#dev 2026-03-29
2026-03-29 UTC
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junongx Random question: Do you use gmail? Do you scorn the idea of using google drive as a source for remote backup and data sync?
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# [Michael_Kupiet] I do use gmail, hesitantly, only because I've been hosting my email on them since time immemorial and like having the entire historic record in one place. I also use google drive for my website automatic backups, which are run by the UpDraft wordpress plugin, which only gives you limited cloud destinations in the free version. I'd rather use Backblaze B2 or get a Hetzner box or something.
# [Michael_Kupiet] I think Google Drive is good in a pinch, it's certainly very convenient and easy to use, the only real problem is it's Google and patronizing them just gives me the heebie-jeebies, it makes my knees quake and my stomach rumble and I perpetually hear a sound on the edge of my perception, like a dull roar in the distance, like an entire faraway galaxy crying out at once in existential pain. Other than that it's alright though.
# junongx I've been building small software and found that Google Drive is such a good solution for most average people (I don't have to run a backend; users fully own their data), but have been wondering how much the indie web/small web dislikes the idea of using Google.
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# [Michael_Kupiet] I think, this is just me, getting things built and working is the most important thing. If Google is the easiest way for you to do that, hard to take issue with.
# junongx It's definitely the right way for me personally, but I just want to make it more aligned with the community's values
# junongx Or maybe I'm overthinking it. I built it for myself first and foremost
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# [morgan] I dont think I oppose using google drive, just I dont want to make it my main thing, and keep files pretty distributed elsewhere. Just on principle I try not to put any keys to the castle there to keep it a little bit segmented. I think the community value here is independence as much as possible, not being locked into it
# [morgan] If its the easy or useful path right now its alright 🙂
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[Murray] I guess a key question would be: is what you're doing only going to work on Google Drive, or would it work just as well on something like Proton Drive or Mailbox's internal storage? Or even self-hosted on a server? Basically, if Google does a Google and sunsets Drive tomorrow, is that the end of what you're building or could you migrate?
# [Murray] If you can migrate away with little or no additional work, then I don't think there's any problem with using Google Drive at all. But if you're locked in to that system, it would give me (personally) pause to consider. Though, as you say, you built this primarily for yourself, so if you're happy with it, then that's all that really matters 🙂
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# junongx I definitely did consider other services, and the Google Drive option has the least amount of frictions. Of course it would be nice to provide choices, but the userbase (currently only me and my partner) is too small to justify it currently. But yes, migrating away, including the option of my own backend server is definitely an option.
# junongx I guess I should just build it the way I want to use it first, and figure out the grand things later (if there is a demand for it)
# junongx Thanks for the input
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[schmarty] One other Google-ism to be aware of, when integrating with Google Drive, is that they have pretty intense permissions model and app requirements around it, because people store so much private information there. You can get some leeway on this in how you configure your app, like giving it permission to only see files that it created.
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# [schmarty] This was a Big Deal back in ~2020. For example, this app uses google drive + spreadsheets to create card decks for game playtesting. when the permissions model tightened, they were facing a security audit from google in order to keep google drive access. instead the app was rewritten to include its own uploader feature so the gdrive access could be scoped. https://www.patreon.com/posts/release-8-space-39686921
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[KevinMarks] there are big permission problems in AWS as well
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[tantek] [Schepp]++ for the beautiful theme at https://the-web-you-want.org/?css=schepp
# [tantek] and they're open to folk submitting custom themes! perhaps something for [artlung] or FrESH? https://the-web-you-want.org/#custom-themes
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[capjamesg] That theme is amazing!!
# [capjamesg] [Schepp]++!
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# [tantek] lol try https://the-web-you-want.org/?css=sanne and check the "[x] Fancy" checkbox
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deathcomestotime the snails are probably my favourite part
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