New website format is so revolutionary its creator doesn’t know its
potential

Jon Porter | July 6, 2018 5:16 pm

A new web tool has made it possible to format an entire website as a URL
string, but it’s such a different way of making websites that even its
creator doesn’t know what people might end up using it for.

That’s especially surprising when you consider its creator, Nicholas
Jitkoff, is a former designer at Google and current vice president at
Dropbox, but it speaks to what a strange creation this really is.

The service, called ‘Itty Bitty <https://itty.bitty.site/edit>,’ works by
compressing html data using the Lempel-Ziv-Markov chain algorithm and then
encoding it using base64. What you’re left with is a string of letters and
numbers that can then be stored in a single URL string like this
<https://itty.bitty.site/#New_website_format_is_so_revolutionary_its_creator_doesn't_know_its_potential/?XQAAAAIsEAAAAAAAAAAeHAPDwvtqsYevW0OXr8JHlwdkcuZVPB6rKkWHUcE+u0QbvcdMJKuboei5Bk+iVVNntFxoAKaAcXXQcdmbRqLS2XVoLiqgjbgLBRbMZnkTRcd+TnUUmk+F3+FWimTx2QqkjO6LVl2frrqeoo2aWgvNTzxDxX3g++iaixa7z/oJX642ewf5G+8dpr5gresKnmvcKfZLxjgN/7F9A0w6lCfFWKADMXdpcDS3CXfRqwKpJ/Lprv0A0W2ZMiJiYnOuuoJCoyfh5xhvhEu9/+6FhGPTixrNu2URhlEV1ypvgE/8qpRxZB6xQaTWCYbFARNkdEm4hbG+aLlzSbZ5uSPgJS2/TTpb/xhZbR3EfL9xU7xAS1ZwVzFXOEacnfI8W2R87dzc9CQ2tTEArjJtyMPNUcknZWEoLaC/LfsDFmq1U4A454FI7TCagMdbdEbTDeJfJJ1Mgydg4EnnYL/beOHRcl9PohJSG/F6q4dXRHZPbRPNoUu7eus1ekk3OdhaVQ2XeGQC7aHwzAWriDY5DBTXIe+6Y3XkesUtDaFqWyBL3Tqk3EdXGncQ/ChvkZ1qk/hriGp15bFQjUvGGyNo1s/PhSMHqBSGuL3XTqqQrMj5mo8voE20VODPbzm8YtJ+BjYZd1Lw9Mn8kH5X6QH/NWW3VGGncqkotwSQzbhqd/Av1gvi1HfYacm1o5U/Tv2BUyuT24GW4guhL76b1wYXE56qDHsdBa4G6gLkv/CsOhxPFzQuSpcjC1paTaTiPX6NOw8VeXfEzoWJQF8aANk3bilYCPqe5MvquwzGudhATPHFTREIvsjCVEBXvrazqyUjGncbF4VG+1SgpigiKyoFZjxdrqKA5Fki/oMvKJW6O8OV99LrOeoOvpvMCcI7Jk2gDtmdcjqHaJkcMlg2QQ0xse9bkMjzip/md7nyZi6f1JYr5sZ7UdHuRJQMJGr2YrqHIobMRe9h/FAhyAnae5BgTGXzbtN/oX+U8o5Ei/iWsicQfGH5lhotpcrRQ3ocx+RocWNK/U448xm4n+mW9LRnpvcYqPEs4RLpMUIK5kKixwtLMA0xD92thCFAaGbT7rMdVHl/1iBBK15cv5otTAXi7pqI0TUbh6Wl2F4ZkPQhfsIYL2FsVlcoBtZQjdOQ7H6w4yOayhF/WtUxynXBH09xo8c4GHmDjR8qwqsC/0fhmFlPGcSyNahqKWfjFZctGaNZRcTXotoMFmVyvZ8Ih27l7VPcrPK9iVJdy60IAE6FfiMhuKlfjT3t/OcMnna3plDtt4wzl57bvC2/K4bYIeYMNKbOg1grTpUNDt+BVXc2xKNFT2ZKNG55wB5qDA3C9G8EVY/h098yWo7ZA43Azz3NM52dSQGabOcmLFrnBPVWP31oesRflTC1fIgVJcLxJ5a/rdnf8abEE+WRnfWVLcyxEk/IV/DGeOXOd19re8upDNL7iHUULFwO7wwFPDqBj59+9If0yEfxDNSSZDoVtFtVMg+qndeCI3jEE9MHalG2KDb/eYQYBziCgofVbftGRIdxJ/sy9H4IkoDyLRUun5LKxzILS0LJJmwrgiE21hO5GihG7Tn1ugKFLKOzbSDv9f5QYXbdHGA8iLPvQkr6EiNdFU3xPoqh7nGa7kq53F+dL8dkyU+xBkL3QYBkFz1CRGbKetThjMYqO0CLIukfT5Oqijv0v/TLHL+YLdZzEC6uYlMwPHPtrP6WfzhB+3al5chZqHTUVondjya1lBovAphKLDhu1ctLB4bpGoI24BOSyGRe7e9kkbKB0wmED5ZD94PLAO33w7CwkuTW4/fxd5KXF6ALGkNGkOqRQW9P6hWYJsbzkpRsW7oZ02Ud5Pg2qSdo4+jTCHmeigfbuzY0Mxw2KdwtAqmP+HCPRBuYvkPljJw/7A6+2vAIzqLDQA/eYZTMX+ShYjzSZzAHskZp8OC4xN5GOGZjCY8lgPZHUbLtxEALXf04pNGpP/KX+Few4YlY3WMHdvthNo3LbVPPqDqgGnbifSnxt1/+QDzQ+9030i1VhACIBhgEvl9JUMm/Luj8kV79MhOWXHDt310oB3BNIqFIPq25aH99JEgGfPTOKn14ogZDcFL5l43guptk2hbAIJozUqovtL9azEGCaDJta2ew452y2mNFpoqLKYAQVxmgedbOv3ea4mAVGBOcmT5S6hGg/oa7g5opy5hXKtIsroxOWPg9wvydlQaRGUKuTVOZ8s4L+iIOw9bZsaYdKwszh8tcRRx1oERK1e+K+bZYisjHJqHu5hHc2bmeB7l/ySEXt7XdAhkR/7N0BaJEM8+bYiyI4xrPEPIo5YFMbUOny/biFl1bC5yr2AtJ+51X8EySay8KYH6r3oEKXk9MgHlqtJjjIK2W1X92DqWKJIl3Q0x2BLUhlVrppuBzLd6op9IqKx4ObwSCj0mhql+MfAEUkswa1MPXV8ZMbb0QJaGVIVUswb0OZXxQuLRxhun9nvzFe68Ndg5K0A/pQaThXpDIcEN1OkbUsiDbsxKNkjGlhj0GIGtxSYsKzFIXbRcq1EKlQSvHD0/q1h664hz6GVm8DVMmhEhvSIkBs4aa0fA2i2pmRVRLeVDxS919QH/4OmsYtKv3w+G/Jvjg1RbsNZikWB2Iyrgi5prLcPupPxSAPtVvMl0les7bhCKOMXsltHKcsOppNu6spRM1I37Z3IQufa1D4/F2by8TepQOJjLrzAOA0vuhv20rVq0ud+vlBMYOPjKnZVQ91CXkz46e5mM38gwT7zmVYrfE06uF2onOequd2mKd0fzOD+dLLM6NvUE+k5skecFW36iu1vl9FhMtlMbXLLOsTv8cECNPH1GMg7D6/i+tWfUjBavwSGREpcYPfHaaq61ZQj1h2TfdGRusUfeWTUDH0mI93C8N05Mw6Gsq798nl16/17owEwE5Di5mAL8AygE0SeUsu30v2Zza/3AjvweLIsgFal/RhvcbzLZ6cbP5pIRoE44T3OyhCv1pHX4x+2DBuXi9AjQfZ2nORknLBCUCjveouFDsRmY0+99ERA7ojdW038fFkt/mJs1KLL2i+YZs7i4WYEPtBwwqEw9/gluzhc+YSXBVkhXCf9QTsJLBBwpQRDYsdnNYLYVTaumM1EoKip6HdqdWrZAEzITjg/fWulMIJDbSZM0stCjMzA+kXWDGwILQC5rk/Dc/Ztad0VSfjONFHbW2ooISHj0owwTFH1H2T00quH7fiz6BHFDr+jlgEAc+/Zb+CL+MxIFj8mkSp2htKbPGYYKVL7eNXXxpeu42uvNOXYMbzyvaxAoAK8VjT16qWxUJMiOxfr7+EF5gvbvzjwsQzpy7gNRo4WyuzBvEu9jbhhPNPKWLrW24bsu9j1XJ12oD3R7Swl57eg/YAfW+DoNP2rKwuzSGQrAv3i84Z7/3MkiIJT6JH/oCds6b3L+JpMbNSWQeMSeJr2qlHEKOayDvfHtLo1pUYIEdgpNJIPF1nLlafFK4hjGkZfhnO72JZYRtVm4Ztor+SZucu03wYOOJkE/JpgD0rJwvEdCc8jlfXFimSkDSNpm64HiczKlYfZej0i19G4GatOHojJSqw7au/p0RGrFGl0u17f4SSNJ3jtYfUfVE9/bpE7soTN2mIdT1IMQ1qZYN0DuZ9AOOgfbWyuqCTWpYznlY0JFMCyHmomcCFnlr2iw87Jzth/TGUG46/D4UHlqTNS77YXaCULVcdrFD1pswB0BQNa8wWTFTceSHz475f/ojZRfROhocIuZHeqb8Meo5feOHSvd3jAFJiUtFaAjs+9e9//wAlUY=>
.

