Discover the forgotten Internet of Gopherspace. In 1991, the University of Minnesota developed the Gopher protocol, which allowed users to access text, binary, image, sound, and GIF files. Although it was eventually supplanted by the modern World Wide Web based on the HTTP protocol, Gopherspace still exists today.
The Charm of Gopherspace
Unlike the modern Internet, which is a reflection of the corporate world with its beige and gray appearance, Gopherspace is still text-based. Users can browse Gopherspace with Gopher-enabled Internet browsers and discover the charm of text-based browsing in the 1990s. Veronica and Jughead search engines offered users ways to connect to other servers and search individual Gopher servers, respectively. And even though there is only one Veronica search engine still in use, navigating Gopherspace is still a fun and unique experience.
The Name “Gopher”
The name “Gopher” is a reference to “go-fer,” an employee or volunteer who retrieves and delivers requests for articles. In the same way, the Gopher client retrieves information from a Gopher server and presents it to users in a human-readable format. The University of Minnesota, which developed the Gopher protocol, also uses the Gopher as its mascot.
FAQs
- What is Gopherspace?
- What is the charm of Gopherspace?
- What is the meaning of the name “Gopher”?
Gopherspace is a forgotten part of the Internet that was developed in 1991. It allowed users to access various file types, including text, binary, image, sound, and GIF files.
Gopherspace is still text-based, which offers users a unique browsing experience that harkens back to the 1990s. Veronica and Jughead search engines offered users ways to connect to other servers and search individual Gopher servers, respectively. And even though there is only one Veronica search engine still in use, navigating Gopherspace is still a fun and unique experience.
The name “Gopher” is a reference to “go-fer,” an employee or volunteer who retrieves and delivers requests for articles. In the same way, the Gopher client retrieves information from a Gopher server and presents it to users in a human-readable format.
In Conclusion
Gopherspace may be forgotten, but it is still an important part of Internet history. The charm of text-based browsing and the unique experience it offers is something that should not be overlooked. The Gopher protocol and its search engines may not be as widely used today, but it paved the way for the modern Internet and its search engines.
