@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Urbit is a virtual city of general-purpose personal servers.
23What's a personal server? In a sense, you already have one. Your
23What's a personal server? In a sense, you already have one. Your
24personal server is the combination of all the cloud services you use
24personal server is the combination of all the cloud services you use
27This "server" is a mess. It's broken into 17 different fragments
27This "server" is a mess. It's broken into 17 different fragments
28which are scattered all over the planet. You have no control at all
28which are scattered all over the planet. You have no control at all
@@ -32,25 +32,26 @@ we realize how unsustainable this situation is.
32Can you remember all the services you have accounts for? How about
32Can you remember all the services you have accounts for? How about
33the username and password for each? Some of them will let you pull
33the username and password for each? Some of them will let you pull
34your data out somehow, some won’t. Sometimes you can move your data
34your data out somehow, some won’t. Sometimes you can move your data
35−between them, sometimes you can’t. For the most part today’s services
35+between them, sometimes you can’t. But they're all good at
36−are optimized for one thing: selling ads. There’s a limit to what a
36+showing you ads.
37−service that depends on your constant continued engagement can do.
39## Your new personal server
38## Your new personal server
41−Your urbit is your own general-purpose server. It holds your data;
40+Your urbit is your own general-purpose server. It holds your
42−runs your apps; wrangles your connected devices; and defines your
41+data; runs your apps; wrangles your connected devices; and
43−secure identity. If you still need your old services, it drives them
42+defines your secure identity. If you still need your old
43+services, it drives them with APIs.
44−with APIs. Your urbit presents your whole digital life as a single
45+Your urbit presents your whole digital life as a single web
45−web service. And since it's yours, open source and patent-free, it
46+service. And since it's yours, open source and patent-free, it
46−never shows you ads. Or loses your data. Or updates without your
47+never shows you ads. Or loses your data. Or updates without
47−consent.
48+your consent.
49Technically, Urbit is a new kind of OS that has a precise formal
50Technically, Urbit is a new kind of OS that has a precise formal
50definition. (Urbit is actually a [single mathematical function](CS
51definition. (Urbit is actually a [single mathematical function](CS
51paper).) One advantage of a math-based OS is that Urbit is perfectly
52paper).) One advantage of a math-based OS is that Urbit is perfectly
52portable. It can't tell whether it's in a cloud data center or on
53portable. It can't tell whether it's in a cloud data center or on
53−your home PC.
54+your home PC.
55Concerned about mass surveillance? Download your urbit and restart it
56Concerned about mass surveillance? Download your urbit and restart it
56on your laptop, or move to a new host in Iceland. Urbit's formal
57on your laptop, or move to a new host in Iceland. Urbit's formal
@@ -58,15 +59,14 @@ simplicity makes managing it as easy as managing an iPhone: all you
58have to decide is what apps to add.
59have to decide is what apps to add.
60Each urbit is a node on an global, encrypted P2P network. Your Urbit
61Each urbit is a node on an global, encrypted P2P network. Your Urbit
61−name, a generated pseudonym like "talsur-todres," is also your network
62+name, a generated pseudonym like `~talsur-todres`, is also your network
62address. Like Bitcoin, Urbit address space is a cryptographic asset
63address. Like Bitcoin, Urbit address space is a cryptographic asset
63−with a limited supply.
64+with a limited supply.
65By keeping addresses scarce, we make spam and abuse expensive. Urbit
66By keeping addresses scarce, we make spam and abuse expensive. Urbit
66is a "friendly network," like the Internet in 1986, where a stranger
67is a "friendly network," like the Internet in 1986, where a stranger
67is nice until proven nasty. As it matures, Urbit will grow into a
68is nice until proven nasty. As it matures, Urbit will grow into a
68−decentralized, self-governing virtual city which is both free and
69+decentralized, self-governing virtual city both safe and free.
71## The Urbit future
71## The Urbit future
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ In an Urbit world, your data is no longer trapped in a jumble of
74proprietary servers. Your urbit is a permanent, versioned, typed
74proprietary servers. Your urbit is a permanent, versioned, typed
75archive the size of your digital life. Even before you move your data
75archive the size of your digital life. Even before you move your data
76from a Web service to a local Urbit app, your urbit can drive your
76from a Web service to a local Urbit app, your urbit can drive your
77−account with an API or scraper.
