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simplified picocss + md implementation of homepage

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timurgordon
2024-11-21 10:31:57 +03:00
parent ff5a82eaff
commit d6896f6d7e
1497 changed files with 218 additions and 29598 deletions
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.gitmodules vendored
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[submodule "threefold_data"]
path = threefold_data
url = https://github.com/threefoldfoundation/threefold_data.git
ignore = dirty

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Makefile
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SHELL := /bin/bash
build:
. ./build.sh
start:
. ./start.sh

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build.sh
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echo "Starting build..."
SOURCE=${BASH_SOURCE[0]}
DIR_OF_THIS_SCRIPT="$( dirname "$SOURCE" )"
ABS_DIR_OF_SCRIPT="$( realpath $DIR_OF_THIS_SCRIPT )"
# TODO: Check if current version is latest to avoid redundant installation
if [[ -f "tailwindcss" ]]
then
rm tailwindcss
fi
# checks os and architecture for correct release
# https://stackoverflow.com/a/8597411
echo "Download tailwind..."
ASSET="tailwindcss"
if [[ "$OSTYPE" == "linux-gnu"* ]]; then
ASSET="$ASSET-linux"
elif [[ "$OSTYPE" == "darwin"* ]]; then
ASSET="$ASSET-macos"
fi
if [[ "$(uname -m)" == "x86_64"* ]]; then
ASSET="$ASSET-x64"
elif [[ "$(uname -m)" == "arm64"* ]]; then
ASSET="$ASSET-arm64"
fi
curl -sLO "https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/latest/download/${ASSET}"
# Check if the download size is greater than 20MB
if [[ $(stat -c%s "$ASSET") -lt 20000000 ]]; then
echo "Error: Downloaded file size is less than 20MB, download not ok."
echo "Download url was:$ASSET"
rm "$ASSET"
exit 1
fi
chmod +x $ASSET
mv $ASSET tailwindcss
# initialized and configures tailwind if not configured
echo "Initializing tailwind..."
if [[ ! -f "tailwind.config.js" ]]
then
./tailwindcss init
sed -i '' "s| content: \\[\\],| content: \\['./templates/**/*.html'\\],|g" tailwind.config.js
fi
# compiles tailwind css for prod & builds project
echo "Compiling tailwindcss and building zola project..."
rm -rf public static/css
./tailwindcss -i css/index.css -o ./static/css/index.css --minify
zola --root $ABS_DIR_OF_SCRIPT build
open public/index.html

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content/404.md
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---
title: "404"
description: ""
insert_anchor_links: "left"
template: "404.html"
---

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content/_index.md
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---
title: "Home"
description: "ThreeFold empowers anyone to become a cloud service provider – no technical expertise required – allowing people and organizations to buy sell, and use cloud resources autonomously and securely." # quotation marks to allow colons where used
date: 2018-09-14T21:00:00-05:00
updated: 2021-02-20T14:40:00-06:00
draft: false
extra:
author: Your name here
imgPath: home/autonomous.png
---
<!-- section 1 (header) -->
{% row(style="center") %}
<br/>
<br/>
![Image](images/white_threefold_header.png#mx-auto#medium)
<br/>
## The (Re)Birth of **the Internet.**
ThreeFold is a peer-to-peer open-source Internet platform that connects users directly with <br> local Internet capacity provided by farmers. No intermediaries such as centralized servers.
{% end %}
{% row(style="center narrow") %}
<button>[Build](/build)</button>
|||
<button>[Farm](/farm)</button>
|||
<button>[Main Chat](https://t.me/threefold)</button>
|||
<button>[Get TFT](https://www.manual.grid.tf/documentation/threefold_token/buy_sell_tft/tft_lobstr/tft_lobstr_short_guide.html)</button>
{% end %}
<!-- section 2 (Map) -->
{% grid_stats() %}
### The ThreeFold Grid v3.7.0
## **Live and Operational**
{% end %}
<!-- section 3 (EXPAND) -->
{% row(style="center narrow") %}
## Together **We Build.**
The future is about decentralization, participation, and working together to achieve our goals. As a decentralized movement, we encourage the community to get involved. This new Internet can only succeed if we find ways to collaborate where we together pull this Internet concept forward. Below, please find some of the ways you can join us in building a better Internet.
{% end %}
{% row(style="center narrow") %}
![Image](images/become_farmer_new.jpg#mx-auto)
<br>
### Farm Local Internet Capacity **and Earn TFT**
By connecting hardware at your home or office – or anywhere you'd like – you provide Internet capacity for the people around you and earn a new digital currency, TFT.
{% end %}
{% row(style="center narrow") %}
<button>[Buy a 3Node](http://marketplace.3node.global/)</button>
|||
<button>[Build a 3Node](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/tfgrid/farming/threefold__diy_guide)</button>
|||
<button>[Farmers Chat](https://t.me/threefoldfarmers)</button>
{% end %}
{% row(style="center narrow") %}
![Image](images/network_new.jpg#mx-auto)
<br>
### Build On Top of a **Decentralized Infrastructure**
True digital sovereignty for open-source builders. The ThreeFold Grid provides limitless possibilities, and brings a playground of industry-compatible easy-to-deploy solutions for developers.
{% end %}
{% row(style="center narrow") %}
<button>[Deploy on ThreeFold](https://dashboard.grid.tf/)</button>
|||
<button>[The Manual](https://manual.grid.tf/)</button>
|||
<button>[Builders Chat](https://t.me/threefoldtesting)</button>
{% end %}
<!-- section 4 (FEATURED STORIES) -->
{% featured_stories() %}
## Featured Stories
{% end %}
<!-- section 5 (THE TEAM) -->
{% team_sec() %}
## **The Team**
{% end %}
<!-- section 6 (PARTNERS) -->
{% row(style="center margin") %}
## Believers and Collaborators <br> **In a Better Internet**
We are truly proud to be trusted by some of the biggest names in the industry.
![Image](images/ourpartners.png#mx-auto)
<button>[Check All Partners](partners)</button>
{% end %}
<br>
<br>
<!-- section 7 (IN THE NEWS) -->
{% row(style="center") %}
## **In the News**
{% end %}
{% row(style="center between") %}
[![forbes](images/forbes.png#mx-auto)](https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2020/06/20/largest-distributed-peer-to-peer-grid-on-the-planet-laying-foundation-for-a-decentralized-internet/?fbclid=IwAR1WKCpqLcWPRWg5bPD6RCQE5JJjRPt6ey5vbEnu3db2FvJnp6-YKeVZNW8#79aa340e6798)
|||
[![cointelegraph](images/cointelegraph.png#mx-auto)](https://cointelegraph.com/news/peer-to-peer-internet-has-lofty-goal-to-bring-true-decentralization)
|||
[![yahoo_news](images/yahoo_news.png#mx-auto)](https://news.yahoo.com/news/threefold-set-disrupt-status-quo-051457787.html?guccounter=1)
{% end %}
{% row(style="center between") %}
[![hackernoon](images/hackernoon.png#mx-auto)](https://hackernoon.com/is-it-possible-to-create-a-decentralized-internet-this-startup-and-its-farmers-think-so-ey2e3ycf)
|||
[![smartereum](images/smartereum.png#mx-auto)](https://smartereum.com/189750/threefold-is-audaciously-building-a-new-decentralized-internet/)
|||
[![tga_daily](images/tga_daily.png#mx-auto)](https://tgdaily.com/web/6-dfinity-threefold-are-leading-an-internet-decentralization-revolution/)
{% end %}
{% row(style="center between") %}
[![cointelegraph](images/cointelegraph.png#mx-auto)](https://cointelegraph-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/cointelegraph.com/news/is-a-new-decentralized-internet-or-web-3-0-possible/amp)
|||
[![banklesstimes](images/banklesstimes.png#mx-auto)](https://www.banklesstimes.com/2021/06/14/threefolds-green-technology-strategy-to-a-fairer-more-sustainable-world/)
|||
[![grit_daily](images/grit_daily.png#mx-auto)](https://gritdaily.com/belarus-governments-control-internet/)
{% end %}

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---
title: "About"
description: "Our mission is to empower individuals and organizations with secure, private, and autonomous access to computing resources, ensuring fair cloud access for everyone." # quotation marks to allow colons where used
template: "layouts/why.html"
insert_anchor_links: "left"
extra:
author: Your name here
imgPath: about/about_hero.png
---
<!-- section 1 (header) -->
<div class="container mx-auto">
{% row(style="header") %}
![Image](about_hero.png#mx-auto)
|||
#### <span class="text-xl subtitle">A STRONG VISION FOR THE FUTURE</span>
## **The Internet as <br><span class="blue">Hope for Humanity</span>**
ThreeFold was started by a group of passionate Internet & Cloud veterans who wants to restore the Internet to its original glory.
<br><br>
*The Internet is a network of computers which are typically hosted in large data centers. These data centers are owned by a few large corporations. This is not how the Internet was designed. The Internet was designed to be decentralized, open, and available to everyone.*
<br><br>
**We have invented a new data, cloud, and network system as an engine for an upgraded Internet.**
<br>
<!-- <button class="blue_b">[Host the cloud](/host)</button>
<button class="green">[Deploy](/deploy)</button> -->
{% end %}
</div>
<!-- section 5 -->
<div style="background-color:#F6F6F6">
<div class="container mx-auto">
{% row( style="mtop") %}
#### <span class="blue uppercase">ROADMAP</span>
## **Expanding ThreeFold**
{% end %}
{% roadmap() %}
## **roadmap**
{% end %}
</div>
</div>
<!-- section 2 our Story -->
<div class="container mx-auto">
{% row( style="center semiNarrow mtop") %}
#### <span class="green_text uppercase">rethinking the way the internet works </span>
## **ThreeFold’s Journey**
<br>
![Image](about_journey2.png#mx-auto)
{% end %}
{% row( style="center semiNarrow mbottom") %}
#### OUR JOURNEY BEGAN<br><span class="green_text uppercase">+10 YEARS AGO</span>
<br>
Years ago, we realized that the existing Internet Infrastructure isn’t sustainable nor secure, lack sovereignty and will not succeed to meet future Internet demands.
<br>
In response, we came together with a shared mission- to design a revolutionary decentralized, open-source, inclusive and sustainable cloud solution for all.
|||
#### WHERE WE ARE<br><span class="blue uppercase">TODAY</span>
<br>
The ThreeFold Grid is in its third generation technology and live in +50 countries.
<br>
We are at the start of a journey to millions of nodes and will soon launch the fourth generation of the ThreeFold Grid.
For this, a token called $INCA will been created.
{% end %}
<!-- section 6 TEAM -->
<div class="container mx-auto">
{% row( style="mtop") %}
#### <span class="blue uppercase">MEET THE TEAM</span>
## **Founded by <span class="green_text">Internet 1.0 Pioneers</span>**
We are a dedicated group committed to advancing a new digital era. Some of us have been working on Internet technology since the early days, when it was a decentralized network. We aim to help bring that vision to life once more. Beyond those below, we have more than 50 engineers, developers, and [other team members](/people) supporting the project.
{% end %}
<br>
{% row( style="") %}
<div class="person flex md:flex-row flex-col items-start mb-4">
<div class="">
![Image](kristof_de_spiegeleer.jpeg#mx-auto)
</div>
<div class="mx-3">
**KRISTOF DE SPIEGELEER** <br>
<p class="blue text-base font-semibold">Co-Founder & CEO</p>
<p class="text-base leading-tight">Serial entrepreneur with 30 years of experience in Internet infrastructure and cloud technology. Passionate about tech for good. +600m $ exits.</p>
</div>
</div>
|||
<div class="person flex md:flex-row flex-col items-start mb-4">
<div class="">
![Image](florian_fournier.jpeg#mx-auto)
</div>
<div class="mx-3">
**FLORIAN FOURNIER** <br>
<p class="blue text-base font-semibold">Co-Founder & CMO</p>
<p class="text-base leading-tight">Ex Apple marketing director, serial entrepreneur living between Africa and Latin America.</p>
</div>
</div>
|||
<div class="person flex md:flex-row flex-col items-start mb-4">
<div class="">
![Image](adnan_fatayerji.jpg#mx-auto)
</div>
<div class="mx-3">
**ADNAN FATAYERJI** <br>
<p class="blue text-base font-semibold">Co-Founder</p>
<p class="text-base leading-tight">Tech entrepreneur with multiple exits. Based in Dubai for 20 years. Head of Partnerships and Business Development.</p>
</div>
</div>
{% end %}
{% row( style="mbottom") %}
<div class="person flex md:flex-row flex-col items-start mb-4">
<div class="">
![Image](jan_de_landtsheer.jpeg#mx-auto)
</div>
<div class="mx-3">
**JAN DE LANDTSHEER** <br>
<p class="blue text-base font-semibold">Co-Founder & CTO</p>
<p class="text-base leading-tight">40+ years of experience in deep tech, networking, cloud and storage.</p>
</div>
</div>
|||
<div class="person flex md:flex-row flex-col items-start mb-4">
<div class="">
![Image](alexandre_hannelas.jpeg#mx-auto)
</div>
<div class="mx-3">
**ALEXANDRE HANNELAS** <br>
<p class="blue text-base font-semibold">CFO</p>
<p class="text-base leading-tight">Finance lead with experience in Investment Banking and Administration.</p>
</div>
</div>
|||
<div class="person flex md:flex-row flex-col items-start mb-4">
<div class="">
![Image](sacha_obeegadoo.jpg#mx-auto)
</div>
<div class="mx-3">
**SACHA OBEEGADOO** <br>
<p class="blue text-base font-semibold">Business Development & Community</p>
<p class="text-base leading-tight">Business development lead with strong network on African continent. </p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
{% end %}
<br>
<br>
<!-- section ACHIEVEMENTS -->
{% row( style="center semiNarrow") %}
#### <span class="blue">KEY ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE</span>
## **Milestones in Our Journey**
{% end %}
{% row( style="semiNarrow mbottom") %}
<p class="bg-gray-50 p-2 road_border">The ThreeFold Grid: connected across +50 countries by independent people and organizations called ThreeFold farmers, live and usable in its third generation opensource technology.
</p>
<br>
<p class="bg-gray-50 p-2 road_border">Partnerships with governments, to deploy physical infrastructure and introducing coding academies and innovation hubs across the country, to deploy physical infrastructure locally.
</p>
<br>
<p class="bg-gray-50 p-2 road_border">An extensive community of 1000+ farmers and several thousand others – grid users and supporters / advocates of the project
</p>
<br>
<p class="bg-gray-50 p-2 road_border">Our strategic partnerships with key DePIN players: more will be announced soon</p>
{% end %}
</div>
</div>
<!-- section 3 -->
<div style="background-color:#F6F6F6">
<div class="container mx-auto">
{% row( style="center between margin") %}
#### <span class="green_text uppercase">OUR MISSION & VISION</span>
## **Empowering <span class="blue"> Human Potential</span>**
<br>
*We believe that the Internet should be affordable, accessible, and available to everyone on the planet.*
<br>
We envision a global, community-driven network of interconnected computers that democratizes the deployment of the Internet.
<br>
We support an open ecosystem that facilitates the seamless exchange of Internet network, data and cloud capacity.
<br>
**This internet needs to be available in every region, reliable, secure, private, and sustainable.**
{% end %}
</div>
</div>
<!-- section 7 -->
<div class="container mx-auto">
<div class="relative lg:p-4 p-1 flex flex-col sm:grid sm:grid-cols-2 sm:gap-10 xl:flex xl:flex-row lg:items-center lg:pt-24 pt-2">
<div class="flex-1 w-2/3 mb-6 md:mb-0 px-2 md:px-4 m-2 lg:m-0">
#### <span class="green_text uppercase">BE PART OF OUR JOURNEY</span>
## **Let’s redefine our digital <br>landscape <span class="blue"> together</span>**
</div>
<div class="w-1/3 mb-6 md:mb-0 px-2 md:px-12 m-2 lg:m-0 road_border">
<h3 class="mt-0 font-semibold">JOIN IN</h3>
<div class="my-4">
<a href="https://manual.grid.tf" target="_blank">
<h4 class="green_text font-normal my-0">Manuals</h4>
<p class="white-gray font-normal">Dive deeper into our technology</p>
</a>
</div>
<div class="my-4">
<a href="https://threefoldfaq.crisp.help/en/" target="_blank">
<h4 class="green_text font-normal my-0">Support</h4>
<p class="white-gray font-normal">Get assistance from our Support Team</p>
</a>
</div>
<div class="my-4">
<a href="/community" target="_blank">
<h4 class="green_text font-normal my-0">Community</h4>
<p class="white-gray font-normal">Be part of our journey and participate</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<style>
.rounded_img img {
border-radius: 8px;
}
.person img{
border-radius: 100%;
max-width:100px;
}
.myscale{
transition: transform .5s;
}
.myscale:hover{
transform: scale(1.2);
background-color: whitesmoke;
}
.road_border{
border-left: 1px solid rgb(156, 156, 156);
}
.white-gray{
color: #9f9f9f;
}
</style>

