TLDR; This site is now smollweb compliant.

Smollweb is a simple and unbloated web. It uses a subset of HTML and CSS to be efficient in two ways, as described on its main site:

Two aspects are critical: the size of the code and linked resources downloaded by the browser, and the computing effort to do the layouting by transforming it into absolutely positioned boxes with text and images. Reducing both can make a website “smol”.

Since I'm trying to return to basics and avoid as much complexity as I can, these ideas match my current goals perfectly. I've explored the gemini protocol too, but somehow I feel that maintaining compatibility with current browsers and making the most of what already exists has its perks.

Apart from lightweightness, accessibility seems to benefit from this approach too. The subset of HTML recommended focuses on semantic value and the absence of javascript makes webs easier to parse by accessibility tools.

So, after some consideration, I've made the necessary adjustments and now this site is HTML compliant and scores CSS grade B in the smollweb validator. It's fun to watch it rendered by dillo and even w3m.