Gopher Client

VAX/VMS-Style Information Browser

Phone: 555-0710

Introduction

Welcome to the Gopher Client, your window into the world of distributed information systems---a world where knowledge from distant computers arrives at your terminal as easily as reading a local file.

Imagine sitting at your desk and, within seconds, browsing documents stored on machines hundreds or thousands of miles away. In the early days of networked computing, this seemed like science fiction. Files were scattered across countless machines, each with its own access methods and directory structures. Then, in 1991, a team at the University of Minnesota created something elegant: Gopher, a protocol that organised the world's information into simple, navigable menus. For the first time, you could burrow through resources on servers around the globe as easily as browsing directories on your own machine.

The Gopher Client from Emulator.ca Systems brings this experience to your EC-TTY terminal. Using a familiar VAX/VMS-style interface, you can explore hierarchical document collections, read reference materials, and discover resources across the network. The menu-driven design means there are no arcane commands to memorize---just select a number and explore.

Think of Gopher as a library with an infinitely long card catalog. Each menu is a drawer of index cards; each card either points to a document or to another drawer. You can burrow (hence "Gopher") through layers of menus, following your curiosity wherever it leads, always confident you can find your way back.

Though newer technologies have emerged since Gopher's heyday, the protocol remains a testament to thoughtful design. Its simplicity and clarity continue to influence how we think about organising and presenting information. Using this client, you can experience that elegance firsthand.

Features of the Gopher Client:

HISTORICAL NOTE

The Gopher protocol (RFC 1436) predates the World Wide Web and represents a milestone in distributed information systems. This client recreates the experience of early text-mode Gopher access via dial-up connection.

Quick Start

Try these steps to begin exploring immediately:

  1. Connect: ATDT555-0710
  2. Select an item: Type its number (e.g., 1) and press ENTER
  3. Read a document: Press ENTER when finished to return to the menu
  4. Go back: Type BACK to return to the previous menu
  5. Disconnect: Type EXIT when finished
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  QUICK START SESSION                                             |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  ATDT555-0710                                                    |
|  CONNECT 1200                                                    |
|                                                                  |
|  ========================================                        |
|    GOPHER INFORMATION SERVICE                                    |
|    NODE: LOCAL  TERM: VT100                                      |
|  ========================================                        |
|                                                                  |
|  Location: GOPHER::LOCAL:[ROOT]                                  |
|                                                                  |
|   1) WELCOME_TO_GOPHER          (TXT)                            |
|   2) VAX_VMS_REFERENCE          (DIR)                            |
|   3) NETWORK_NODES              (DIR)                            |
|                                                                  |
|  GOPHER> 1                                                       |
|                                                                  |
|  Welcome to the Gopher Information Service!                      |
|  ...                                                             |
|  Press ENTER to return to menu...                                |
|                                                                  |
|  GOPHER> BACK                                                    |
|  GOPHER> EXIT                                                    |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+

Now read on for detailed information about navigation and content.

Getting Connected

To access the Gopher Client, configure your modem and dial:

ATDT555-0710

Upon successful connection, you will see the server banner and root menu:

Connection Sequence

CODE_FENCE_0

Terminal Requirements

For optimal operation, configure your terminal as follows:

Setting Recommended Value
Terminal Type VT100 or compatible
Columns 80
Rows 24
Line Speed 300-1200 baud (8N1)
Local Echo OFF (full duplex)

TIP

If characters appear doubled, disable local echo on your terminal. The server provides echo for all typed characters.

Navigation

Understanding the Display

Each Gopher menu displays your current location and available items:

Location: GOPHER::LOCAL:[VMS]

gopher.emulator.ca - VMS reference
 1) VMS_HELP.TXT               (TXT)
 2) DCL_COMMANDS.TXT           (TXT)
 3) VT100_KEYS.TXT             (TXT)
 4) SYSOP_NOTES                (DIR)
 5) ..UP_ONE_LEVEL             (DIR)

Commands: #  OPEN #  BACK  HELP  EXIT
GOPHER>

Location Path Format

The location line uses VAX/VMS-style path notation:

Location Meaning
GOPHER::LOCAL:[ROOT] Root directory of the local Gopher server
GOPHER::LOCAL:[VMS] The /vms/ directory
GOPHER::LOCAL:[VMS.SYSOP] The /vms/sysop/ subdirectory
GOPHER::LOCAL:[LOCAL.FILES] The /local/files/ directory

Selecting Items

To open a menu item, simply type its number and press ENTER:

Opening a Directory

CODE_FENCE_0

Viewing a Text File

CODE_FENCE_0

Navigation History

The client automatically maintains a history of visited directories. Use the BACK command to return to previous menus. The history is preserved during your session, allowing you to retrace your path through multiple levels of the directory tree.

NOTE

Many directories include a ".._UP_ONE_LEVEL" item as a convenience. This functions identically to the BACK command.