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---
title: "Solutions"
description: "Take actions" # quotation marks to allow colons where used
template: "layouts/action.html"
insert_anchor_links: "left"
extra:
author: Your name here
imgPath: about/about_hero.png
---
<style>
.rounded_img img {
border-radius: 8px;
}
.person img{
border-radius: 100%;
max-width:100px;
}
.myscale{
transition: transform .5s;
}
.myscale:hover{
transform: scale(1.2);
background-color: whitesmoke;
}
.road_border{
border-left: 1px solid rgb(156, 156, 156);
}
.white-gray{
color: #9f9f9f;
}
</style>

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---
title: "Blog"
paginate_by: 9
description: "Dive in to read more of our stories, our past, our present, and our future. We envision a global, community-driven network of interconnected servers and nodes—the grid—that democratizes computing power and storage."
# paginate_reversed: false
sort_by: "date"
insert_anchor_links: "left"
#base_url: "posts"
#first: "first"
#last: "last"
template: "layouts/blog.html"
page_template: "blogPage.html"
#transparent: true
generate_feed: true
extra:
imgPath: blog.png
---

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---
id: africa_regen_summit_ii
title: "Reflecting on Africa Regenerative Futures Summits : Shaping a better digital future in Africa"
image_caption: Africa Regen II
description: In 2023, we had the pleasure of hosting two summits in Zanzibar – Read about the key outcomes.
date: 2023-11-21
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [community, event, collaboration, why]
categories: [community, event, collaboration, why]
extra:
imgPath: africa_regen_summit_ii.png
---
In 2023, we had the pleasure of hosting two summits in Zanzibar – one in July and another in [November](https://www.threefold.io/newsroom/africa-regen-ii/), named the Africa Regenerative Future Summit. These events brought together leading innovators and investors committed to advancing human flourishing, with a specific emphasis on science and technology shaping the trajectory of Africa's future.
<br>
During the inaugural summit in July, Zanzibar's President, Dr. Hussein Mwinyi, honored us with his presence. In a formal declaration, he publicly expressed the government's dedication to establishing a digital free zone, a locally-owned Internet infrastructure, and an incubator to support young local innovators – all in collaboration with ThreeFold – and their commitment to the ICT sector as a whole.
<br>
The second summit saw the birth of Dunia Yetu (meaning "Our World" in Swahili), a collaborative movement forged in partnership with a cohort of tech developers and innovators from Dar Es Salaam. This initiative is driven by a shared commitment to reshape the digital landscape in Tanzania and Africa. Its goals include empowering coders, fostering economic development, and constructing a sovereign, autonomous digital ecosystem for a more promising digital future.
<br>
Looking ahead to 2024, our vision includes a continued series of gatherings focused on OurWorld, ThreeFold, and other projects and individuals prioritizing a planet-first, people-first approach to support Tanzania and the broader African continent.
<br>
More information:
<br>
- **Summit I:** Read [Zanzibar Seeks to Become a Digital FreeZone](https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/zanzibar/zanzibar-seeks-to-become-digital-freezone--4316150) (via The Citizen) and [Mwinyi Commits to Improvement of Digital Spaces](https://dailynews.co.tz/mwinyi-commits-to-improvement-of-digital-spaces/) (via Daily News Tanzania) for further details.
- **Summit II:** Learn more about [Dunia Yetu](https://www.threefold.io/newsroom/duniayetulaunchdar/)
- **Dunia Yetu:** Read [Sovereign Internet - A game changer for Tanzania](https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/sovereign-internet-a-game-changer-to-tanzania-startups-ecosystem-growth-449806) (via The Citizen)

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---
id: an_intro_to_the_threefold_grid
title: "Building a New Internet From the Ground Up – Part 1: Introduction"
image_caption: The ThreeFold Grid Peer-to-Peer Technology
description: The first episode in an approachable series on the inner workings of the ThreeFold Grid.
date: 2021-07-19
taxonomies:
people: [scott_yeager]
tags: [grid, cloud, tech]
categories: [grid, cloud, tech]
extra:
imgPath: an_intro_to_the_threefold_grid.png
---
## An Intro to the ThreeFold Grid
If you are a farmer or member of the ThreeFold community, you may be wondering about the capacity provided by the ThreeFold Grid and how it's relevant to individuals and businesses who currently rely on centralized corporate clouds. This can be hard to imagine, because the back end infrastructure that makes all of our apps and services tick is generally invisible to us.
<br>
This piece will be the first in a series where I'll be working to understand what the technical components are and how ThreeFold provides an alternative with distinct benefits for individuals, businesses, and for the planet as a whole. But don't worry, we'll start from the ground level and build up understanding in a way that's accessible to everyone.
## Infrastructure for a New Internet
So, what is the internet? In short, it is a network of interconnected devices that facilitates communication and commerce. These devices include our mobile phones and personal computers, but also the servers that store and process data to provide the end experiences we enjoy. Currently the vast majority of these servers live in massive data centers controlled by a handful of corporations. ThreeFold is changing this, by allowing anyone to connect computational and storage capacity to an open network that is available for all to use, known as the ThreeFold Grid. Our farmers do include some data centers operating on a smaller scale than major cloud providers, and also many individuals connecting nodes at their home or office all over the world.
<br>
On the ThreeFold Grid, servers are known as 3Nodes. A 3Node can be pretty much any modern computer system, offering capacity by running the Zero OS operating system. This is a major distinguishing factor, both from the traditional cloud computing world and also from other projects working to create decentralized networks in this space.
## The OS for a Next Generation Cloud
By starting from the operating system level, ThreeFold is able to provide a network with much stronger security and greater efficiency than anything that came before. Zero OS includes a collection of components, known as "primitives", which provide developers with everything they need. These primitives can be used to migrate existing applications from the legacy cloud and also to create new solutions that leverage the Grid’s capacity in unique ways.
<br>
We're all familiar with operating systems like Windows and MacOS that provide an interface to applications on our personal computers. The OS interacts with the underlying hardware to expose its capabilities in a way that's useful for both the software it hosts and also the humans who utilize it. For example, when you launch an app on your phone, it is the OS that's responsible for connecting it to data networks and providing access to peripherals like cameras or microphones. Things are a little different in the world of servers, where rather than through direct interactions, users benefit through the services provided to the applications we use.
<br>
To extend the example, when you open a messaging app it will connect to a server somewhere to check for new messages and relay any messages you are sending to the recipient. Here we can see a central issue that has inspired the design of ThreeFold’s technology: when our messages pass through servers controlled by others, it creates an open door for surveillance of all kinds.
<br>
ThreeFold farmers, on the other hand, have no administrative access to their nodes. Furthermore, each component offered by the ThreeFold Grid is built with the intention of allowing for secure and private storage, processing, and transmission of information. Of course, sharing is absolutely possible, but only when the creator of data or content chooses for it to happen.
## Three Essential Resources
In the world of cloud computing, we speak of three basic resources provided by servers: compute, storage, and network. The ThreeFold Grid provides various primitives in each of these categories, to fulfill all the same needs served by centralized cloud providers. While our offerings have the special properties discussed above, they are also highly compatible with the most popular tools and protocols currently used in the industry. This makes it relatively simple to migrate the back end applications, also known as "workloads", that provide a kind of connective tissue for all of the digital experiences we enjoy on a daily basis.
<br>
Workloads are pieces of software that provide services. If you upload a file to some cloud storage service, there could be a number of individual workloads orchestrated together in order to ensure the data you want to save is successfully transmitted to and stored in the back end system. We can understand the need for each kind of capacity by looking at the journey that your file might take in such a scenario. Starting on your device, a network connection, some processing, and finally storage capacity are all involved in providing the conditions that allow you to retrieve that file later.
## Network
Networking takes place over cellular connections, wifi, and wired internet lines to move data from one place to another. For our purposes here, those details aren't so important—we'll focus on what happens once communication is completed by whatever means.
<br>
When you connect to the cloud storage service, there are network workloads that transmit your data to the appropriate services that process and store it. This might consist of some routing and also authentication that ensures that you and only you access the files that are associated with your account. On the Grid, we provide primitives for secure peer to peer communication and also for allowing public access to back end services.
## Compute
Compute is what happens with data once it reaches its destination. Computers are mostly just fancy adding machines that take numbers and turn them into other numbers according to a set of specifications, which we call software. In our example, the compute step might involve compressing the information so it takes up less space and also deriving some useful statistics like the file's original size.
<br>
Of course, there are many details we're glossing over here, and the compute resources are ultimately responsible for providing much of our end user experience and the interactivity of the apps we utilize. 3Nodes offer a compute environment that natively runs the vast majority of workloads in use today.
## Storage
Storage, of course, is the disk space where data resides. It can be a little strange to think about, actually, that all of the information you've stored online actually has at least one physical location where it exists as many small electrical charges. On the Grid, application developers can access the disks of nodes directly, in a way that's optimized for energy efficiency.
<br>
We also have more advanced storage solutions that offer unparalleled security and low overhead redundancy, giving users the best possible guarantee that only they have access to their data and that it will actually be there when they go to retrieve it.
## Looking Forward
Taken together, network, storage, and compute are the raw elements that give life to the internet we know and love. On the ThreeFold Grid, these elements are expressed in a way that's both familiar for developers but also pushes the limits of what is possible in terms of technical evolution.
<br>
Thanks so much for joining me on this introductory overview of what the Grid provides. Please join me next time for a deeper dive on some of what we've covered and more specifics about how ThreeFold technology represents a quantum leap for cloud computing.

