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gnarzilla/README.md

thatch

Building the internet for the apocolypse. Update your blog with a can on a string from the smoldering rubble.

I develop secure, performant, privacy-focused applications deployed at the edge under the Deadlight ecosystem. A cohesive collection of open-source tools for resilient web platforms, multi-protocol networking, and edge-native infrastructure. These systems are designed for the 80% of the planet that doesn't have datacenter-grade connectivity: mesh networks, satellite links, intermittent connectivity, resource-constrained devices.

Core design principle: user sovereignty over platform convenience.

What I'm Building

Deadlight Ecosystem

A modular platform for maintaining online presence (blogging, email, communications) without requiring always-on servers or reliable connectivity. Built for real-world conditions: slow links, intermittent uptime, hostile networks, resource constraints.

The problem: Most web platforms assume fiber, cheap power, and stable connectivity. This excludes billions of users and makes the internet fragile.

The solution: Edge-native architecture that works over LoRa mesh, satellite with 2-second latency, 2G mobile, or text-only terminals. Posts are 3-8 KB. Zero JavaScript required. Deployable from a phone. (Achieved via a C-based multi-protocol bridge and serverless JS frontend optimized for minimal payload and caching.)

Production Components

blog.deadlight ⭐ 6
Cloudflare Workers blog platform optimized for terrible connectivity. <10 KB pages, works in lynx, post via email.
JavaScript · Live Demo · Getting Started

proxy.deadlight
High-performance protocol bridge (SMTP/IMAP/SOCKS4/5) + VPN gateway. Connects stateless edge apps to stateful protocols.
C

meshtastic.deadlight ⭐ 3
Internet-over-LoRa gateway. Bridge between Meshtastic mesh networks and the public internet.
C · Project Site · Getting Started

lib.deadlight
Shared edge-native libraries: auth, database models, security utilities, UI components.
JavaScript + C

edge.deadlight
Umbrella platform integrating all components into a cohesive system.
JavaScript + C

deadlight-bootstrap ⭐ 14 Lightweight web framework starter for Cloudflare Workers + D1.
JavaScript · Live Demo

Live Deployments

D E A D L I G H Tdeadlight.boo - Main platform demo with proxy integration

thatch pad - Zero-JS instance with use case examples

mobile.deadlightmobile.deadlight - Amdroid deployed instance via Termux

meshtastic.deadlight meshtastic.deadlight - LoRa gateway project blog

threat level midnightthreat level midnight - Federation testing instance

v1.deadlight - Legacy bootstrap framework

These demonstrate: sub-10 KB page weights, text-only client compatibility, global edge distribution, secure authentication, real-world resilience.

Technical Philosophy

Optimize for reality, not ideals:

  • Most connectivity is intermittent, high-latency, or expensive
  • Power is often scarce (solar, battery-only devices)
  • Many users have text-only interfaces (mesh clients, terminal browsers)
  • Resilience matters more than features

Design choices this drives:

  • Edge-first architecture (Cloudflare Workers, D1)
  • Minimal dependencies (~8 npm packages for blog.deadlight)
  • No build steps where possible
  • Zero external requests by default
  • Works on ARM64 without emulation (deployable from phones)
  • Text content prioritized over media

Why C + JavaScript:

  • C for protocol bridging, VPN, performance-critical networking
  • JavaScript for edge compute, serverless deployments
  • Both: auditable, minimal dependencies, portable

Technical Stack

Languages: JavaScript (Node.js, edge runtimes), C (GLib, POSIX)
Platforms: Cloudflare Workers, Pages, D1 · Tailscale
Infrastructure: Edge computing, serverless, mesh networking
Security: JWT, CSRF/XSS protection, TLS, rate limiting
Protocols: SMTP/IMAP, SOCKS4/5, HTTP/2, WebSocket, LoRa
Tools: Wrangler CLI, Markdown rendering (marked + DOMPurify)

Current Focus

Immediate (2025 Q4):

  • Meshtastic integration testing (LoRa → blog publishing)
  • Email-to-post workflow stabilization
  • Comment system for blog.deadlight
  • Federation between Deadlight instances

Near-term (2026 Q1-Q2):

  • Full proxy dashboard integration
  • Meshtastic-native client for posting
  • Plugin architecture for blog.deadlight
  • Documentation expansion

Long-term:

  • ActivityPub federation
  • HF radio transport layer
  • Satellite-optimized protocols
  • Offline-first mobile clients

Why This Matters

The convenient internet is fragile. It assumes:

  • Reliable power grids
  • Low-latency fiber connections
  • Always-on servers
  • Modern browsers with JavaScript
  • Cheap, unlimited data

Most of the world doesn't have this. And increasingly, even those who do face:

  • Natural disasters disrupting infrastructure
  • Intentional network shutdowns
  • Privacy and surveillance concerns
  • Rising costs and platform lock-in

Deadlight proves you can build differently:

  • Deploy a blog from a PinePhone over 2G
  • Post updates via LoRa mesh when conventional internet is down
  • Run a personal site with zero ongoing server costs
  • Maintain privacy without corporate platforms
  • Use email protocols for federation instead of proprietary APIs

It's not about preparing for some hypothetical collapse. It's about building systems that work for how people actually live - not how Silicon Valley wishes they lived.

Contributions Welcome

All repositories are open-source under permissive licenses. Areas where help is especially valuable:

  • Testing: Email workflows on various providers, LoRa gateway deployment scenarios
  • Documentation: Setup guides, troubleshooting, translations
  • Accessibility: Testing with screen readers, keyboard navigation
  • Performance: Optimization for extremely constrained environments
  • Use cases: Real-world deployment stories and feedback

File issues, open PRs, or reach out directly.

Stats

Gnarzilla's GitHub Stats

Top Languages

Contact

Open to collaboration on edge computing, resilient networking, or related projects.

Pinned Loading

  1. meshtastic.deadlight meshtastic.deadlight Public

    Internet-over-LoRa: A practical bridge between Meshtastic mesh networks and the Internet

    C 3

  2. deadlight-bootstrap deadlight-bootstrap Public

    A lightweight, edge-first web framework built on Cloudflare Workers with authentication, D1 database, and a clean dark UI. Deploy a blog or small site globally in under 5 minutes. Version 1.0

    JavaScript 14 1

  3. blog.deadlight blog.deadlight Public

    Cloudflare Workers blog platform optimized for terrible connectivity. <10 KB pages, works in lynx, post via email.

    JavaScript 6 1

  4. edge.deadlight edge.deadlight Public

    Security-hardened edge platform combining a modular static/dynamic site framework with integrated multi-protocol proxy server management. Built for performance, privacy, and scalability using Cloud…

  5. proxy.deadlight proxy.deadlight Public

    A high-performance network proxy that serves as a stateless protocol bridge. It connects mature, stateful TCP protocols (SMTP, IMAP/S, SOCKS4/5) to the modern, stateless, and globally distributed s…

    C

  6. lib.deadlight lib.deadlight Public

    A modular, edge-native library providing authentication, database models, UI components, and core utilities for the Deadlight ecosystem of applications.

    JavaScript