See also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_(protocol)

It is similar to the old gopher: text files, links, and images form a hypertext optimized for reading. Text is formatted like Markdown - but even simpler.

Clients display text, like an eBook, or images / media.

Servers can run on a PC or Raspberry Pi which needs half a Watt of power. No FAANG companies needed. No expert knowledge needed - not more difficult than running a file sharing client.

I think it is the right thing for defense of democracy and sharing your voice in the digital realm.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] onlooker@lemmy.ml 13 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Clients display text, like an eBook, or images / media.

Is this new? Last I checked on Gemini, it could only to text, unless you count ASCII art as images.

[–] HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.org 14 points 2 days ago

It can transmit any media or mime type. It just does this one document at a time.

Clients can display linked images inline of course.

The purpose of this and other limitations is to make it useless for advertising and tracking.

[–] j4yc33@piefed.social 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

some clients had the ability to parse image links If included in the gemtext, but that was client specific.

[–] onlooker@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That's not ideal. I hope they implemented images in the protocol itself, because having just text is kinda bland.

[–] HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.org 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Images and documents with any MIME type are part of the protocol. Clients decide how they do display that.

That said it is a medium primarily geared at displaying text. Not animated gifs with ads.

[–] onlooker@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago

I see. Thanks for elaborating.