Because of the enforced simplicity of the Gemini protocol syntax,* I have found I want to use foot notes (or more pedantically typographical notes) to indicated where in my text the links I’ve provided below are most contextually relevant. This has been particularly useful when mirroring Wikipedia content in my Gemini capsule.
When browsing my files using Amfora,† I found it very convenient and sensible to use the numbers that precede each of the links in a file as the cue embedded in the text. However when I began using Lagrange‡ on my phone, I faced a problem. The presentation of the Gemini file is determined by the client, and Lagrange doesn’t display numbers in front of each link.
So I decided I would use symbols found in the following set for that purpose. This is demonstrated in my mirrored excerpt of the Wikipedia article on Gosling Emacs.§ The first six symbols are documented as traditional in the Wikipedia article on typographic notes.‖ The remainder have more ad hoc use patterns.
Find “* Project Gemini FAQ” at gemini://geminiprotocol.net/docs/faq.gmi
Find “‡ Lagrange” at gemini://skyjake.fi/lagrange/
§ Gosling Emacs - Distribution: find at: gemini://sdf.org/paulmccombs/gemlog/../mirror/gosling-crisis.gmi
‖ Wikipedia article: Note, typography
Traditional Symbols Extended Symbols
========================== ==========================
Asterisk * Number sign/Octothorpe #
Dagger † Greek letter delta Δ
Double dagger ‡ Diamond-shaped lozenge ◊
Section mark § Downward arrow ↓
Parallel lines ‖ Manicule ☞
Pilcrow ¶ Apple command key symbol ⌘
ISO symbol for control ⎈
This post was originally published in Geminispace, an alternative to the modern web. You can learn more about it at Gemini Quickstart. You can read about my decision to use Gemini protocol in Paul’s Introduction to Geminispace. If you are already using a Gemini browser you can view my blog content at gemini://sdf.org/paulmccombs/ .