42bb709 · urbit.org · git.iko.soy

git.iko.soy/urbit.org

a few tweaks

commit42bb7095ed18778402784d940f6f4f179cc7640d authorGalen Wolfe-Pauly <galen@tlon.io> dateThu 19 Dec 2019, 09:50 (7 years ago) parent4cf380d

4 files changed+31−32

compare with master

unifiedsplit

content/understanding-urbit/urbitos1-osn.md → content/understanding-urbit/interface.md+13−15 content/understanding-urbit/roadmap.md+10−10 content/understanding-urbit/urbit-id.md+5−5 templates/understanding-urbit/list.html+3−2

content/understanding-urbit/urbitos1-osn.md → content/understanding-urbit/interface.mdrenamed+13−15

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@

11+++

2−title = "Urbit OS¹ -> OSⁿ"

3−description = "A quick tour of the technology"

2+title = "Interface"

3+description = "What Urbit feels like to an everyday user"

44weight = 3

55[extra]

66flatten_pagination = "true"

@@ -8,23 +8,21 @@ hide_next_title = "true"

88hide_previous_title = "true"

99+++

1010

11−# Urbit Interface

12−

1311We started at the bottom of the stack, years ago, with the VM. We’re just now getting to the top: the interface. Urbit ID and Urbit OS are great tools — but technology on its own isn’t enough. As far as we’re concerned, if people don’t actually use this thing, it doesn’t matter.

1412

15−Urbit, VM to UI, is meant to feel like the a desktop OS for a networked world: a single, unified system where you can interact with, update and archive all of your personal data; communicate with your friends and family; and collaborate with the people you work with.

13+Urbit, VM to UI, is meant to feel like the a desktop OS for a networked world: a single, unified system where you can interact with, update and archive all of your personal data; communicate with your friends and family; and collaborate with the people you work with.

1614

1715One way to imagine Urbit is as the Western answer to WeChat: a seamless, multi-purpose, vastly extensible social network, but without the surveillance. As a platform anyone can extend, we see Urbit as the ultimate productivity tool: no more frankenstack of apps and services needed for companies and collaborators, because everything lives in one interface. With the power to build whatever you want on top of Urbit, you can bring everything together in one place.

1816

19−In early 2020, we’ll release what we’re calling OS 1 — the first minimal but complete user experience for Urbit. OS 1 brings together the whole Urbit stack into a single interface. OS 1 is simple in the extreme. It’s a calm, ad-free, privacy-respecting environment to homestead new digital communities.

17+In early 2020, we’ll release what we’re calling OS 1 — the first minimal but complete user experience for Urbit. OS 1 brings together the whole Urbit stack into a single interface. OS 1 is simple in the extreme. It’s a calm, ad-free, privacy-respecting environment to homestead new digital communities.

2018

2119We’ve got a pretty clear picture of OS 1, 2 and 3 which we’ll explain in [the roadmap](/understanding-urbit/roadmap). Here, we’ll focus on the vision for Urbit as a user experience.

2220

2321<img class="full w-100 mv4" src="https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/project-history/uu-osn-1.svg"/>

2422

25−In the current world of apps and services, there’s no operating system in any meaningful sense. Our laptops and phones just let us switch between services. Our communities, co-workers and lives are spread between these services — and the work of combining them is left to the user. You have to remember all your passwords, who sent what message where, what files are on which platform, and so on.

23+In the current world of apps and services, there’s no operating system in any meaningful sense. Our laptops and phones just let us switch between services. Our communities, co-workers and lives are spread between these services — and the work of combining them is left to the user. You have to remember all your passwords, who sent what message where, what files are on which platform, and so on.

2624

27−The most severely lacking thing about our digital lives today is that they lack a sense of place or a sense of home.

25+The most severely lacking thing about our digital lives today is that they lack a sense of place or a sense of home.

2826

2927It’s annoying and confusing to switch between interfaces, you can’t extend or build on top, and privacy and security are out of your hands. This fragmented, siloed, closely surveilled experience is simply a byproduct of having other people run and control your software. The result, for the ordinary user, is restrictive and boring. The possibility for everyday creativity with the tools we’re stuck with is close to zero. Wasn’t the computer supposed to be a bicycle for the mind?

