# Awesome Permacomputing [![Awesome](https://awesome.re/badge-flat2.svg)](https://awesome.re)
<a href="https://permacomputing.net/"><img src="media/logo.png" alt="Permacomputing Logo" align="right"></a>
A curation of resources, projects, and communities related to permacomputing.
> [Permacomputing](https://permacomputing.net/permacomputing/) is both a concept and a community of practice oriented around issues of resilience and regenerativity in computer and network technology inspired by permaculture. 

## Contents

- [Resources](#resources)
  - [Websites](#websites)
  - [Articles](#articles)
  - [Books](#books)
  - [Visual](#visual)
  - [Audiovisual](#audiovisual)
- [Projects](#projects)
  - [Software](#software)
  - [Hardware](#hardware)
  - [Experimental](#experimental)
- [Communities](#communities)
  - [Collectives](#collectives)
  - [Forums](#forums)
    
## Resources

### Websites

- [Permacomputing](https://permacomputing.net/) - A wiki for permacomputing.
- [Low-tech Magazine](https://www.lowtechmagazine.com/) - Articles about solving human problems with low-tech solutions.
- [Monoskop](https://monoskop.org/) - A wiki for arts and studies.
- [Damaged Earth Catalog](https://damaged.bleu255.com/) - A growing online catalog of the different terms in circulation.
- [XXIIVV](https://wiki.xxiivv.com/) - Ideas and notes on technology, art, language, and philosophy.
- [The Luddite](https://theluddite.org/) - A skeptical look at technology and its impact on society.
- [Frugal Computing](https://frugalcomputing.neocities.org/) - Ideas and notes on frugal computing.
- [Modding Fridays](https://moddingfridays.bleu255.com/) - A wiki about maintenance, repurposing, and reappropriation of supposedly obsolete electronics.
- [No tech Magazine](https://www.notechmagazine.com/) - Low-tech Magazine's sister blog, it emphasizes simple technologies over high-tech, resource-intensive ones.
- [Simplifier](https://simplifier.neocities.org/) - Practical, low-tech guides and resources to simplify daily life.
- [Death to Bullshit](https://blog.deathtobullshit.com/) - Critiques the clutter and misleading tactics common in digital experiences.
- [Do the Math](https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/) - Explores the physical limits of growth in energy consumption and technological progress.
- [Branch Magazine](https://branch.climateaction.tech/) - Articles about climate justice and internet sustainability.
- [Pluralistic](https://pluralistic.net/) - Explores technology, digital rights, and societal issues.

### Articles

- [Permacomputing](http://viznut.fi/files/texts-en/permacomputing.html) - Ville-Matias Heikkilä, 2020.
- [A holistic approach to computing and sustainability inspired from permaculture](https://wiki.xxiivv.com/site/permacomputing.html) - Devine Lu Linvega, 2021.
- [Permacomputing Aesthetics: Potential and Limits of Constraints in Computational Art, Design and Culture](https://limits.pubpub.org/pub/6loh1eqi/release/1) - Aymeric Mansoux, Brendan Howell, Dušan Barok, and Ville-Matias Heikkilä, 2023.
- [Permacomputing and the Dance of Repair Amid the Vestiges of Digital Obsolescence](https://networkcultures.org/performanceofcode/2023/09/05/the-dance-of-repair-amid-the-vestiges-of-digital-obsolescence/) - Nancy Mauro-Flude, 2023.
- [The Oceanic provenance of Permacomputing and Computational poetics](https://www.autoluminescence.institute/resources/library/intro-oceanic_provenance_permacomputing_codework/) - Nancy Mauro-Flude, 2024.
- [The Beauty of Finished Software](https://josem.co/the-beauty-of-finished-software/) - Jose M. Gilgado, 2023.
- [What might degrowth computing look like?](https://criticaledtech.com/2022/04/08/what-might-degrowth-computing-look-like/) - Neil Selwyn, 2022.
- [Low Fat Computing](https://www.ultratechnology.com/lowfat.htm) - Jeff Fox, 1998.
- [What can a technologist do about climate change?](https://worrydream.com/ClimateChange/#production) - Bret Victor, 2015.
- [The Staggering Ecological Impacts of Computation and the Cloud](https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-staggering-ecological-impacts-of-computation-and-the-cloud/) - Steven Gonzalez Monserrate, 2022.
- [It's Not Easy Being Green: On the Energy Efficiency of Programming Languages](https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.05460) - Nicolas van Kempen, Hyuk-Je Kwon, Dung Tuan Nguyen, and Emery D. Berger, 2024.
- [The biggest lie tech people tell themselves — and the rest of us](https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/10/1/20887003/tech-technology-evolution-natural-inevitable-ethics) - Rose Eveleth, 2019.
- [Hype, Sustainability, and the Price of the Bigger-is-Better Paradigm in AI](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2409.14160) - Gaël Varoquaux, Alexandra Sasha Luccioni, and Meredith Whittaker, 2024.
- [Redefining our needs: permacomputing and vernacular computing](https://medium.com/data-ai-masters/redefining-our-needs-permacomputing-and-vernacular-computing-ba703bb0f1d9) - Robert Engels, 2022.