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---
id: beyond_quick_fixes
title: Beyond Quick Fixes - An Internet for Equality, Security, and Resilience
image_caption: technology
description: The Internet faces issues like limited access, security risks, and high energy use. We need real change with decentralized, secure systems that empower communities and create a fairer digital world.
date: 2024-10-30
taxonomies:
people: [bernadette_amanda_caster]
tags: [tech,grid,community]
categories: [tech,grid,community]
extra:
imgPath: beyond_quick_fixes.png
---
The Internet is a crucial part of our daily lives, yet it faces many challenges. To name a few, about half of the global population doesn’t have fair or reliable access, data privacy, and cybersecurity threats are greater than ever before, and the current model is unsustainable for our planet. Despite advancements in technology, the Internet has been stuck in a cycle of quick fixes and patchwork solutions, unable to address these fundamental issues truly.
<br/>
To secure an Internet that is equitable, sustainable, and resilient for all, we need a complete transformation – one that decentralizes control, reduces environmental impact, and empowers people and communities to take ownership of the digital world.
#### A System Held Together by Temporary Fixes
The current Internet relies on "quick fixes" that offer temporary relief but fail to address deeper systemic problems. Security tools like firewalls and antivirus software only guard against known threats and require constant updates. Content delivery networks and bandwidth boosts improve performance but don't fix the limitations of the core infrastructure. Even regulations like GDPR protect privacy, but they don’t fundamentally change how data is managed or secured. Meanwhile, advances like 5G and fiber optics speed up connectivity but don’t solve the root issue of centralization.
#### Centralization at the Root of Many Issues
Centralization is at the heart of many persistent issues, such as rising cybersecurity threats. Concentrating data in a few locations increases vulnerabilities, leading to more frequent data breaches and malicious attacks. Big tech companies keep building energy-hungry data centers to meet growing demand, but these are unsustainable and expensive to build.
<br/>
While energy-efficient hardware is coming to market, it does little to solve these underlying inefficiencies. The deeper problem lies in the centralization of the Internet – a model that concentrates power in the hands of the few. Cloud services like AWS and Google Cloud help businesses scale but can be expensive, complex, and inaccessible to smaller businesses and underserved communities.
<br/>
At the same time, new technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) demand fast data processing at the edge. Still, centralized cloud platforms are too slow and inefficient to meet their needs.
#### A Long-Term Cure: ThreeFold’s Solution
To truly fix a system as broken as the current Internet, we need more than temporary solutions – we need a complete transformation that attacks the problem at the root.
<br/>
**Autonomous Infrastructure**
<br/>
One of the solutions to the current Internet crisis is a shift toward autonomous infrastructure networks and data centers that can operate independently, with minimal energy consumption and maximum efficiency. ThreeFold's decentralized network uses small, autonomous nodes that can be distributed globally. This infrastructure lowers costs, increases reliability, and improves security while addressing the environmental issues tied to the centralized model. Through the ThreeFold Grid, the project is already providing a foundation for the sustainable Internet of the future.
<br/>
**Quantum-Safe Systems**
<br/>
With quantum computing on the horizon, how we secure our Internet infrastructure must evolve. The current Internet isn’t prepared for the threats that quantum computing could pose. ThreeFold recognizes this need and is already creating quantum-safe storage and network systems that protect sensitive information against future threats. This ensures a more resilient Internet that can stand up to tomorrow’s challenges.
<br/>
**Decentralization for Equality**
<br/>
Decentralization can only resolve the imbalance caused by today’s centralized cloud giants. By enabling anyone to host their own infrastructure, ThreeFold’s network levels the playing field and distributes power and opportunity more fairly across the globe. In ThreeFold’s vision, communities, businesses, and individuals can become Internet farmers, contributing to the global network and benefiting from it equally.
#### Moving Beyond Band-Aid Solutions: Building a Better Internet
The current Internet is broken, and temporary fixes won’t solve the underlying issues. What’s needed is a complete transformation that returns control to the people, reduces environmental impact, and creates a more equitable, accessible digital economy. We must move beyond the the quick fixes and embrace an Internet that is decentralized, sustainable, and secure for all.
<br/>
ThreeFold is leading the charge by creating an Internet infrastructure that empowers individuals and communities, reduces energy consumption, and fosters innovation. The future of the Internet must reflect the principles of fairness, equality, and sustainability.
<br/>
It’s time to fix the Internet with ThreeFold. We’re already on the path toward a better, more inclusive digital future.

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---
id: building_a_new_internet_from_the_ground_up_pt2
title: "Building a New Internet From the Ground Up – Part 2: Storage"
image_caption: The ThreeFold Grid Peer-to-Peer Technology
description: Part two of an approachable series on the inner workings of the ThreeFold Grid. This time, storage
date: 2021-07-28
taxonomies:
people: [scott_yeager]
tags: [grid, cloud, tech]
categories: [grid, cloud, tech]
extra:
imgPath: building_a_new_internet_2.png
---
Welcome back for the second part of this introductory series on ThreeFold Grid technology. [Last time](https://threefold.io/blog/an_intro_to_the_threefold_grid/) we took a high level view of all that the Grid offers. This time, we'll be zooming in on storage, covering the low level components and how they can provide a familiar experience like the cloud "drives" and "boxes" we use today.
<br/>
<br/>
The ThreeFold Grid offers several different storage primitives that can be combined in various ways to meet the needs of developers and end users of Grid capacity. Ultimately, all storage services are a way of presenting the underlying hardware to software workloads in various ways, according to the desired features. ThreeFold has created a few unique storage offerings, providing distinct benefits over legacy cloud infrastructure. From the start, every component has been designed for optimal efficiency and they work together to offer an unprecedented level of security.
<br/>
<br/>
Our most basic storage primitive is a "volume", which simply offers some disk space to an application in a generic way. We'll focus more on the innovative solutions that are built on the Zero Database, or Zdb. These are compatible with existing use cases but also represent a quantum leap forward for privacy and security. They are called Zdbfs, Zstor, and QSFS. Let's take a look at each component and how they work together to provide a complete set of tools for developers building on the Grid. We'll also see why this matters to end users of services that are hosted on the Grid.
## Zdb
Zdb is a low level offering that implements with a subset of features from the popular Redis protocol. It is a key-value store, which means that information is indexed like a dictionary. Each "word" in the database is associated with a "definition" or piece of data. Zdb is super fast and efficient, along with operating in an "append only" manner. This means that all new data is added to empty space following the end of existing data, never overwritten. It's like writing in pen on paper without leaving any white space.
<br/>
<br/>
Append only has many advantages, including extending the life of certain hardware and offering archiving features out of the box. The disadvantage, of course, is that old data is retained even when no longer needed. However, this can be addressed by periodically "compacting" the data, to remove what's no longer needed and restructure what remains with the same level of efficiency. We use Zdb as a base layer for more complex storage implementations that benefit from these features.
## Zdbfs
While Zdb has all of those neat properties, it requires that applications utilize a specific database interface. To expand its capabilities, we have the Zdb Filesystem. With Zdbfs, the back end Zdb is exposed through the most common interface used for storing and retrieving data: a filesystem. This is the same format we're all familiar with from the file explorers on our computers. When running Zdbfs, a new "folder" appears on the system, allowing reading and writing to the connected Zdb without any concern for the underlying database. With Zdbfs, nearly all existing tools for working with data can be plugged in to and benefit from the advantages of Zdb.
## Zstor
So far, we've been discussing solutions that utilize storage space on a single node only. While this offers flexibility for developers with a variety of needs, it is also limited in the sense that the failure of a single node would result in the loss of all data. With that in mind, we offer the Zstor solution for spreading data across multiple nodes in a way that provides both resilience against failures and unprecedented security.
<br/>
<br/>
Zstor takes a single file as input, to be stored among a number of nodes as specified in its configuration. The system is flexible and able to cater to different needs for performance, redundancy, and geographical distribution. Understanding what happens behind the scenes requires a little math, but I'll provide as simple an explanation as I can. Zstor has a very unique property: it does not actually upload any of the user's data to the back end nodes, but it is able to reconstruct the data later based on the descriptive information that is stored.
### The magic of erasure encoding
Sounds like magic? Well, let's explore briefly how this is possible. Zstor relies on a technology known as erasure encoding, which was originally designed to protect data against errors that sometimes occur in the normal operation of computer hardware. Rather than simply making copies of the data as backups, a clever scheme is used to efficiently offer the same benefit. With basic redundancy, four extra copies would be needed to accommodate four failures without a loss of data. Erasure encoding can accomplish the same failure tolerance using less than half the space needed for the original data.
<br/>
<br/>
While erasure encoding can be implemented by storing the data itself along with some extra data known as "parity", it can also be implemented without storing the original data at all. As a simplified example, let's say that we want to store the number 13. First, we take each digit individually, 1 and 3. Next, we calculate 1 + 3 = 4 and 3 - 1 = 2. By storing 4 and 2, along with the instructions to reverse these calculations, we have everything needed to get back to 13. If we add one more equation, say 1 - 3 = -2, we can restore the original data using any two of the numbers we've computed.
<br/>
<br/>
Each of our values would be stored on separate nodes, while the instructions to recombine them would be stored in yet another location. If an attacker were to compromise one of these nodes, they would only have a number that's meaningless without the other elements. If a single node fails, the original data can be restored using the remaining nodes, and we can add a new node to bring us back to our desired state. By tuning these values, additional security or redundancy can be achieved. We might decide that we want 9 of 10 values to be present for reconstruction, representing a high level of security. Alternatively, a 2 of 10 arrangement would provide high redundancy, tolerating the failure of 8 nodes.
## Quantum Safe Filesystem
With all of these components working together, we have ThreeFold's flagship storage solution, the Quantum Safe Filesystem or QSFS. It uses Zstor to backup data written to a Zdbfs. This provides the convenient and highly compatible filesystem interface along with the exceptional security and redundancy benefits of Zstor. We call it quantum safe, because even an attacker with a quantum computer would not be able to decode users' data, if they managed to hack into one of the back end nodes—already an extraordinary feat given the exceptional security of Zero OS.
## Bringing it home
So, we've toured a good bit of technology which might be feeling a bit abstract at this point. Bringing this home, our front end experience with these technologies can feel no different than any of the "drives" and "boxes" we use to store our files in the cloud. In fact, ThreeFold has already developed a prototype file browser based on QSFS which has many cool features like editing documents and viewing media directly in the web interface. It's one piece of a full suite of solutions we're excited to showcase and invite the community to test soon.
<br/>
<br/>
I hope you found this piece informative and approachable. Thanks for joining me to learn and explore the wonderful world of ThreeFold technology. We'll cover more aspects of what makes it all tick in future parts of this series. Do you have questions or feel like chatting about what's possible with ThreeFold's technology? We'd love to hear from you on [our forum](https://forum.threefold.io) or in [our Telegram group](https://t.me/threefold).

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---
id: building_a_new_internet_from_the_ground_up_3
title: "Building a New Internet From the Ground Up – Part 3: Compute"
image_caption: The ThreeFold Grid Peer-to-Peer Technology
description: Part three of an approachable series on the inner workings of the ThreeFold Grid. This time, we're exploring compute.
date: 2021-10-04
taxonomies:
people: [scott_yeager]
tags: [grid, cloud, tech]
categories: [grid, cloud, tech]
extra:
imgPath: building_a_new_internet_3.png
---
*Welcome back for another installment of our accessible series on ThreeFold Grid technology. We are working through the three major categories that make up cloud infrastructure: storage, compute, and network. This time, we'll be focusing on compute.*
## What is compute?
While [storage](https://threefold.io/blog/building_a_new_internet_from_the_ground_up_pt2/) and network are fairly intuitive concepts – where data lives and how it gets around – compute is about the more mysterious realm of data processing and ultimately computer programming. Don't worry though, you don't need any technical abilities to gain a deeper understanding of what's happening behind the scenes when we use apps or interact with web sites.
<br/>
As mentioned in the [first part](https://threefold.io/blog/an_intro_to_the_threefold_grid/) of this series, compute is basically what happens with data once it reaches its destination. Compute gives data relevance, by processing it according to the instructions provided by developers in their source code. When talking about what the [ThreeFold Grid](https://threefold.io/grid) offers in terms of compute, it's mostly about how the code that developers produce gets executed in order to provide the services we enjoy.
<br/>
With ThreeFold, this actually happens for the most part using the same tools and systems provided by traditional cloud services, meaning that it's highly compatible with existing cloud applications. What really makes the Grid different is that it's been designed to provide a level of efficiency and security that simply isn't possible without starting "from the ground up". Before we get into specifics of compute offerings built into ThreeFold's [Zero-OS](https://threefold.io/how-it-works/zero-os), let's briefly explore what computing is.
## Playing with zeroes and ones
Everything a computer's central processing unit does is based on a limited set of instructions that includes basic mathematical functions, logical operations, and ways to control the flow of a program. At their core, computers are really just automated adding machines that execute specified operations on whatever input they receive. It may be hard to believe that simple math creates all of the vibrant digital experience we enjoy, but at a certain low level, that's the truth.
<br/>
Take a messaging app as an example. Within a computer, all of the text, emojis, and images we see are represented by numbers. When we search for some text within a chat, matches are determined by checking if the numbers corresponding to the words we typed are equal to some numbers corresponding to words that appear in the chat history. This information is then converted into the list of results we see on screen.
<br/>
In this context, compute is mostly responsible for organizing all of our messages based on the individual or group we were talking with, the time that the message happened, and whether or not we've opened it yet. Typically, a messaging app stores data both on our local devices and on a back end in the cloud. Compute is also how the service decides to copy messages you sent on one device to other devices where you have the same app installed.
<br/>
Here is an important distinction about how the ThreeFold Grid operates. In a traditional cloud environment, it is impossible to know for sure what is happening on the backend, even if you are the one running the service. The administrative access retained by the cloud provider can be used for surveillance and tampering that can be very difficult or impossible to detect.
<br/>
Zero OS offers a unique assurance that no one can abuse the Grid in this way, because it operates autonomously with no facilities provided for human intervention. In order to utilize compute capacity on the Grid, individuals and organizations deploy their choice of several "primitives," or basic components, that provide an environment for code to be executed and create the magic we experience as online applications.
## ThreeFold Compute Primitives
Since we're getting a bit into the technical weeds here, we'll just take a brief look at each primitive and what makes it special.
### Zmachine
Zmachine is a lightweight virtual machine (VM) implementation that's been developed in a uniquely efficient way by ThreeFold. VMs are essentially computers within computers, allowing multiple operating systems to run on a single physical system. A common example is running the Windows operating system on a Mac that's already running MacOS.
<br/>
In the cloud world, virtual machines are a classic way to manage complex deployments with flexibility and resilience – by packaging different components into different VMs that can be run side by side and moved between different physical servers with ease. While VMs have been replaced in many cases with the new container paradigm, which we'll cover next, they are still widely used and provide a simpler solution than containers that's sufficient for many use cases.
### Flist
The [Flist](https://threefold.io/how-it-works/zflist) is a next generation container format which extends the industry standard Docker container concept in an efficient and secure way. It is supported directly at the operating system level on Zero OS, and in its latest version on ThreeFold Grid 3.0, provides a unique advantage over traditional containers via the use of mini virtual machines.
<br/>
Containers provide greater efficiency and flexibility than VMs, by sharing parts of the host operating system between containers rather than duplicating the full operating system for each component. This, however, means that containers typically come with less of an assurance that different workloads and their data remain isolated from each other. By employing mini VMs, the Flist concept provides better isolation than traditional container systems while retaining the advantages that containers offer over full VMs.
### Kubernetes
Containers usually represent small parts of a full solution, which are created, interconnected, and destroyed on an ongoing basis. Kubernetes is the industry standard container orchestration system, and it's used to manage many of the largest and most complex cloud deployments. Kubernetes solutions are defined through configuration files that specify the types of containers, how updates are handled, and the network architecture both between containers and with the outside world.
<br/>
Multiple physical servers or VMs are typically used for a Kubernetes "cluster" which provides redundancy and scalability. The ThreeFold Grid provides a lightweight Kubernetes VM that can be used to create clusters according to specific needs. Kubernetes users can, for the most part, simply bring their existing configuration files and recreate their deployments on a Grid based cluster seamlessly.
## Wrapping up
Taken together, the compute primitives offer a comprehensive alternative to existing cloud compute providers. Users of Docker, Kubernetes, and virtual machines can bring their deployments to the Grid with a minimal amount of migration effort. This is distinct from other decentralized cloud projects, which either offer a single solution like Kubernetes or a completely new environment that developers must adapt their code to run within.
<br/>
Better yet, each compute offering on the ThreeFold Grid benefits from the unique efficiency and security features of Zero OS, as well as the unique aspects of the primitives themselves. Thanks again for joining me on this journey into the wonderful world of ThreeFold technology. In the next episode, we'll cover the last element of the cloud infrastructure triad: network.

