup allows the community to grow organically, making it a refreshing alternative to the more commercialized tech communities.

Check it out here: https://devring.club/

@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign

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Source: https://sovereignweb.thecozy.cat/blog/%f0%9f%92%9b-webring-wednesday-13-devring-club-%f0%9f%92%9b/

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Flashback Friday #11 – DeviantArt

DeviantArt wasn’t just a website—it was a rite of passage for an entire generation of online creatives. Launched in 2000, it quickly became a haven for artists, writers, photographers, and daydreamers looking for a space to share their work and connect with others who got it. Whether you were posting anime fan art, angsty poetry, or lovingly crafted Sonic OCs, DeviantArt gave you a stage—and more importantly, an audience. For many teens, it was the first place they felt truly seen and validated for their creativity, especially in a world that didn’t always understand their passions offline.

The site’s culture was as colorful and chaotic as the art it hosted. There were unspoken codes of conduct, intense fandoms, and sprawling comment sections where critiques, collaborations, and conversations flowed freely. Watching your pageviews tick upward or getting a llama, “fav” or thoughtful comment could make your entire week. Profile pages became digital homes, each one meticulously customized with skins, journal entries, and stamps that proudly displayed your obsessions and identity. For some, DeviantArt was the first time they openly explored their interests or artistic voice—and that freedom to experiment shaped not just portfolios, but people.

Beyond just posting art, DeviantArt fostered a community culture of interaction and growth. Art trades and request threads built connections. Critique groups helped young artists improve their skills with peer feedback. And let’s not forget the legendary drama—flame wars, call-out journals, and mysterious profile disappearances were all part of the DA experience. But even the drama reflected how invested people were; it was messy, emotional, and deeply human. You weren’t just uploading drawings—you were participating in a digital ecosystem where artistry and self-expression ruled.

Though DeviantArt still exists today, it’s a very different space from the one many of us remember. The rise of faster-paced platforms like Instagram and TikTok has shifted the online art landscape, and DA’s redesigns and changes in community culture have left some longtime users nostalgic for the old days. Still, its legacy remains intact. DeviantArt taught countless young creators not just how to draw or write—but how to be artists. It was a place where imagination ran wild, identities formed, and creativity was currency. For many, it wasn’t just a website. It was home.

—–

What was the very first thing you ever posted on DeviantArt—and do you still have it? How did DeviantArt shape your creative identity growing up? If the old-school DeviantArt vibe came back, would you jump back in with your art today? Let us know!

@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign

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Source: https://sovereignweb.thecozy.cat/blog/%f0%9f%92%99-flashback-friday-11-%f0%9f%92%99-deviantart/

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My Gaymers+ #Webring got SOME attention on here, and is taking off on Tumblr (I literally paid to Boost it )… but no one has contacted me about joining, yet.

This took way too much time and effort for me to just… quietly delete it, in a few weeks' time.

If you're an #LGBTQ creator with a #Gaming website, GO HERE: https://www.criticalchicken.com/webring

Thread Thursday #14

What’s a web trend from the early 2000s you miss?
What about that trend made it stand out to you back then?
Do you think this trend would still appeal to users today? Why or why not?
Was there a specific website or feature that embodied this trend perfectly for you?
What other trends from the early web do you think deserve a comeback?

Let us know!

@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign

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Source: https://sovereignweb.thecozy.cat/blog/%f0%9f%92%9a-thread-thursday-14-%f0%9f%92%9a/

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@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign
#Indieweb #NekoWeb #Neocities #Nostalgia #Oldweb #Smallweb #Sovereignweb #Webdesign #Webdev #Webrevival

Today's our 9th birthday!

To celebrate, we've just launched the Gaymers+ #Webring!

If you're an #LGBTQ creator with a #Gaming website, JOIN TODAY and let's take back the web!

https://www.criticalchicken.com/webring

I’m Leaving the Small Web and Forging a New Path.

I’ve been reflecting on the direction I want to take my work online. While I’ve appreciated aspects of the Small Web and similar movements - especially their love for personal websites - I’ve found that I no longer feel at home within those spaces.

Read the full post here: https://sovereignweb.thecozy.cat/blog/im-leaving-the-small-web-and-forging-a-new-path/

@indieweb @smallweb @neocities #indieweb #NekoWeb #neocities #oldweb #personalwebsite #smallweb #webdesign #webdev #webrevival

Monday Memes #12

We're evolving beyond Google and returning the heart and soul to the web.

Happy Monday!

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@indieweb @smallweb @neocities ##indieweb ##Memes ##NekoWeb ##neocities ##nostalgia ##oldweb ##smallweb ##webdev

https://smallweb.thecozy.cat/blog/%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f-monday-memes-12-%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f/

I never used Facebook etc. but from what I can tell the fediverse social experience is very different from corporate social media. It feels more like the old web.

Like shopping at Walmart vs. shopping at a variety of shops downtown. The difference isn't just an ethical one, the human experience on Mastodon, Pixelfed etc. is richer and more diverse too.

Monday Memes #10

Making your own personal website is definitely cheaper, and WAY cooler than a little blue checkmark. Just sayin'. ;)

Happy Monday!

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@indieweb @smallweb @neocities ##indieweb ##Memes ##NekoWeb ##neocities ##nostalgia ##oldweb ##smallweb ##webdev

https://smallweb.thecozy.cat/blog/%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f-monday-memes-10-%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f/

#FunFact about #Neopets:

Neopets.com is vulnerable to the #Y2K38 bug because it uses ancient #PHP and #MySQL.

Thread Thursday #9

What's a feature on someone else's website that you want to implement on yours?
What makes this feature stand out to you? Let us know!

https://smallweb.thecozy.cat/blog/%f0%9f%92%9a-thread-thursday-9-%f0%9f%92%9a/

@indieweb @smallweb @neocities ##indieweb ##neocities ##nostalgia ##oldweb ##smallweb ##webdesign ##webdev ##webrevival #Nekoweb