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tools:gopher [2026/03/31 13:17] – [Gopher] Humphrey Boa-Garttools:gopher [2026/04/02 06:59] (current) – [Gopher] Humphrey Boa-Gart
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 **Gopher** is an ancient internet protocol invented at the University of Minnesota in 1991. It was once widely-used for serving something similar to web pages. It was once one of the most popular services on the entire internet, until the University squandered what they had and Gopher was overtaken by HTTP by 1994. **Gopher** is an ancient internet protocol invented at the University of Minnesota in 1991. It was once widely-used for serving something similar to web pages. It was once one of the most popular services on the entire internet, until the University squandered what they had and Gopher was overtaken by HTTP by 1994.
  
-Like HTTP, it serves pages, media & files, using inline links to connect the pages of a Gopher site. Unlike HTTP, there are no [[tools:http-headers|fancy headers]]. Neither is there style information associated with it. Gopher markup language is a lot more concise than HTML, 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 Gopher browser, just like with [[tools:irc|IRC]]. As a result, Gopher sites are //extremely// fast to load, as they consume a fraction of the bandwidth it takes to transmit an HTML page.+Like HTTP, it serves pages, media & files, using inline links to connect the pages of a Gopher site. Unlike HTTP, there are no [[tools:http-headers|fancy headers]]. Neither is there style elements or Javascript. Gopher markup language is a lot more concise than HTML, 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 Gopher browser, just like with [[tools:irc|IRC]]. As a result, Gopher sites are //extremely// fast to load, as they consume a fraction of the bandwidth it takes to transmit an HTML page.
  
-[{{ :tools:gophermascot.jpg?225|Goldy Gopher, official mascot of the Gopher protocol.}}]+[{{ :tools:gophermascot.jpg?225|**Goldy Gopher**, official mascot of the Gopher protocol.}}]
  
-Scripting options are far more limited as well. The Gopher ecosystem relatively resistant to many common methods of browser fingerprinting, as well as ad beacons and advertising in general //(Though it is not entirely private as it does not support TLS)//. This has made the Gopherspace a popular niche destination well into the 21st century for those looking for a simpler, more intentional, and less distracting internet.+Scripting options are far more limited as well. The Gopher ecosystem //(also known as **Gopherspace**)// is relatively resistant to many common methods of browser fingerprinting, as well as ad beacons & advertising in general //(Though it is not entirely private as it does not support TLS, and a server can still geolocate your IP if you are not on a VPN)//. This has made the Gopherspace a popular niche destination well into the 21st century for those looking for a simpler, more intentional, and less distracting internet.
  
-//**MIND THE GAP:** A Gopher Hole is located behind the Institute at [[gopher>bestpoint.institute|gopher://bestpoint.institute]] on **Port 70**! There is nothing covering this hole, so be careful that you do not fall in!//+//**MIND THE GAP:** A Gopher hole is located behind the Institute at [[gopher>bestpoint.institute|gopher://bestpoint.institute]] on **Port 70**! There is nothing covering this hole, so be careful that you do not fall in!//
  
  
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 The slickest and easiest solution is to install [[https://gmi.skyjake.fi/lagrange/|Lagrange]]. It's fast, the interface is clean, and it's available for [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lagrange-smallnet-browser/id1554714615|iOS]], [[https://flathub.org/en/apps/fi.skyjake.Lagrange|Flatpak]], and a multitude of [[https://git.skyjake.fi/gemini/lagrange/releases|other platforms]]. Even better, it also supports the [[tools:gemini|Gemini]] protocol, which is sort of a modern version of Gopher with a few extra convenience & markup features. The Gopher & Gemini ecosystems are very close to each other, so having them both in the same browser is very useful. It's not uncommon for Gopher/Gemini servers to have parallel [[tools:finger|Finger]] services either, and Lagrange has support for that protocol as well. The slickest and easiest solution is to install [[https://gmi.skyjake.fi/lagrange/|Lagrange]]. It's fast, the interface is clean, and it's available for [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lagrange-smallnet-browser/id1554714615|iOS]], [[https://flathub.org/en/apps/fi.skyjake.Lagrange|Flatpak]], and a multitude of [[https://git.skyjake.fi/gemini/lagrange/releases|other platforms]]. Even better, it also supports the [[tools:gemini|Gemini]] protocol, which is sort of a modern version of Gopher with a few extra convenience & markup features. The Gopher & Gemini ecosystems are very close to each other, so having them both in the same browser is very useful. It's not uncommon for Gopher/Gemini servers to have parallel [[tools:finger|Finger]] services either, and Lagrange has support for that protocol as well.
  
-If you want more options, check [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher_(protocol)#Client_software|Wikipedia]], but I'm telling you that Lagrange is the way to go if you want an elegant GUI app that's easy to use.+If you want more options, check [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher_(protocol)#Client_software|Wikipedia]], but I'm telling you that Lagrange //(or maybe [[https://kristall.random-projects.net/|Kristall]])// is the way to go if you want an elegant GUI app that's easy to use. 
  