3028

@@ -36,7 +34,7 @@ The ‘desk’ of today is cluttered with apps and services, data structures and

3634

3735What exactly does this look like? In the long run, we’re not 100% sure. There’s a lot to be invented — but we have a first pass that we think is quite good. At least, good enough that we like using it quite a lot.

3836

39−In Urbit, there are two building blocks: groups and modules. A group is exactly what it sounds like: 1 or more people. A module is sort of like an app without the data lock-in. It’s just a tool for getting something done, like ‘chat’, ‘publish’, or ‘links’ that’s shared by a group. Any group on Urbit can combine modules, or build their own.

37+In Urbit, there are two building blocks: groups and modules. A group is exactly what it sounds like: 1 or more people. A module is sort of like an app without the data lock-in. It’s just a tool for getting something done, like ‘chat’, ‘publish’, or ‘links’ that’s shared by a group. Any group on Urbit can combine modules, or build their own.

4038

4139Think of a module like a particular way of communicating. Usually, groups have a few different ways they want to communicate. Urbit makes this simple and straightforward. With one group, you may decide to chat and share photos. Another might share annotated research, watch the markets, and manage payments on a blockchain.

4240

@@ -44,11 +42,11 @@ Creating a group and customizing the modules it shares is easy. Building a new m

4442

4543<img class="full w-100 mv4" src="https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/uu-osn-3.svg"/>

4644

47−We think this basic metaphor can scale, over time, to be useful in many different contexts.

45+We think this basic metaphor can scale, over time, to be useful in many different contexts.

4846

49−For example, parents might give their young children an Urbit that’s locked, at first, to only two groups: family and friends from school. It might also be limited to one module: chat.

47+For example, parents might give their young children an Urbit that’s locked, at first, to only two groups: family and friends from school. It might also be limited to one module: chat.

5048

51−A broader group of siblings, parents and grandparents might create a group with a few more modules to share photos, chat and coordinate events.

49+A broader group of siblings, parents and grandparents might create a group with a few more modules to share photos, chat and coordinate events.

5250

5351A new tenant in a building could use an Urbit workspace to lock and unlock doors, pay their utilities and rent, and communicate with the landlord. The building owner could use an urbit workspace to keep up with all her tenants, accept rent payments, check on critical building systems and communicate with subcontractors.

5452

@@ -56,10 +54,10 @@ This model provides for unending possible combinations for ordinary users, witho

5654

5755<img class="full w-100 mv4" src="https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/uu-osn-4.svg"/>

5856

59−Centralized services are great at replacing broadcast media: distributing content from a producer to a bunch of followers.

57+Centralized services are great at replacing broadcast media: distributing content from a producer to a bunch of followers.

6058

61−Urbit is for everything else. That is, Urbit is for actual two-way communication: keeping a group of friends connected, staying in touch with your family, or working with a group of collaborators.

59+Urbit is for everything else. That is, Urbit is for actual two-way communication: keeping a group of friends connected, staying in touch with your family, or working with a group of collaborators.

6260

6361We designed Urbit to become the best tool for communicating with friends and family, or collaborating with peers. It’s a social network, but much calmer and more purposeful. It’s a productivity tool, but much more secure and powerful.

6462

65−How do we get to this future? By staying focussed, writing code, and iterating through design. We have a rough outline of this process — let’s walk through it.

63+How do we get to this future? By staying focussed, writing code, and iterating through design. We have a rough outline of this process — let’s walk through it.

content/understanding-urbit/roadmap.md+10−10

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@

11+++

2−title = "Roadmap"

2+title = "Roadmap: OS 1 -> OS N"

33description = "The core ideas that Urbit is built around"

44weight = 4

55[extra]

@@ -10,16 +10,16 @@ hide_previous_title = "true"

1010

1111Today, we call Urbit an ‘OS 0’. It’s an evolving open source project with a live network. In 2020, we’re planning to ship OS 1 — the first minimal but complete release of Urbit.

1212

13−As we discussed in the [last post](/understanding-urbit/urbitos1-osn), we see Urbit’s primary advantage as bringing together groups to share a set of modules for communication and collaboration. As Urbit matures, the set of available modules grows and expands, and the system both stabilizes and becomes more secure.

13+As we discussed in the [last post](/understanding-urbit/urbitos1-osn), we see Urbit’s primary advantage as bringing together groups to share a set of modules for communication and collaboration. As Urbit matures, the set of available modules grows and expands, and the system both stabilizes and becomes more secure.