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---
id: building_a_new_internet_from_the_ground_up_4
title: "Building a New Internet From the Ground Up – Part 4: Network"
image_caption: The ThreeFold Grid Peer-to-Peer Technology
description: We're (finally) back with part 4, looking at the networking aspects of the ThreeFold Grid.
date: 2022-02-03
taxonomies:
people: [scott_yeager]
tags: [decentralization, grid, cloud, tech]
categories: [decentralization, grid, cloud, tech]
extra:
imgPath: building_a_new_internet_pt_4.png
---
After introducing the ThreeFold Grid in [part one](https://threefold.io/blog/an_intro_to_the_threefold_grid/) and diving deep into [storage](https://threefold.io/blog/building_a_new_internet_from_the_ground_up_pt2/) and [compute](https://threefold.io/blog/building_a_new_internet_from_the_ground_up_3/), we’re back with part 4 to look at the networking aspects of the ThreeFold Grid.
<br/>
Computer networking is a rather complex phenomenon with a thankfully intuitive outcome: you send messages from one place to another. We all understand that our digital devices become a lot less interesting when they are not connected to the Internet. However, networking is not just Internet, and when it comes to building a new Internet, it's important to understand what that means.
<br/>
The existing Internet can be defined as a global set of networks and protocols that enable us to do things like load web pages and use apps that rely on external data. It depends on lots of underlying infrastructure, including fiber optic cables running along the ocean floor, our home routers and their connection to an Internet service provider (ISP), lots of cell service towers, and an increasing number of satellites. All of that makes the Internet possible, and it's still required for a new Internet to function.
<br/>
[ThreeFold](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/) uses and builds new protocols to create a network that is interoperable with the existing Internet. These include private overlay networks, the [Planetary Network](https://forum.threefold.io/t/how-our-planetary-network-works/1210) based on Yggdrasil, and various interfaces to the public Internet. Let's see how they work.
## Private overlay networks
Every deployment on the [ThreeFold Grid](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/threefold__tfgrid_primitives?id=network-uses-nu) belongs to a network, which is one of the Grid primitives. These networks allow data to be transmitted between workloads in a private and secure manner. They are called overlay networks because they pass traffic over some underlying network. That could be within a single node or between nodes on infrastructure provided by a farmer. The Grid uses software called WireGuard for this purpose, a simple, fast, and secure option among its alternatives.
<br/>
By means of encryption, the traffic on a private overlay network is unreadable to any other device on that network. Likewise, the workloads within the private network have no visibility of the underlying network. Individuals who deploy workloads can access their networks over a secure tunnel, assuming that one of the nodes in the network is reachable from the public Internet. This is suitable for workload administration and some private applications. For public services and peer-to-peer communication, the ThreeFold Grid provides other solutions.
## Planetary Network
The [Planetary Network](https://library.threefold.me/info/manual/#/technology/threefold__planetary_network?id=planetary-network) is an implementation of the [Yggdrasil Network](https://yggdrasil-network.github.io/about.html), which is a next generation approach to network routing. It is a peer-to-peer solution where all traffic is encrypted and takes the shortest path to its destination. These features make it highly compatible with the ethos and goals of the ThreeFold Grid: privacy, security, and efficiency. The design also allows nodes, workloads, and users to communicate freely without relying on centralized intermediaries.
<br/>
Many [ThreeFold Farmers](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/tfgrid/farming/threefold__farming_intro?id=threefold-farming) connect their nodes to a home router which blocks all inbound traffic by default. This is a sensible feature that doesn't interfere with most Internet usage (enthusiasts who want to host their own website or a gaming server might bypass this, for example). However, nodes on the Grid need to be reachable, especially in order to receive workload definitions from deployers.
<br/>
The Planetary Network solves this by accepting inbound traffic through an outbound connection to a publicly accessible peer. You can think of this like making a call to an operator and then waiting for another call to be routed to you on that line. Even if your phone is set to block all incoming calls, someone can still reach you if they can reach the operator.
<br/>
This also provides a way for workloads to communicate with one another and be reachable by users. Anyone can enable the Planetary Network on their own device to access sites and services in a very [secure and private](https://forum.threefold.io/t/critical-security-updates-for-apple-and-google-underline-need-for-secure-it-ecosystem/1271) way. While the ThreeFold Grid is designed to be fully interoperable with the existing Internet, the Planetary Network provides an alternative which can sit side by side in a seamless way.
### Reliable Message Bus
Using the Planetary Network, nodes and Grid users can send messages over the [Reliable Message Bus](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/manual__rmd). Notably, it is used for the delivery of workload definitions as mentioned earlier. [Zero-OS](https://forum.threefold.io/t/all-you-need-to-know-about-zero-os/1734) supports some other RMB messages as well, for doing things like checking available capacity on a node in real time. RMB is a general purpose protocol that can be used by developers in their applications. It queries the [ThreeFold Blockchain](https://threefold.io/blog/tf_chain/) as a kind of address book for the Planetary Network, enabling nodes and users to find each other in a decentralized way.
## Public IPs and Web Gateways
Finally, let's see how the Grid can offer services over the public Internet using public IP addresses and [web gateways](https://threefold.io/tech/web-gateway/). Everytime we type a domain name into our browser, like threefold.io, it is resolved to an IP address. The browser then forms a connection with that address to retrieve the site we're looking for. Reviving a theme from earlier, that IP must be publicly reachable.
### Public IPs
We're in the midst of a shift from the older IPv4 standard to the newer IPv6 standard. While IPv6 has plenty of addresses for every device on the planet and many more, it hasn't been universally adopted yet, and IPv4 addresses are in short supply. You likely have one assigned to your router at home, and these days, even getting a second one from your ISP can be a difficult and expensive proposition.
<br/>
The ThreeFold Grid allows farmers who own blocks of IPv4 addresses to rent them out to deployers. These addresses get attached to individual workloads which are then reachable over the public Internet. A deployer could then assign their own domain name to that IP and host a website there. This is a very flexible way to make Grid deployments publicly available, but it comes at a relatively high cost.
### Web Gateways
[Web gateways](https://library.threefold.me/info/manual/#/technology/threefold__webgw) are another way to make workloads on the ThreeFold Grid available over the public Internet. In this case, the farmer may provide a domain name that points to one of their nodes which is publicly reachable. Deployers are then able to reserve a subdomain, like explorer.threefold.io is a subdomain of threefold.io, that routes traffic to their workload. It is also possible for a deployer to point their own domain to the gateway node which then routes traffic to the appropriate workloads.
<br/>
We glossed over a bit in the earlier description of domain name to IP address resolution. In fact, multiple domains can point to a single IP address and this is common practice among existing web hosts. Adding similar functionality to the Grid helps to ease the demand for IPv4 addresses and is a lower cost solution for deployers than renting a dedicated IP. The web gateway also serves to enhance security and reliability of Grid-hosted services.
<br/>
The gateway provides a connection from the public Internet to the secure private overlay networks that all workloads use. However, this is not a standard network connection but instead a network socket, which provides security through separation. This is something like passing along the contents of mail pieces without their envelopes. Web gateways also enable redundancy, as multiple gateways can point to the same workload, and multiple workloads can serve the same set of gateways.
<br/>
When we say the ThreeFold Grid scales limitlessly, this is one of the ways that's true. Many nodes, many gateways, many applications, and many users can all fit into this model. Deployers can start with a single [virtual machine](https://library.threefold.me/info/manual/#/manual__weblets_vm?id=virtual-machine) and a single public IP like in the example I'll use to wrap up this piece below, then ramp up to a globally distributed and highly redundant system as their requirements grow.
## Send, receive, complete
Now we've seen how the ThreeFold Grid handles networking. From private and secure communication between workloads, to next generation [peer-to-peer](https://threefold.io/tech/peer-to-peer/) communication and full compatibility with the existing Internet, these offerings are comprehensive. Not only that, but they can be pretty darn fun to play with too.
<br/>
In my own recent experience, I deployed a virtual machine on the Grid with a public IP and hosted a simple website with a map of nodes on the Grid that I'd been working on. I was able to quickly share it with some colleagues and members of the community. It went from a project I was tinkering with on my own computer to a live site on the Internet in a matter of minutes, thanks especially to the [networking features](https://forum.threefold.io/t/tf-deep-dive-session-5-threefold-grid-architecture/1756) of the ThreeFold Grid.
<br/>
For the final piece of this series, we'll see how everything comes together to turn computer code into a meaningful digital experience. Stay tuned!

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---
id: cloud_service_providers
title: "What does it mean to be a Cloud and Internet Service Provider?"
image_caption: Cloud Service Providers
description: Our decentralized solutions empower individuals and promote a more sustainable internet. Learn how you can become a cloud provider and join us in shaping a brighter future.
date: 2024-04-09
taxonomies:
people: [marion_ravarino]
tags: [grid, tech]
categories: [grid, tech]
extra:
imgPath: cloud_provider.png
---
Cloud and Internet service providers form the backbone of our digital experiences. They host data and applications, and facilitate connectivity. Major corporations have long dominated this space. When the Internet started to become mainstream, it was necessary to scale the infrastructure quickly to meet growing demand. Thus, with their vast amounts of resources, big companies were the ones to build this infrastructure and offer services on top.
<br/>
For decades, this has been the paradigm – big companies offer commercial services, and businesses and individuals pay for those services. Endless features, sleek design, and high levels of customer support make it easy and efficient for the user and make the services worth paying for. However, as “users,” we have had to give up a great deal of control and the sovereignty of our data. Further, most of the investment in infrastructure has been done in already-rich countries, leaving large populations in emerging markets without fair and affordable access to Cloud and Internet services. And the economic benefit of the entire industry has mostly stayed in the hands of the few large corporations operating these systems.
<br/>
But a new way forward has emerged. Decentralized and edge computing solutions, such as those offered by ThreeFold, aim to empower individuals, strengthen control and promote a more resilient and environmentally-friendly approach to internet and cloud services. Edge computing, a cornerstone of this paradigm shift, involves processing and storing data closer to the source rather than relying on centralized servers. Leveraging edge computing offers many benefits. By processing data closer to its source, it reduces latency for real-time applications, enhances privacy and security, and empowers regions with local data storage. It also optimizes bandwidth, reduces costs, enables seamless scalability, and contributes to environmental sustainability by minimizing energy consumption. Thus, this initiative directly addresses existing limitations and is essential to creating a better infrastructure.
<br/>
The best part? We can achieve it together.
### **Be a cloud service provider, not just a cloud consumer.**
With ThreeFold’s autonomous technology, anyone can be a cloud service provider without any technical expertise. You can be the Internet, for yourself and for those around you.
<br/>
Being a cloud service provider is a thrilling opportunity to tap into a market worth trillions of dollars – which today is being shared by a relatively small number of companies. This calls for change – a chance to level the playing field and allow more players to benefit from this lucrative industry. But it's not just about financial gain. By entering the cloud services space, you become a catalyst for change. You're not just providing a service; you're creating connections, bridging gaps, and fostering inclusivity. The people around you benefit, too. Lower costs, improved performance, data sovereignty and greater privacy are just some of the advantages they'll enjoy with your services.
<br/>
Finally, by contributing to a more sustainable edge cloud, you're not only ensuring a better future for yourself, but also for the planet. The adoption of a decentralized autonomous cloud reduces energy consumption and minimizes the environmental impact of data transfer, contributing to global sustainability efforts and a greener future.
<br/>
Best of all, you're not just investing in technology - you're investing in a sustainable, connected and rewarding future, powered by the people, for the people. It's ultimately good for you, good for the people around you, and good for the planet.
### **How to become a cloud provider?**
ThreeFold enables you to become a cloud service provider by hosting a 3node, bringing local capacity where people need it most and providing compute, storage and AI capabilities. After setting up this node, being verified and sharing capacity on our grid, your contribution is rewarded.
![Image](./farming_steps.png)
<br/>
Join the movement and [Become a Host](https://www.manual.grid.tf/knowledge_base/technology/grid3_howitworks.html)!

