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Why Gopher in 2026?

What HN thinks

A cosy corner of the internet discussing how to keep it cosy, mostly by posting about it on the big internet.

Small protocols as escape
Gopher and Gemini appeal as simple, billionaire-free, slop-free refuges from doomscrolling and the surveillance web.
Content is the real problem
Many find the content too meta or diary-like, and argue platforms fail without casual reasons to visit, though some point to aggregators with broader topics.
Doesn't fix HTTP's flaws
Skeptics note HTTP is also simple enough and open, and that publishing still requires servers and domains; Nostr or Neocities are floated instead.

Consensus: Most agree Gopher and Gemini are a charming niche whose simplicity is the point, but they will stay small and their content is thin.

Recommended in the comments

Lagrange (tool): Covers both protocols and can proxy web content over Gemini.
geomys ↗ (tool): A more modern alternative to TurboGopher on vintage Macs.
Major Tom ↗ (tool): For people who prefer a GUI over terminal clients.
Neocities ↗ (service): Offered as an easy way to publish without renting servers.
SDF Public Access UNIX System (service): Long-time members praise it and its gopherspace as a good starting point.
go-gopher ↗ (library): Its author notes it is still in use.