Item Types

Gopher items are identified by type codes. This client displays simplified type indicators:

Display Type Code Description
(DIR) 1 Directory - contains additional menu items
(TXT) 0 Text file - plain ASCII document
(info line) i Informational text - not selectable

Standard Gopher Type Codes

For reference, the complete Gopher type code specification includes:

Code Type Description
0 Text Plain text file (ASCII)
1 Directory Gopher submenu
2 CSO CSO phone-book server
3 Error Error message
4 BinHex BinHex-encoded file (Macintosh)
5 DOS Binary DOS binary archive
6 UUEncoded UUEncoded file
7 Search Full-text search
8 Telnet Telnet session
9 Binary Generic binary file
g GIF GIF image
I Image Generic image file
i Info Informational message

NOTE

This text-mode client supports text files (0) and directories (1). Binary file types are not available via dial-up terminal connection.

Content Categories

The local Gopher server organises information into the following categories:

VAX_VMS_REFERENCE

Documentation for VAX/VMS system operators and users:

NETWORK_NODES

Network configuration and connectivity information:

LOCAL_RESOURCES

Local BBS listings and operator bulletins:

SOFTWARE_LIBRARY

Software documentation and client information:

ARCHIVES

Historical news and announcements:

TIP

The ABOUT_GOPHER.TXT file at the root menu provides a brief introduction to the Gopher protocol and this server's purpose.

Exploring Gopherspace

A Guided Tour

New to Gopher? Here is a suggested exploration path:

  1. Start with the Welcome -- Read WELCOME_TO_GOPHER at the root menu
  2. Browse the VMS Reference -- Learn about the system commands
  3. Check Local Resources -- See what is available on this server
  4. Explore the Archives -- Read vintage news from 1987-1989

What Makes Gopher Special

Unlike modern hypertext systems with their riot of colors and fonts, Gopher presents information cleanly. Every menu follows the same format. Every document is plain text. There are no advertisements, no distractions---just information, organised logically and presented clearly.

This minimalism is not a limitation; it is a design philosophy. The Gopher developers believed that finding information should be simple and predictable. Two decades later, many users still appreciate this approach.

Tips for Efficient Navigation

A MOMENT OF WONDER

Consider what happens when you select a menu item: your keystrokes travel through your modem, across telephone lines, to a server that retrieves the requested document, which then streams back to your screen---all in seconds. In 1991, this felt like magic. In some ways, it still is.

Bookmarks

While this text-mode client does not support persistent bookmarks, you can note selector paths for future reference. Gopher selectors are simple text strings that identify resources:

SELECTOR REFERENCE

/                    Root menu
/vms/                VMS Reference section
/vms/sysop/          Sysop notes
/net/                Network information
/local/              Local resources
/local/files/        Configuration files
/software/           Software library
/archives/           Historical archives

Understanding Gopher URLs

Gopher resources can be referenced using the gopher:// URL scheme:

gopher://gopher.emulator.ca:70/1/vms/
                               
         Protocol              Selector path
                                Item type
                              Host and port

The server address for this system is:

Host: gopher.emulator.ca
Port: 70 (standard Gopher port)

NOTE

Graphical Gopher clients such as TurboGopher support bookmark files. Consult your client documentation for bookmark management features.

Command Reference

The following commands are available at the GOPHER> prompt:

Command Description
# Open item by number (e.g., 2 opens item 2)
OPEN # Open item by number (alternate syntax)
SELECT # Open item by number (alternate syntax)
BACK Return to previous menu
UP Return to previous menu (same as BACK)
.. Return to previous menu (same as BACK)
DIR Redisplay current menu
HELP Display command summary
? Display command summary (same as HELP)
EXIT Disconnect from server
QUIT Disconnect from server (same as EXIT)

Command Examples

Opening an Item by Number

CODE_FENCE_0

All three commands open item #4 from the current menu.

Navigation Commands

CODE_FENCE_0

Getting Help and Exiting

CODE_FENCE_0

Keyboard Controls

Key Function
ENTER Execute command / Return from document view
BACKSPACE Delete previous character
DEL Delete previous character (alternate)

Session Example

The following transcript demonstrates a typical Gopher session:

ATDT555-0710
CONNECT 1200

========================================
  GOPHER INFORMATION SERVICE
  NODE: LOCAL  TERM: VT100
========================================

Type HELP for commands. Type EXIT to disconnect.

Location: GOPHER::LOCAL:[ROOT]

gopher.emulator.ca - VMS text client
 1) WELCOME_TO_GOPHER          (TXT)
 2) VAX_VMS_REFERENCE          (DIR)
 3) NETWORK_NODES              (DIR)
 4) LOCAL_RESOURCES            (DIR)
 5) SOFTWARE_LIBRARY           (DIR)
 6) ARCHIVES                   (DIR)
 7) ABOUT_GOPHER.TXT           (TXT)

Commands: #  OPEN #  BACK  HELP  EXIT
GOPHER> 2

Location: GOPHER::LOCAL:[VMS]

gopher.emulator.ca - VMS reference
 1) VMS_HELP.TXT               (TXT)
 2) DCL_COMMANDS.TXT           (TXT)
 3) VT100_KEYS.TXT             (TXT)
 4) SYSOP_NOTES                (DIR)
 5) ..UP_ONE_LEVEL             (DIR)

Commands: #  OPEN #  BACK  HELP  EXIT
GOPHER> 1

VMS HELP QUICKCARD

HELP      Show help on a topic
DIRECTORY        List files
TYPE       Display a file
LOGOUT           End session

Press ENTER to return to menu...

