Introduction to the Gemini protocol

The Gemini Protocol (gemini://) is a modern network protocol, started in 2019, open source, designed to enable faster and safer browsing. It is an alternative to the famous HTTP protocol, although it shares similarities: it allows servers to deliver content using techniques such as encryption, authentication and access control. We could simplify it as an alternative version of HTTP that focuses on simplicity with very clear red lines.

One of the most striking aspects, one that hooks you from the very first moment, is the minimalism of its design. The protocol limits itself on purpose so it does not include features we are used to, such as images, styles, JavaScript or any element that distracts from fast and safe browsing. If you are curious, you can see its few elements under the syntax called Gemtext. Among its possibilities we can find:

Paragraphs.
Hyperlinks
Images
Headers
Lists
Quotes
Preformatted blocks (such as code)

Below you can see an image of a Gemini-compatible browser that has accessed gemini://gemini.circumlunar.space/.

Page of a Gemini capsule

Where do I start?

You can be a passive user, simply reading capsules, or an active user, creating your own content. In both cases, you will need a Gemini-compatible browser and a search engine to find capsules.

You should know that all addresses start with gemini://, while a web page starts with http://, and sites are called capsules. Each domain is linked to a capsule.

Which browsers can I use?

At the time of writing, there are 51 browsers. Among all of them, I recommend the following:

Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS: Lagrange.
Terminal: Gplaces.
Emacs: Elpher.

However, you can find browser implementations in almost any language or platform you can think of, such as: Commodore Amiga, Vim, Vala, etc.

What are the best search engines?

I recommend visiting gemini://skyjake.fi/lagrange/getting_started.gmi, a fairly complete portal with information about news and some options to explore the Gemini network. You will also find classic search engines similar to Google.

How can I create my capsule?

If you decide to create your capsule, welcome, content creator!

First you need to know Gemtext, the markup language of Gemini. I recommend reading my article Gemtext or Gemini syntax with its HTML equivalents. Then, you just need to create a file with the .gmi extension, using a plain text editor, and write the content using the Gemtext syntax. Finally, upload it to a Gemini-compatible hosting.

Which hostings can I use to upload my capsules?

You can choose among dozens of free hostings. A good starting point is the list of the first public servers at gemini://geminiprotocol.net/history/servers.gmi, which also links to automatically updated lists with all known capsules.

All of them are sustained by donations or the capital of their own creators, so I recommend giving them a hand if you have the chance.

How do I upload a capsule?

There are no homogeneous steps to upload your capsule, since each hosting defines its own instructions. Some use SCP. In general, you will need a terminal client to upload your files.

Can I set up my own server?

Of course! There are many pieces of software to bring up a Gemini capsule. Personally, I use Agate for its simplicity. It is written in Rust and has great community support. It is considered the best option. If you want to include some logic to generate the content, I recommend Jetforce. You will be able to use all the power of Python to create your capsule.

In addition to installing Agate, or any other software, you will need to:

Open port 1965, in case you are behind a firewall.
Point a domain to your VPS or server.
Have a directory with all the capsule files, for example /root/gemini/www.

What is a Gemini-to-web proxy or Web proxy?

It is a piece of software or a service that converts a Gemini capsule into an HTML web page. It is ideal if you want your Gemtext work to be accessible from a traditional web browser, such as Firefox or Chrome. This way you will be in both worlds, you will be able to publish content on Gemini and it will be accessible from the web at the same time.

You can start by visiting https://portal.mozz.us/ to convert your capsule into a web page.

What is a Gemlog?

It would be the equivalent of a blog listing, which in turn can be read by a feed reader (such as RSS or Atom).

It is not a feature or a standard, but a convention. It consists of a series of links to pages that you must place in reverse chronological order, with the most recent entry at the top and the oldest at the bottom. The format consists of 3 parts: the link, the date and the title.

=> my-capsule-recommendations.gmi 2023-02-16 My capsule recommendations
=> best-browsers.gmi 2023-01-22 Best browsers
=> introduction-to-gemini.gmi 2022-12-08 Introduction to the Gemini protocol

This fragment, or page, would be called gemlog.gmi. It can be read by a feed reader, or by any visitor.

Each blog entry can contain Gemtext, plain text, links to other Gemini resources, images or other files.

Final notes about Gemini

Gemini is full of small surprises, capsules with interesting content, games, manuals, books, music, art, amateur photographers, developer diaries, etc. It is bigger and richer than it seems at first. Some users have the habit of discovering new capsules every day, others prefer to consume new articles from the capsules they follow. Others just want to share their knowledge. In any case, the premise is the same: have fun!