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---
id: data_leaks
title: It's Time We Stand Up For Our Data
image_caption: stand up for our data
description: As consumers, we should be able to trust that our data is truly safe and secure. And today, we cannot. It's time we stand up for what is ours.
date: 2021-06-17
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [decentralization, why]
categories: [decentralization, why]
extra:
imgPath: data_leaks.png
---
Do a quick search for "data leak" on your search engine of choice, and you'll likely see headlines like this:
<br>
- Personal Details of Over 3.3M Volkswagen Customers Exposed in Data Leak
- Billions of emails and passwords appear in largest data leak ever
- Here's How the IRS Could Have Prevented the Tax Data Leak
- Time to Change Your Password: Tips on Protecting Yourself from Online Scams
<br>
Week after week, month after month, year after year, companies are being hacked, private consumer data is being compromised and released, and we somehow begin to think that this is the reality of our world, something we just have to deal with.
<br>
Internet security, cyber attacks, and data leaks are a global threat – and increasingly so as the world moves more digital, and smart people with malicious intent try to take advantage. But this is not normal, nor should it be. As consumers, we should be able to trust that our data is truly safe and secure. And today, we cannot. It's time we stand up for what is ours.
<br>
That's where ThreeFold comes in.
<br>
Many of today's issues around cyber security and data privacy come from the lack of innovation in the IT industry over the last decades and the reliance on centralized hyper-scale data centers. ThreeFold has disrupted this model in a few ways:
<br>
First, we started from the ground up. Some ThreeFold co-founders have been working in the cloud & storage space for over two decades, having built components of the cloud and Internet still used today. They knew that the only way to have a truly secure and data sovereign Internet was to rebuild the architecture and the technology components from scratch. So they did. A few years down the line, we've created a new operating system, a smart contract for IT, and a peer-to-peer network that can be scaled to anywhere by anyone.
<br>
Second, we removed people from the equation. IT has become so overly-complex that people are required in order to maintain it. Because of this, "backdoors" are needed to allow these gateholders to enter the systems and make necessary fixes. But this can lead to human error, and also allows people with malicious intent to make their way in as well. With Autonomous IT powering the ThreeFold Grid, the technology runs and heals itself, and drastically reduces the opportunity for humans to interfere.
<br>
And lastly, your data is owned by you. Rather than relying on centralized data centers, the ThreeFold Grid is an Internet grid made up by independent ThreeFold "Farmers" from around the world who plug in capacity from their home or office. While they own the hardware, they do not own the data inside. User data is stored across multiple devices, and proprietary data storage algorithms ensure that the data cannot be retrieved by anyone besides the user – not the farmer, and not even us.
<br>
As Einstein said, "We can't solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them."
<br>
We have a lot more information in [our manual](https://manual.grid.tf/knowledge_base/technology/technology_toc.html) about the technology, but what we want to emphasize here with you is that we don't have to accept data leaks and hacking. There is an answer to the cybersecurity issues the world is facing. And that answer is ThreeFold.

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---
id: decentralzing_the_internet
title: Decentralizing the Internet
image_caption: technology internet
description: In this article, we discuss the general concept of a ‘decentralized grid’ and how anyone can plug-in capacity to the ThreeFold Grid.
date: 2019-08-21
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [decentralization, farming, grid, why, cloud, tech]
categories: [decentralization, farming, grid, why, cloud, tech]
extra:
imgPath: decentralizing_the_internet.png
---
*This article was originally published by Roel Van Sabben, a former member of the ThreeFold team.*
## Decentralization
In 1989, the Internet changed the world as we know it with the introduction of the World Wide Web. With time the Internet empowered people to share information in a decentralized way. Shortly after, big companies like Facebook, Google, and Apple emerged, providing many solutions that revolutionized the way we live. The “sharing economy” has grown exponentially over the last 5-10 years. This is thanks to a more simplified information flow and well-developed technology, which:
<br>
- Enables a much easier integration of independent players into the sharing economy.
- Eliminates the need for extensive management and structure of marketplace operators.
<br>
We are entering a flat-structure economy. An economy where fewer managerial levels are needed for the system to function. New technologies such as blockchain and the Internet of Things facilitate this ongoing trend. Participants can now interact on a peer-to-peer basis, forming marketplaces and organizations according to pre-agreed, programmed contracts.
## The current Internet is centralized
Despite the growth in popularity for decentralized systems, organizations, and currencies, the Internet remains centralized. The centralization within the Internet industry brought many barriers to entry. Indeed, to compete in the highly competitive market of Internet capacity dominated by big IT companies, massive investment, and IT development are needed.
<br>
But what is really scary is that the current industry exploits the market tremendously. Data is officially the most valuable asset on earth for a few years, and about 20 companies rule over more than 80% of the cloud industry. In other words - these companies together have more than 80% of the world's information. In recent years, we noticed the dangers that can arise with the wrong intentions within the data industry with the 'Cambridge Analytica Scandal', also highlighted in the movie ['The Great Hack'.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX8GxLP1FHo)
<br>
ThreeFold has been developing technology that allows the decentralization of the Internet infrastructure - removing the need for data centers, and allowing anyone to take part in the Internet capacity market. Adding capacity to the ThreeFold Grid (TF Grid) makes you a ThreeFold Farmer (TF Farmer). The more decentralized the Internet gets, the more secure and effective it will become. The already is the largest grid of compute and storage in the world.
## How To Participate
The process of becoming a ThreeFold Farmer is very straightforward. Anyone can join the ThreeFold Grid by downloading the ThreeFold Zero-OS onto their nodes and connecting them to the ThreeFold Grid.
<br>
By doing this you will become an operator of a "micro data center" and with that earn ThreeFold Tokens. With or without experience in the field, anyone can become a ThreeFold Farmer. By becoming a ThreeFold Farmer, you empower a new neutral Internet that belongs to humanity - not corporations.
<br>
_Blog written in 2019, updated January 2021._

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---
id: dunia_yetu
title: "Empowering Tanzania's Digital Future: The Dunia Yetu Initiative"
image_caption: Dunia Yetu
description: Dunia Yetu (Our World) is a collaborative and co-owned movement to redefine the digital landscape in Tanzania and East Africa, empower coders spur economic development, and build a self-reliant sovereign digital ecosystem for a better digital future.
date: 2024-01-26
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [community, decentralization, event, collaboration, why]
categories: [community, decentralization, event, collaboration, why]
extra:
imgPath: dy.png
---
### Vision of Collective Empowerment
In the heart of Tanzania, a transformative movement is underway, known as Dunia Yetu, Swahili for "Our World.". More than just a name; it embodies a vision of collective empowerment and digital self-reliance. Dunia Yetu is a beacon of unity, encouraging Tanzanians to take control of their digital destiny. It seeks to redefine the nation's digital landscape, fostering a future where citizens are not just users but architects of their online world.
<br>
### Empowering Tanzania's Youth and Future
At its core, Dunia Yetu is about empowering Tanzanians to reclaim ownership of their digital infrastructure. It envisions a future where the benefits of the Internet are harnessed by the people, for the people. For millions of Tanzanians, Dunia Yetu could represent more than just connectivity; it's a gateway to education, opportunity, and economic empowerment. By democratizing access to the Internet, Dunia Yetu will open doors for entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration, especially for the youth.
With this project, Tanzania's youth are empowered to shape their digital future, harnessing technology to overcome challenges and seize opportunities. It's not just about connectivity; it's about unlocking the full potential of Tanzania's next generation.
<br>
### Looking Ahead to 2024:
As Dunia Yetu gains momentum, stay tuned for exciting updates and milestones. In 2024, this transformative project will see the light, ushering in a new era of digital empowerment for Tanzania.
**Together, through Dunia Yetu, Tanzanians are building a brighter, more inclusive future—one where the digital world truly belongs to us all.**

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---
id: edge_computing
title: "ThreeFold: Meeting Digital Demand at the Edge"
image_caption: Edge Computing
description: Learn what edge computing means and what it offers compared to centralized cloud infrastructures.
date: 2024-04-18
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [grid, tech]
categories: [grid, tech]
extra:
imgPath: edge_computing.png
isFeatured: true
---
*This article was originally published by Emilie Ouwerx, a former member of the ThreeFold team.*
<br>
Today, technological advancements are accelerating at unprecedented rates and the demand for cloud resources has boomed, with the global cloud services market estimated to reach [$2.5tn by 2031](https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2023/04/03/2639822/0/en/Cloud-Services-Market-is-Expected-to-Reach-2-5-Trillion-by-2031-Allied-Market-Research.html). This is due to a range of factors, including accelerating technological adoption in emerging markets, the rapid digitization of business, the soaring volume of data generated by loT devices, the adoption of Al and machine learning technologies, and the increasing reliance on real-time data processing.
### **The Dilemma of Centralized Cloud Infrastructure**
From bustling cities to the remote corners of the globe, the need for reliable, scalable, and secure cloud infrastructure is universal. But as this demand surges, it is increasingly clear that traditional centralized cloud infrastructures (mostly hyperscale data centers located in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific) are no longer sufficient to meet the evolving needs of today's digital landscape. Not only do data centers face an exponential increase in the amount of computing power needed globally (US data center demand alone is forecasted to surge [10% annually until 2030](https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/investing-in-the-rising-data-center-economy)), but confronted with emerging technologies and workloads, they also face inherent latency issues, bandwidth constraints, scalability challenges, and security risks. These limitations hinder the delivery of seamless and efficient cloud services to users worldwide.
<br>
The energy and sustainability challenges of these emerging technologies are demonstrated through the example of ChatGPT-3. Its training alone consumed [1,287 MWh of energy and emitted over 550 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent](https://www.wired.com/story/the-generative-ai-search-race-has-a-dirty-secret/). Such energy-intensive processes are not only a concern for the environment but also highlight the strain on traditional centralized cloud infrastructure. We need a more sustainable alternative to support the soaring demand for cloud services.
### **Meeting Demand at the Edge**
Edge computing emerges as a compelling solution to address the challenges facing centralized cloud infrastructure. It involves processing data closer to its source (where it is generated), typically at or near the "edge" of the network, where computing resources are deployed in proximity to the devices or sensors that generate the data. This proximity enables quicker data processing and minimizes latency, addressing the shortcomings of centralized data centers. As more devices and applications require processing and storage capabilities at the edge for improved performance, lower latency, and enhanced reliability, the demand for edge computing solutions continues to grow.
<br>
According to [Alexandra Rotaru](https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS50386323), senior research analyst at the International Data Corporation (IDC), edge computing is “one of the most resilient and attractive areas of investments, growing globally at a double-digit rate over the next five years”, underscoring its growing significance in meeting the evolving computational needs of modern enterprises and service providers. People are clearly looking for alternatives to the centralized data model with [Gartner](https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/what-edge-computing-means-for-infrastructure-and-operations-leaders) predicting that by 2025, 75% of enterprise-generated data will be processed and created outside of traditional centralized clouds and data centers.
### **Hello ThreeFold**
ThreeFold, a decentralized autonomous cloud infrastructure, does edge computing by definition. Our cloud is built from 3Nodes, hardware deployed by people locally, allowing data to be processed and stored closer to the source. Decentralized cloud infrastructure is a distributed network of computing resources that are not controlled by a single centralized authority. Instead, these resources are spread across a network of geographically dispersed nodes and managed collectively through decentralized protocols and technologies. As the largest and most advanced decentralized autonomous cloud network in the world, ThreeFold is a pivotal player in meeting growing global demand at the edge.
<br>
![Image](threefold_grid.png#mx-auto)
<br>
Let's dive deeper into why decentralized cloud infrastructure and edge computing offer a compelling solution to the challenges posed by centralized cloud infrastructure:
<br>
- **Reduced Latency**: By processing data closer to where it is generated, edge computing dramatically reduces latency, ensuring that applications and services respond swiftly to user inputs. Whether it's streaming high-definition video, conducting real-time financial transactions, facilitating real-time interactions in VR and AR settings or controlling IoT devices, minimizing latency is essential for delivering a seamless user experience without delays.
- **Increased Energy Efficiency**: Processing data closer to the source minimizes the energy expended in transmitting data over long distances. Read more about ThreeFold’s energy efficiency [here](https://www.threefold.io/blog/energy-efficiency-explained/).
- **Improved Bandwidth Efficiency**: Edge computing optimizes bandwidth usage by minimizing the need to transmit data over long distances to centralized data centers. This conserves network resources, cuts costs and enables more efficient data transfer, particularly in regions with limited connectivity or bandwidth constraints.
- **Enhanced Scalability**: As devices multiply, centralized data centers often face data overload. Edge computing resolves this by distributing processing tasks closer to the data source, which improves scalability and ensures efficient handling of increasing workloads.
- **Data Privacy and Security**: Data is dispersed across a distributed network of nodes rather than being stored within a single centralized location. This distributed approach reduces the risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, and single points of failure, bolstering the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information.
- **Support for Real-Time Applications and Emerging Workloads**: Edge computing enables the seamless deployment of real-time applications and services, including immersive virtual environments (metaverse), AI-driven analytics, and IoT ecosystems.
<br>
![Image](why_decentralized_cloud.png#mx-auto)
<br>
As technology evolves, traditional centralized clouds reveal significant limitations. Decentralized, edge-centric approaches to cloud computing are essential to address the ever-growing global demand for cloud resources and to adapt to the evolving needs of businesses, consumers and communities worldwide. With ThreeFold at the forefront, the future of cloud computing is decentralized, distributed, and transformative.

