A _posts/2021-06-02-i-launched-a-gemini-capsule-recently.md

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+---
+title: i launched a gemini capsule recently
+date: 2021-06-02T22:36:43+03:00
+author: la-ninpre
+tags: gemini openbsd
+---
+
+i launched my own gemini capsule, yay!
+
+it is available on the same domain, just type `gemini://aaoth.xyz` in your
+favourite gemini client.
+
+<!--more-->
+
+for those of you that don't know, gemini is a relatively new internet protocol.
+it is already gained popularity among some enthusiasts out there.
+
+it is intended to be simple and lightweight, it's just plaintext. and the whole
+specification is so simple that usable server and/or client for it could be
+written within about 100 lines of code.
+
+learn more on:
+
+[gemini website](https://gemini.circumlunar.space)
+
+## about quirks and vger
+
+firstly i looked through the list of gemini servers on gemini website.
+and one particular server there attracted me. it was `vger`.
+it is saying that it is secure and openbsd-centric.
+
+so i tried installing it. it is even packaged for openbsd, which was pretty
+convenient, even though i don't mind building stuff from source.
+especially if it is not a big bloated thing.
+
+and surprisingly the configuration was **so** simple, that i even hadn't
+realized it for a first couple of minutes.
+but then i wanted to launch some fancy cgi things, such as, for example,
+gemlikes. it is providing simple like and comment system for a blog.
+
+and there vger failed me. maybe it is me failed myself, but i tried all
+possible configuration options. i think, for now vger is not capable of
+running cgi scripts for some parts of the capsule.
+
+in other words, i'm talking about this.
+consider some capsule with tld `gemini://example.com`.
+it serves some static pages on `gemini://example.com/blog/*` and
+`gemini://example.com/about.gmi`.
+gemlikes need three binaries and a `gemlikes.toml` config file.
+they suggest placing them in `/cgi-bin/gemlikes/`.
+i placed them there, but i couldn't make it so it is how it needs to be.
+my vger is serving only cgi or only static pages.
+
+## another try
+
+so i looked though a list again, and found `gmid` there. it seemed like
+a good option too, because it's written in c and openbsd-aware too.
+
+and this was nice expirience, because gmid's config file is very
+similar to other openbsd's tool configs, such as relayd or httpd.
+the only peculiarity with gmid is that it's not yet packaged for
+openbsd, so i had to compile it manually. and also i created the daemon
+script for it in rc.d(8).
+
+here it is, if you need it:
+
+/etc/rc.d/gmid
+```sh
+#!/bin/ksh
+
+daemon="/usr/local/bin/gmid"
+daemon_flags="-c /etc/gmid.conf"
+
+. /etc/rc.d/rc.subr
+
+rc_pre() {
+    ${rcexec} "${daemon} -n ${daemon_flags}"
+}
+
+rc_cmd $1
+```
+
+and of course, my config is in `/etc/gmid.conf`. manpage of gmid contains
+very good descriptions of all the options available.
+
+## thoughts about geminispace
+
+my first impressions of gemini were a little odd. it's a little bit hard
+to read just text, when you are used to graphically overwhelming
+flashing websites with pictures and interactive stuff.
+but after a little bit of time comes the appretiation of the beauty
+of the pure text. 
+
+i can see gemini as a perfect place to host some informative resources,
+personal blogs and also for creative writing.
+and especially the latter, because it is so easy to spin up your own
+instance, i can see at as a great option for writers out there to
+host their content.

A tags/gemini.md

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+---
+layout: tagsort
+tag: gemini
+title: "tags: gemini"
+permalink: /tags/gemini/
+---