diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index d90c41da9..8b2af0877 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -18,21 +18,32 @@ # Freenet -The Internet has grown increasingly centralized over the past 25 years, such that a handful of companies now effectively control the Internet infrastructure. The public square is privately owned, threatening freedom of speech and democracy. +The Internet has grown increasingly centralized over the past 25 years, such +that a handful of companies now effectively control the Internet infrastructure. +The public square is privately owned, threatening freedom of speech and +democracy. -Freenet is a software platform that makes it easy to create decentralized alternatives to today's centralized tech companies. These decentralized apps will be easy to use, scalable, and secured through cryptography. +Freenet is a software platform that makes it easy to create decentralized +alternatives to today's centralized tech companies. These decentralized apps +will be easy to use, scalable, and secured through cryptography. -To learn more about Freenet as a developer read [The User Manual](https://docs.freenet.org/). For an introduction to Freenet watch **Ian's talk and Q&A** - [YouTube](https://youtu.be/d31jmv5Tx5k) / [Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/740461100). +To learn more about Freenet as a developer read [The User +Manual](https://docs.freenet.org/). For an introduction to Freenet watch **Ian's +talk and Q&A** - [YouTube](https://youtu.be/d31jmv5Tx5k) / +[Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/740461100). ## Status -Freenet is currently under development. Using our [development guide](https://docs.freenet.org/tutorial.html), developers can experiment with building decentralized applications using our SDK and testing them locally. +Freenet is currently under development. Using our [development +guide](https://docs.freenet.org/tutorial.html), developers can experiment with +building decentralized applications using our SDK and testing them locally. ## Applications Examples of what can be built on Freenet include: -* Decentralized email (with a gateway to legacy email via the @freenet.org domain) +* Decentralized email (with a gateway to legacy email via the @freenet.org + domain) * Decentralized microblogging (think Twitter or Facebook) * Instant Messaging (Whatsapp, Signal) * Online Store (Amazon) @@ -40,45 +51,67 @@ Examples of what can be built on Freenet include: * Video discovery (Youtube, TikTok) * Search (Google, Bing) -All will be completely decentralized, scalable, and cryptographically secure. We want Freenet to be useful out-of-the-box, so we plan to provide reference implementations for some or all of these. +All will be completely decentralized, scalable, and cryptographically secure. We +want Freenet to be useful out-of-the-box, so we plan to provide reference +implementations for some or all of these. ## How does it work? -Freenet is a decentralized key-value database. It uses the same [small world](https://freenetproject.org/assets/papers/lic.pdf) routing algorithm as the original Freenet design, but each key is a cryptographic contract implemented in [Web Assembly](https://webassembly.org/), and the value associated with each contract is called its *state*. The role of the cryptographic contract is to specify what state is allowed for this contract, and how the state is modified. +Freenet is a decentralized key-value database. It uses the same [small +world](https://freenetproject.org/assets/papers/lic.pdf) routing algorithm as +the original Freenet design, but each key is a cryptographic contract +implemented in [Web Assembly](https://webassembly.org/), and the value +associated with each contract is called its *state*. The role of the +cryptographic contract is to specify what state is allowed for this contract, +and how the state is modified. -A very simple contract might require that the state is a list of messages, each signed with a specific cryptographic keypair. The state can be updated to add new messages if appropriately signed. Something like this could serve as the basis for a blog or Twitter feed. +A very simple contract might require that the state is a list of messages, each +signed with a specific cryptographic keypair. The state can be updated to add +new messages if appropriately signed. Something like this could serve as the +basis for a blog or Twitter feed. -Freenet is implemented in Rust and will be available across all major operating systems, desktop and mobile. +Freenet is implemented in Rust and will be available across all major operating +systems, desktop and mobile. ## What is Locutus? -Locutus was the working title used for this successor to the original Freenet, in March 2023 it was renamed to "Freenet" or "Freenet 2023", this repository was renamed from `locutus` to `freenet-core` in September 2023. +Locutus was the working title used for this successor to the original Freenet, +in March 2023 it was renamed to "Freenet" or "Freenet 2023", this repository was +renamed from `locutus` to `freenet-core` in September 2023. ## Stay up to date -[![Twitter Follow](https://img.shields.io/twitter/follow/freenetorg?color=%2300EE00&logo=twitter&style=plastic)](https://twitter.com/FreenetOrg) +[![Twitter +Follow](https://img.shields.io/twitter/follow/freenetorg?color=%2300EE00&logo=twitter&style=plastic)](https://twitter.com/FreenetOrg) ## Chat with us -We're in [#freenet-locutus](https://matrix.to/#/#freenet-locutus:matrix.org) on [Matrix](https://matrix.org/). If you have questions you can also [ask here](https://github.com/freenet/freenet-core/discussions). +We're in [#freenet-locutus](https://matrix.to/#/#freenet-locutus:matrix.org) on +[Matrix](https://matrix.org/). If you have questions you can also [ask +here](https://github.com/freenet/freenet-core/discussions). -Many developers are active in [r/freenet](https://www.reddit.com/r/Freenet/), but remember that Reddit engages in political and ideological censorship so don't make this your only point of contact with us. +Many developers are active in [r/freenet](https://www.reddit.com/r/Freenet/), +but remember that Reddit engages in political and ideological censorship so +don't make this your only point of contact with us. ## Acknowledgements and Funding ### Protocol Labs -In addition to creating the excellent [libp2p](https://github.com/libp2p/rust-libp2p) which we use for low-level transport, Protocol Labs has -generously supported our work with a grant. +In addition to creating the excellent +[libp2p](https://github.com/libp2p/rust-libp2p) which we use for low-level +transport, Protocol Labs has generously supported our work with a grant. ### FUTO -FUTO has generously awarded Freenet two Legendary Grants to support Freenet development. +FUTO has generously awarded Freenet two Legendary Grants to support Freenet +development. ### Supporting Freenet -If you are in a position to fund our continued efforts please contact us on [twitter](https://twitter.com/FreenetOrg) or by email at -*ian at freenet dot org*. +If you are in a position to fund our continued efforts please contact us on +[twitter](https://twitter.com/FreenetOrg) or by email at *ian at freenet dot +org*. ## License