330834c · urbit.org · git.iko.soy

git.iko.soy/urbit.org

copy edits via Michael

330834cé7 years ago

content/understanding-urbit/network-and-os.md+3−3

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ hide_previous_title = "true"

13−Our phones are cluttered with apps, ads, and notifications. Our laptops are basically just web browsers that connect us to services controlled by MEGACORP. Who knows where your messages, images, contacts, and connections live, let alone how long they’ll last or who is looking at them.

13+Our phones are cluttered with apps, ads, and notifications. Our laptops are basically just web browsers that connect us to services controlled by MEGACORP. Who knows where your messages, images, contacts, and connections live, let alone how long they’ll last or who is looking at them?

15<img class="mv5 w-100" src="https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/network-os/urbit-os-phones%402x.png">

@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ We built Urbit OS from scratch. It’s a completely new computing stack. Without

33Urbit OS is a completely unified system with no external dependencies. In a single codebase, two orders of magnitude smaller than Linux, you have an entire programming language and operating system. We realize how crazy this is — but it means that a single person can actually understand the entire system. Who is the last person you met that actually understands their entire computer? Urbit OS is like the [1968 Porsche 911](https://cdn.bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/1968_Porsche_911_SR_Factor_Race_Car_Engine_1.jpg) of operating systems.

35−At the very bottom of the stack, Urbit OS is just a single, fixed function that we never change. Everything on top is upgradeable over the network. This means your Urbit OS can run forever without you ever having to do any maintenance. Put it on a USB stick, throw it in a drawer for ten years, and forget about it. When you plug it in again, it’ll slowly upgrade itself automatically.

35+At the very bottom of the stack, Urbit OS is just a single, fixed function that we never change. Everything on top is upgradeable over the network. This means your Urbit OS can run forever without you ever having to do any maintenance. Put it on a USB stick, throw it in a drawer for ten years, and forget about it. When you plug it in again, it’ll upgrade itself automatically.

37Since Urbit OS is completely sealed, it’s all run-from-source. All the code to run the system is yours to modify, tinker with, and extend. Build your own apps, modules, and user experience. Or customize Urbit OS to control your tractor. Even better: collaborate with others on the network to build the experience you’re looking for. It’s entirely up to you.

39−We build Urbit OS so we can finally have a dependable system, that we can commit to and keep far into the future. The modern web already looks dated to us.

39+We build Urbit OS so we can finally have a dependable system that we can commit to and keep far into the future. The modern web already looks dated to us.

content/understanding-urbit/technical-overview.md+4−4

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ hide_previous_title = "true"

13−Owning a computer, especially a server, can feel like a job. Urbit, on the other hand, is engineered to be maintenance free. We figure that if people are actually going to use a new computing platform, it can’t feel like work. At all.

13+Owning a computer, especially a server, can feel like a job. Urbit, on the other hand, is engineered to be maintenance-free. We figure that if people are actually going to use a new computing platform, it can’t feel like work. At all.

15<img class="ba mv5 w-100" src="https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/technical-overview/technical-overview-server.svg">

@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@ So we built our whole stack, starting with the VM, to be as simple and compact a

21Under the hood, Urbit is two parts: an ID system and an OS. The ID system is live and deployed to Ethereum. The OS is a program that runs on top of any Unix machine with an internet connection.

23−Urbit ID is incredibly simple. An Urbit ID is just a pair of an ID and a public key. Some IDs have the ability to issue a finite number of other IDs. Galaxies, the top-tier of Urbit IDs, have the ability to upgrade the Urbit ID contracts by a majority vote. Each Urbit ID also has a cascade of keys that can perform specific actions which make securing your Urbit ID simple and straightforward. For example, the key for booting Urbit OS is separate from the key for issuing children — keep that one in a safe.

23+Urbit ID is incredibly simple. An Urbit ID is just a pair of an ID and a public key. Some IDs have the ability to issue a finite number of other IDs. Galaxies, the top-tier of Urbit IDs, have the ability to upgrade the Urbit ID contracts by a majority vote. Each Urbit ID also has a cascade of keys that can perform specific actions that make securing your Urbit ID simple and straightforward. For example, the key for booting Urbit OS is separate from the key for issuing children — keep that one in a safe.

25All of this is implemented as a [suite of Solidity contracts](https://github.com/urbit/azimuth) that are [deployed to Ethereum](https://etherscan.io/address/azimuth.eth) that we call ‘Azimuth’. We’re not wedded to using Ethereum forever — but it works well for now. Someday we’d like to host Azimuth on Urbit itself.

27−As a compliment to Urbit ID, we implemented the [Urbit HD wallet](https://github.com/urbit/urbit-wallet-generator) which lets most people own their Urbit IDs using a simple passkey that’s easy to remember. This means you own your Urbit ID and can log in to Urbit OS with something like `~ravmel-ropdyl`, `~poldec-tonteg-palfun-foslup`.

27+As a compliment to Urbit ID, we implemented the [Urbit HD wallet](https://github.com/urbit/urbit-wallet-generator) which lets most people own their Urbit IDs using a simple passkey that’s easy to remember. This means you own your Urbit ID and can log in to Urbit OS with something like ID `~ravmel-ropdyl`, passkey `~poldec-tonteg-palfun-foslup`.

29Until Urbit OS is completely secure (in the next year or so, we hope), you can interact with Urbit ID through a standalone, browser-based interface called [Bridge](https://bridge.urbit.org). Bridge lets you securely manage your keys, transfer your Urbit ID, log in to Urbit OS, and so on.

