gopherden: Forum via Gopher Protocol
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║1 .................Posted: 2024-03-10................. 1║
║2* Tags: gopher haskell nix showcase my_warez my_servs *2║
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gopherden[1] is forum software for the Gopher Protocol[2]. View the official
gopherden server via the web[3] or via the Gopher Protocol (as intended)[4] (you
may want to read my post about the Gopher Protocol[5]).
I'm thinking about renaming it to "phorum."
# Features (Users/Visitors)
Features for the people who use a gopherden:
* Transient content. Old threads are deleted. There's max thread count, when
reached and a new post is made, the oldest one gets erased.
* Anonymous, except IPs are associated with posts for banning and legal purposes
* View threads as gopher maps or as text files (ASCII art, kind of)
* Prevents some accidental reposting by refreshing
* Prevents new threads being created where the message/content is the same as
another in the DB
* "Secret codes" which allow you to use codes like `<jgsBagOfMoney>` to
potentially show an ASCII art picture
* Rate-limiting (how fast you can make new threads or posts)
* Handles/parses Gopher and HTTP(S) URIs into menu/map items
# Known issues
* No real bot prevention. A captcha-like system could be implemented.
# Feedback
* Contact me using a method mentioned on my about page[6]
* Create an issue on the gopherden GitHub repo[7]
# Who's using, in the news
Some other instances, notable users...
# Documentation and tutorials
* The project's README.md[8]
# See also
* This site's gopher tag[9]
* My post about the Gopher Protocol[10]
* gopherden GitHub repo[11]
# Post on the official server!
This feels kind of redundant.
Official *gopherden* server at gopher://gopher.someodd.zip:7070[12]. You may
want to read my article on the Gopher Protocol[13] for help on browsing
gopherspace.
You can use my Gopher Protocol client, "waffle"[14] to visit the forum!
You can use `gopher` (`sudo apt-get install gopher`) and then use `gopher -p "/"
gopher.someodd.zip 7070`.
You could also use Lagrange[15], which has a client for Linux, MacOS, Windows,
Android, and iOS.
Below is a photo of me using Lagrange to visit the forum on my phone:
# Want your own gopherden or want to develop?
gopherden is open source[16].
## Developer and Server Features
Features for those who host or develop (a) gopherden:
* Written in Haskell
* TOML configuration spec. First time I implemented a TOML config and I find it
decent.
* Uses Spacecookie[17], a wonderful Gopher Protocol library. I've worked with
the author before.
* CLI for banning
I'm leveraging `nixpkgs` to:
* Make it very easy on me to build and deploy, particularly on my server
* Have a development environment that sets up/takes down postgresql for me,
which also helps with deploying a little demo server I'm hosting now. It also
wipes the database on exit, too.
## Setting up a server
As of the time I'm writing this I don't have a `systemd` integration or Debian
package, so a set up I like and think is simple/easy:
1. clone the repo and `cd` into it
1. make sure `nixpkgs` is installed on your system with `experimental-features =
flakes nix-command` in your `~/.config/nix/nix.conf`
1. start a GNU Screen session `screen -S services`
1. `nix develop`
1. `nix run .#gopherden -- launch`
There you go! Keep in mind if you send the exit signal (I think) inside of `nix
develop` the database gets wiped.
## Footnotes
(HTM) [1]: gopherden: https://github.com/someodd/gopherden/
(TXT) [2]: Gopher Protocol: /tags/gopher
(HTM) [3]: via the web: https://gopher.floodgap.com/gopher/gw?a=gopher%3A%2F%2Fgopher.someodd.zip%3A7070%2F
(TXT) [4]: via the Gopher Protocol (as intended): gopher://gopher.someodd.zip:7070/
(TXT) [5]: my post about the Gopher Protocol: /notes/gopher
(TXT) [6]: my about page: /about
(HTM) [7]: Create an issue on the gopherden GitHub repo: https://github.com/someodd/gopherden/issues
(HTM) [8]: The project's README.md: https://github.com/someodd/gopherden/blob/master/README.md
(TXT) [9]: This site's gopher tag: /tags/gopher
(TXT) [10]: My post about the Gopher Protocol: /notes/gopher
(HTM) [11]: gopherden GitHub repo: https://github.com/someodd/gopherden
(TXT) [12]: gopher://gopher.someodd.zip:7070: gopher://gopher.someodd.zip:7070
(TXT) [13]: my article on the Gopher Protocol: /notes/gopher
(TXT) [14]: my Gopher Protocol client, "waffle": /showcase/waffle
(HTM) [15]: Lagrange: https://gmi.skyjake.fi/lagrange/
(HTM) [16]: gopherden is open source: https://github.com/someodd/gopherden
(HTM) [17]: Spacecookie: https://github.com/sternenseemann/spacecookie