Gopher: The Internet We Almost Had

Enjoying the show? Support it here.Before the Web became the Internet as we know it, there were other ways of finding your way around. Gopher was one of them - a menu-driven system that made it easier to explore information across the early Internet.For a while, Gopher was a genuine competitor to the World Wide Web. Then the Web became free, Mosaic arrived, and the Internet took a very different path.In this episode of Artifacts, I look at Gopher, what it was like to explore the early Internet through menus and directories, and what its disappearance tells us about the futures technology leaves behind.Mentioned in this episode:Networking & The Web | Timeline of Computer History | Computer History MuseumRFC 1436 - The Internet Gopher Protocol (a distributed document search and retrieval protocol)Internet Gopher — NSFNETThe Cutting Edge: Computing / Technology / Innovation : POSTCARDS FROM CYBERSPACE : Exploring the Depths of the Internet - Los Angeles TimesGet InvolvedIf you enjoy Artifacts, you can support it with either a one-off tip, or become a monthly Archivist.No commitment - just a simple way to say thanks. Show your support here.If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favourite podcast app!And please let your friends know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or their preferred podcast app, or online at Artifacts Podcast.The ArchiveThe sister newsletter to the Artifacts podcast, sharing a story that didn't quite fit into an episode, a forgotten corner of the internet I've stumbled across, or a memory that deserves preserving before it quietly fades away.Get the Artifacts NewsletterProducts I Use for ArtifactsNote: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.My equipment:RODE NT1-A large diaphragm condenser micRodecaster Pro II audio production studioSony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor HeadphonesElgato Wave Mic Arm Low ProfileRecommended resources:Captivate.fm podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetizationHindenburg Pro recording and editingAuphonic mastering tool for audio post productionBeehiiv email marketing