What is Urbit? ～

‍Preface

Have you ever imagined a digital realm where you can customize your online experience entirely, free from the constraints of third-party control?

Welcome to Urbit, where that vision becomes a reality. Urbit empowers you to run any software you desire, configure it to your preferences, all without relying on external entities. It’s a place where you’re not just a user but the master of your digital domain. Urbit ensures data ownership as a fundamental principle. Your digital presence is yours alone, protected from the prying eyes of others. In this article, I’ll take you on a journey to explore Urbit - a groundbreaking technology that gives you the freedom to shape your online world, run software on your terms, and truly own your data.

What is Urbit ?

Urbit is a peer-to-peer network and operating system that allows users to have complete ownership and control over their digital activities, enabling them to shape their online experiences according to their preferences and needs.

Hold on, doesn’t that sound strikingly similar to the prevailing narratives surrounding Blockchain and Web3 technologies? Indeed, it does. So, what sets Urbit apart in a market already saturated with promises of decentralization and digital empowerment?

Put simply: While Urbit shares the ethos of decentralization common to blockchain projects, it distinguishes itself by being your personal cloud computer that combines identity management, data storage, and computing capabilities, all aiming at making personal cloud computing simple and accessible for developers and the average user while simultaneously ensuring user sovereignty in the digital realm. However, Urbit isn’t a personal computer in the traditional sense. Rather, it’s a personal computer in the cloud, purposefully designed from first principles for the 21st century. In essence, it redefines personal computing by seamlessly moving it into a secure personal cloud environment always accessible for you via any of your preferred devices.

…Okay, but what does that mean?

Let’s break those promises down, understand the basics of Urbit, its vision and key technical features.

Promises

Personal Cloud Computer:
Urbit wants to be your go-to solution for all things related to personal computing (e.g, communication and community, creating documents, storing data, or running apps). Instead of using multiple services for different needs, Urbit brings them all under one roof (i.e., the Urbit Operating System).

Identity Management:
In Urbit, your online identity isn’t just a name or a handle like it is on most platforms. It’s a special kind of digital code, which is human readable and owned as an NFT. This NFT is unique to you and serves as a super-secure ID that proves you’re really you. Unlike any other system, in Urbit your username actually belongs to you. It’s like a digital fingerprint that’s much harder to fake or steal, making your online activities more secure and private.

Data Storage:
Urbit gives you a secure space to keep all your digital stuff, like documents or app information. Unlike other storage services where your data sits on someone else’s computer (known as the centralized cloud), Urbit lets you keep everything in a place where you have full control.

This means you don’t have to worry about your information being shared or sold to others. It’s like having a personal vault for your digital belongings.

Cloud Computing Capabilities:
Urbit lets you run apps solely within your own cloud instance as opposed to apps running on large centralized servers operated and owned by e.g. Google. It's like when you bought software on a CD-ROM in the past, while on Urbit it’s as convenient as installing an app on your smartphone while the software stays on your smartphone. You own the software and only need to install it on your personal computer. All you do with the installed software happens on your personal computer and nowhere else.

This means you’re not just keeping your digital stuff in a secure place, you’re also in full control of what apps you use and how you use them.

Simplicity and Accessibility:
Urbit as a technology aims to reduce the burdens faced by developers in software development. Its simplicity reduces complexities of maintenance, hosting and distribution of software by allowing developers to only focus on the development of their application alone. And as an open system it is accessible for every developer to distribute their software via the inherent peer-to-peer network on Urbit.

Sovereignty in the Digital Realm:
Urbit’s main goal is to put you in complete control of everything you do online. From who you are on the internet (your identity), to what you store and the apps you use. It’s all under your command.

When Urbit says “sovereignty”, it means that you’re the boss of your own digital world. You get to decide what happens with your information and how you interact online, without any outside interference.

Basics

Considering Urbit’s promises, think of Urbit as your own personal space on the internet, like a digital home. It’s a single platform where you can manage your online identity, store your files, and even run apps, all in one secure and easy-to-use place. Unlike other services that scatter these functions across different platforms, Urbit brings them all together, making your digital life simpler and more secure. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for the internet, giving you the tools you need while also putting you in charge. In a market full of complex tech, Urbit stands out by making personal computing straightforward and accessible for everyone. The whole system is built on the idea of giving you more control and privacy online.