77+account with an API or scraper.
79And within Urbit, data is never locked inside apps. Imagine if you
79And within Urbit, data is never locked inside apps. Imagine if you
80could painlessly switch between Facebook and Google+, Asana and
80could painlessly switch between Facebook and Google+, Asana and
@@ -82,26 +82,36 @@ Trello, Tumblr and WordPress. Not only does your urbit upgrade itself
82and its apps automatically, you can "sidegrade" a running app to
82and its apps automatically, you can "sidegrade" a running app to
83another vendor without losing data.
83another vendor without losing data.
85−Your urbit is also your digital identity. Along with your lifestream
85+Your urbit is also your digital identity. Along with your data
86−of media, messages and documents, it has the keys and tokens to manage
86+lifestream of media, messages and documents, it has the keys and
87−all your legacy Web services. It holds the keys for your
87+tokens to manage all your legacy Web services. It holds the keys
88−cryptocurrency wallets, so it can buy and sell for you. (When you
88+for your cryptocurrency wallets, so it can buy and sell for you.
89+(With one personal server to secure, not 17 different accounts,
89−have just one server to secure, you actually have time to take
90+you actually have the bandwidth to take security seriously.)
90−security seriously.) You shop through an app on your urbit; it
91+
92+You still use network services. But instead of interacting with
93+the service provider's HTML UI, which phones home using
94+proprietary HTTP APIs, you interact with a third-party app on
95+your urbit, which talks to multiple service providers using
96+public, typed Urbit protocols. For example, your urbit runs a
91−downloads catalogs and sends purchase orders.
97+single shopping app, which downloads catalogs and uploads orders.
92−
98+This app is one store which sells everything in the world, with a
99+salesman who's 100% on your side and always has the best price.
100+Every computing experience is different when the UI is working
101+exclusively for the user.
93−And your urbit is the hub for your network of connected devices. Your
103+Finally, your urbit is the hub for your network of connected
94−smart thermostat, your wristband, your phone and tablet, all run
104+devices. Your smart thermostat, your wristband, your phone and
95−satellite urbits which talk securely to your main urbit in the cloud.
105+tablet, all run satellite urbits which talk securely to your main
97## A chance for digital freedom
108## A chance for digital freedom
99The promise of the personal server isn't just convenience.
110The promise of the personal server isn't just convenience.
100−General-purpose computing is magic. This magic must be in the hands
111+General-purpose computing is magic. This magic must be in the
101−of all, not just those who can manage a Unix server. The computer is
112+hands of all, not just those who can master Unix. The computer
102−a bicycle for the mind. It's an open-ended vehicle for human
113+is a bicycle for the mind. It's an open vehicle for exploration
103−exploration and discovery. It’s not just a way to optimize ad
114+and discovery. It’s not a way to optimize ad delivery.
106Urbit, as virtual city, is a platform that brings together all our
116Urbit, as virtual city, is a platform that brings together all our
107datastreams -- from emails to heartbeats -- in a way that we ourselves
117datastreams -- from emails to heartbeats -- in a way that we ourselves
@@ -121,13 +131,13 @@ but most people don't have a global adversary. A single portable
121platform provides "herd immunity" for the few who do need direct
131platform provides "herd immunity" for the few who do need direct
122physical control over their main computers.
132physical control over their main computers.
124−Though even laptops are atrophying into browsers, mass-market,
134+Though even laptops are atrophying into mere browsers, mass-market,
125general-purpose computing on the client side remains an endangered
135general-purpose computing on the client side remains an endangered
126species that must be protected. But on the server side, this species
136species that must be protected. But on the server side, this species
127has never even *existed*. There has never been anything like a
137has never even *existed*. There has never been anything like a
128mass-market personal server. Why not?
138mass-market personal server. Why not?
