txtdot

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.