====== Gopher ======

**Gopher** is an earlier, alternate protocol to HTTP. Gopher pages are more stricly organised, and do not reder images (though they can make images and other files downloadable).

===== Viewing =====

Support in web browsers has mostly fallen off, but [[wp>Lynx_(web_browser)|Lynx]] still works ([[wp>w3m]] doesn't).

There are also a few proxy browsers you can use within your web browser of choice. You feed them the Gopher URL and it renders the page for you. They each have their own style:

  * [[http://gopher.floodgap.com/gopher/|Floodgap Public Gopher Proxy]] - Most popular
  * [[https://gopher.commons.host/|Gaufre]] - Looks nice, but no link identification.
  * [[https://proxy.vulpes.one/|FEUERFUCHS]] - Also looks nice. Good image support. Also supports [[Gemini]].

There is also a Firefox extension [[ffaddon>OverbiteWX]] that sends ''%%gopher://%%'' URLs to Floodgap.

For dedicated clients see: [[gopher_browser]]

==== See Also ====

  * [[https://www.circumlunar.space/~solderpunk/clients.html|Gopher Clients]] - Comprehensive list by 'solderpunk'.

===== Writing =====
Gopher pages are pretty simple text files.

Like in HTML, a directory has an index file, in Gopher's case it's called //gophermap//. Other files will have their usual extension. Other //pages// are [[plaintext|plaintext]] files with a '.TXT' extension.

==== Syntax ====
There isn't a lot to Gopher's syntax. Any text is entered plainly, and the only other page elements are links. The most unique thing about them is that they start with a number to indicate what kind of file they link to: an image, another page, a binary file, //etc//. These links separate the domain and the directory within that domain too, and include a port number. Each section of the link is separated by a **TAB**.

<file>1My Cat	/mycat	gopher.ryliejamesthomas.net	70</file>

To break it down:

^ Item type ^ User display string ^ Selector ^ Hostname                    ^ Port ^
| 1         | My Cat              | /mycat   | gopher.ryliejamesthomas.net | 70   |

=== Link Kinds ===
([[wp>Gopher_(protocol)|From Wikipedia]])

^ Canonical types ^^
^ 0 | Text file |
^ 1 | Gopher submenu |
^ 2 | CCSO Nameserver |
^ 3 | Error code returned by a Gopher server to indicate failure |
^ 4 | BinHex-encoded file (primarily for Macintosh computers) |
^ 5 | DOS file |
^ 6 | uuencoded file |
^ 7 | Gopher full-text search |
^ 8 | Telnet |
^ 9 | Binary file |
^ + | Mirror or alternate server (for load balancing or in case of primary server downtime) |
^ g | GIF file |
^ I | Image file |
^ T | Telnet 3270 |
^ Non-canonical types ^^
^ h | HTML file |
^ i | Informational message |
^ s | Sound file (especially the WAV format) |

== Examples ==

URL Link: <code>hMy Website	URL:https://www.ryliejamesthomas.net/	gopher.ryliejamesthomas.net	70</code>

===== Serving =====

Gopher servers seem to be pretty lightweight. I'm gunna give [[http://gofish.sourceforge.net/|GoFish]] ([[aur>gofish]]) a try :)

===== Cool Things =====

This 3-D Gopher browser: [[aur>gophervr|Gopher VR]].

==== Gopherspace ====

If you're not using a browser that can handle the Gopher protocol just stick ''http://gopher.floodgap.com/gopher/gw?'' before the link an' you should be right.

  * gopher://tilde.town:70/1/~rjt ⇇ ME :D
  * gopher://0x1a4.1337.cx:70 | gopher://tx.god.jp:70
  * gopher://www.redhill.net.nz:70
  * gopher://information-superhighway.net:70
  * gopher://gopher.quux.org/1/Software/Gopher/screenshots:70

===== See Also =====
  * [[wp>Gopher (protocol)]].
  * [[https://gopher.zone/|gopher.zone]] - Lots of good info., including a guide or writing gophermaps.
  * [[http://sdf.org/?tutorials/gopher|Gopher]] on the SDF Public Access UNIX System.
  * [[https://ils.unc.edu/callee/gopherpaper.htm|Where Have all the Gophers Gone? Why the Web beat Gopher in the Battle for Protocol Mind Share]] - Essay.
  * [[https://toobnix.org/videos/watch/1b9699da-3c41-48a8-8009-97b756e88a3d|What is Gopher?]] - Good info. video by 'Tomasino'.

{{tag>form gopher guide Internet protocol}}