Making Marx More Readable: A Minimal Computing Approach to a Community-Driven Edition of Capital Vol. 1

Abstract

The following article presents MARXdown, a minimal digital reading edition of Karl Marx’s Capital Vol. 1, as a retrospective case study in applying minimal computing principles to create accessible, community-driven digital humanities (DH) projects. Developed by graduate students at Carnegie Mellon University in 2019–20, MARXdown demonstrates how framing minimal computing as “practical commitments” can lower access barriers, demystify computing labor, and facilitate knowledge sharing. The project leveraged lightweight, open-source tools to create a collaborative reading environment that addressed specific community needs. This approach allowed for adaptability during the COVID-19 pandemic, transforming MARXdown into a vital support for collaboratively reading Marx under lockdown. The article argues that practical commitments to minimal computing can promote replicable models for building digital reading editions, useful for distributing marginalized or banned texts in underserved communities. By unpacking some of MARXdown's development process, this study offers insights into both the potential and limitations of minimal computing in academic and community-driven contexts, contributing to discussions about accessibility, sustainability, and ethics in DH.