cde5a95 · urbit.org · git.iko.soy

content/understanding-urbit/network-and-os.md+6

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7+![](https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/network-os/urbit-os-1%402x.jpg)

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7Our 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.

9Our 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.

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9The digital world feels like a theme park built to maximize ENGAGEMENT — but we think it’s BORING. What happened to the vision of a computer as a tool that would expand and enrich our lives?

11The digital world feels like a theme park built to maximize ENGAGEMENT — but we think it’s BORING. What happened to the vision of a computer as a tool that would expand and enrich our lives?

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11While the world has drifted into a fever dream, we built Urbit.

13While the world has drifted into a fever dream, we built Urbit.

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15+![](https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/network-os/urbit-os-2.svg)

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13Your Urbit ID gets you a name, an address and a crypto wallet — but what about when you want to connect with other people? That’s where Urbit OS comes in.

17Your Urbit ID gets you a name, an address and a crypto wallet — but what about when you want to connect with other people? That’s where Urbit OS comes in.

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15Urbit OS is everything that you need to build and run your own social software and compute with whomever you like. Create a pseudonymous chat group, edit a document together, then split a bar tab and later turn it into a syndicate and start investing. Eventually, maybe you’ll decide to become a microstate that funds everyone in Bitcoin — the possibilities are wide open.

19Urbit OS is everything that you need to build and run your own social software and compute with whomever you like. Create a pseudonymous chat group, edit a document together, then split a bar tab and later turn it into a syndicate and start investing. Eventually, maybe you’ll decide to become a microstate that funds everyone in Bitcoin — the possibilities are wide open.

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17Since we’ve got a decentralized identity system to build on and everyone runs their own OS, your social software is actually owned and operated by the collective of Urbit ID owners. You can (and should) do whatever you want.

21Since we’ve got a decentralized identity system to build on and everyone runs their own OS, your social software is actually owned and operated by the collective of Urbit ID owners. You can (and should) do whatever you want.

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23+![](https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/network-os/urbit-os-3.svg)

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19We built Urbit OS from scratch. It’s a completely new computing stack. Without getting into the technical details (you can find those [here](@/understanding-urbit/technical-overview.md)), Urbit OS is built to do three things: be a compact and complete system (simple); run forever with no maintenance (durable); and be extensible by anyone (yours).

25We built Urbit OS from scratch. It’s a completely new computing stack. Without getting into the technical details (you can find those [here](@/understanding-urbit/technical-overview.md)), Urbit OS is built to do three things: be a compact and complete system (simple); run forever with no maintenance (durable); and be extensible by anyone (yours).

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21Urbit 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.

27Urbit 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.

content/understanding-urbit/project-history.md+1−1

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21Urbit OS isn’t just an interface — it’s a complete system. You should also check out the [GitHub repository](https://github.com/urbit/urbit), our [open grants program](https://grants.urbit.org) and the [documentation](@/docs/_index.md).Building a system from scratch is a huge and enormously fun undertaking. There’s a lot going on, and we do all our development in public. Systems programmers, functional programming nerds, anyone who wants to tinker with their software will probably love playing with Urbit.

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25At the beginning, Urbit was just a few people with the right combination of imagination and discipline to try to rebuild computing. Now it's a community of thousands of address space holders, dozens of open source developers, at least two independent companies ([Tlon](https://tlon.io) — which works mostly on kernel development and interface design, and [urbit.live](https://urbit.live) — which is building services on the platform), and who knows how many fans.

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content/understanding-urbit/simple-durable-yours.md+14

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9But our computers are a mess.

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11We spend all our time switching between services, juggling logins and different interfaces. And once we’re logged in, the services we use harvest our data, spy on us and often shut down with little warning.

13We spend all our time switching between services, juggling logins and different interfaces. And once we’re logged in, the services we use harvest our data, spy on us and often shut down with little warning.

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13If computers are going to be a part of our lives for generations to come, we need a sound foundation for them. We need a _system_, not a grab bag of apps and services. Urbit is that system.

15If computers are going to be a part of our lives for generations to come, we need a sound foundation for them. We need a _system_, not a grab bag of apps and services. Urbit is that system.

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15We built Urbit from scratch to be a system that’s simple, durable and yours. Everything that computing today is not — but should be.

23We built Urbit from scratch to be a system that’s simple, durable and yours. Everything that computing today is not — but should be.

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17What do we mean by simple, durable and yours? Let’s walk through it one by one.

25What do we mean by simple, durable and yours? Let’s walk through it one by one.

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29And, finally, your Urbit belongs to you in every possible way. You own it with a private key, control it completely and can inspect its source code. We want your Urbit to be your digital home. A home you don’t own is just a hotel room.

37And, finally, your Urbit belongs to you in every possible way. You own it with a private key, control it completely and can inspect its source code. We want your Urbit to be your digital home. A home you don’t own is just a hotel room.