In essence, Urbit is built on “only” two main pillars: Urbit OS and Urbit ID.

• Urbit OS is the engine that powers your digital home. It’s a sleek, efficient operating system (like macOS) that lets you store files, run apps, and connect with people, while you don’t have to neglect the incumbent operating systems as it operates on top of them, but remaining independent simultaneously. What sets it apart is its simplicity; you don’t need to be a tech whiz to use it. It updates itself automatically and is streamlined, with just around 50,000 lines of code, making it a breeze for developers to create new, interoperable and decentralized apps.
• Urbit ID is your unique digital name in this space, kind of like a phone number but for the internet. These IDs are easy to remember and use, making sure you can reliably connect with others over time. “~ritmer-livsyr” — that’s my Urbit ID if you want to communicate with me on Urbit :)

…but why is Urbit even needed in the first place?

The following table offers a concise way to understand the digital dilemmas in the current digital landscape and shows how Urbit not only addresses these issues but also provides additional benefits to make it a compelling choice for the future of personal computing. I’ll delve into more detail when discussing Urbit’s tech features.

Vision

Empower individuals with decentralized control over their data and online interactions, fostering a more secure, private, and user-centric digital future.

Urbit’s importance lies in its holistic approach to solving current digital dilemmas, offering a simplified, secure, and user-centric alternative that aligns well with the future we at BLOCKWALL envision for the internet. The vision that Urbit is chasing is a digital frontier where you’re the true owner of your online life, from your identity to your data and conversations.

Urbit wants to turn the tables on how we interact with the internet, moving away from big tech companies holding the reins to a world where you’re in the driver’s seat. For the avoidance of doubt, Urbit does not at all prohibit the emergence of big tech companies. It only indicates that the relationship between user and those companies will differ to the status quo.

Urbit envisions a future where your online experience is as personal and owned as your physical home. It’s not just about using the internet; it’s about having a meaningful presence there, one that you control from the ground up. This is a place where your data isn’t a commodity to be sold but a personal asset to be guarded.

In this new paradigm, interactions are direct and meaningful, not mediated through layers of platforms that own your data. It’s a vision that aligns with the broader trends towards decentralization and privacy but takes it a step further by making it incredibly user- and developer-friendly. It’s about taking back the internet and making it a place where individuals, not corporations, have the final say.

…that’s ambitious and represents a significant departure from the current centralized model of the internet. A challenging goal to achieve, and it requires a paradigm shift in how we interact with and control our online life.

You’re right. Urbit’s vision is compelling and realizing it will require navigating a complex array of technical, market, and regulatory challenges. These considerations are crucial for any investor or stakeholder evaluating the project’s long-term viability.

Thus, it’s essential to understand what technical features support the narrative that Urbit’s long-term vision is feasible. For the scope of this piece of work, I’ll focus on dissecting the technical features that make Urbit’s vision attainable. The exploration of market and regulatory challenges will be addressed in a subsequent article. This approach seems logical, as the technology must first prove its value to attract developers building apps on top before other challenges come into play.

Key Technical Features

Urbit incorporates several key technical features that contribute to its unique design and functionality. These technical features collectively contribute to Urbit’s goal of providing a decentralized, user-centric computing platform that emphasizes user sovereignty, security, and control over data and identity.

Clean-Slate Design:
Urbit is built from the ground up with a clean-slate design philosophy. This fresh start lets developers think outside the box, avoiding the old problems that hold back current systems. It’s like building a dream home instead of renovating an old one; you get to decide every detail to make it perfect.

This approach gives Urbit the freedom to create a simple, durable and user-friendly platform that is accessible for everyone and everything. They’re not tied down by old rules or systems, so they can focus on what users really need today and in the future.

