Decentralized GitHub Progress Status: 1. We've designed a new type of Merkle Tree/DAG. It's able to organize file directories just like IPFS Merkle DAGs, while maintaining the small branches of classic Merkle Trees for inexpensive and quick user validation of data (repos, notes, etc). Currently, we are transforming this into a standalone library that any project can use. It is the foundation of the project. 2. As for storing data, we're keeping it off-chain as Merkle Trees on relays, with the Merkle root stored on-chain. We’ve already chosen the cache/database system and have developed a method to traverse each leaf throughout our database. We will complete this storage infrastructure once we finish the optimized Merkle Tree library. 3. We've also built a GitHub-like UI from scratch. It doesn't rely on any elements of the centralized web or components that depend on centralized URLs, and it works with any browser. After these three core pieces are completed, it will just be a matter of assembling the pieces… the decentralized GitHub will be born. The toughest computer science problems, such as creating Merkle DAGs with small branches and managing low-overhead leaf syncing, will be resolved. This storage system also enables people to build decentralized apps atop of it, including a synchronized nostr relay and client that is backwards compatible. 忍耐は美徳 image

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Once the code to these 3 pieces are complete, we will release all of it. I want the first bit of code we release to be functional, even if it is an imperfect alpha build. The first desktop client users can test & feel will work like Dropbox, for generalized off-chain file storage on relays. Plugging the Git server into these 3 pieces🧩 will be a tedious challenge that the communities of #nostr can hopefully help us with. We were going to do this part ourselves, but devs are encouraging us to open-source sooner — so we will.
Relays running our software will also run a Git server. These two programs will talk to each other. Once our pieces our released, we can recruit anyone who wants to help with mapping each git action to our UI and storage system. Until then, our team will be coding! Any grants are of course welcomed and appreciated. 💜
This is the first I’ve heard of this project so forgive my ignorance, but what are the merkle DAGs storing if the files are stored in git? Are you rebuilding the other parts of Github like issues, PRs, permissions, etc?
Newbie comment: I don't get it. Git is already decentralized. And if you mean decentralizing the server, what is the benefit of this when compared to using gitlab or other non GitHub servers?
The storage infrastructure for Decentralized GitHub is now in beta. Though the project took longer than initially planned, we've achieved a crucial milestone. The advancements we've made in the evolution of merkle trees represent a significant accomplishment in itself. We'll keep developing open-source style on GitHub and will release progress updates on #nostr @jack View quoted note →