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---
id: energy_efficiency_explained
title: "ThreeFold's Energy Efficiency Explained"
image_caption: Efficiency Explained
description: Read how ThreeFold technology results in up-to 90% energy savings depending on workloads.
date: 2023-10-11
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [decentralization, grid, why, tech]
categories: [decentralization, grid, why, tech]
extra:
imgPath: energy_efficiency_explained.png
---
At ThreeFold, we [believe](/mission) that everything we do should benefit people and our planet. The emergence of a decentralized Internet grid not only reshapes the digital landscape but helps to pioneer a more sustainable future. At the core of this evolution lies a series of innovative strategies poised to revolutionize the way we perceive and utilize digital infrastructure.
## Zero OS
Traditionally, operating systems have been laden with an array of features, consuming substantial hardware resources. However, with Zero OS, our paradigm shifts towards a lightweight, autonomous design. By getting rid of unnecessary complexities, this design not only optimizes hardware space but also fosters an environment conducive to enhanced IT workloads.
## Quantum-Safe Storage
One of the most staggering inefficiencies within the industry has been the substantial overhead of storage systems. Our quantum-safe storage system marks a monumental departure from the norm, slashing the overhead from a staggering 400% to a mere fraction, 20%. This unprecedented leap in efficiency heralds a new era of streamlined storage practices, ensuring optimal utilization of resources.
## Efficient Node Management
Energy conservation takes center stage with our node management tool, Farmerbot. Embracing the principle of 'on-demand' functionality, nodes remain dormant when idle, conserving energy resources. Through the implementation of Farmerbot, these nodes seamlessly power on and off as required, minimizing unnecessary consumption without compromising accessibility.
## Automated Autonomy
We're saying goodbye to human intermediaries and centralized control centers. Our system operates autonomously, governed by smart contracts that orchestrate every facet of its functionality. This automated ecosystem not only eradicates the need for constant human intervention but also ensures streamlined operations, optimizing efficiency at every turn.
## Peer-to-Peer Advancement
The conventional route from sender to recipient often travels extensive distances, bouncing through data centers and intermediaries. Our peer-to-peer network revolutionizes this process by forging direct connections, seeking the shortest path between sender and recipient. By circumventing unnecessary detours, this approach minimizes energy expenditure and data latency, elevating both speed and efficiency.
## Final Thoughts
The dawn of ThreeFold's decentralized Internet grid beckons a transformative era in digital infrastructure. Through the combination of a lightweight operating system, quantum-safe storage, energy-conscious node management, automated autonomy, and a peer-to-peer network, the paradigm of efficiency in the digital realm has been redefined. The aggregated result is up-to 90% energy savings depending on workloads. This evolution not only champions sustainability but also propels us towards a future where connectivity thrives in harmony with resource conservation.

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---
id: escape_great_hack
title: An escape from the Great Hack
image_caption: technology hackers
description: I can’t help but think how unfair it is that in today’s digital society, people are being treated like products, because there is no such thing as a ‘free’ platform without YOU being the product.
date: 2019-11-21
taxonomies:
people: [sabrina_sadik]
tags: [decentralization, why]
categories: [decentralization, why]
extra:
imgPath: escape_great_hack.png
---
## The neutrality of the current Internet is in danger.
Have you seen ‘The Great Hack’ on Netflix? It’s a documentary about the Cambridge Analytica hacking scandal, where personal data of millions of peoples’ Facebook profiles were harvested without their consent and used for political advertising purposes.
<br/>
<br/>
While watching it, I couldn’t help but think how unfair it is that in today’s digital society, people are being treated like products, because there is no such thing as a ‘free’ platform without YOU being the product. What did reassure me, is that people are sick of having their data used this way. But what they might not know, is that the internet problem is bigger than ‘just’ data protection.
<br/>
<br/>
The Internet is growing at an exponential rate. To service this demand, a few large companies (Google, Amazon, Alibaba, Facebook, etc.) have built and continue to build supersized, power-hungry and centralized data centers. These data centers make up the majority of all Internet capacity available today. However, the Internet is expanding much faster than datacenters and the planet can cope with.
<br/>
<br/>
In addition to that, the Internet is extremely centralized, with most of these data centers being located in the US. Think of it like electricity. If consumers in, for example, Turkey had to use electricity generated in the US, it would be too expensive and inefficient, because it is too far away. The transmission lines would be too strained and losses and repairs would make it unsustainable. Capacity is like electricity. When centralized, it becomes too expensive and wasteful for remote users.
## So what is the solution to these problems?
The Internet needs to be more distributed, cost-effective, neutral, and sustainable. ThreeFold has developed such a new technology, the ThreeFold Grid (Grid) and a token which enables all this to happen.
<br/>
<br/>
Combining the values of the ThreeFold Foundation (freedom, equality and fairness) with the technology developed by TFTech (Zero-OS, Zero-Chain, 3Bot) and a digital currency called the ThreeFold Token (a decentralized digital currency and means of payment to exchange autonomous and decentralized Internet services) we believe that we have all the tools in order to actually make a difference in tomorrow's digital world. Question is, are you ready to join us?
<br/>
<br/>
Please visit [our forum](https://forum.threefold.io) if you have any questions or would like to continue the conversation!
<br/>
<br/>

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---
id: evolution_of_the_internet
title: "The Evolution of the Internet: From Free to Controlled, and Back Again"
image_caption: technology
description: Explore the internet's evolution from a decentralized network to a controlled system, and the emerging movement to reclaim its original vision through ThreeFold.
date: 2024-08-16
taxonomies:
people: [bernadette_amanda_caster]
tags: [tech,community]
categories: [tech,community]
extra:
imgPath: evloution_of_the_internet.png
isFeatured: true
---
The internet has undergone a remarkable transformation since its inception in the 1960s. What started as a small, decentralized network designed for sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration has evolved into a vast, complex system that influences almost every aspect of modern life. However, this journey has been marked by significant shifts in the structure and nature of the internet, leading us to a critical juncture today.
#### The Birth of the Internet
In the 1960s, the internet was born from a simple yet revolutionary idea—a peer-to-peer network that allowed researchers and institutions to connect and share information freely. This early version of the internet was decentralized, with no central authority controlling the data flow. It was a place where collaboration and open communication flourished, laying the groundwork for a digital world built on trust and transparency. The internet was seen as a tool for empowering individuals and fostering a global exchange of ideas, embodying a vision of a free and open digital space.
#### The Internet Changes
As the internet expanded throughout the 2000s, it became a global phenomenon, with millions of users coming online and businesses quickly recognizing its potential. However, this rapid growth came at a cost. The internet, once a bastion of free and open communication, began to be dominated by commercial interests. Companies saw the vast potential for profit in the digital world and began to exert control over the internet's infrastructure and the data flowing through it.
<br/>
This shift toward commercialization led to a more centralized and controlled version of the internet. The original spirit of the internet—one of trust, openness, and decentralized collaboration—started to fade. User data became a valuable commodity, often exploited for profit, and the internet grew increasingly insecure. The once-free and collaborative space became a battleground for control, and the idea of a decentralized internet seemed to be slipping away.
#### A New Era for the Internet
Today, in 2024, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in the history of the internet. While it has become an essential part of our lives, the current model is not sustainable. Issues like data privacy, security, and the environmental impact of massive data centers have highlighted the need for change.
<br/>
In response to these challenges, a new vision for the internet is emerging—one that seeks to restore the principles of sovereignty, security, and sustainability. This vision is being realized by developing ultra-secure, green, scalable, and user-friendly autonomous cloud technologies. These innovations aim to create a more sovereign internet, where users have control over their data and where the infrastructure is more environmentally responsible.
<br/>
The goal is to return to the original ideals of the internet—open-sourced and decentralized—but with the added benefits of modern technology. By embracing these new technologies and renewing our commitment to decentralization and openness, we can create a better, more secure internet for everyone.
#### Redefining the Internet: ThreeFold's Path to Change
The internet’s evolution from a modest, collaborative network to a global powerhouse has been revolutionary, yet this growth has come at a cost. Originally built on principles of openness, decentralization, and the free exchange of information, the internet has increasingly become centralized, commercialized, and fraught with privacy and security concerns. Today, despite its immense power, the internet has strayed from the visionary ideals that once guided its creation. However, there is a growing movement to reclaim the internet’s original promise. By revisiting these foundational principles and embracing new technologies, we have the opportunity to build a digital world that is secure, sustainable, and true to the vision of a free and open internet.
<br/>
This is where ThreeFold comes in. ThreeFold is pioneering a fundamental shift in how we approach the internet and cloud infrastructure. By building from the ground up, ThreeFold is creating a decentralized autonomous cloud that is truly transformative. Unlike traditional cloud services, which are often centralized and controlled by a few major players, ThreeFold’s infrastructure is distributed across a network of 3Nodes—hardware deployed locally by individuals and communities worldwide.
<br/>
This decentralized approach offers significant benefits: it enhances security by reducing single points of failure, lowers costs by leveraging local resources, increases energy efficiency by processing data closer to the source, and provides unmatched scalability to meet global demand. By empowering individuals to contribute to and benefit from this network, ThreeFold is helping to create a sovereign internet—one that is owned by the people, for the people.
<br/>
ThreeFold’s vision goes beyond technology: it’s about returning to the core values that once defined the internet. By fostering genuine collaboration, respecting privacy, and ensuring that the internet remains open and accessible to all, ThreeFold is helping to usher in a new era. In this era, the internet will not only connect us but also empower us, enabling a more equitable, secure, and sustainable digital future.

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---
id: farming_pools
title: "Unveiling Farming Pools"
image_caption: Farming Pools
description: Farming Pools mark a significant step towards ensuring reliability, fairness, and robust governance within our ecosystem.
date: 2023-12-05
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [community, decentralization, farming]
categories: [community, decentralization, farming]
extra:
imgPath: farming_pools.png
---
With a long-term focus on version 4.0, and a move towards commercialization, we are embracing several new strategies to ensure more reliability and trust. Farming Pools are an innovative mechanism designed to foster better governance and equitable participation within our network.
<br>
Farming Pools represent a shift in our ecosystem. Every version 4.0 Farmer will need to join a Farming Pool, marking a collective commitment to uphold stringent service level agreements. These agreements will encompass crucial aspects like uptime, response time, and available bandwidth. Furthermore, adherence to a service agreement and specific terms and conditions is paramount, ensuring a standardized quality of service across the network.
<br>
Empowering our Farmers, the introduction of Farming Pools grants them the authority to set pricing for their offered services. Whether it's storage, network capabilities, or computing capacity, Farmers hold the reins in determining the value they provide.
<br>
In addition, Farmers will now have the option to stake tokens on their farms. This strategic staking mechanism introduces an additional layer of accountability — a 'slashing' mechanism. In the event of failing to meet the agreed-upon service level commitments, a proportion of their stake may be forfeited. This not only incentivizes reliability but also fortifies the overall quality and dependability of our network.
<br>
Central to the Farming Pools is a regulated approach. It provides a centralized platform facilitating staking, token holding, as well as regulated buying and selling of tokens. This centralized stance ensures oversight and governance while maintaining the decentralized ethos that defines our network.
<br>
Farming Pools, therefore, mark a significant step towards ensuring reliability, fairness, and robust governance within our ecosystem. By uniting Farmers under stringent agreements, empowering them to set prices, and introducing accountability through token staking, we fortify the foundation of a network built upon trust, integrity, and collective responsibility.

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---
id: ground_up_innovations
title: "From the ground up: Three inventions that make ThreeFold possible"
image_caption: Ground Up Innovations
description: The future of the Internet lies in breaking free from the constraints of outdated, centralized systems and embracing a new paradigm.
date: 2024-07-24
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [grid,decentralization,tech,why]
categories: [grid,decentralization,tech,why]
extra:
imgPath: ground_up_innovations.png
---
Building a cloud and internet infrastructure from the ground up is no easy, or quick, task. But if we want a truly different way forward, there is no other way, really. We do what we do, the way we do it, because we cannot continue to put “band-aids” on problems which require a much deeper and thoughtful approach.
<br/>
*Failing to address systemic flaws at their root cause only creates more issues.*
<br/>
This is how, in part, the Internet today became a complex, unsafe, inefficient, highly-centralized system in the first place – where many of the biggest platforms also own the infrastructure and profit from us, the “users.”
<br/>
This is why we see outages and shutdowns and data hacks and masses of people migrating from platform to platform in search of greater privacy. But remember, you’re not “De-Googling” yourself if the alternative you migrate to runs on Google or some similar centralized cloud infrastructure.
<br/>
This is why we have built a decentralized autonomous cloud infrastructure from the ground up. To enable a sovereign Internet which is owned by the people – safe, secure, and can scale to billions, all while driving cost and energy consumption down dramatically.
<br/>
So let’s take a look at what makes this all possible:
### **A new bare metal operating system**
It is challenging to use current Linux-based operating systems safely and efficiently on the edges of the Internet. They require central management, involve excessive complexity, and prove difficult to update and maintain, resulting in numerous security vulnerabilities. To revolutionize the internet, we had to rethink how we host our applications, essentially reinventing the concept of a cloud-based operating system.
<br/>
[Zero OS](https://threefold.info/tech/tech/zos_innovation.html) is an innovative operating system, retaining the Linux kernel but fundamentally redesigned for heightened security, efficiency, and support for true peer-to-peer and decentralized workloads. This unique operating system doesn't require installation on hard disks or SSDs; it remains stateless, consistently up to date, and autonomously managed without human intervention. Its design enables scalability to millions of nodes and self-healing application delivery, opening new possibilities in system resilience and reliability.
### **A quantum safe storage system**
Traditional backend storage systems have their roots in centralized environments, focusing on low-latency and closed security setups. However, these characteristics make them less suitable for use in decentralized cloud contexts.
<br/>
Newer generation storage systems such as protocol-driven or blockchain-based solutions may face scalability and performance limitations and may not fulfill certain critical requirements that we consider essential.
<br/>
[Quantum Safe Storage](https://threefold.info/tech/tech/zstor_innovation.html) is an ultra-scalable system capable of storing data indestructibly and efficiently. Previous versions of this system created by our team are widely used to store Zetabytes of information by large organizations.
### **A quantum safe network system**
The current centralized state of the internet poses significant security risks, with compromised routers and growing cyber threats (trillions of USD per year now), making everyone vulnerable to hacking. Industry responses involve disabling original features, hindering true peer-to-peer connectivity and personal server capabilities. Workarounds and system hacks have become the norm.
<br/>
[Mycelium](https://threefold.info/tech/tech/mycelium_inno.html) is an overlay network layer designed to enhance the existing internet infrastructure while remaining compatible with all current applications. It empowers true peer-to-peer communication. Mycelium can look for the shortest path, has a built-in naming and CDN (Content Delivery) system, and can survive disaster and network cuts much more efficiently as is possible today.
### **The only way**
The future of the Internet lies in breaking free from the constraints of outdated, centralized systems and embracing a new paradigm. By fundamentally addressing the root causes of inefficiency, insecurity, and centralization in today's systems, we can create a more resilient and equitable digital world.
<br/>
*If interested, [go deeper](https://www.threefold.io/blog/three-layers/) into the inner-workings of the Internet as compared to ThreeFold.*