### Books

##### Fiction

- [The Dispossessed](https://www.ursulakleguin.com/dispossessed) - Ursula K. Le Guin, 1974.
- [The Fifth Sacred Thing](https://starhawk.org/writing/books/the-fifth-sacred-thing/) - Starhawk, 1993.

##### Non-fiction

- [The Art of Unix Programming](http://www.catb.org/esr/writings/taoup/html/index.html) - Eric S. Raymond, 2003.
- [The Limits to Growth](https://collections.dartmouth.edu/teitexts/meadows/diplomatic/meadows_ltg-diplomatic.html) - Donella H. Meadows, Dennis L. Meadows, Jørgen Randers, and William W. Behrens III, 1972.

### Visual

##### Comics

- [Dependency](https://xkcd.com/2347/) - Xkcd, 2020.
- [Energy Slaves](https://www.stuartmcmillen.com/comic/energy-slaves/) - Stuart McMillen, 2017.
- [The Solar Grid](https://thesolargrid.net/Read) - Ganzeer, 2016.

### Audiovisual

##### Fiction

- [Neptune Frost](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11873472/) - Anisia Uzeyman and Saul Williams, 2021.
- [Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087544/) - Hayao Miyazaki, 1984.

##### Documentaries

- [Death by Design](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5693890/) - Sue Williams, 2016.
- [The Social Dilemma](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11464826/) - Jeff Orlowski-Yang, 2020.
- [Surviving Progress](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1462014/) - Mathieu Roy and Harold Crooks, 2011.
- [Low-Tech](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27434317/) - Adrien Bellay, 2023.

##### Talks

- [An Approach to Computing and Sustainability Inspired from Permaculture](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3u7bGgVspM) - Devine Lu Linvega, 2023.
- [From appropriate technology to permacomputing: a glossary of counternarratives and practices](https://piped.video/watch?v=OOppK1or6RY&t=3036s) - Marloes de Valk, 2022.
- [Preventing the Collapse of Civilization](https://archive.org/details/blow_20191208) - Jonathan Blow, 2019.

## Projects

### Software

##### Operating Systems

- [Collapse OS](http://collapseos.org/) - Forth-based operating system designed for post-collapse scenarios.
- [Tiny Core Linux](http://tinycorelinux.net/) - Small, highly modular system with community build extensions.
- [Alpine Linux](https://alpinelinux.org/) - Secure, lightweight Linux distribution.
- [Plan 9](https://9p.io/plan9/) - Compact and uniform operating system built as a successor to Unix.
  
##### Code Editors

- [Vim](https://www.vim.org/) - Highly efficient, customisable, and lightweight text editor.
- [Micro](https://micro-editor.github.io/) - Lightweight, intuitive terminal-based text editor.
- [Geany](https://www.geany.org/) - Small, lightweight IDE suitable for basic coding needs.
- [Nano](https://www.nano-editor.org/) - A lightweight, terminal-based text editor for Unix-like systems.
- [Left](https://wiki.xxiivv.com/site/left) - Graphical text editor for the Uxn virtual machine. 18kb.
   