Decentralized Identity:
Urbit utilizes a decentralized identity system, where each user is assigned a unique Urbit ID. This ID serves as a persistent digital presence and allows users to have control over their online identity. Unlike other platforms where a big company holds the keys to your identity, Urbit lets you be the boss of your own online persona.

The big win here is that you’re not putting all your trust in one company to keep your identity safe. You’re in control, which means better privacy and less chance of someone else messing with your data.

Personal Cloud Computer:
Every Urbit user operates their own personal cloud computer, known as a “ship”. These computers enable users to run applications and services locally, providing them with control over their computing environment.

Unlike the usual way where you have to use big companies’ servers to do anything online, Urbit lets you be your own server. You decide what app to use, how to set things up, and where your data goes. Thus, you’re not relying on someone else’s system, which means better privacy and security for you.

Hierarchical Addressing:
Urbit employs its own network protocol, which relies on the systems hierarchical addressing system. This system allows for efficient and scalable routing of messages and data within the Urbit network.

This setup is great because it’s built to grow. As more people join Urbit, this system can easily handle the extra traffic, sort of like adding more lanes to a highway to keep things moving smoothly. In a nutshell, Urbit keeps things organized and fast, no matter how big it gets, making sure your messages and data always hit the mark.

Functional Programming Language:
Urbit’s programming language, Hoon, is based on functional programming principles. It is designed to be simple, expressive, and secure, enabling developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) easily. Hoon is based on a style of coding that’s all about keeping things clear and straightforward.

The key benefit is its focus on simplicity. This enables Urbit to keep code much simpler and requires less lines of code for software. For example, the Linux kernel consists of almost 30m lines of code, while the full Urbit OS stack written in Hoon consists of only 50k lines of code. There are developers who understand the full code base, which is unthinkable for a system like the Linux kernel.

Secure Execution Environment:
Urbit provides a secure execution environment for running applications. Urbit ensures that applications only have access to the resources and data they explicitly need, enhancing overall system security.

This approach enhances overall system security by limiting the potential impact of security breaches. In simple terms, Urbit’s security is all about giving apps only what they need and keeping them in their own lanes, making the whole system more secure and reliable.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Networking:
Urbit utilizes its own P2P networking protocol for communication and data transfer, called Ames. This decentralized networking approach enables direct communication between users’ personal cloud computers, reducing reliance on central servers. This direct communication makes it harder for anyone to wiretap or mess with your conversations. In the usual internet setup, your messages and data go through big company servers.

This puts all your info in one place, which isn’t great for privacy or security. Urbit’s direct approach cuts out the middleman. It’s more private and if one connection goes down, it doesn’t stop the whole network. In short, Urbit’s way of doing things makes for a more secure and efficient online neighborhood.

Composability:

Urbit's architecture is designed to be composable, meaning different applications (apps) can seamlessly share and utilize data between each other. This is possible as all your data resides on your own Urbit, your personal cloud computer, which enables all apps to access the data of all other apps.

This is a game-changer in the digital ecosystem, as it is impossible with existing apps and services. For example all your Facebook or Google Cloud data resides on the large servers of the specific company, and not in your control. Unlike traditional web architectures where apps often operate in isolation, Urbit's composable nature allows for a more interconnected digital environment. Think of it like building blocks; each app can easily connect with another, sharing functionalities and data. This not only enhances the user experience by eliminating repetitive tasks but also opens the door for developers to create more integrated and efficient applications. In simple terms, Urbit's composable design makes it easier for apps to work together, creating a more streamlined and user-friendly digital world.

Eventual Consistency & Information Propagation:
Urbit follows an eventual consistency model, where the event log on your own instance is almost like a personal Blockchain. Within Urbit there is no global state, and information such as software updates are not distributed from one central source to the whole network. Instead, as Urbit is a decentralized peer-to-peer network, information is sourced from different nodes.

This approach ensures data integrity and availability in a decentralized environment. Think of it like a chain of post offices in different cities. When you mail a letter, it doesn’t arrive at all the post offices at the same time. Some might get it sooner, and others later, depending on various factors like distance and traffic. This isn’t a bug; it’s a feature. This delay is okay because the system is designed to handle it. Even if one post office is closed for a day, the mail will eventually get there, and everything will be in sync. This setup allows Urbit to be resilient and adaptable. Over time, all the post offices catch up, and everyone has the same information. It’s a smart way to keep things running smoothly in a decentralized network.

