13 Feet Ladder
What is the project about?
13 Feet Ladder is a self-hosted web server that allows users to bypass paywalls, ads, and other annoyances on websites. It's similar to the service 12ft.io but offers broader compatibility.
What problem does it solve?
It provides access to content that is normally blocked by paywalls or obscured by ads, allowing users to read articles without subscriptions or interruptions. It is useful for occasional access to paid content.
What are the features of the project?
- Bypasses paywalls and ads on websites.
- Self-hostable, giving users control over their data and access.
- Works by pretending to be GoogleBot, leveraging the access granted to search engine crawlers.
- Simple web interface for entering URLs.
- Supports direct URL appending for quick access.
- Can be used as a Bookmarklet in Chrome.
- Customizable listening host and port.
- Systemd and Reverse-proxy examples.
What are the technologies used in the project?
- Python (Flask web framework)
- Docker and Docker Compose (for containerized deployment)
- JavaScript (for the bookmarklet)
- Systemd (optional, for service management)
- Apache with Reverse Proxy (optional, for advanced configuration)
What are the benefits of the project?
- Access to gated content: Reads articles and other content behind paywalls.
- Ad-free reading: Provides a cleaner reading experience.
- Self-hosted: Offers privacy and control compared to third-party services.
- Easy to use: Simple interface and multiple deployment options (Docker, Python script, bookmarklet).
- Customizable: Can be configured to run on specific ports and integrated with existing systems.
What are the use cases of the project?
- Occasional access to articles behind paywalls.
- Reading news articles without disruptive ads.
- Bypassing website restrictions to access content.
- Self-hosting a privacy-focused alternative to similar online services.
