Date Created: 2025-04-18
By: 16BitMiker
[ BACK.. ]
It started with a comment from a younger friend. I had just finished setting up a retro-style Apache directory blog—a little corner of the web meant to feel like the internet I grew up with. Simple, honest, unfiltered. I was proud of it.
His reaction? "You’d have better chances with a time machine. Or Gemini."
At first, I was taken aback. But that last word stuck with me: Gemini. I’d heard whispers of it before but never looked too closely. Now, curiosity took hold—and I fell into something beautiful.
Gemini is a minimalist internet protocol launched in 2019. It sits somewhere between the barebones Gopher of the '80s and the ad-bloated, JavaScript-heavy web of today. Think of it as a quiet, text-focused garden outside the walls of the modern internet.
✅ No JavaScript
✅ No ads, no tracking
✅ Encrypted by default (TLS required)
✅ Plain-text content using a lightweight format called Gemtext
It’s not trying to replace the web. It’s trying to be different.
Where the modern web shouts, Gemini whispers.
I used to browse Gopher back in the day—long before search bars finished your sentences or social feeds decided what mattered. Gopher was about discovery. About following strange tunnels of thought from one server to another. It felt like wandering a living library.
That spirit lives on in Gemini.
When you joked about needing a time machine—or Gemini—you accidentally pointed me to exactly where I needed to go. I know a raw Apache directory probably feels like a confusing detour from the sleek, seamless feeds you’re used to. But what I’m doing isn’t just some retro aesthetic. It’s digital minimalism with purpose.
Today’s web overwhelms. Infinite scrolls, push alerts, attention-hungry design—it all pulls us away from intentionality. Gemini, and even something as simple as an index.html, push back. They invite slowness, presence, and real curiosity.
The old ways weren’t perfect, but they taught us to build with care and share without expecting likes or algorithms to validate our thoughts. Gemini isn’t about going back. It’s about stepping outside the noise.
You don’t have to love it. But maybe take a peek. Think of it like visiting an art gallery in a library basement. It’s strange, it’s quiet—and it just might feel like peace.
So, you’re curious. How do you actually use Gemini?
Gemini doesn’t run on your regular web browser. You need a Gemini client—also known as a Gemini browser. Here’s how to get started, whether you want to explore or host your own capsule.
There are many Gemini clients out there, ranging from terminal-based to graphical interfaces. Here are some popular options:
Lagrange
A beautifully designed cross-platform GUI Gemini browser.
Website: https://gmi.skyjake.fi/lagrange/
Available for Linux, Windows, macOS.
Features: Tabbed browsing, bookmarks, TLS certificate pinning, themes.
Ariane (Android)
Lightweight Gemini client for Android devices.
Amfora
A terminal-based Gemini browser written in Go.
Install via package manager (e.g., apt, brew, Arch’s AUR) or build from source.
AV-98
A minimal terminal browser written in Python.
Once you’ve installed a browser, try visiting a Gemini capsule:
gemini://gemini.circumlunar.spaceOr use one of the many Gemini search engines:
geminispace.info → gemini://geminispace.info
GUS (Gemini Universal Search) → gemini://gus.guru
If you're not ready to install a native client, you can use a Gemini-to-Web proxy.
Because Gemini isn't HTTP-compatible, you can't browse it directly in Chrome or Firefox. But you can use a proxy that translates Gemini into HTML:
Gemini Portal (via gemini.circumlunar.space)
https://portal.mozz.us/
Just paste a Gemini URL (e.g., gemini://gemini.circumlunar.space) and it renders it as a webpage.
Proxy by Kineto
https://proxy.vulpes.one/
Another robust Gemini-to-web proxy.
These are a great way to preview Gemini without installing anything, though they lack full protocol support (e.g., client certificates, TLS pinning, and input forms).
A Gemini site is called a "capsule." Creating one is refreshingly low-tech—no JavaScript frameworks, no build systems required.
Install a Gemini server.
Popular options include:
Agate – A simple Rust-based Gemini server:
https://github.com/mbrubeck/agate
Gemserv – A fast, lightweight C server:
https://sr.ht/~sircmpwn/gemserv/
Molten – Written in Go, supports CGI scripts:
https://github.com/michael-lazar/molten
Get a domain and TLS certificate.
Gemini requires TLS. You can use a self-signed cert or get one from a CA like Let's Encrypt (via Certbot).
Write content in Gemtext.
Gemtext is simpler than Markdown. Here’s a sample:
x# Welcome to my capsule=> about.gmi About me=> blog/ My blog postsGemini is like the web, but calmer.
Serve your content.
Run your Gemini server, point it to your content directory, and you're live.
Share your capsule.
Announce it on Gemini aggregators like geminispace.info or join mailing lists like gemini@lists.orbitalfox.eu to connect with the community.
This conversation made me realize something: the old web isn’t gone—it’s just harder to find. And protocols like Gemini are helping keep it alive.
So here I am, building something new in a space that feels old in all the right ways. Not out of stubbornness—but out of love.
Because the internet should feel like home again.
Whether you're browsing or building, Gemini welcomes curious minds.