##### Tools

- [Suckless](https://suckless.org/) - A collection of ultra-minimalist tools focused on simplicity, clarity and frugality.
- [TLP](https://linrunner.de/tlp/) - Linux power management tool to extend battery life.
- [Hugo](https://gohugo.io/) - Open-source static website generator.
- [twtxt](https://twtxt.readthedocs.io/en/stable/) - A decentralised, minimalist microblogging platform built on a text-based protocol.
- [sqlite](https://sqlite.org/) - Small, reliable SQL database engine.
- [Argos Translate](https://www.argosopentech.com/) - An open-source translation tool that runs offline.
- [NoScript](https://noscript.net/) - An open-source browser extension that allows JavaScript to be executed only on trusted websites of your choice.
- [CO2.js](https://developers.thegreenwebfoundation.org/co2js/overview/) - A JavaScript library for estimating the carbon emissions associated with software.
- [Tauri](https://tauri.app/) - A framework for building lightweight, native desktop applications with web technologies.
- [XFE](http://roland65.free.fr/xfe/) - A simple and efficient file manager.
- [Festival](https://festival.pm/) - A lightweight music player designed for local album collections.
- [FOX](http://fox-toolkit.org/) - A portable C++ based toolkit for building GUIs.
- [Zola](https://www.getzola.org/) - A fast static site generator in a single binary.
- [Uxn](https://100r.co/site/uxn.html) - A portability layer for graphical applications.

##### Protocols

- [Gemini](https://geminiprotocol.net/) - Minimalist, text-based internet protocol.
- [Tor](https://www.torproject.org/) - A privacy-focused, decentralised network protocol.
- [Dat Ecosystem](https://dat-ecosystem.org/) - A peer-to-peer protocol and tools for decentralised data sharing.
- [IPFS](https://ipfs.tech/) - Peer-to-peer file storage and sharing protocol.
- [Meshtastic](https://meshtastic.org/) - Open-source mesh networking protocol designed for off-grid communication.

##### Browsers

- [Dillo](https://dillo.org/) - A multi-platform graphical web browser, focused on speed and minimal resource usage.
- [w3m](https://w3m.sourceforge.net/) - Text-based web browser for low-resource environments.
- [Lagrange](https://gmi.skyjake.fi/lagrange/) - A minimal, open-source browser designed for browsing Geminispace.

##### Search Engines

- [DuckDuckGo Lite](https://lite.duckduckgo.com/lite) - A minimal version of the DuckDuckGo search engine.
- [Mojeek](https://www.mojeek.com/) - Independent, privacy-focused search engine.
  
##### Social 

- [Scuttlebutt](https://scuttlebutt.nz/) - A decentralised, low-bandwidth social network that works offline and is powered by a peer-to-peer gossip protocol.
- [Lemmy](https://join-lemmy.org/) - A federated, open-source social platform for creating and joining communities.
- [Piped](https://piped.video/) - An open-source alternative frontend for YouTube which is efficient by design.
- [Mastodon](https://mastodon.social/) - A decentralised, open-source microblogging community.

### Hardware

##### Devices

- [OLinuXino](https://www.olimex.com/Products/OLinuXino/open-source-hardware) - Single-board computers based on open-source hardware.
- [Framework](https://frame.work/) - Customisable, repairable laptops.
- [Fairphone](https://www.fairphone.com/) - Repairable smartphones made with responsibly sourced materials.
- [pine64](https://pine64.org/) - Devices based on open-source hardware.
- [Green Arrays](https://www.greenarraychips.com/) - Low power computation platforms.
- [RC2014](https://rc2014.co.uk/) - A simple 8 bit Z80 based modular computer.