1414

15−Let’s walk through the sequence of milestones we have planned for 2020 and 2021.

15+Let’s walk through the sequence of milestones we have planned for 2020 and 2021.

1616

1717

1818![](https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/project-history/project-status-landscape%402x.png)

1919

2020OS 0 — 2019

2121

22−Today, Urbit OS is an evolving prototype. Brave explorers, open-minded systems software nerds and those who want the future to arrive as fast as possible should [install Urbit](/using/install), [check it out](https://urbit.org/using/operations/), and potentially [enroll in Hoon School](/community/hoonschool).

22+Today, Urbit OS is an evolving prototype. Brave explorers, open-minded systems software nerds and those who want the future to arrive as fast as possible should [install Urbit](/using/install), [check it out](https://urbit.org/using/operations/), and potentially [enroll in Hoon School](/community/hoonschool).

2323

2424Urbit has evolved a lot during OS 0. We deployed the Urbit ID system to Ethereum and made huge strides toward the stability of Urbit OS (detailed [here](/blog/stable-arvo)). OS 0 has been all about refining our interface goals and making sure our system works as well as possible.

2525

@@ -33,15 +33,15 @@ OS 1 — Q1 2020

3333

3434OS 1 is the first minimal but complete release of Urbit. We think of it as the [Nokia 3310](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_3310) of cloud computers.

3535

36−OS 1 is a simple system to publish notes, chat and share links with groups of friends all in one place. OS 1 is stripped down, but open for anyone to extend and build on top of. It’s easy to onboard a group of friends into OS 1 via email and there will be hosting available to select groups.

36+OS 1 is a simple system to publish notes, chat and share links with groups of friends all in one place. OS 1 is stripped down, but open for anyone to extend and build on top of. It’s easy to onboard a group of friends into OS 1 via email and there will be hosting available to select groups.

3737

3838OS 1 is aimed first and foremost at communities looking to homestead a new platform they can truly make their own. We’ve been using Urbit ourselves over the years, and OS 1 is what we’ve been looking forward to using for our own daily communication and collaboration.

3939

40−While we’re excited about what OS 1 is, there are also plenty of gaps. For example, OS 1 doesn’t have an exceptional notification system, it still lives in a browser, and it lacks great tooling for distributing new modules. While we aren’t inventing any new cryptography, Urbit also hasn’t been audited, so we aren’t calling it secure just yet.

40+While we’re excited about what OS 1 is, there are also plenty of gaps. For example, OS 1 doesn’t have an exceptional notification system, it still lives in a browser, and it lacks great tooling for distributing new modules. While we aren’t inventing any new cryptography, Urbit also hasn’t been audited, so we aren’t calling it secure just yet.

4141

4242If OS 0 is for explorers, OS 1 is for tinkerers. More like car camping than backpacking.

4343

44−Tlon is also planning to provide free hosting to a limited number of groups who want to homestead the system. (Although you can always host Urbit yourself, of course.) If you’re interested in trying OS 1 with your group of friends, [let us know](/community/community-grants).

44+Tlon is also planning to provide free hosting to a limited number of groups who want to homestead the system. (Although you can always host Urbit yourself, of course.) If you’re interested in trying OS 1 with your group of friends, [let us know](/community/community-grants).

4545

4646OS 2 is where Urbit gets easier for a broader audience to try out.

4747

@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ OS 2 — Q2 2020

5353

5454OS 2 is an approachable, expanded and easier to use OS 1. We think of OS 2 as the [iOS 1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_OS_1) of cloud computers — no matter how silly that sounds.

5555

56−Like OS 1, OS 2 let’s a group of people chat, publish blogs and short messages, and share links. The main difference is that OS 2 is a standalone app (rather than the browser tab of OS 1) and supports Urbiit-to-Urbit payments in BTC and ETH. OS 2 is the calm, private computing environment we’ve been waiting for.

56+Like OS 1, OS 2 let’s a group of people chat, publish blogs and short messages, and share links. The main difference is that OS 2 is a standalone app (rather than the browser tab of OS 1) and supports Urbiit-to-Urbit payments in BTC and ETH. OS 2 is the calm, private computing environment we’ve been waiting for.

5757

5858OS 2 is for those eager to leave behind MEGACORP platforms and build new, intentionally architected communities. If OS 1 is car camping, OS 2 is a geodesic dome on the playa. Not exactly a permanent home, but a good start.

