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GNOME Web Browser is Adding a Reader Mode (omgubuntu.co.uk)
An anonymous reader writes: An experimental reader mode will ship in the next version of GNOME Web, aka Epiphany. The feature is already available to try in the latest development builds of the GTK Webkit-based web browser, released this week as part of the GNOME 3.29.3 milestone. Reader mode (also known as "reader view") is a toggle option that strips a web page down to its bare text. All bespoke styling, background images, buttons, branding and page ephemera is removed. You get a distraction-free, text version of a web page. Because reader mode use its own custom .css to present web content it is (sometimes) possible to adjust a page's text size, background color, and/or layout for improved readability. There's no indication (yet) of customisation options being available in GNOME Web's version.
Centers text, omits cruft, enlarged font. And in most instances gets the full text of an article behind a paywall.
Stripping bare to text? Might just use one of the classics, like w3m, links, lynx.
Or while we're at it, telnet to port 80, pipe through openssl as neccesary?
No kidding though, I still regularly use w3m from the command line to circumvent "funny" JavaScript stuff used to block access if you visit a site "too often" (pay after limited use news sites), or just plain avoid all those pesky ads especially with pop-in video and such.
For you web developers out there, this is also a rather healthy test of your websites - if it won't properly deliver content in such a text browser, they will also suck from a search engine perspective, and probably from the usability side too. Obvious exemptions for picture or video oriented websites.