What is Gopher?
Gopher is a highly efficient file distribution and retrieval protocol. You can think of it as a much more rigid and structured version of the World Wide Web. Gopher sites host Gopher menus (like web pages) with links to files and other menus, but because of its rigid and clean structure of plain text and links only, it's quicker and easier to find exactly what you want.
As a vintage protocol, old computers and phones love it, and there's a wealth of client software, server software, and information about Gopher out there. I provide these pages as my own way of documenting any hangups you might encounter.
(Most of this section is still being worked on.)
Gopher basics
- Stuff People Ask About Gopher—And hopefully, good answers to them.
- Structure of a Gopher Menu—Gopher menus are plain text and selectors, generally. Here's what that means.
Software
- Clients—Your Gopher experience is only as good as the client you use. I've tried out a bunch, and here's my thoughts on each.
- Servers—Wanna run your own Gopher server? Here's my recommendations for server software.
Hosting and how-tos
- Setting Up Bucktooth—Quick start guide on getting through the Bucktooth server setup, and what to know after your server's up.