Here’s
<https://itty.bitty.site/#How_it_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>
a much more thorough explanation of the process.

Yes, it looks like a complete mess, but what the string accomplishes is
hiding an entire web page in a fragment that your browser is able to
understand and decode without any data needing to be sent to a server.

Obviously, you’re not able to host nearly the same amount of content as on
a regular website. At its minimum you can store around 2KB of data, but if
you use a service such as Twitter or Slack to send a link, then you could
have as much as 4KB to play with. Storing the site as a QR code limits you
to just over 2KB.

Yes, it’s restrictive, but the results have a lot of potential. You can get
almost any text content you want into a website that can be freely and
privately shared with anyone without having to rely on hosting from a
third-party service. The project has also been hosted on GitHub
<https://public.eagleapi.io/magpie/time-inc/trusted-reviews/AUTO/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Falcor%2Fitty-bitty&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.trustedreviews.com%2Fnews%2Fitty-bitty-site-3503049&vars[ipcTags.contentId]=3503049&vars[magpie_data.ga_id]=635129889.1530908897>
in case anyone wants to tinker on it or port it themselves.

For now, Jitkoff thinks people could use the tool for poetry, really long
Tweets, and domain redirecting, but we wouldn’t be surprised if people end
up using it for a whole lot more.

https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/itty-bitty-site-3503049
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