Technology/File systems/Gopher, (sdf.org), 03/06/2019
------------------------------------------------------------
In a fit of wild thought, I wrote something about a notion 
that people couldn't understand gopher because they didn't 
understand filesystems[1]. Here are a few additional 
thoughts on the matter:

First, I mentioned that I thought PalmOS might have been the 
first OS to obfuscate the filesystem. Sean Conner of 
conman.org wrote to let me know that the Apple Newton was 
possible the first, with it's Soup filesystem setup[2]. I've 
never owned or used a Newton, so I didn't know this; thanks 
Sean! (consequently, if you haven't checked out conman.org's 
gopher hole and the Boston Diaries, you're missing out[3].)

Second, Sean also mentioned the fact that Gopher doesn't 
actually *require* an understand of filesystems. This is 
absolutely true, especially in 2019 when any user can 
download a gopher browser (even by accident while scanning 
the app store on their phone), open it, and browse. Modern 
gopher holes don't actually respect the notion either; you 
can readily find gopher holes that don't adhere to a 
filesystem-type layout.

So is happens that I need to publish a retraction. My 
original statement, that "Gopher, by its very nature, 
requires that you understand the basic principles of a 
modern file system" was not accurate. I still have an 
inkling that a lack of understanding in this area is a 
hinderance to gopher adoption, but it's by no means an 
insuperable hurdle.

Thank you again, Sean, for letting me know about the Newton 
(anyone else have any older OS that obfuscates the FS??) and 
for your thoughts on users and gopher tech!


[1] gopher://sdf.org:70/0/users/tfurrows/phlog/2019/ama_aFileSystem.txt
[2] gopher://gopherpedia.com:70/0/Soup (Apple)
[3] gopher://conman.org:70/1