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---
id: hatch_podcast
title: Empowering Digital Sovereignty- Collaborative Innovations for Africa’s Regenerative Future
image_caption: hatch podcast
description: A collaborative discussion between HATCH, ThreeFold, and Hub Culture explored the intersections of AI, digital sovereignty, highlighting Africa's potential for self-sufficient development and much more.
date: 2024-06-21
taxonomies:
people: [bernadette_amanda_caster]
tags: [community, event, collaboration, why]
categories: [community, event, collaboration, why]
extra:
imgPath: hatch_podcast.png
---
#### Introduction
In a recently published collaborative episode between HATCH, ThreeFold, and Hub Culture's Chronicle Discussions, innovative minds converged in Zanzibar, Tanzania, to delve into the intersections of technology, digital sovereignty, and the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI).
#### African Regenerative Futures - Part 1
Led by Tate Chamberlain, the conversation featured Stan Stalnaker (Founder and CEO of Hub Culture), Kristof de Spiegeleer (co-founder of ThreeFold), and Kalebu Gwalugano (Founder and CEO of Sarufi), each offering unique perspectives on the open-source Internet, the future of digital communities, AI development, and data sovereignty.
<br/>
Kalebu introduced [Sarufi](https://sarufi.io/), a platform he created to empower developers and business owners to develop tailored chatbots in local languages, utilizing AI technologies. Gualugano's vision resonated with Stan and Kristof, who emphasized the importance of community-driven initiatives and open-source principles in driving technological innovation.
<br/>
[Hub Culture's](https://hubculture.com/) commitment to digital identity, asset tokenization, and AI governance aligned closely with ThreeFold's mission to revolutionize Internet infrastructure and promote individual sovereignty. The two entities showcased the potential for collaborative efforts in advancing AI capabilities while maintaining ethical standards and data sovereignty.
<br/>
The conversation covered a range of topics:
- **Evolving nature of AI**: Ethical considerations in AI development; Concerns about data privacy and algorithmic bias; Importance of responsible AI development
- **Zanzibar's tech scene and initiatives by ThreeFold alongside Sarufi & Hubcluture**: Potential to shape digital communities and AI development; Foster collaboration and promote open-source principles; Prioritize digital sovereignty and human-centric design; Guided by ethical principles and community engagement; Aim to create a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable digital future
- **Collaboration between Kristof, Stan, and Kalebu**: Convergence of values and visions; Emphasis on open-source software, digital identity, and AI development; Shared journey towards empowering and ethically sound technology; Exploration of AI, digital sovereignty, and community-driven innovation
- **Exploration of AI's Present & Future**: Questions of sovereignty, control, and intelligence; Intersecting paths of technology, community, and digital innovation; AI as a sovereign being; Challenge to conventional views of AI development; Current limitations of AI; Importance of understanding ethical implications
### African Regenerative Futures - Part 2
The African Regenerative Futures Summit in Zanzibar brought together key voices to discuss Tanzania's development opportunities in a lively manner, focusing on technology, education, and entrepreneurship. Veronica Likunama and Victor Muhagachi emphasized the importance of local context and community support in overcoming systemic challenges. Dr. Stephanie Dungu's entrepreneurial journey underscored the need for innovative solutions in healthcare. Participants advocated for a unique, self-sufficient development path for Africa, prioritizing local talent, sustainable practices, and collaborative efforts to foster holistic growth and redefine success.
<br/>
You can listen to the full podcast on [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/4z23AVcUKniR2NbTUxjrj1?si=RNk_667qSNODn_mMSXuoRA), [Soundcloud](https://soundcloud.com/iaminterchange/african-regenerative-futures-part-1?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing), or [Apple Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/african-regenerative-futures-part-1/id1196541263?i=1000650863066)

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---
id: how_to_test_the_grid_part_one
title: ThreeFold Grid Testing - Ensuring Quality for Users
image_caption: technology
description: Learn about the testing process on the ThreeFold Grid, covering four networks and utilizing both manual and automated tests for stability and reliability.
date: 2024-05-03
taxonomies:
people: [bernadette_amanda_caster]
tags: [tech,grid,community]
categories: [tech,grid,community]
extra:
imgPath: testing_main.png
---
Hi there and welcome to ThreeFold Grid Testing: Part One!
</br>
In this blog, we will introduce you to the overall cycle of testing on the TFGrid. Before releasing anything to the mainnet, TF engineers test three different networks: Devnet, Qanet, and Testnet. Testing also continues on the Mainnet even after the release of the updates. Today, we will go through the major steps of this process.
### **But first – why is testing important?**
Testing upgrades as they're developed ensures we have a stable operation of the TFGrid that is constantly optimal for our community. It lets us see what works well and what still needs fixing. By the time our community gets these upgrades, they've been tested many times to make sure they're top-notch.
</br>
When it comes to testing the developments on the ThreeFold Grid, we need to be careful, especially when we're doing separate tests from the different networks. If we don't focus on testing the developments independently, testing can become a lot slower and more complicated.
</br>
**Different networks for testing:** We test on 3 different networks before we release anything on Mainnet.
![Image](./testing_roadmap.jpg)
</br>
### **Testing all Networks sequentially**
Our journey through these networks follows a well-defined path.
</br>
First, verification starts on Devnet with the dev team leading the validation process. Once the development team approves, we release the grid to the Qanet for further examination.
</br>
The QA teams conduct iterative test runs within Qanet, leading to a Bug Assessment Meeting to address reported issues. If the release is deemed ready for deployment, it moves to Testnet for an extended observation period.
</br>
Following two weeks of rigorous testing on Testnet releases advance to Mainnet once a community vote approves a Grid Enhancement Proposal, indicating readiness for widespread adoption. As the release enters Mainnet, QA teams begin new test iterations to ensure a smooth transition for user accessibility.
![Image](./testing_cycle.png)
</br>
Testing is done both manually and automated:
</br>
**Manual testing:** At the core of our testing process is the thorough manual inspection of components using the advanced [Testlodge](https://manual.grid.tf/knowledge_base/collaboration/testing/testlodge.html) tool.
</br>
**Automation Testing:** We also run Automated scripts on GitHub actions daily; to give us an early indication about the TFGrid.
</br>
We will go through these two types of testing further in part two.
### **Conclusion**
The testing journey within the ThreeFold Grid is intentionally and necessarily thorough, a delicate balance between manual precision and automated finesse, all designed to provide a strong and reliable cloud infrastructure for our users. Next time, stay tuned for more updates on how we conduct these tests and how they help us improve the grid's reliability. [Join us](https://t.me/threefoldtesting) as we strive for excellence and continue to advance in the world of decentralized technology.

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---
id: how_to_test_the_grid_part_two
title: ThreeFold Grid Testing - Overview of Manual and Automation Testing
image_caption: technology
description: Go deeper in the exploration of testing the ThreeFold Grid. Learn about two types of testing which combine to ensure a strong and dependable grid.
date: 2024-05-09
taxonomies:
people: [bernadette_amanda_caster]
tags: [tech,grid]
categories: [tech,grid]
extra:
imgPath: how_to_test_the_grid_part_two.png
---
In our [last post](https://www.threefold.io/blog/how-to-test-the-grid-part-one/), we started to explore what it means to test the ThreeFold Grid by highlighting the key processes and the benefits or reasons. Now, we continue our discovery path through the detailed testing process. In this post, we go deeper into two different ways of testing: Manual and Automation. Each is important, combining to ensure a strong and dependable TF Grid.
### **Manual Testing**
The thorough [manual inspection](https://manual.grid.tf/knowledge_base/collaboration/testing/testing_readme.html?highlight=manual%20testing#manual-testing) of components using the [Testlodge tool](https://manual.grid.tf/knowledge_base/collaboration/testing/testlodge.html) is at the core of our testing process. This tool acts as our guide, leading us through an array of test cases customized for each grid component. We guarantee comprehensive coverage of all grid components by organizing tests manually in specific test suites.
<br/>
When a release candidate arrives from the development phase, our manual test executions come into play. Through meticulous examination, we confirm the smooth operation of each component. Any inconsistencies found during testing are promptly recorded using GitHub issues, facilitating quick resolution in future iterations.
<br/>
Components such as Dashboard & Deployments, Mycelium, TF-Robot, Terraform, TF-Grid-Client, TF-Grid-Proxy, TF chain, Caprover, Kubernetes, and Farmerbot are examples of what undergoes our scrutiny.
### **Why Manual Testing is Important:**
Any new changes added to the grid should first undergo manual testing before going through automation testing. The fundamental principle of testing is that “100% automation is not possible” which makes manual testing necessary.
<br/>
The main idea behind manual testing is to make sure that the grid is free of errors and that it is operating following the stated functional requirements in the manual and documentation. Additionally, it ensures that developers fix reported faults and that testers retest them.
<br/>
Also, manual testing simulates the real-time behavior of the end user and how they think when they use our TF Grid solution, which allows us to do better UX design to meet everyone's expectations.
<br/>
![Image](./navigating_levels.png#mx-large)
### **Automation Testing**
[Automation scripts](https://manual.grid.tf/knowledge_base/collaboration/testing/testing_readme.html#automation-testing) are essential in strengthening our testing capabilities and our manual efforts. By utilizing [GitHub actions](https://github.com/threefoldtech/tfgrid-sdk-ts/actions), we run automated scripts daily to gain early insights into the health of the TF Grid. Our in-house automation tool, [TF-Robot](https://manual.grid.tf/documentation/developers/tfrobot/tfrobot.html?highlight=TFRo#), leads the deployment process on the grid with exceptional efficiency.
<br/>
TF-Robot is a cornerstone of automation, streamlining the deployment of various virtual machines across the ThreeFold Grid. With its capacity to manage large-scale deployments and offer multiple retries for unsuccessful attempts, TF-Robot enables users to navigate the grid seamlessly. Additionally, we leverage its functionalities to ensure the viability of registered nodes by deploying on active nodes regularly to confirm their suitability for deployment.
<br/>
We use GitHub Actions to run our automated tests. These tests – ranging from testing solution deployments, to the status / health of all nodes, to the dashboard UI – are triggered by certain behaviors or activities:
<br/>
- Any code change triggers certain tests
- Tests also run during code reviews
- Some tests run every day, like the Grid Client Nightly and Grid Client Tests
- Other tests run every 6 hours, like Mass Deployments
### **Why Automation Testing is Important:**
Automation testing speeds up the testing process significantly compared to manual testing. Automated tests can run anytime, including nights and weekends, allowing for continuous testing and faster development cycles. This reduces testing time and labor costs, making it a cost-effective approach in the long run.
Automation helps identify issues and defects in the software early in the development process, making them easier and less expensive to fix. Automated test scripts are reusable and can be used throughout different phases of development, even if there are changes in the software's user interface.
<br/>
Sometimes, a node may be misconfigured or have defective hardware. In our automation testing, we run tests like Mass Deployer or TF-Robot, which loop over all online nodes and attempt deployments on them to detect problematic nodes or misconfigured ones early.
<br/>
Additionally, nightly test runs for different test suites (dashboard UI, TS client) can detect incorrect code deployments early and alert developers to fix the pushed code that may affect unexpected parts of the project.
### **How to Report an Error/Issue/Bug Found While Testing:**
All errors found during testing are reported [on GitHub](https://github.com/threefoldtech/tfgrid-sdk-ts/issues). Based on findings, the repository has two templates to choose from: Bug Report and Feature Request. Follow these steps:
<br/>
1. Click on the provided GitHub link.
2. Choose "New Issue."
3. Select either of the templates and fill it out accordingly.
4. Click on "Submit."
<br/>
One of our developers will then work on resolving the issue. We have already fixed over 1,200 issues to date.
<br/>
Testing is a key aspect of maintaining a reliable cloud infrastructure. Because testing is such a thorough process, we can catch and correct bugs before they make their way to mainnet, our “production” environment. A big thanks to all those who have contributed to testing the grid to date, and we invite anyone to [join the testing community](https://t.me/threefoldtesting) and take part in ensuring a smooth and reliable ThreeFold Grid.

