Web pages have been growing in size for years. PortalRunner developed a self-hosted HTTPS proxy that compresses images and websites and blocks ads to preserve limited mobile data. Based on mitmproxy, the system converts images for small screens to the .webp format instead of .PNG and .JPEG, and lowers their resolution; the quality loss can be adjusted. In exchange for slower loading, users can force the highest level of compression on all pages. Running through a home server also provides private VPN functionality. Details are available in the GitHub link and the video. The project does not help older hardware connect to the internet; in this respect, it differs from solutions such as FrogFind and MacProxy.
Why it matters
This approach gives users, particularly those working with limited mobile data allowances, the option to choose between data consumption and page loading speed and image quality. Running on a home server moves the solution to the user’s own infrastructure, making private VPN functionality possible within the same setup. While choosing the highest compression can reduce data usage, it comes at the cost of slower loading and noticeable quality loss; therefore, the solution’s benefits vary depending on the conditions of use. The project focuses on reducing mobile data consumption, but it does not address the problem of older hardware that has difficulty connecting to the internet; therefore, these two needs should not be considered to be met by the same tool.