AI-powered web crawlers? They’re the internet’s version of that one friend who raids your fridge without asking. But here’s the twist: open-source developers are hitting back with some seriously clever (and downright funny) tricks. 🚀
The Underdogs Strike Back
Niccolò Venerandi, a champion for the Plasma Linux desktop, points out how AI bots treat open-source projects like their personal playground. Rules? What rules? But the developers? They’re drawing the line. 😤
Xe Iaso shared how AmazonBot treated a Git server like its own personal stress ball, ignoring every ‘keep out’ sign. “These bots are crafty, swapping outfits and IDs like they’re in a spy movie,” Iaso notes. But the dev community? They’re ready to turn the tables. 🎤
Anubis: The Gatekeeper
Not one to just complain, Iaso built Anubis—a reverse proxy that’s basically the bouncer of the internet, demanding a secret code (proof-of-work) for entry. Named after the Egyptian deity of the afterlife, it’s poetic justice: bots get weighed down, while humans float right in. And yes, there’s an anime Anubis waiting to greet you. 🎭
Anubis went viral on GitHub, racking up stars and forks like it was collecting infinity stones. The community’s response? Absolutely legendary. 🌟
The Resistance Rises
From Drew DeVault’s endless bot skirmishes to Kevin Fenzi’s geo-blocking strategies, the FOSS world is done playing nice. They’re getting inventive—stuffing bots with nonsense or ensnaring them in digital quicksand with Nepenthes, the internet’s version of a Venus flytrap. 🌱
Cloudflare’s in on the action too, with their AI Labyrinth turning bot navigation into a wild goose chase. It’s like something out of a slapstick comedy. 🤣
The AI Dilemma
DeVault’s rallying for a full-scale AI tool boycott, while others are just trying to keep their heads above water in this bot tsunami. But one thing’s clear: the creativity and resilience of these developers? Nothing short of awe-inspiring. ✊