Location: GOPHER::LOCAL:[VMS]

gopher.emulator.ca - VMS reference
 1) VMS_HELP.TXT               (TXT)
 2) DCL_COMMANDS.TXT           (TXT)
 3) VT100_KEYS.TXT             (TXT)
 4) SYSOP_NOTES                (DIR)
 5) ..UP_ONE_LEVEL             (DIR)

Commands: #  OPEN #  BACK  HELP  EXIT
GOPHER> BACK

Location: GOPHER::LOCAL:[ROOT]
...

GOPHER> EXIT
Session closed.

NO CARRIER

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Problem Solution
"Invalid selection" Enter a number within the displayed range
"Unrecognized command" Type HELP for list of valid commands
Garbled display Set terminal type to VT100, 80 columns
Double characters Disable local echo on your terminal
Connection drops Reduce baud rate to 300 for reliability
BACK doesn't work Already at root menu; use EXIT to disconnect

WARNING

Line noise on long-distance calls may cause data corruption. If you experience persistent errors, disconnect and redial at a lower baud rate.

Modem Initialization

Recommended modem initialization string for best compatibility:

AT&F&D2&C1&S0

Technical Information

Gopher Protocol

The Gopher protocol (RFC 1436) operates on TCP port 70. Clients send a selector string followed by CRLF; servers respond with the requested document or menu. Menu lines follow the format:

TYPE LABEL  SELECTOR  HOST  PORT

Where:

Server Information

Parameter Value
Server Host gopher.emulator.ca
Server Port 70
Protocol Gopher (RFC 1436)
Client Type VAX/VMS Text
Terminal VT100
Dial-Up Number 555-0710

Appendix A: Quick Reference Card

+================================================================+
|                GOPHER CLIENT QUICK REFERENCE                   |
+================================================================+
|                                                                |
|  DIAL: ATDT555-0710                                            |
|                                                                |
|  NAVIGATION COMMANDS                                           |
|  -------------------                                           |
|  #           Select item by number (e.g., 2)                   |
|  OPEN #      Select item (alternate syntax)                    |
|  SELECT #    Select item (alternate syntax)                    |
|  BACK        Return to previous menu                           |
|  UP          Return to previous menu (same as BACK)            |
|  ..          Return to previous menu (same as BACK)            |
|  DIR         Redisplay current menu                            |
|                                                                |
|  HELP COMMANDS                                                 |
|  -------------                                                 |
|  HELP        Display command summary                           |
|  ?           Display command summary (same as HELP)            |
|                                                                |
|  SESSION COMMANDS                                              |
|  ----------------                                              |
|  EXIT        Disconnect from server                            |
|  QUIT        Disconnect from server (same as EXIT)             |
|                                                                |
|  ITEM TYPES                                                    |
|  ----------                                                    |
|  (DIR)       Directory - contains submenus                     |
|  (TXT)       Text file - plain ASCII document                  |
|                                                                |
|  LOCATION FORMAT (VAX/VMS-style)                               |
|  --------------------------------                              |
|  GOPHER::LOCAL:[ROOT]         Root directory                   |
|  GOPHER::LOCAL:[VMS]          /vms/ directory                  |
|  GOPHER::LOCAL:[VMS.SYSOP]    /vms/sysop/ subdirectory         |
|                                                                |
+================================================================+

Appendix B: Glossary

Client -- Software that connects to a server to access information. The Gopher Client runs on your terminal.

Directory -- In Gopher terminology, a menu of items. Selecting a directory displays its contents.

Gopherspace -- The collective term for all Gopher servers and their contents worldwide.

Host -- A computer running Gopher server software, identified by name (e.g., gopher.emulator.ca).

Menu -- A list of selectable items displayed by the Gopher client. Each item is either a document or another menu.

Port -- A numbered endpoint for network connections. Gopher uses port 70 by default.

Protocol -- A set of rules for communication between computers. The Gopher protocol is defined in RFC 1436.

RFC -- Request for Comments. A document describing Internet standards and protocols.

Selector -- The path string sent to a Gopher server to request a specific resource.

Server -- A computer running Gopher software that responds to client requests and delivers documents.

Type Code -- A single character indicating what kind of item a Gopher menu entry represents (0 for text, 1 for directory, etc.).

URL -- Uniform Resource Locator. Gopher resources can be addressed as gopher://host:port/type/selector.

VT100 -- A widely-emulated video terminal standard from Digital Equipment Corporation.

Where to Go From Here

You have learned how to navigate Gopherspace using the VAX/VMS-style interface. The hierarchical menu system makes exploration intuitive---just pick a number and see where it leads. Unlike the chaotic web of hyperlinks in other systems, Gopher's structured approach means you always know where you are and how to get back.

Take time to explore the archives. The news bulletins from 1987-1989 capture a fascinating moment in computing history, when networks were young and every new connection felt like an adventure. That spirit of exploration is what Gopher was built for.

See Also