hmmm, shouldn't it be possible to make a meme generator that's a better fit for Fedi servers? You would store the blank version of the meme template as a single image file, then overlay it with text, but just in HTML.
pros:
- more accessible because there's actually content in the DOM to read. (free alt text)
- takes up less server space because you aren't generating unique image files every time the meme is used. less data to send to the client too because template would get cached.
- easy to write because it could be represented with macros/tags in the text body of the post
cons:
- probably would get lost when a mobile app tried to render it
- nothing else
#accessibility #webDev
pros:
- more accessible because there's actually content in the DOM to read. (free alt text)
- takes up less server space because you aren't generating unique image files every time the meme is used. less data to send to the client too because template would get cached.
- easy to write because it could be represented with macros/tags in the text body of the post
cons:
- probably would get lost when a mobile app tried to render it
- nothing else
#accessibility #webDev
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Yep, the con is a big con. Maybe the best way to fix that would be to have a 'compiled' meme: generate as an alternate an old style image version of the meme and send it only to old clients, other Fediverse server software and old Mastodon servers. It would break pro #2, but on time even that crutch could be removed.
@smitten
Yes. If SVG is supported by all software, you could embed the base bitmap as an external reference in the SVG, letting it store only the text and any metadata that could be useful, as SVG allows the use of custom tags and attributes. So you would not need to use it as an alternative; it could be the new meme format in itself, because it would cover all your initial points.
I'm not familiar with how images work in native apps but I imagine it could take that URL too.