gplaces 0.16.20 adds a new feature to gplaces: promptless search.
The default gplaces configuration file defines the "search" alias for geminispace.info:
set search geminispace.info/search
This allows one to search without typing a URL, geminispace.info/search:
> search Search query> flugelhorn # geminispace.info - Gemini Search Engine [1] Home [2] Search [3] Query backlinks ...
However, gplaces still sends a request without input, receives the prompt, then asks the user for input.
gplaces 0.16.20 allows an optional argument after the alias name:
> search fluelhorn # geminispace.info - Gemini Search Engine [1] Home [2] Search [3] Query backlinks ...
The argument is used as the query component of the URL, so the first (and only) request already carries the user-provided input.
The default configuration file also defines the "whatis" alias for Gemipedia, a fantastic tool by @Acidus:
> whatis flugelhorn # Flugelhorn [1] Gallery: 2 images [2] Other articles that mention 'Flugelhorn' The flugelhorn (/ˈfluːɡəlhɔːrn/), also spelled fluegelhorn, flugel horn, or flügelhorn, is a brass instrument
This new feature makes gplaces much more useful as a Surfraw-like tool for querying text-based information: like man, but with extra data sources (like Wikipedia), with TLS everywhere, and without tracking. I'm looking for more useful aliases I can add to the default configuration file, and ideas are welcome!