@@ -14,63 +14,32 @@ navhome: /
1414navclass: urbit
1515---
1616
17−# Beliefs
17+## Beliefs
1818
1919We believe strongly in the value of individual creativity. To
2020maximize our individual creative potential we believe that
21−general-purpose tools are an essential resource. Cloud computing has
22−become an inexorable part of human life, and yet the individual
23−toolset for putting it to work is in decline. We believe that
24−general-purpose computing ought to be a human right, and that it is
25−sorely underserved by the web today.
26−
27−Urbit is built to reconcile this dilemma: to provide a general-purpose
28−computing platform for individuals to use in the cloud. We believe
29−that individuals shouldn’t need to pay any cost in terms of usability,
30−accessibility or reliability in exchange for ownership, privacy or
21+general-purpose tools are an essential resource.
22+
23+We believe that individuals shouldn’t need to pay any cost in terms of
24+usability, accessibility or reliability in exchange for ownership, privacy or
3125control.
3226
33−We believe that Code is Law, that the technical constraints of the
34−systems we use to communicate and coordinate act as the governing
35−framework of our digital lives. We believe that the discussion of how
36−our software should work needs to be inclusive and expansive. We
37−welcome debate and criticism in our development process. Urbit is
38−open source and always will be.
39−
40−We believe in free speech and we believe in personal accountability.
41−Today we live on a network where harassment pays no cost and
42−censorship can be unilateral. The Urbit network is designed to combat
43−both these problems. Urbit addresses are finite, have a cost, and
44−more importantly are designed to be permanent. Harassment, abuse or
45−spam are all easily combated at the network layer. The Urbit network
46−is para-decentralized, meaning you have to get an address from someone
47−already on the network and you rely on someone for p2p discovery.
48−You’re not tied to any single parent, but you’re accountable to
49−someone for maintaining your network services. While others can’t
50−censor you, someone must support you.
51−
52−We believe that a healthy network is one with diverse well-defined
27+We believe that the discussion of how our software should work needs to be inclusive and expansive. We welcome debate and criticism in our development process.
28+
29+We believe in free speech and we believe in individual accountability.
30+We believe that a healthy network is one with diverse, well-defined
5331communities and clear, user-controlled, boundaries between public and
54−private. We believe that to achieve this state the network must be
55−designed to become inescapably more decentralized over time. That if
56−a distribution of power enforced at the systems level is absolutely
57−necessary.
32+private.
5833
5934Lastly we believe that no software system can replace human trust and
60−communication. Urbit has been carefully designed with this in mind.
61−Discourse and dialogue are an important part of communities of all
62−scales. Code and law can successfully reduce conflict only to a
35+communication. Discourse and dialogue are an important part of communities
36+of all scales. Code and law can successfully reduce conflict only to a
6337point, when too far reaching they become oppressive.
6438
65−We hope you can join us in building a new platform to satisfy these
66−goals. Critique is as valuable as commits. Our hope is simply that
67−we can preserve the promise of general-purpose computing since its
39+We aim to preserve the promise of general-purpose computing since its
6840positive effect on humankind is so deeply significant.
6941
70−# Principles
71−
72−A constitution must proceed from a position of general agreement
73−on basic principles. Those
42+## Principles
7443
7544Here are some principles of Urbit. Where principles conflict,
7645the first stated takes precedence.