cmc/cleberg.net
My personal web garden & blog.
clone: git clone https://gitbay.org/cmc/cleberg.net.git
17859ecae5cdbc220eb54cfd0aef6e33a854ea9f
unsigned
author: Christian Cleberg <hello@cleberg.net> · 2024-05-02T22:49:27Z
content/wiki/internet.md | 118 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 118 insertions(+) new file mode 100644 @@ -0,0 +1,118 @@ +title = "Internet" +updated = 2024-05-02 +draft = false + +## Gemini + +The [Gemini Protocol](https://geminiprotocol.net/) is a network of +interconnected plaintext documents. If you've used +[Gopher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher_(protocol)) before, Gemini will +feel very familiar. + +Instead of web sites, Gemini uses the term "capsules" that can be access via +`gemini://` links. + +In order to browse Gemini capsules, you will need a client capable of supporting +Gemini. The Gemini Protocol website has a [Gemini +software](https://geminiprotocol.net/software/) page with a list of clients for +each platform. + + +### Gemtext + +[Gemtext](https://geminiprotocol.net/docs/cheatsheet.gmi) is a plaintext syntax, +very similar to Markdown. + +To quote the Gemini Protocol's documentation: + +- Long lines get wrapped by the client to fit the screen. +- Short lines _don't_ get joined together. +- Write paragraphs as single long lines. +- Blank lines are rendered verbatim. + +```md +[//]: <> (Headings) + +# Heading + +## Sub-heading + +### Sub-subheading + +[//]: <> (Lists) + +- Mercury +- Gemini +- Apollo + +[//]: <> (Quotes) + +> I contend that text-based websites should not exceed in size the major works of Russian literature. + +[//]: <> (Links) +=> gemini://geminiprotocol.net/docs/cheatsheet.gmi +=> gemini://geminiprotocol.net/docs/cheatsheet.gmi Gemtext cheatsheet + +[//]: <> (Preformatted text) +Any line starting with three backticks (```) will tell the client to toggle to +"preformatted mode", which disables the client's logical checks to render links, +headings, etc. and will render the text as-is. +``` + +## Gopher + +The [Gopher Protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher_(protocol)) is a +communication protocol, similar to Gemini, that allows for browsing of any ones +of [the 14 supported item +types](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1436#section-3.8): + +```txt +0 Item is a file +1 Item is a directory +2 Item is a CSO phone-book server +3 Error +4 Item is a BinHexed Macintosh file. +5 Item is DOS binary archive of some sort. + Client must read until the TCP connection closes. Beware. +6 Item is a UNIX uuencoded file. +7 Item is an Index-Search server. +8 Item points to a text-based telnet session. +9 Item is a binary file! + Client must read until the TCP connection closes. Beware. ++ Item is a redundant server +T Item points to a text-based tn3270 session. +g Item is a GIF format graphics file. +I Item is some kind of image file. Client decides how to display. +``` + +### Simplicity is Intentional + +Gopher is [meant to be +simplistic](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1436#section-4). + +```txt +As far as possible we desire any new features to be carried as new +protocols that will be hidden behind new document-types. The +internet Gopher philosophy is: + + (a) Intelligence is held by the server. Clients have the option + of being able to access new document types (different, other types + of servers) by simply recognizing the document-type character. + Further intelligence to be borne by the protocol should be + minimized. + + (b) The well-tempered server ought to send "text" (unless a file + must be transferred as raw binary). Should this text include + tabs, formfeeds, frufru? Probably not, but rude servers will + probably send them anyway. Publishers of documents should be + given simple tools (filters) that will alert them if there are any + funny characters in the documents they wish to publish, and give + them the opportunity to strip the questionable characters out; the + publisher may well refuse. + + (c) The well-tempered client should do something reasonable with + funny characters received in text; filter them out, leave them in, + whatever. +``` \ No newline at end of file