 There is a lot of alarmist stuff going around about .io ccTLD being "retired", fedi instances that use it having to move, etc. 👀 Keep calm. Here's the one thing you need to know about this right now: 👉 Even if .io ever gets "retired", it will take *years* for this to affect already delegated .io domains in any way at all. I cannot stress this enough, we are talking years if not decades. Soviet Union dissolved 33 years ago, but .su domains still resolve. Deep breaths. 13 comments
 @rysiek The `.su` example is not one to make your point with, though - it's precisely because this is still around that IANA changed their rules, as I understand it, to properly remove TLDs for countries that no longer exist. Everything else is right, though - looks like .io domains will be around for at least 3-5 years. (And I'd be surprised if IANA don't just convert it to a non-geographical TLD, thus avoiding disruption.) @james sure, fair enough. I also expect it to become a gTLD (I mean, it is the perfect case for that kind of conversion really). Q: Does this mean .io domains will be around forever? A: It is possible that the .io ccTLD will become a generic TLD, sponsored by some organization instead of being tied to a specific territory. It is also possible that it will get retired in some years. Q: So what's your plan with your rys.io? A: I will wait and see what happens. Once a decision is made about .io, I wil either just keep using it, or plan an orderly migration. I expect to have *years* for that at that point.   @rysiek "It is possible that the .io ccTLD will become a generic TLD," I don't see how. If ISO really removes it, it won't be removed but put in "reserved" list (see `fx` as example). After which ICANN will certainly not allow anything using it.  @rysiek IANA has made a specific policy about this because they don't want a repeat of .su or .yu. Most TLDs for countries removed from ISO3166 have been deleted from the root zone, e.g. .tp, .yu, .zr, and .an. Under the policy retirement would take up to 5 years after ISO 3166/MA takes action, or 10 years if the registrar requests an extension.    @rysiek you pretty much said it. If France can still have what is effectively just another ccTLD for .aq, certainly the UK will not have a problem keeping .io alive for their claim. That's not even mentioning .gb exists and hasn't been used for decades, with the UK only last year giving their intention to retire it |
Gregory's Server
Q: You're just some rando on the Internet, what can you possibly know? 🤔
A: I used to work for the .IS ccTLD registry. I currently work for Quad9 DNS resolver. I happen to know a thing or two about DNS.
Q: Okay, but you don't have personal stake in this, do you? So of course you're not worried! 🤷♀️
A: My home domain – where my blog is, where my personal infra is, and where my hobby projects are hosted – is rys.io. Yes, a .io domain. I have a very personal stake in this.