5959

@@ -71,10 +71,10 @@ OS 3 makes it possible to customize a permanent, secure space for your friends,

7171

7272OS 3 means you can use Urbit in earnest for everyday work. Payments, contracts, managing your entire crypto portfolio, and connecting to critical IoT devices are all possible. The range of features you can create with a truly secure personal server are really exciting to imagine.

7373

74−OS 3 means you can safely commit personal data to your Urbit with absolute peace of mind. Modules for location tracking, biometric and health data can be used without worrying about leaking bits.

74+OS 3 means you can safely commit personal data to your Urbit with absolute peace of mind. Modules for location tracking, biometric and health data can be used without worrying about leaking bits.

7575

7676OS 3 is ready for a small law firm, or an extended family, or the crypto syndicate you’ve been thinking of starting. Or, why not, go ahead and use OS 3 to launch that digital country you’ve been meaning to start.

7777

7878Where will Urbit be in 2022 or 2023? We can’t be sure exactly. We do have our eyes set on 2030 — when Urbit should be the primary platform for people to communicate and collaborate. We think our next steps are clear and we’re on the right path.

7979

80−By this point you might be wondering, who built this thing? Where did it come from? That’s next.

80+By this point you might be wondering, who built this thing? Where did it come from? That’s next.

content/understanding-urbit/urbit-id.md+5−5

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ image = "https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/urbit-id/urbit-id-card

1111

1212Assuming Urbit OS is simple enough for an ordinary user to own and operate, how do they log in? How do people identify one another on this new network? When people want to get data, files and messages to one another, how do they do it? And how do we prevent spam?

1313

14−Urbit ID is the answer to all these questions. Urbit ID is a decentralized addressing and public key infrastructure designed for Urbit OS.

14+Urbit ID is the answer to all these questions. Urbit ID is a decentralized addressing and public key infrastructure designed for Urbit OS.

1515

1616Let’s talk first about what an Urbit ID is and what it does. Then we’ll cover our design goals and how the system works overall.

1717

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Since the Urbit ID registry is live and deployed you can even [look at the chain

3131

3232Each Urbit ID is really just a number. From that number we generate a pronounceable name and a visually identifiable sigil. `~dalwel-fadrun` is `3,509,632,436`, for example.

3333

34−Urbit IDs are distributed by a sponsorship tree. At the top of the tree are 2^8 (256) galaxies. Each galaxy issues 2^8 stars, making a total of 2^16 (65K). Stars then each can issue 2^16 planets, making for 2^32 (~4B). As you might expect, each planet issues 2^32 moons.

34+Urbit IDs are distributed by a sponsorship tree. At the top of the tree are 28 (256) galaxies. Each galaxy issues 28 stars, making a total of 216 (65K). Stars then each can issue 216 planets, making for 232 (~4B). As you might expect, each planet issues 232 moons.

3535

3636You can also call stars ‘infrastructure nodes’ and galaxies ‘governance nodes’, since those are more descriptive names for their roles. Stars help route packets, kind of like an ISP. And galaxies are a bit like DNS root servers or ICANN members. The difference, of course, is that Urbit IDs are owned cryptographically by many different people and accrue reputation independently.

3737

@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ And that's it. It's a simple system. What's important is why it is the way it is

4141

4242At a high level, there are three important things to understand about the overall Urbit ID system design.

4343

44−First, scarcity: there are only 2^32 (~4B) Urbit IDs, so they cost something. Since they cost something, people are less likely to use them to spam or abuse the network. When you meet a stranger with an Urbit ID, you know they have some skin in the game (even without leaking personal data in either direction). That said, each Urbit ID is purely pseudonymous, so `~dalwel-fadrun` for example, is proof of some stake in the network, but not much more.

44+First, scarcity: there are only 232 (~4B) Urbit IDs, so they cost something. Since they cost something, people are less likely to use them to spam or abuse the network. When you meet a stranger with an Urbit ID, you know they have some skin in the game (even without leaking personal data in either direction). That said, each Urbit ID is purely pseudonymous, so `~dalwel-fadrun` for example, is proof of some stake in the network, but not much more.

4545

4646Second, decentralization: Urbit IDs are distributed by a sponsorship tree. Each sponsor issues a fixed number of addresses. Since there are lots of sponsors, there are lots of ways to get an Urbit ID — not just one central authority. Once you get one, it’s yours forever.

4747

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ One point that’s useful to understand about sponsors is that while Urbit IDs a

4949

5050Third, governance: galaxies (the top of the sponsorship tree) form a senate that can upgrade the logic of the Urbit ID system by majority vote. We think Urbit ID will last for quite a long time, but if it ever needs to be updated, the galaxies can vote to approve, reject, or propose changes to the contracts. Code may be law, but ultimately we acknowledge that human judgment can’t be factored out.

5151

52−The Urbit ID sponsorship tree is not intended to be a social system in any way. Interactions between people and communities on the Urbit network are peer-to-peer, entirely organic and completely uncontrolled by the address hierarchy. Urbit ID is simply an authentication substrate upon which reputation and communication systems can be built. (We’ve even considered renaming stars and galaxies ‘infrastructure’ and ‘governance’ nodes, respectively).

52+The Urbit ID sponsorship tree is not intended to be a social system in any way. Interactions between people and communities on the Urbit network are peer-to-peer, entirely organic and completely uncontrolled by the address hierarchy. Urbit ID is simply an authentication substrate upon which reputation and communication systems can be built. (We’ve even considered renaming stars and galaxies ‘infrastructure’ and ‘governance’ nodes, respectively).

5353

5454Your relationship with your sponsor should be sort of like your ISP or a utility provider: a passive, non-invasive relationship. If it isn’t to your liking, moving to a new sponsor is very easy.

5555

@@ -65,4 +65,4 @@ When we launched the Urbit ID system, in January of 2019, there were a couple th

6565

6666Ultimately, we want your Urbit ID to feel like a civilizational key. If your Urbit ID were a piece of hardware, you could tap it to unlock a door, swipe it to buy a coffee, and plug it into any computer to log in. Your Urbit ID should be a unique, beautiful object that’s both an address and a wallet. It’s a key to a secret club and the ticket to your digital life.

6767

68−Moving on, let’s talk about what we want this whole stack to feel like as a user experience.

68+Moving on, let’s talk about what we want this whole stack to feel like as a user experience.

templates/understanding-urbit/list.html+3−2

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@

4343 This probably sounds crazy, so let’s get concrete and talk about (1) Urbit as a piece of technology and (2) Urbit as a user experience.

4444 1 - Technology

4545 Technically, Urbit is two components: Urbit OS and Urbit ID.

46− Both are completely <a class="bb" href="/understanding-urbit/urbit-os">open</a> <a class="bb" href="/understanding-urbit/urbit-id">source</a> and MIT licensed.

46+ Both are completely <a class="bb" href="https://github.com/urbit/urbit">open</a> <a class="bb" href="https://github.com/urbit/azimiuth">source</a> and MIT licensed.

4747 <img class="full w-100 mb4" src="https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/uu-intro-2.svg"/>

4848 Urbit OS is a new, carefully architected software stack: a VM, programming language and kernel designed to run software for an individual.

4949 Urbit OS is a program that runs on almost any cloud server, most laptops and many phones: anything with Unix and an internet connection. Urbit OS is completely sealed from the system it runs on, sort of like WASM or the JVM. We sometimes call it an ‘overlay OS’.

@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@

6464 We want to leave behind a world of apps and services for one where we can bring everything together in one place. And, in doing so, ordinary users can create customized digital environments for their friends and communities.

6565 <img class="full mb4" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/intro/intro-6.jpg"/>

6666 To see how we’re going to get there, let’s walk through these two pieces of new technology individually, Urbit OS and Urbit ID. We’ll then talk about our vision for the future and how we’ll get there.

67− For technical people, it’s important to note that Urbit as a stack is in no way required to be used together. Don’t like our client? Feel free to build your own. Just like the Urbit ID system? No problem — use it! Ultimately, we think that new technology is most likely to get adopted if it can provide a much, much better user experience. So that’s what we’re focussing on creating.

67+ For technical people, it’s important to note that Urbit as a stack is in no way required to be used together. Don’t like our client? Feel free to build your own. Just like the Urbit ID system? No problem — use it!

68+ Ultimately, we think that new technology is most likely to get adopted if it can provide a much, much better user experience. So that’s what we’re focussing on creating.

6869</section>

6970

7071<footer class="relative mt4 c4-10-lg full">