Mozilla-based browsers used to (before Firefox 3, I believe) store bookmarks as HTML (bookmarks.html) instead of using an SQLite database. It still uses a single HTML file when exporting or importing bookmarks.

▲ dgl 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

Chrome can also import/export in this format, chrome://bookmarks, dots menu at the top right, export bookmarks.

The file it generates has:

    <!DOCTYPE NETSCAPE-Bookmark-file-1>

▲ dcrazy 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I was wondering if someone else would remember this.

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selcuka 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

I also remember that the first web based forums used a Perl script that actually created new HTML files on the web server when someone posted a new topic, and modified the existing one when someone posted a reply.

A bit similar to static web site generators today, only with endless security vulnerabilities.

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krapp 4 days ago | parent [-]

You might be referring to the venerable wwwboard from Matt's Script Archive, which amazingly still exists: https://www.scriptarchive.com/wwwboard.html

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selcuka 4 days ago | parent [-]

It's been almost 30 years, so my memory is hazy, but that really looks like it.

It still exists but last updated in 2000. It might be fun to make a Docker container with the right dependencies (if that's still possible) to run it.

	▲	dcrazy 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		I believe UBB (Ultimate Bulletin Board) worked this way too.

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dariosalvi78 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I do! And still thought it was the case! In fact the first reaction to this txt thing was: well, we already have them in html, why txt?

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johnisgood 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Remember? I just exported bookmarks as a HTML a few days ago. :o

	▲	dcrazy 5 days ago \| parent [-]
		I was referring to the time when Bookmarks.html was Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox’s actual on-disk storage format, not just its import/export format. Editing that file would change the contents of your Bookmarks menu.

▲ SnuffBox 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

It was a holdover from NetScape. I found it worked quite well and made it easy to share my bookmarks on my website.