# Writing a Gemini server in C

=> gemini://kenogo.org Homepage
=> gemini://kenogo.org/blog/ Blog

## What is Gemini?

A few days ago, my brother introduced me to the internet protocol [Gemini].  It's basically a very lightweight alternative to the web, and while I'm not sure how much of a following it will ever have, I like its fundamental concepts. Particularly, I like that implementing a Gemini server from scratch is actually manageable for a single person.  So that's what I started doing. 

=> gemini://gemini.circumlunar.space Gemini
=> https://belago.org My brother's homepage

## My implementation

You can find my server implementation in Gitlab.  I have used the C programming language and called my program Soyuz.  Currently, the entire source code resides in a single file.  Soyuz is suitable for statically serving files to the client. The biggest issue currently is its complete lack of threading. 

=> https://gitlab.com/kenogo/soyuz Soyuz on Gitlab

# Literate programming

I plan to refactor Soyuz into a literate program and add it to the corresponding section of my homepage.  I tried writing it as a literate program to begin with, but I found out that this approach does not work well for me when I have little experience with the libraries I use. 

=> ../literate_programming/index.gmi My literate programs

For getting to know a library, I need a more explorative coding style.  However, I think the program in its current state could very well be converted into a literate program and then maintained as such.  So that's the plan. 


# This was fun

It has been quite a while since my last recreational programming project.  Even if Gemini never finds wide-spread adoption, I'm thankful for its existence if only for this nice day of programming.