Files are over. All you need are URLs
Summary
Host David Pierce interviews Paul Ford, co-founder of Aboard, to discuss his new project, Tiny Little Office, which embeds entire documents directly into URLs to eliminate server storage and enhance privacy. The conversation explores how this "data in the URL" approach redefines where the computer lives, challenges traditional software ownership, and leverages modern browser capabilities for ephemeral, secure sharing. The episode also covers recent tech news, including Apple's "Crackgate" hinge issues, Anthropic's IPO filing, and the release of a new water-resistant iPad mini. Finally, Pier…
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Jira by Atlassian
90 Seconds: iPhone hinge issues, Anthropic IPO, iPad mini
Intro: Where is the computer? Introducing Tiny Little Office
Paul Ford explains the origin and concept of Tiny Little Office
How URLs store data and the QR code document trick
The novelty of disposable, serverless software
Privacy mechanics: Incognito mode and the hash fragment
Security transparency and the role of AI in development
Redefining data ownership and ephemeral sharing
Sponsor: Jira by Atlassian
Vibe coding, browser capabilities, and encryption
Web vs Mobile app stores and the economics of platforms
Ephemeral presentations and the irony of vanishing decks
Security risks, phishing, and intended use cases
User experience, constraints, and using it as a blog
Future plans, open source licensing, and library utility
Technical limits of URL data encoding
Sponsor: Jira by Atlassian
One More Thing: You Can See Everything documentary
Outro, contact info, and subscription call to action
Sponsor: Jira by Atlassian
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