10On disk your urbit is an append-only log and a checkpoint. Or, in simpler terms, a directory where we keep your urbit’s state. We call this a ‘pier’.
14To create an urbit, we need an identity. This identity
15is both a network address and a memorable name.
17You are probably creating one of two kinds of urbit: a 32-bit
18"planet" or a 128-bit "comet." For a quick terminology guide
19and high-level refresher, refer to this [handy reference sheet](/about/terminology).
21If you have an Urbit invitation, you'll have a planet like
22`~fintud-macrep` and `~fortyv-tombyt-tabsen-sonres`. To create
25 $ bin/urbit -w fintud-macrep -t fortyv-tombyt-tabsen-sonres
27This will create a directory `fintud-macrep/` and begin building
28your urbit. This may take a few minutes.
30If you do not have a ticket, you can still make a 'comet', a wild
31urbit drifting through cyberspace. Pick your own directory name,
34 $ bin/urbit -c mycomet
36This will create the directory `mycomet/` and generate a 128-bit identity for your urbit.
40When your urbit is finished booting you should see a `dojo>` prompt. Welcome!
42By default your urbit is quite bare-bones. Let's stroll through what's already running:
46The command prompt in front of you is a simple shell and Hoon REPL. Let's make sure it works:
48 ~fitund-macrep:dojo> (add 2 2)
57### Messaging — `:talk`
59Use `^X` (ctrl-x) to change your prompt. Let's join the main Urbit chat channel:
61 ~fitund-macrep:talk() ;join ~doznec/urbit-meta
63`:talk` is stateful, so your urbit will download a backlog.
64`/urbit-meta` is the place to ask questions, get help and talk
65about anything Urbit-related.
69Urbit is also accessible through the web. Try opening:
71 http://localhost:8080/
73in your favorite browser. You'll be prompted to use `+code`.
74This page was generated by `:tree`, the basic Urbit web
75interface. You can also access your urbit through
76`http://fintud-macrep.urbit.org` (where `fintud-macrep` is your
79### Filesystem — `%clay`
81`%clay`, the Urbit filesystem, isn't mounted to unix by default. Switch to the `:dojo` prompt and run:
83 ~fitund-macrep:dojo> |mount %
90which indicates the command was processed.
92`|mount %` will cause a `home/` directory to appear inside your pier folder. Changes to these files are automatically synced into your urbit.
96If you're eager to get started programming you're ready to head over to <a href="../../hoon/demo">the Hoon demo</a>.
98To learn more about using the system, let's keep going:
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