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Revision as of 17:15, 14 June 2019 editStellaproiectura (talk | contribs)80 edits →Controversy: It's probably good to include this quote, too.Tag: Visual edit← Previous edit Revision as of 17:17, 14 June 2019 edit undoStellaproiectura (talk | contribs)80 editsm Libertarianism is a germane link. Years shouldn't be linked, as per https://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Linking#Linking_month-and-day_or_yearTag: Visual editNext edit →
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'''Urbit''' is a ] ]<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Valley of the Gods: A Silicon Valley Story|last=Wolfe|first=Alexandra|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2017|isbn=9781476778945|location=|pages=219-222}}</ref> comprised of a set of ] ("Hoon," a high-level ] language, and "Nock," its low-level compiled language); a single-function ] built on those languages ("Arvo"); a personal address space, built on the ] ], for each instance of the operating system to participate in a decentralized network ("Azimuth"); and the decentralized network itself, an encrypted, ] ] running on top of the ].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://media.urbit.org/whitepaper.pdf|title=Urbit: A Solid-State Interpreter|last=Yarvin|first=Curtis|last2=Philip|first2=Monk|date=May 26, 2016|website=Tlon Corporation|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=June 13, 2019|last3=Dyudin|first3=Anton|last4=Pasco|first4=Raymond}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=June 2019}} '''Urbit''' is a ] ]<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Valley of the Gods: A Silicon Valley Story|last=Wolfe|first=Alexandra|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2017|isbn=9781476778945|location=|pages=219-222}}</ref> comprised of a set of ] ("Hoon," a high-level ] language, and "Nock," its low-level compiled language); a single-function ] built on those languages ("Arvo"); a personal address space, built on the ] ], for each instance of the operating system to participate in a decentralized network ("Azimuth"); and the decentralized network itself, an encrypted, ] ] running on top of the ].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://media.urbit.org/whitepaper.pdf|title=Urbit: A Solid-State Interpreter|last=Yarvin|first=Curtis|last2=Philip|first2=Monk|date=May 26, 2016|website=Tlon Corporation|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=June 13, 2019|last3=Dyudin|first3=Anton|last4=Pasco|first4=Raymond}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=June 2019}}


The Urbit platform was conceived and first developed in ] by ].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/21/14671978/alt-right-mencius-moldbug-urbit-curtis-yarvin-tlon|title=Alt-right darling Mencius Moldbug wanted to destroy democracy. Now he wants to sell you web services|last=Lecher|first=Colin|date=2017-02-21|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-06-14}}</ref> It is currently developed by its parent company, the ''Tlon Corporation'', which Yarvin founded with John Burnham, a ], in ], though Burnham would later depart in 2014.<ref name=":0" /> The company has received ] funding from various investors since its inception, most notably ], whose ], with ] firm ] invested $1.1 million in 2013.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Live Work Work Work Die: A Journey into the Savage Heart of Silicon Valley|last=Pein|first=Corey|publisher=Metropolitan Books|year=2018|isbn=9781627794862|location=New York|pages=|chapter=Poor Winners}}</ref> The Urbit platform was conceived and first developed in 2002 by ].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/21/14671978/alt-right-mencius-moldbug-urbit-curtis-yarvin-tlon|title=Alt-right darling Mencius Moldbug wanted to destroy democracy. Now he wants to sell you web services|last=Lecher|first=Colin|date=2017-02-21|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-06-14}}</ref> It is currently developed by its parent company, the ''Tlon Corporation'', which Yarvin founded with John Burnham, a ], in 2013, though Burnham would later depart in 2014.<ref name=":0" /> The company has received ] funding from various investors since its inception, most notably ], whose ], with ] firm ] invested $1.1 million in 2013.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Live Work Work Work Die: A Journey into the Savage Heart of Silicon Valley|last=Pein|first=Corey|publisher=Metropolitan Books|year=2018|isbn=9781627794862|location=New York|pages=|chapter=Poor Winners}}</ref>