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ In the simplest terms, Urbit OS is three things: a file, a key, and a program. T

35The program is mostly Arvo — our name for the Urbit OS kernel. Arvo is implemented in Hoon, a functional language that compiles down to Nock, our tiny set of opcodes.

37−Arvo’s behavior is completely defined by a transition function that goes from `[event, current-state]` to `[effects, next-state]`. An event might be a keypress, an HTTP request, or a UDP message from another Arvo. An effect might be a command to the Unix terminal, an HTTP response, a UDP message to another Arvo or a move to one of Arvo’s kernel modules or vanes.

37+Arvo’s behavior is completely defined by a transition function that goes from `[event, current-state]` to `[effects, next-state]`. An event might be a keypress, an HTTP request, or a UDP message from another Arvo. An effect might be a command to the Unix terminal, an HTTP response, a UDP message to another Arvo or a move to one of Arvo’s kernel modules, or *vanes*.

39We currently have vanes for networking (`%ames`), timers (`%behn`), a filesystem (`%clay`), a terminal driver (`%dill`), an http server (`%eyre`), a functional build system (`%ford`), an application server (`%gall`) and a module for managing private keys (`%jael`).

content/understanding-urbit/urbit-id.md+2−2

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ We want everyone to own their own identity and wallet. One way to do this would

44At a high level, there are three important things to understand about the overall Urbit ID system design.

46−First, there are only so many Urbit IDs, so they cost something. Since they cost something, people are less likely to use them to spam or abuse the network. And, when you meet a stranger with an Urbit ID you know they have some skin in the game.

46+First, there are only so many Urbit IDs, so they cost something. Since they cost something, people are less likely to use them to spam or abuse the network. And, when you meet a stranger with an Urbit ID, you know they have some skin in the game.

48<img class="b—black ba mv5 w-100" src="https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/urbit-id/urbit-id-address-space-1.svg">

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ Second, Urbit IDs are distributed by a sponsorship tree. Each sponsor issues a f

53Urbit IDs need a sponsor even after they’re issued, but you can always change sponsors and sponsors can always reject children. This means bad actors can be banned and abusive sponsors can be ignored. We think this strikes a nice balance between accountability and freedom.

55−Finally, galaxies form a senate that can upgrade the logic of the Urbit ID system by majority vote. We think Urbit ID should last for quite a long time, but if it ever needs to be changed, the galaxies can facilitate upgrades. Code may be law, but ultimately we acknowledge that human judgement can’t be factored out.

55+Finally, galaxies form a senate that can upgrade the logic of the Urbit ID system by majority vote. We think Urbit ID should last for quite a long time, but if it ever needs to be changed, the galaxies can facilitate upgrades. Code may be law, but ultimately we acknowledge that human judgment can’t be factored out.

57(For a bit more on how all this works, see the [FAQ](@/faq.md).)

content/understanding-urbit/your-last-computer.md+2−2

@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ You own and control this OS completely. Your system doesn’t live on someone el

24We’re on our way to this future, building it step by step, but we’re not there yet. The Urbit of today is much more stripped down.

26−The stripped down Urbit – Urbit OS 1 – starts out as a new kind of social network.

26+The stripped-down Urbit – Urbit OS 1 – starts out as a new kind of social network.

28−Today, each of our social tools does one thing. And so each of our communities end up spanning multiple services. Urbit OS 1 gives you the tools to bring these together into one place.

28+Today, each of our social tools does one thing. And so each of our communities ends up spanning multiple services. Urbit OS 1 gives you the tools to bring these together into one place.

30In Urbit OS 1, a community shares a set of modules. (Think of a module like an app without the data lock-in.) One community may choose to chat and share a forum. Another may choose to chat and watch the crypto markets. And yet another may chat, share links, ebooks, and a to-do list. Anyone can develop a module, and anyone can create a community.

templates/understanding-urbit/list.html+2−2

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@

25 <img class="full c7-10-lg row-1 mt0 mb2 mb4-xl w-100 ba" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/intro/intro-1.svg" alt="A drawing of an Urbit ship." />

26</section>

27<section class="full-bleed full grid12">

28− <p class="full c4-7-lg mt0 mb4 mb2-xl lh-copy"> Your Urbit is a purpose built tool for your own social software, not MEGACORP social networking.

28+ <p class="full c4-7-lg mt0 mb4 mb2-xl lh-copy"> Your Urbit is a purpose-built tool for your own social software, not MEGACORP social networking.

29 On Urbit, you run (or build) your own software to connect and communicate with your friends and family.</p>

30 <img class="full c7-10-lg row-1 mt0 mb2 mb4-xl w-100 ba" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/intro/intro-2.svg" alt="An Urbit ship receiving data." />

31</section>

@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@

47 <img class="full c4-10-lg mt7" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/intro/intro-6.jpg"/>

48 <p class="full c4-10-lg lh-copy mt2 mt4-xl">We built Urbit so people can control their technology, shape their digital lives and freely build

49 their digital communities.</p>

50− <p class="full c4-10-lg lh-copy mt2">We want to replace the internet with a foundation for computing that we can all rely on far into the future.</p>

50+ <p class="full c4-10-lg lh-copy mt2">We want to replace the Internet with a foundation for computing that we can all rely on far into the future.</p>

51 <p class="full c4-10-lg lh-copy mt2">Urbit is a large, ambitious project. But at the core it’s durable, simple and yours.</p>

52 </section>

53 <p class="c1-10 c4-10-lg mt6 mb4 lh-copy">Nothing quite like this has ever been done before.</p>