  
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 ===== Hosting Gopher Sites ===== ===== Hosting Gopher Sites =====
  
-Popular Gopher server daemons include [[github>StygianBlues/geomyidae|Geomyidae]], [[github>xvxx/phd]] and [[https://gophernicus.org/|Gophernicus]]. I personally prefer Geomyidae since it's lean & more faithful to the protocol. My [[github>humphreyboagart/grackle|Grackle]] server management package actually has a Geomyidae installer built into it, for running a Gopher server alongside normal web sites. Meanwhile, [[github>noveltylanterns/raven|Raven]] has built-in support for managing Gopher docroots served by Geomyidae.+Popular Gopher server daemons include [[github>StygianBlues/geomyidae|Geomyidae]], [[github>xvxx/phd]] and [[https://gophernicus.org/|Gophernicus]]. I personally prefer Geomyidae since it's lean & faithful to the protocol, while having a cleaner markup language than the older daemons. The [[github>humphreyboagart/grackle|Grackle]] server management package actually has a Geomyidae installer built into it, for running a Gopher server alongside normal web sites. Meanwhile [[github>noveltylanterns/raven|Raven]] has built-in support for managing Gopher docroots served by Geomyidae & similar daemons.
  
  
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 It is true that you can only transmit a limited amount of datatypes between server & visitor over the Gopher protocol. However, you can do //virtually unlimited// server-side processing as long as the output follows the protocol's transmission format. It is true that you can only transmit a limited amount of datatypes between server & visitor over the Gopher protocol. However, you can do //virtually unlimited// server-side processing as long as the output follows the protocol's transmission format.
  
-Most Gopher servers have support for running **CGI scripts**, like the internet of old used to have to do with PHP scripts. Modern PHP installs use heavily abstracted versions of this now, which are tailored specifically for HTTP, so they don't work with Gopher servers too well. However, modern PHP installs also come with ''php-cli'', a command-lined version of PHP which spits out plaintext data in a form //especially// suited for Gopher. You just make a CGI wrapper for your PHP script, and pass Gopher requests to ''php-cli'' like this:+Most Gopher servers have support for running **CGI scripts**, like the internet of old used to have to do with PHP scripts. Modern PHP installs use heavily abstracted versions of this now, which are tailored specifically for HTTP, so they don't work with Gopher servers too well. However, modern PHP installs also come with ''php-cli'', a command-line version of PHP which spits out plaintext data in a form //especially// suited for Gopher. You just make a CGI wrapper for your PHP script, and pass Gopher requests to ''php-cli'' like this:
  
 <file cgi loader.cgi> <file cgi loader.cgi>
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 [{{ :tools:gopher-state.jpg?250|How "Gopher" got its name.}}] [{{ :tools:gopher-state.jpg?250|How "Gopher" got its name.}}]
  
-Since Gopher was invented at the University of Minnesota, **Goldy Gopher** is the closest thing it has to an official mascot. Even the name of the protocol is a reference to UMN's beloved mascot.+Since Gopher was invented at the University of Minnesota, **Goldy Gopher** is the closest thing the protocol has to an official mascot. Even the name of the protocol is a reference to UMN's beloved mascot.
  
-Goldy himself is a reference to Minnesota's status as **The Gopher State**, a nickname it earned on the eve of statehood after publication of a political cartoon lampooning Minnesota's handout of a $5,000,000 loan to the much-hated railroad tycoons of the era. By the early 20th century, Minnesota sports teams were already being named after gophers, and in 1952 the anthopomorphic **Goldy Gopher** was unveiled to an unsuspecting world.+Goldy himself is a reference to Minnesota's status as **The Gopher State**, a nickname it earned on the eve of statehood after publication of a political cartoon lampooning Minnesota's handout of a $5,000,000 loan to the widely-detested railroad tycoons of the era. By the early 20th century, Minnesota sports teams were already being named after gophers, and in 1952 the anthopomorphic **Goldy Gopher** was unveiled to an unsuspecting world. 
 + 
 +Unlike the Gopher protocol, which was beaten like a redheaded stepchild and abandoned to die on the hard-hitting streets of [[wikt>Murderapolis|Murderapolis]] by the University of Minnesota, Goldy is still much-loved by the University and millions of fans today.
  
-Unlike the Gopher protocol, which was beaten like a redheaded stepchild and abandoned on the streets by the University of Minnesota, Goldy is still much-loved by the University and millions of fans today. 
  
  
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 == Gopher Links == == Gopher Links ==
  
-  * [[gopher>bestpoint.institute]] - Best Point Gopher Hole //**(CAUTION!!!)**//+  * [[gopher>bestpoint.institute|Best Point Gopher Hole]] - //**CAUTION, OPEN HOLE!**//
   * [[gopher>floodgap.com|Floodgap]] - Popular hub & advocate of the Gopher community since 1999.   * [[gopher>floodgap.com|Floodgap]] - Popular hub & advocate of the Gopher community since 1999.
   * [[gopher>gopher.floodgap.com/1/v2|Veronica-2]] - Gopher search engine.   * [[gopher>gopher.floodgap.com/1/v2|Veronica-2]] - Gopher search engine.
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   * [[gopher>bitreich.org|Bitreich]] - Even more Gopher resources and links.   * [[gopher>bitreich.org|Bitreich]] - Even more Gopher resources and links.
   * [[gopher>gopher.icu|Gopher ICU]] - Yet still more Gopher resources and links.   * [[gopher>gopher.icu|Gopher ICU]] - Yet still more Gopher resources and links.
-  * [[gopher>sdf.org|Internet Gopher Club Underground Syndicate]] - At the SDF Public Access UNIX System+  * [[gopher>sdf.org|Internet Gopher Club Underground Syndicate]] - At the SDF Public Access UNIX System.
   * [[gopher>gopherpedia.com|Gopherpedia]] - Gopher interface for Wikipedia!   * [[gopher>gopherpedia.com|Gopherpedia]] - Gopher interface for Wikipedia!
   * [[gopher>gopher.metafilter.com|MetaFilter]] - Gopher frontend for MetaFilter community.   * [[gopher>gopher.metafilter.com|MetaFilter]] - Gopher frontend for MetaFilter community.
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