The aim of the Urbit platform is to "reboot computing"<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://reason.com/2016/06/21/can-urbit-transform-the-internet/|title=Can Urbit Reboot Computing?|last=O'Sullivan|first=Andrea|date=2016-06-21|website=Reason.com|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2019-06-14}}</ref> by rewriting the underlying software ] of ] computers; as well as the communication protocols that exist between client and ] machines, by networking personal servers that communicate with each other, replacing the client-server relationship with a "digital land" model. In doing so, the platform aims to distribute the client-server relationship across all computers on the network.{{cn}} The aim of the Urbit platform is to "reboot computing"<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://reason.com/2016/06/21/can-urbit-transform-the-internet/|title=Can Urbit Reboot Computing?|last=O'Sullivan|first=Andrea|date=2016-06-21|website=Reason.com|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2019-06-14}}</ref> by rewriting the underlying software ] of ] computers; as well as the communication protocols that exist between client and ] machines, by networking personal servers that communicate with each other, replacing the client-server relationship with a "digital land" model. In doing so, the platform aims to distribute the client-server relationship across all computers on the network.{{cn}}
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Yarvin's reputation has resulted in Urbit's considerable controversy at public events and conferences, most notably at LambdaConf 2016, when Yarvin's inclusion at the event resulted in five speakers and three sponsors withdrawing their participation in response.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/tess-townsend/why-it-matters-that-an-obscure-programming-conference-is-hosting-mencius-moldbug.html|title=Controversy Rages Over 'Pro-Slavery' Tech Speaker Curtis Yarvin|last=Townsend|first=Tess|date=2016-03-31|website=Inc.com|access-date=2019-06-14}}</ref> Yarvin had previously had his invitation to the 2015 Strange Loop conference rescinded, with the conference's organizer noting that "his mere inclusion and/or presence would overshadow the content of his talk".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/technology/2015/06/curtis-yarvin-booted-from-strange-loop-its-a-big-big-problem.html|title=When All It Takes to Be Booted From a Tech Conference Is Being a “Distraction,” We Have a Problem|last=Auerbach|first=David|date=2015-06-10|website=Slate Magazine|language=en|access-date=2019-06-14}}</ref> Yarvin's reputation has resulted in Urbit's considerable controversy at public events and conferences, most notably at LambdaConf 2016, when Yarvin's inclusion at the event resulted in five speakers and three sponsors withdrawing their participation in response.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/tess-townsend/why-it-matters-that-an-obscure-programming-conference-is-hosting-mencius-moldbug.html|title=Controversy Rages Over 'Pro-Slavery' Tech Speaker Curtis Yarvin|last=Townsend|first=Tess|date=2016-03-31|website=Inc.com|access-date=2019-06-14}}</ref> Yarvin had previously had his invitation to the 2015 Strange Loop conference rescinded, with the conference's organizer noting that "his mere inclusion and/or presence would overshadow the content of his talk".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/technology/2015/06/curtis-yarvin-booted-from-strange-loop-its-a-big-big-problem.html|title=When All It Takes to Be Booted From a Tech Conference Is Being a “Distraction,” We Have a Problem|last=Auerbach|first=David|date=2015-06-10|website=Slate Magazine|language=en|access-date=2019-06-14}}</ref>


The source code and design sketches for the project have made various allusions that correspond to Yarvin's views, including initially classifying users as "lords," "dukes," and "earls." Yarvin and Tlon reject any ideological associations for the project, with Tlon CEO Galen Wolfe-Pauly responding that "the principles of Urbit are very palatable ... we're interested in giving people their freedom."<ref name=":2" /> Andrea O'Sullivan of ] commented that "when you parse through the underlying values that guide the system, a rather libertarian ethos begins to emerge."<ref name=":3" /> The source code and design sketches for the project have made various allusions that correspond to Yarvin's views, including initially classifying users as "lords," "dukes," and "earls." Yarvin and Tlon reject any ideological associations for the project, with Tlon CEO Galen Wolfe-Pauly responding that "the principles of Urbit are very palatable ... we're interested in giving people their freedom."<ref name=":2" /> Andrea O'Sullivan of ] commented that "when you parse through the underlying values that guide the system, a rather ] ethos begins to emerge."<ref name=":3" />


