When people talk about the early web, they often frame it as something primitive — slow connections, simple pages, and limited tools. But what’s usually missing from that conversation is that the early web was also honest.
Websites were made by people who wanted to share something. A hobby. A thought. A project. A collection of links. There was no pressure to optimize for engagement, no feeds to game, no algorithms deciding what deserved attention. You either found a site because someone linked to it, or because you went looking.
That experience is what Guno is trying to preserve.
Over time, the web shifted. Dynamic platforms took over, content became monetized by default, and discovery became centralized. That brought convenience and scale, but it also erased a lot of individuality. Personal sites didn’t disappear — they just became harder to find.
Guno exists to fix that specific problem.
It is not meant to compete with modern search engines. It does not attempt to index the entire internet. It focuses on a smaller, quieter corner of the web: static websites. Pages that load fast, work without scripts, and exist primarily because someone wanted them to exist.
Static sites represent independence. They don’t rely on platforms staying friendly. They don’t break when an API changes. They can be archived, mirrored, and preserved. Most importantly, they belong fully to their creators.
The goal of Guno is simple:
- Make static sites discoverable again
- Encourage exploration instead of optimization
- Keep the experience lightweight and human
That’s why the interface is simple. That’s why there’s an “I’m Feeling Lucky” button. That’s why the results aren’t endlessly personalized. Guno is about finding, not filtering.
This project is also an experiment. Can a search tool exist without becoming noisy? Can discovery feel curious instead of addictive? Can a directory grow without losing its personality?
I don’t have all the answers yet. Guno will evolve slowly and intentionally. Features will be added only when they serve the mission, not when they add complexity for its own sake.
If you’re here because you run a static site, I hope Guno helps people find your work.
If you’re here because you’re browsing, I hope you stumble onto something unexpected.
The web doesn’t need to go backward — but it doesn’t need to forget where it came from either.
— James