130−## The stack is a mess
140+## Freedom is an engineering problem
132Urbit is not a difficult idea. Urbit is like a flying car: the idea
142Urbit is not a difficult idea. Urbit is like a flying car: the idea
133is not the hard part. Almost everyone we talk to about Urbit turns
143is not the hard part. Almost everyone we talk to about Urbit turns
@@ -145,44 +155,46 @@ fun. So the personal Unix/Internet server is like the personal
145bulldozer. This is not a consumer product. Any number of engineers
155bulldozer. This is not a consumer product. Any number of engineers
146can't turn a bulldozer into a bicycle.
156can't turn a bulldozer into a bicycle.
148−How did we build the personal bulldozer? We didn't. We started from
158+How did we build the personal bulldozer? We didn't. We started
149−scratch. (The people who made the first PCs didn't start with a
159+from scratch. (The people who built the first PCs didn't start
150−mainframe OS, either.) We built a new platform: Urbit.
160+with a mainframe OS, either.) We created a new platform: Urbit.
152−Urbit doesn't compete with Unix and the Internet. It's a new, opaque
162+Urbit doesn't compete with Unix and the Internet. It's a new,
153−layer on top of them. Your browser runs on a native OS, but it
163+opaque layer on top of them. Your browser runs on a native OS,
154−doesn't give Web apps any way to talk to the native OS. Urbit is like
164+but it doesn't give Web apps any way to talk to the native OS.
155−a browser for the server side: code within Urbit is formally isolated
165+Urbit is like a browser for the server side: code within Urbit is
156−from the platform it runs on top of.
166+formally isolated from the platform it runs on top of.
158Your urbit is a Unix process, in a data center or your PC. It sends
168Your urbit is a Unix process, in a data center or your PC. It sends
159UDP packets over the Internet. It can both load and serve web pages
169UDP packets over the Internet. It can both load and serve web pages
160over HTTP. Except for character sets and crypto, nothing in Urbit
170over HTTP. Except for character sets and crypto, nothing in Urbit
161−reuses or depends on any 20th-century code. Urbit is a complete,
171+reuses or depends on any 20th-century code.
162−clean-slate system software stack: an interpreter (Nock), a language
173+Urbit is a complete, clean-slate system software stack: a
174+non-lambda interpreter (Nock), a functional language (Hoon), and
163−(Hoon), and an OS (Arvo), with its own protocol (Ames), typed revision
175+an event-driven OS (Arvo), with its own encrypted protocol
164−control (Clay), reactive web server (Eyre) and functional build system
176+(Ames), typed revision control (Clay), reactive web server (Eyre)
177+and functional build system (Ford). The full system, including
165−(Ford). The full system, including basic apps, is only 30,000 lines
178+basic apps, is only 30,000 lines of Hoon.
168−The first complete prototype of Urbit took one programmer eleven years
180+The first end-to-end prototype of Urbit took one engineer eleven
169−to build. The current beta took three more, with about three
181+years. The current beta took three more years, with about three
170−engineers on average. Three now maintain the whole stack. We think
182+engineers on average. We think we've solved all the real CS
171−we've solved all the real CS problems. But it will take more than our
183+problems. But it will take more than our small team to deliver a
172−small team to deliver a polished, user-friendly Urbit that can
184+polished, user-friendly Urbit that can actually challenge the
173−actually challenge the modern web.
185+modern web.
175−## Where we are and what we're doing
187+## Where we are, what we're doing
177−Urbit is in feature freeze. It's a minimum viable product in early
189+Urbit is in feature freeze. It's a minimum viable product in
178−beta; it still could use a bunch of fit-and-finish work. We certainly
190+early beta. It still needs quite a bit of fit-and-finish work.
179−don't recommend it for end users or consider it in any way secure.
191+We certainly don't recommend it for end users or consider it in
180−But it's fun to play with, if you're a nerd.
192+any way secure. But it's fun to play with, if you're a nerd.
182This summer, we're making the switch to an open and transparent
194This summer, we're making the switch to an open and transparent
183−development and specification process. A system as unusual as Urbit
195+development and specification process. A system as unusual as
184−can't be invented in public. But it has to be finished and maintained
196+Urbit can't be invented in public. But it has to be finished and
185−in public.
197+maintained in public.
187Addionally, we're creating an open political and economic process,
199Addionally, we're creating an open political and economic process,
188with a small, fixed-price public presale of Urbit address space. Join
200with a small, fixed-price public presale of Urbit address space. Join