Proposing a Context Sharing Runtime for Personalized Web Applications

Summary

The article argues for a new approach to context sharing on the web that enables more personalized experiences while maintaining user control and trust. It critiques current OAuth-based systems as insufficient for enabling widespread participation in the 'context is king' era, where personal data and context are valuable but access is tightly controlled. The author proposes moving beyond the current model where only large, trusted applications have access to user context, suggesting a runtime or framework that would allow smaller tools and applications to safely access and utilize user context while preserving privacy and user control. The piece discusses the tension between enabling innovation through small tools (like npm packages) and the need for trust when dealing with sensitive personal data.