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31Urbit began as a sketch, driven from a basic intuition that a better platform could be built. Today, Urbit is two components: Urbit ID, an identity system that’s already live on Ethereum and Urbit OS, a decentralized network and OS stack that’s young but working well.

45Urbit began as a sketch, driven from a basic intuition that a better platform could be built. Today, Urbit is two components: Urbit ID, an identity system that’s already live on Ethereum and Urbit OS, a decentralized network and OS stack that’s young but working well.

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33Over time, we’ve quietly evolved Urbit into a carefully engineered, compact system. Urbit isn’t done — but it’s well on its way. The network has been live since 2013 and the interface is coming along nicely. You can own a piece of Urbit today if you can find an invite from a friend, or by buying an Urbit ID. We’re ready for people to begin homesteading this new territory we created with new communities and new software.

47Over time, we’ve quietly evolved Urbit into a carefully engineered, compact system. Urbit isn’t done — but it’s well on its way. The network has been live since 2013 and the interface is coming along nicely. You can own a piece of Urbit today if you can find an invite from a friend, or by buying an Urbit ID. We’re ready for people to begin homesteading this new territory we created with new communities and new software.

content/understanding-urbit/technical-overview.md+10

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7Owning a computer, especially a server, can feel like a part time job. Urbit, on the other hand, is engineered to be maintenance free. We figure, if people are actually going to use a new computing platform, it can’t feel like work. At all.

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

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9So we built our whole stack, starting with the VM, to be as simple and compact as possible. Let’s take a look at what the system looks like from a technical perspective and get a feel for how it’s built.

15So we built our whole stack, starting with the VM, to be as simple and compact as possible. Let’s take a look at what the system looks like from a technical perspective and get a feel for how it’s built.

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17+![](https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/technical-overview/technical-overview-2.svg)

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11Under 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.

19Under 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.

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13Urbit 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.

21Urbit 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.

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19Until 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.

27Until 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.

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21In the simplest terms, Urbit OS is three things: a file, a key and a program. The file is a log of everything that has ever happened to your Urbit. The key is derived from the same key you own your Urbit ID with.

31In the simplest terms, Urbit OS is three things: a file, a key and a program. The file is a log of everything that has ever happened to your Urbit. The key is derived from the same key you own your Urbit ID with.

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23The 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.

33The 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.

content/understanding-urbit/urbit-id.md+3−3

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7−![](https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/urbit-id/urbit-id-1.svg)

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9Every time you post a comment, like something, send a message or use any app or service, you need an account. (And, behind the scenes, a network address.) Neither of these things belongs to you. The way things are going, they never will. No matter what you’re up to with your phone or laptop, you’re dependent on MEGACORP.

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11We don’t like being owned by someone else. We think your identity and wallet should feel like a unique and precious object that you can always carry with you. So we built Urbit ID.

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13+![](https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/urbit-id/urbit-id-3.svg)

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15Urbit ID is meant 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. It’s 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.

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25For those curious to understand Urbit ID a bit better, we’ll cover the basics of how Urbit ID works here; how addresses are distributed and who owns what.

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27+![](https://media.urbit.org/site/understanding-urbit/urbit-id/card.svg)

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29Your Urbit ID is a short, memorable address that anyone can use to connect with you that *doesn’t* depend on any company. It’s an address you own completely and can keep forever.

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content/understanding-urbit/your-last-computer.md+13

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9First, let’s talk about what it should feel like in the future.

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11Imagine that you can login from anywhere with one simple, memorable name and password. And when you do, an entire OS appears for you. Inside is your whole digital life. Every conversation you’ve ever had, all your biometric data — every step and heartbeat. Your personal mesh of devices: your doors, your car, your irrigation. All of your communities, every message you’ve shared with friends and family. Every connection you’ve made and every archival piece of data, in one place. Secure and private, forever.

17Imagine that you can login from anywhere with one simple, memorable name and password. And when you do, an entire OS appears for you. Inside is your whole digital life. Every conversation you’ve ever had, all your biometric data — every step and heartbeat. Your personal mesh of devices: your doors, your car, your irrigation. All of your communities, every message you’ve shared with friends and family. Every connection you’ve made and every archival piece of data, in one place. Secure and private, forever.

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13You own and control this OS completely. Your system doesn’t live on someone else’s server, so there’s no risk of leaking it in a mass data breach or losing it when a service shuts down. Your Urbit is a sealed, secure and durable system.

19You own and control this OS completely. Your system doesn’t live on someone else’s server, so there’s no risk of leaking it in a mass data breach or losing it when a service shuts down. Your Urbit is a sealed, secure and durable system.

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15We’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.

28We’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.

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17Urbit starts out as a new kind of social network.

30Urbit starts out as a new kind of social network.

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