---------------------------------------------- Gopher/Gopherd FAQ $Id: FAQ,v 1.5 2002/03/19 17:51:18 jgoerzen Exp $ This is the FAQ for gopher and UMN gopher. The latest version may be found at: gopher://quux.org/1m/devel/gopher/Downloads/LiveSource/gopher/doc/FAQ ---------------------------------------------- What is Gopher? Well, it's a bit complicated. Gopher is all of these: 1. A protocol for an Internet world-wide hierarchial filesystem; 2. A client for using that protocol; 3. A site containing information in that protocol. Let's elaborate: #1. Gopher is a way to exchange information, similar to HTTP that is used for the web. Unlike HTTP, Gopher is simple and flexible yet rigid. Gopher mandates a hierarchial view of things -- just like you get on your own system with files and folders. Gopher extends your desktop file/folder concept to include the entire Internet. You could have a folder whose contents come from 20 different countries, and it would all be transparent. Modern gopher browsers such as Nautilus support this very feature. #2. The "UMN Gopher" client was developed at the University of Minnesota, the home of gopher. Currently, the UMN Gopher client and UMN Gopherd server are maintained by John Goerzen and the Gopher Project; see gopher://quux.org/ for details. #3. When you publish information with Gopher, you're said to run a "gopher site" similar to running a "web site". ---------------------------------------------- Where can I find gopher software? gopher://gopher.quux.org/11/Software/Gopher/Downloads If you do not already have Gopher, try: http://quux.org/hurg/hurg?selector=1%2FSoftware%2FGopher%2FDownloads&port=70&type=1&host=gopher.quux.org&username=Clients%2C+Servers%2C+and+Downloads Downloads of UMN gopher and other gopher projects hosted at quux.org are available at: gopher://gopher.quux.org/11/devel/gopher/Downloads http://quux.org/give-me-gopher/ ---------------------------------------------- Is there a mailing list? Yes. See gopher://gopher.quux.org/00/devel/gopher/Mailing%20List.txt for details. Or: To subscribe, send the text "Subscribe" in the subject of a mail to gopher-request@complete.org. To post, send the message to gopher@complete.org. Archives are at http://www.complete.org/mailinglist/archives/ and at gopher://gopher.quux.org/1/Archives/Mailing%20Lists/gopher. ---------------------------------------------- [UMN] I'm having trouble compiling gopher(d) First, read the information in doc/PLATFORMS, this FAQ, etc. Then, subscribe to the mailing list and seek assistance. (See the Mailing List topic) ---------------------------------------------- [UMN] How can I create info text on menus like quux.org does? This depends on which server you are using. If you are using UMN gopherd, you need itemtype 'i' in your menu. John Goerzen has written a utility called gopherweblink to help you make menus of this type. You can obtain gopherweblink at: gopher://gopher.quux.org/11/devel/gopher/Downloads http://quux.org/give-me-gopher/ An example .Links file for for UMN gopherd would be: Name=Welcome to gopher at quux.org! Type=i Path=fake Numb=1 Name= Type=i Path=fake Numb=2 Name=This server has a lot of information of historic interest, Type=i Path=fake Numb=3 etc. Note the type i and that the Path is unused.