After seventeen years of working on the Urbit project, Yarvin departed Tlon in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://urbit.org/posts/a-founders-farewell/|title=A Founder's Farewell|last=|first=|date=January 14, 2019|website=Urbit.org|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=June 13, 2019|note=}}</ref> After seventeen years of working on the Urbit project, Yarvin departed Tlon in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://urbit.org/posts/a-founders-farewell/|title=A Founder's Farewell|last=|first=|date=January 14, 2019|website=Urbit.org|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=June 13, 2019|note=}}</ref>

Revision as of 17:17, 14 June 2019

Decentralized personal server platform

Urbit is a decentralized personal server platform comprised of a set of programming languages ("Hoon," a high-level functional programming language, and "Nock," its low-level compiled language); a single-function operating system built on those languages ("Arvo"); a personal address space, built on the Ethereum blockchain, for each instance of the operating system to participate in a decentralized network ("Azimuth"); and the decentralized network itself, an encrypted, peer-to-peer protocol running on top of the User Datagram Protocol.

The Urbit platform was conceived and first developed in 2002 by Curtis Yarvin. It is currently developed by its parent company, the Tlon Corporation, which Yarvin founded with John Burnham, a Thiel Fellow, in 2013, though Burnham would later depart in 2014. The company has received seed funding from various investors since its inception, most notably Peter Thiel, whose Founders Fund, with venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz invested $1.1 million in 2013.

The aim of the Urbit platform is to "reboot computing" by rewriting the underlying software stack of client computers; as well as the communication protocols that exist between client and server machines, by networking personal servers that communicate with each other, replacing the client-server relationship with a "digital land" model. In doing so, the platform aims to distribute the client-server relationship across all computers on the network.

The platform is known for being complicated and obscure, as a consequence of its approaches. It is also mired in controversy due to the opinions of its creator, Curtis Yarvin, and his association with the Dark Enlightenment.

Controversy

Yarvin's reputation has resulted in Urbit's considerable controversy at public events and conferences, most notably at LambdaConf 2016, when Yarvin's inclusion at the event resulted in five speakers and three sponsors withdrawing their participation in response. Yarvin had previously had his invitation to the 2015 Strange Loop conference rescinded, with the conference's organizer noting that "his mere inclusion and/or presence would overshadow the content of his talk".

The source code and design sketches for the project have made various allusions that correspond to Yarvin's views, including initially classifying users as "lords," "dukes," and "earls." Yarvin and Tlon reject any ideological associations for the project, with Tlon CEO Galen Wolfe-Pauly responding that "the principles of Urbit are very palatable ... we're interested in giving people their freedom." Andrea O'Sullivan of Reason commented that "when you parse through the underlying values that guide the system, a rather libertarian ethos begins to emerge."

After seventeen years of working on the Urbit project, Yarvin departed Tlon in 2019.

References

  1. ^ Wolfe, Alexandra (2017). Valley of the Gods: A Silicon Valley Story. Simon and Schuster. pp. 219–222. ISBN 9781476778945.
  2. Yarvin, Curtis; Philip, Monk; Dyudin, Anton; Pasco, Raymond (May 26, 2016). "Urbit: A Solid-State Interpreter" (PDF). Tlon Corporation. Retrieved June 13, 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  3. ^ Lecher, Colin (2017-02-21). "Alt-right darling Mencius Moldbug wanted to destroy democracy. Now he wants to sell you web services". The Verge. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
  4. Pein, Corey (2018). "Poor Winners". Live Work Work Work Die: A Journey into the Savage Heart of Silicon Valley. New York: Metropolitan Books. ISBN 9781627794862.
  5. ^ O'Sullivan, Andrea (2016-06-21). "Can Urbit Reboot Computing?". Reason.com. Retrieved 2019-06-14. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  6. Townsend, Tess (2016-03-31). "Controversy Rages Over 'Pro-Slavery' Tech Speaker Curtis Yarvin". Inc.com. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
  7. Auerbach, David (2015-06-10). "When All It Takes to Be Booted From a Tech Conference Is Being a "Distraction," We Have a Problem". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
  8. "A Founder's Farewell". Urbit.org. January 14, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |dead-url= and |note= (help)

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