What does that mean for Urbit’s long-term viability and feasibility?

The following table provides a structured overview of how Urbit’s key technical features address previously defined pain points in the today’s digital landscape.

Lack of Data Ownership & Privacy: Urbit's clean-slate design philosophy serves as the foundation for a platform that prioritizes data ownership and privacy from the beginning. Through its decentralized identity system, Urbit ID, users gain unparalleled control over their online personas, further bolstering privacy.

This user-centric approach extends to Urbit's personal cloud computers, which allow individuals to maintain full control over their data and computing environment. The platform's secure execution environment enhances data security by strictly limiting app permissions, while its peer-to-peer networking capabilities minimize the risk of data interception by facilitating direct communication between users' servers.

Complexity & Usability: Urbit's clean-slate design provides a foundation for a user-centric platform that is both simple and accessible.

This focus on the user is further emphasized by the personal cloud computers, which empower individuals to be their own servers, simplifying the user experience by granting more control. The platform's functional programming language, is designed for simplicity, making it easier for developers to create user-friendly applications. Additionally, Urbit's composability feature allows for seamless interaction between apps, further enhancing the overall user experience and contributing to a more streamlined digital environment.

Centralization Risks: Urbit's clean-slate design allows it to sidestep the centralization issues that plague legacy systems, laying the groundwork for a decentralized architecture.

This is complemented by Urbit ID, which provides decentralized identity management, freeing users from reliance on a central authority. The platform's personal cloud computers each act as individual servers, contributing to a decentralized network. Hierarchical addressing enables scalable routing, preventing central bottlenecks as the network grows. A secure execution environment and capabilities-based security further decentralize control, while peer-to-peer networking facilitates decentralized communication between servers. Composability allows for seamless interactions between decentralized apps, and the principle of eventual consistency ensures that the network remains both decentralized and resilient.

Insecure Identity Management: Urbit ID offers a secure, user-controlled identity management system, putting users in charge of their own online personas and thereby enhancing privacy and security.

This is further bolstered by Urbit's secure execution environment, which limits the scope of potential security breaches by ensuring that applications only access the resources they explicitly need. Together, these features create a robust framework for identity security, giving users greater control and peace of mind.

Barriers to Innovation: Urbit's clean-slate design offers a fresh start that enables innovative solutions unencumbered by the limitations of legacy systems. This is complemented by its hierarchical addressing, which provides efficient routing that paves the way for inventive network solutions. The platform's functional programming language simplifies the development process, thereby encouraging further innovation.

Additionally, Urbit's composability allows for groundbreaking app interactions and functionalities, while its approach to eventual consistency and information propagation creates a resilient and adaptable network that serves as a fertile ground for continued innovation.

By addressing these critical areas through its technical features, Urbit substantiates its long-term vision as not just aspirational but grounded in feasible technological solutions. This makes a compelling case for its long-term viability, which is a crucial consideration for any founder or investor, including BLOCKWALL.

Conclusion

Urbit represents a bold and innovative vision for the future of the digital world. It's a vision where individuals regain control over their online lives, where data ownership and privacy are fundamental rights, and where simplicity and user-friendliness are paramount. With its key technical features, Urbit addresses the pain points of the current digital landscape, offering feasible solutions that substantiate its long-term viability. While ambitious, this vision aligns well with the current and future direction of the digital landscape – one that emphasizes empowerment, ownership, and privacy.

As we continue our exploration, I’ll uncover even more facets of Urbit's potential, from its impact on software distribution to its role in the Web3 movement and its practical applications through case studies.

Moreover, we'll keep a vigilant eye on market dynamics and regulatory changes, recognizing that these factors are pivotal in shaping Urbit's future. For investors and stakeholders like BLOCKWALL, understanding Urbit's journey is not just a matter of curiosity; it's a strategic imperative in navigating the ever-changing digital frontier.