##### Repairing

- [iFixit](https://www.ifixit.com/Guide) - Step-by-step guides for repairing various devices.
- [Repair Café](https://www.repaircafe.org/en/) - Free meeting places for repairing things together.
- [The Restart Project](https://therestartproject.org/) - Repair education, repair events, and advocacy for the right to repair.

##### Repurposing

- [Unbinare](https://unbina.re/) - An e-waste reverse engineering lab.

### Experimental

- [Solar Protocol](https://solarprotocol.net/) - Decentralised, solar-powered internet infrastructure.
- [Permacomputing as a practice](https://permacomputingasapracticefordigitalgraphicdesign.com/) - Integrates permacomputing principles into graphic design processes.
- [Reclaimed Systems](https://reclaimed.systems/) - Conducts research on ethical and sustainable technology, particularly in AI's societal and ecological impacts.
- [Designlife-cycle.com](https://www.designlife-cycle.com/) - Explores the life cycle, materials, energy use, and sustainability challenges of everyday design products.

## Communities

### Collectives

##### Computing

- [Computing within Limits](https://limits.pubpub.org/) - An annual workshop concerning the role of computing in human societies affected by real-world limits.
- [Freifunk](https://freifunk.net/en/) - Decentralised, non-profit wireless community network in Germany.
- [Right to Repair](https://repair.eu/) - Advocates for products to be designed for repairability and for universal access to the necessary spare parts, tools, and repair manuals.
- [Green Software Foundation](https://greensoftware.foundation/) - An ecosystem of people, standards, tooling and best practices for building green software.
- [ClimateAction.tech](https://climateaction.tech/) - A slack-based tech community to meet, discuss, and learn about climate action.
- [Electronics < > Ecologies](https://www.admscentre.org.au/electronics-ecologies/) - A workshop series providing strategic research outcomes and specialised training in sustainable electronics design and hardware studies.
- [LURK](https://lurk.org/) - Hosts discussions on decentralised, sustainable computing and new digital environments.
- [Sustainable Web Manifesto](https://www.sustainablewebmanifesto.com/) - Advocates for sustainable design principles in the web industry.
- [The Green Web Foundation](https://www.thegreenwebfoundation.org/) - An independent non-profit that tracks how much of the internet is powered by green energy.
- [Varia](https://varia.zone/en/) - Rotterdam-based community focusing on collective approaches to sustainable technology.
  
##### Art

- [Small File Media Festival](https://smallfile.ca/) - A film festival in Canada, focused on short films with file sizes less than five megabytes.
- [Demoscene](https://www.demoscene.info/) - Old-school programming artistry using limited system resources to produce stunning visuals and sounds.
- [Pixel Joint](https://www.pixeljoint.com/) - Community for artists making low-resolution, low-power pixel art.
- [LOWREZJAM](https://itch.io/jam/lowrezjam-2024) - A game jam where participants create games with a maximum resolution of 64x64 pixels.
- [Data Garden](https://www.datagarden.org/) - A series of bio-reactive installations that transform natural phenomena into music-generating data.
- [Fiber Space](https://www.fiber-space.nl/) - Events and workshops exploring permacomputing in creative and digital arts.
- [Small File Photo Festival](https://unthinking.photography/projects/smallfile/) - A mini festival encouraging and celebrating small size photography.
- [Tiny Code Christmas](https://tcc.lovebyte.party/) - A yearly jam on low-level graphics programming.
- [Watt-Wise Game Jam](https://wattwise.games/) - A challenge to build low-energy games.
- [digicam.love](https://digicam.love/) - Promotes photography taken with old digital cameras.

### Forums

- [Permacomputing on the SLRPNK Lemmy instance](https://slrpnk.net/c/permacomputing)
- [Permacomputing on the SDF Chatter Lemmy instance](https://lemmy.sdf.org/c/permacomputing)
- [Permacomputing on the Disroot XMPP chat server](xmpp:lowtech@chat.disroot.org?join)
- [Lobsters](https://lobste.rs/)

[permacomputing.md Github](https://github.com/idematos/awesome-permacomputing
)
