QR codes

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QR codes are 2D barcodes that have had a mixed success with usability, from nearly ignored (see the Tumblr mocking this), to partially successful (Path add friend UI), to invisibly useful (Snapchat add friend UI).

See also examples of profile pictures with indieweb QR codes like Aaron Parecki's Fun with QR Codes and http://research.swtch.com/qr/show/a32975b9627fa8bc (archived).

Criticism

General Criticism

QR Codes: bad idea or terrible idea?

Opaqueness Encourages Domain Squatting

Since QR codes are opaque to the user in terms of what URL is being navigated to, there is more incentive for nefarious domain squatters to take over expired domains that QR codes point to, e.g.:

2015-06-19 Heinz QR porn code too saucy for ketchup customer
Heinz has apologised after a QR code on a bottle of tomato ketchup directed people to a pornography website […] the registration of the URL had lapsed because the related promotion had ended. The site is no longer live.
Graham Cluley, an online security expert, said: "QR codes can point to anywhere on the web. The problem is that humans don't have a clue where they're going to be taken because their brain can't read a QR code, like they can a regular URL.

"It seems [Heinz] failed to renew their registration of the domain name, so it slipped out of their hands and was snatched up by an opportunistic porn site.

Broken links if you link to content you don't control

2019-04-11 @MHChehade

A River Plate fan just took the tattoo game to the next level with a QR code that shows the Copa Libertadores final goals against Boca Juniors whenever you scan it with your phone. Argentinian football fans are something else.
...
Bad news to this River Plate fan as the video of the goals has been taken down off youtube due to copyright issues, his tattoo is basically just a meaningless barcode now. http://youtu.be/H2Apg8TmTYs

Generating QR codes

For self-hosting, the open source PHP library PHP QR Code can be used to generate QR codes locally. Sebastian Greger uses it to include QR codes of URLs in the print view of his content, in order to enable easy interaction for readers of the printed version (code snippet)

There are also online generators like https://www.qrcode-monkey.com/. Be sure to verify that the resulting QR code scans directly to your provided URL instead of a third-party redirection service. gRegor Morrill briefly tested this site as of 2024-07-13 and confirmed it used the direct link I provided.

The Disenshittify project recommends this QR code generation tool.

In a post describing the usefulness of QR codes in certain circumstances, Jeremy Keith mentions the Google Image Chart API, an open API to create QR codes - along with the concern that it may be shut down at any time. Google did eventually close it 2019-03-14 [1]. The replacement Google Charts API does not appear to support QR codes.

IndieWeb Examples

gRegor Morrill

gRegor Morrill made a short post in a QR code: The QR Code Post

Add yourself!

Add yourself here… (see this for more details)

Past Examples

capjamesg

capjamesg has QR codes on his coffee map pages. These QR codes are available to make it easy for people to view the map on their phone. A map on one's phone is more convenient for someone who is on the move and looking to explore coffee shops.

Here are a few examples of these pages:

James generates the QR codes manually (see manual until it hurts). James has published QR codes on these pages since June 30th, 2022.

James also has QR codes for some of his social media profiles, aimed at reducing friction when sharing profiles in person. Examples include: