69df0ba · urbit.org · git.iko.soy

81

82### What is Urbit? {#what-is-urbit}

83

84−Urbit reimagines the internet as a peer-to-peer network designed to stay that way, even at a scale. All previous attempts to "decentralize" the internet have only attempted to solve certain corners of the problem. Urbit proposes that only a new stack, built from the ground-up as a tightly integrated system, can realize this dream.

84+Urbit reimagines the internet as a peer-to-peer network designed to stay that way at a scale. Previous attempts to "decentralize" the internet have only attempted to solve certain corners of the problem. Urbit proposes that only a new stack, built from the ground-up as a tightly integrated system, can realize a truly peer-to-peer web.

85

86Combining a deterministic operating system (Arvo) and a secure, global identity layer (Azimuth), the Urbit project has created something that’s never existed before: an encrypted peer-to-peer network where you can be sure that messages are never tampered with or surveilled, and where others can be trusted to have good intentions.

87

88−The web anticipated by Urbit is a much friendlier one – much like the early Internet, where collegial discussion and collaboration was the norm. Problems that are nearly unsolvable in our current internet – data breaches, spam, fake reviews, malware-spreading, harassment – become tractable. You have one login for everything. You own and control all of your software and all of your data by default. Software is designed around the friendships, families, communities, and organization you're already apart of – not the other way around.

88+The online world anticipated by Urbit is a much friendlier one, much like the early Internet, where collegial discussion and collaboration was the norm. Problems that are unsolvable without large-scale political centralization in our current internet – data breaches, spam, fake reviews, malware-spreading, harassment – become tractable for individuals. You have one login for everything. You own and control all of your software and all of your data by default. Software is designed around the friendships, families, communities, and organization you're already apart of – not the other way around.

89

90### How secure is Urbit right now? {#how-secure-is-urbit}

91

92−Azimuth, Urbit's identity layer, is live on the Ethereum blockchain and has been audited by Open Zeppelin, Blockchain at Berkeley and Bloctrax. [We run a bug bounty program](https://hackerone.com/tlon) via HackerOne.

92+Azimuth, Urbit's identity layer, is live on the Ethereum blockchain and has been audited by Open Zeppelin, Blockchain at Berkeley and Bloctrax. [We run a bug bounty program](https://hackerone.com/tlon) on HackerOne.

93

94−The rest of the Urbit project is still in research-mode. Arvo is safe to play with, but it’s not yet a place to store or share private information.

94+The rest of the Urbit project is still in research-mode. Arvo is safe to play with, but it’s not yet a place to store or share private information. Urbit's cryptographic protocols have not been professionally audited, and the operating system itself doesn't provide protection from attackers on the network.

95

96### How can I contribute to Urbit? {#contribute}

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111

112Azimuth is a general-purpose PKI ("public key infrastructure") that Urbit uses as an identity system. This system is implemented as a suite of smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain, and it determines which Ethereum addresses own which Urbit planets, stars, or galaxies. In Arvo, a single identity is called a "ship," whereas in Azimuth, a single identity is called a "point."

113

114−### What are stars, galaxies, and planets? {#stars-galxies-planets}

114+### What are stars, galaxies, and planets? {#stars-galaxies-planets}

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116Azimuth points come in three classes: galaxies, stars, and planets. The length of a point’s name will tell you its class. Galaxies are 8-bit and have names like `~mul`. Galaxies issue 16-bit stars (`~dacmul`), which can themselves issue 32-bit planets (`~laptel-holfur`).

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147

148If you don't want to use Bridge, a tool like [Etherscan](https://etherscan.io) will allow you to execute functions in the [azimuth.eth](https://etherscan.io/address/azimuth.eth#code) contract.

149

150−### How do I transfer an identity to someone else? {#transfer-an-identity}

150+### How do I transfer an identity to someone else? {#transfer-identity}

151

152Access the Ethereum address that holds the point you wish to transfer via [Bridge](https://github.com/urbit/bridge/releases).

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