Gemini is an internet protocol used for serving something similar to web pages. It was developed by people nostalgic for a Gopher-style internet. Like Gopher, it has a concise markup language providing just barely enough functionality to tell the server where on the page to put links & plain text. All styling is decided by the visitor's Gemini browser, just like with IRC. As a result, Gemini sites are extremely fast to load, as they consume a fraction of the bandwidth it takes to transmit an HTML page.

Unlike Gopher, it is TLS-native, meaning Gemini connections are encrypted & private. Gemini servers can also recognize unique visitor certificates & serve personalized custom responses, which is the Gemini equivalent of having user accounts. Gemini markup language is also slightly more advanced, allowing the webmaster to use Markdown-style headings & code blocks to visually distinguish them from the rest of the page. These seemingly-minor extra features make Gemini a viable low-bandwidth & security-conscious alternative to normal websites.

The Gemini ecosystem (also known as Geminispace) is relatively resistant to many common methods of browser fingerprinting, as well as ad beacons & advertising in general (Though a server can still geolocate your IP if you are not on a VPN). This has made the Geminispace a popular niche destination for those looking for a simpler, more intentional, and less distracting internet.

There are several ways to browse Gemini sites on your computer:

The slickest and easiest solution is to install Lagrange. It's fast, the interface is clean, and it's available for iOS, Flatpak, and a multitude of other platforms. Even better, it also supports the Gopher & Finger protocols. This is useful because a lot of Gemini server operators also run Gopher & Finger servers. Having all three in one visually-pleasing browser is a great way to take in the ecosystem.

You can install browser extensions to haphazardly duct-tape Gemini support into your browser. If you don't want to install anything, you can use Circumlunar's Gemini Proxy. But I wouldn't recommend either of these options outside emergency use. The whole point of using Gemini is so that you can read plaintext articles without the mammoth memory footprint of modern web browsers. Dedicated Gemini apps are so much faster & smoother. Just install Lagrange and you'll see why people appreciate it.

• Project Gemini - Official homepage of the Gemini protocol & specification.
• Novelty Lanterns Ltd. Co. - My internet consulting firm incubating several Gemini projects.
• Kennedy - Gemini search engine
• Totally Legit Gemini Search - Another Gemini search engine
• Collaborative Directory of Geminispace - A directory of Gemini sites & resources.
• Flounder - A Gemini website builder
• Circumlunar Gemini Outpost - A Gemini host & RSS-style aggregator.

• Project Gemini - Official HTTP mirror of the Gemini protocol & specification.
• Gemini - Gemini resources on ArchWiki.