txtdot is an HTTP proxy that simplifies web pages by extracting readable article text, links and images while stripping ads and heavy client-side scripts. It is designed to reduce bandwidth usage and deliver a clean, readable view of pages server-side.

Key Features

Server-side page simplification using a readability-based parser to extract main article content, links and images
Media proxy that serves and rewrites images and media assets through the server
Image compression and processing via a server-side image pipeline to reduce payload size
No client-side JavaScript required for rendered pages, producing fast, low-resource frontends
API endpoints and plugin system for customization and integration (SDK and plugins architecture)
Optional integration with search backends and search frontend support
Lightweight TypeScript/Node.js implementation intended for Docker-based deployment

Use Cases

Provide a reading-mode proxy for low-bandwidth or mobile users to improve page load and reduce data usage
Serve privacy-friendly, script-free article views for kiosks, public terminals, or content archiving
Integrate simplified page content into downstream services or indexes for search and analytics

Limitations and Considerations

The original v1 development is marked as discontinued; newer development continues on a separate branch, so feature stability and maintenance may vary
Pages that rely heavily on client-side interactivity or dynamic JavaScript rendering may lose functionality when simplified

txtdot is useful when you need a server-side reading-mode proxy that prioritizes bandwidth savings, privacy, and simplified content delivery. It is extensible via plugins and suited for environments where client resources or network capacity are constrained.