Mastodawn

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

Fedi.Tips Sep 13, 2025

p.s. To make clear, the gemini:// referred to here is nothing to do with AI or LLMs or Google.

The Gemini protocol is a free open project started in 2019 to create a calmer simpler text-based alternative to the world wide web:

Gemini (protocol) - Wikipedia

Stefan Scholl Sep 13, 2025

@FediTips #Gemini looks interesting, but I have no idea how to make a Gemini site that's legal in Germany.

Maybe a link to contact and privacy information on every page. But if I forget it one time, I'm toast.

The server needs to be able to add these links to every gemtext file automatically.

Kevin Hughes 🐝Sep 13, 2025

@FediTips it does annoy me that Google are definitely going to eclipse the smaller Gemini project with their ai behemoth.

Though there's possibly a lesson in there about not choosing names for things which are already generic and hugely overused.

Markus Redeker 🐘Sep 13, 2025

@kev @FediTips But there is a chance that Google's Gemini soon collapses, while the Gemini protocol persists. (Even if it stays almost unknown.)

But for me, this project is fascinating.

Baloo Uriza Sep 12, 2025

@FediTips On Mastodon, correctly created links always count as 23 characters no matter how long they are.

staringatclouds Sep 12, 2025

@BalooUriza @FediTips Yup, you could put war & peace after the https:// & it would still only count 23 characters

@staringatclouds @BalooUriza

I think there's a secondary limit of 500 actual characters for the link itself. But I've never seen a legitimate link that couldn't be posted 🙂

staringatclouds Sep 12, 2025

@FediTips @BalooUriza I didn't know that, thanks 👍

@FediTips I don't think the bonus tip is true ssb://connyduck.at

@FediTips oh wow did they change this? 🧐

narF 😵✌️Sep 12, 2025

@ConnyDuck Though it's not clickable unless you have the right app installed (I'm guessing?)

@narF yes that is expected, but I'm pretty sure these weren't always clickable because users complained in the Tusky issue tracker

@ConnyDuck

Hmm... presumably they depend on the client using the protocols to render anything?

At the very least madeup:// doesn't produce a clickable link, it's only these specific protocols.

@FediTips no it depends on the server (source: I'm a client dev 😅 )

@ConnyDuck

Of course, I know your credentials very well from Tusky etc! 👍

Are these clickable links for other protocols not actually working then?

@FediTips Well when an app is installed that can handle these protocol they should work, yes. Otherwise nothing will happen.

@ConnyDuck

Ahh okay, so if they've set their client to automatically open the relevant app it should be okay?

@FediTips Yes. I'll double check with Tusky if that is actually the case, but it totally should.

Richard de Waard Sep 12, 2025

@FediTips and if you don’t like the contents of the link preview box (e.g. a portrait of someone), you can add an image to your post. This will suppress the preview.

@WaardRichard

Ooh that's a nice workaround 👍

Amos Newcombe Sep 12, 2025

@FediTips what about http: without the s? Does that work?

Fedi.Tips Sep 13, 2025

@anewc2

Yes, http works too though it's pretty rare to encounter it nowadays.

StoneBear

Sep 12, 2025

@FediTips how about no on the gemini? We don't need tech-bro-slop in the Fedi.

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

Fedi.Tips Sep 13, 2025

@stonebear2

Agreed about no tech bro slop, but this particular Gemini is nothing to do with AI or LLMs, it's a free open project to create a text-based alternative to the world wide web:

It was named in 2019, years before the AI existed.

Gemini (protocol) - Wikipedia

StoneBear

Sep 13, 2025

@FediTips COOL. I just hope Google doesn't get Ideas. :(