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---
id: in_search_of_a_better_internet
title: "The Internet that connects us also manipulates us. In search of a better future."
image_caption: The Internet that connects us also manipulates us. In search of a better future.
description: The Internet as we know it was once free and decentralized by nature. Over time, the Internet lost its neutrality. ThreeFold represents an opportunity to realize the initial promise of a distributed and neutral Internet owned by the people.
date: 2022-04-05
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [decentralization, why]
categories: [decentralization, why]
extra:
imgPath: in_search_of_a_better_internet.png
---
*This article was originally published by Hannah Cordes, a former member of the ThreeFold team.*
<br>
The Internet is one of humanity’s [greatest inventions](https://coincodex.com/article/14083/threefold-host-the-cloud-at-your-house/). In its early days, it used to be [free and decentralized](https://theconversation.com/web-3-0-the-decentralised-web-promises-to-make-the-internet-free-again-113139) by nature. No single entity was able to control access to the web as it was built on the foundation of a peer-to-peer network of nodes owned by developers and researchers. Until the dot-com era. Throughout the early 2000s, large corporations took over the web. New platforms like YouTube and MySpace were launched and new infrastructure needed to be built at an extreme pace, starting the data revolution and changing the digital landscape forever. 
<br/>
Twenty years down the line, the Internet’s architecture has become highly centralized – owned by a handful of large corporations that act as the [gatekeepers](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/08/28/who-owns-the-internet) of our digital world. What was once an open and free platform accessible to anyone has long since built up barriers and lost its neutrality. Users are trapped in a cyberspace that exploits their personal data and allows censorship, hate speech, disinformation and political targeting to thrive. 
## Going down the Rabbit Hole
The Wall Street Journal’s [investigation](https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-facebook-files-11631713039) “The Facebook Files” and The New York Times’ audio series “[Rabbit Hole](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/podcasts/rabbit-hole-prologue.html)” are only some of the latest examples that depict the shocking impacts of the manipulation, mental health problems, and extremism that social media algorithms are fuelling. Nevertheless, these incidents are only a glimpse into all the ways we’re being affected and influenced about the way we see the world – by the tech giants and their algorithms. Tech giants like Google and Facebook have been surrounded by a constant stream of data privacy [scandals](https://www.wired.com/story/should-big-tech-own-our-personal-data/) as more and more whistleblowers expose their misconduct. However, there are plenty of other, hidden players using the tools and algorithms of social media platforms for their own agendas.
<br/>
[The Great Hack and the Social Dilemma](https://filmthreat.com/features/4-thought-provoking-movies-on-digital-privacy-and-security/) are great documentaries that shed light on how the Internet as we know it became compromised. They depict how algorithms are used to mine user data, control information feeds and manipulate our digital experiences. The [Trump Election and the Brexit vote](https://www.politico.eu/article/cambridge-analytica-chris-wylie-brexit-trump-britain-data-protection-privacy-facebook/) were heavily influenced by private companies like [Cambridge Analytica](https://www.theguardian.com/news/series/cambridge-analytica-files) that manipulated mass audiences through social media.
<br/>
By purchasing thousands of personal data points collected by social media platforms and analyzing them, companies like Cambridge Analytica are able to not only predict but influence the behaviour of each and everyone of us. Data collection and analysis to such an extent allow these companies to craft and push perfectly targeted messages to users in a way that’s optimized to sway their opinions in favour of whatever agenda they have.  
## Can a neutral and free Internet still exist?
On 24th of March 2022, the European Parliament and Council negotiators agreed upon the [Digital Markets Act](https://variety.com/2022/digital/global/facebook-google-amazon-apple-digital-market-act-europe-regulation-1235214516/) (DMA). It seeks to give users more choice by demanding the most popular apps to open up and interoperate with smaller apps. Moreover, the act aims to ensure a fairer market competition by prohibiting certain gatekeeper practices like self-preferencing and targeted advertising. This set of new EU regulations is likely to impact the daily business of tech giants significantly once it becomes law. While the [DMA](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220315IPR25504/deal-on-digital-markets-act-ensuring-fair-competition-and-more-choice-for-users) promises to mitigate some of the issues discussed, it is doubtful that the act will be enough to fundamentally change the current system. This is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done.
<br/>
The Internet has become our digital home. It’s impacting our lives in many ways by creating new opportunities, and changing how we communicate and connect. Therefore, it is crucial to restore the Internet’s neutrality to ensure a fair and equal environment. We need an Internet where we can rely on data security and privacy. An Internet where we’re empowered to truly and completely have ownership of and control of our own data. An Internet that empowers us with digital sovereignty.
<br/>
The Internet used to be a free movement of culture and the Web. It started with an open-source and peer-to-peer vision to connect people. And while Web 3.0 projects are looking to liberalize the Internet as we know it, most of them still rely on centralized Web 2.0 infrastructure to some degree. The world needs better, holistic solutions. ThreeFold is realizing the initial vision and promise of the Internet as an open-source, peer-to-peer planetary mesh network of nodes owned by humanity. It’s a 100% open-source and community-driven project that builds the critical, neutral infrastructure for a decentralized world – one that is built and owned by the people. With ThreeFold, individuals and organizations are empowered to store their data and run their applications on a peer-to-peer network of nodes in a way that ensures their data will not be manipulated, hacked or lost. 
<br/>
Powered by a global community, ThreeFold is the world’s largest peer-to-peer Internet infrastructure with a few thousand 3Nodes connected globally and the neutral foundation for [any current and future IT workload](https://medium.com/authority-magazine/the-future-is-now-kristoff-de-spiegeleer-of-threefold-on-how-their-technological-innovation-will-7acc0e51c365). ThreeFold is now on the verge of opening up a new Internet era free from censorship, user tracking and privacy breaches. And anyone can participate in ThreeFold’s model by building or buying a 3Node, and connecting Internet capacity from their home or office – creating a fully decentralized Internet. 

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---
id: internet_misconceptions
title: "The Truth Behind Internet Misconceptions"
image_caption: Internet Misconceptions
description: In an age where, for better or worse, our online interactions shape much of our daily lives, understanding the true nature of the Internet is more and more important.
date: 2024-08-30
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [grid,decentralization,tech,why]
categories: [grid,decentralization,tech,why]
extra:
imgPath: internet_misconceptions.png
---
It’s been years that the ThreeFold team has been at this work of evolving the Internet in a fair and just way. We know how the Internet works and the challenges it faces, and because of this, we have been able to do the work of upgrading the Internet with a ground-up solution.
<br/>
But the Internet, despite its omnipresence and influence on our daily lives, is often taken for granted and mostly misunderstood. Here we’d like to present some of the common misunderstandings about the Internet and the actual realities behind them.
<br/>
**"The Internet is the same as the web."** Many people confuse the Internet with the World Wide Web. The Internet is the global network of interconnected computers, while the Web is just one of the services that runs on the Internet, allowing access to websites and web pages.
<br/>
**"The Internet is an infinite, vast, unified space."** While the internet is vast, it's not infinite. There are boundaries, such as the "deep web" (content not indexed by search engines) and the "dark web" (encrypted networks), where different rules and content exist. It is a scattered network, not one entity.
<br/>
**"Data in the cloud doesn’t have a physical location."** There’s a common belief that data stored in the cloud is purely virtual. However, your data is stored in physical data centers around the world, occupying space and consuming energy to stay online.
<br/>
**"Putting information online has minimal environmental impact."** Many believe that digital activities, like uploading files or streaming, are environmentally neutral. In reality, these actions require energy-intensive data centers, and keeping our digital lives running contributes to significant carbon emissions.
<br/>
**"All websites are equally accessible."** [Net neutrality](https://www.eff.org/issues/net-neutrality) is a key principle that has been challenged in recent years. Without it, Internet service providers (ISPs) could potentially prioritize or block access to certain websites, affecting the open nature of the Internet.
<br/>
**"The Internet is already decentralized."** While the Internet was originally designed as a decentralized network, much of it is now controlled by a few large corporations, leading to centralization of power and influence. Distributed and decentralized are different things, and even then, the Internet is not all that distributed.
<br/>
**"Everyone Has Access to the Internet."** While the Internet is widely available in many parts of the world, millions of people still lack reliable access due to economic, geographic, and infrastructural barriers. Digital inequality remains a significant global challenge, with rural areas and developing regions (particularly in the global south) often underserved.
<br/>
**"The Internet is free."** While many services on the Internet appear to be free, we often pay with our data. Companies collect and monetize personal information to offer "free" services, leading to privacy concerns. As the saying goes, “if it’s free, the product is you.”
<br/>
**"Online privacy is not a problem anymore."** Many people believe their online activities are private, especially when using "incognito mode" or similar features. In reality, much of what we do online is tracked, logged, and often shared with third parties – despite using privacy-enabling features.
<br/>
**"Well, I have nothing to hide, so privacy isn’t important anyway."** Many believe that if they aren’t doing anything wrong, they don’t need to worry about privacy. In reality, privacy is about controlling who has access to your personal information and how it’s used. Even seemingly harmless data can be collected, analyzed, and exploited in ways that affect your life, your choices, and your freedom.
<br/>
**"Everything on the Internet is true."** There's a misconception that if something is online, it must be accurate or trustworthy. However, this is far from the truth. Misinformation, fake news, and unreliable sources are widespread, requiring critical thinking and fact-checking, and increasingly hard to differentiate from reality.
<br/>
**"The Internet is anonymous."** Many believe they can remain completely anonymous online, but in reality, most activities leave a digital footprint that can be traced back to the user with enough effort.
<br/>
**"Deleting something online makes it gone forever."** People often believe that deleting a post, message, or file online removes it permanently. However, copies or backups may still exist, and data can often be recovered or traced.
<br/>
**"Cybersecurity threats are overblown."** Some people underestimate the risks of online threats like hacking, phishing, and malware, assuming they won't be targeted. However, [the numbers are startling](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/it-and-tech/cybersecurity-statistics/) and everyone is vulnerable.
<br/>
In an age where, for better or worse, our online interactions shape much of our daily lives, understanding the true nature of the Internet is more and more important. By recognizing misconceptions, we can better navigate the digital world. And the best part? ThreeFold has been working on a true solution to some of the Internet’s biggest challenges.
<br/>
Dive in to learn more and how to get involved:
<br/>
- [From the ground up: Three inventions that make ThreeFold possible](https://www.threefold.io/blog/ground-up-innovations/)
- [The evolution of the Internet: From free to controlled, and back again](https://www.threefold.io/blog/eveloution-of-the-internet/)
- [ThreeFold Docs: Litepaper, Tokenomics, Node Guide, & More](https://docs.threefold.info/)

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---
id: introducing_mycelium
title: "Introducing Mycelium: A Platform for Conscious Decentralization"
image_caption: Introducing Mycelium
description: ThreeFold is implementing a planetary network, aiming to allow efficient, end-to-end encrypted communication with other participants on the network.
date: 2023-09-19
taxonomies:
people: [lee_smet]
tags: [decentralization, grid, cloud, tech]
categories: [decentralization, grid, cloud, tech]
extra:
imgPath: mycelium.png
---
*Lee is working on a very exciting new project called Mycelium, our own Ipv6 overlay network. Thanks to him for taking the time to create this short write-up on what it is and why it is needed.*
<br>
As part of the grid, ThreeFold is also implementing a planetary network. This peer 2 peer network implementation aims to allow efficient, end-to-end encrypted communication with other participants on the network. Currently, we are using Yggdrasil as the core technology for this network. This is an open source implementation, and we have been using this since of grid v2.
<br>
Over time, some problems have been noticed. We have since spent time looking into these issues, and performed an analysis of the root cause(s).
## Yggdrasil’s Limitations
To start, it should be noted that Yggdrasil is an experimental routing protocol (based on DHT’s), which is currently still in an alpha stage. We very much admire the fact that they have been able to create a standalone network with worldwide participants from scratch. Over time, the network has grown, in part due to the grid, but also because a lot of individual participants joined and started running a node.
<br>
After investigating, we reached the conclusion that the current architecture has some scalability issues. While we have no doubt that these will eventually be solved, the importance of the planetary network in the grid is unfortunately too big to be able to wait for this. Additionally, Yggdrasil uses a technique called crypto key routing, and uses a tree structure for its routing info. This means data follows the “shortest path” in the tree, rather than the physical shortest path, which might deviate from this. As such, we have decided to implement our own Ipv6 overlay network, Mycelium.
## Implementing Mycelium
As previously pointed out, the main goal of our network is to be efficient, and end-to-end encrypted. Every node in the network is identified by a key pair. The address of a node is derived from this key pair, and data traffic between 2 nodes is encrypted using a secret derived from the key pair of both these nodes. As a result, every 2 nodes in the system use a different secret for encryption, and we can verify that the address used by a node is indeed owned by it (i.e. it has the corresponding private key). We have based our initial implementation (loosely) on the babel routing protocol.
<br>
Therefore, sending data to a remote node will follow the shortest path in terms of latency (i.e. the fastest route). The network adjusts itself in case nodes disappear or join, and multiple paths to a given destination are possible.
<br>
We are also considering implementing more advanced use cases in the future, though this remains to be seen at this stage. We are gearing up for some larger scale testing on the grid in the near future (after all, we do have multiple thousand nodes at our disposal to verify scalability), and will adjust as needed once these are done.

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---
id: p2p_web3
title: Peer-to-Peer Overcomes Web3 Challenges
image_caption: P2P Web3
description: The promise of Web3 is tremendous, but there are clear limitations to overcome. How? Peer-to-peer systems and blockchains, side by side. The best of both worlds.
date: 2022-03-09
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [decentralization, grid, why, tech]
categories: [decentralization, grid, why, tech]
extra:
imgPath: p2p_web3.png
---
First coined in 2014, Web3 is now one of the hottest and overused buzzwords in the digital space – the idea of a new iteration of the web, a decentralized environment based on blockchain technology that incorporates token-based economics. The promise of Web3 – decentralization of control and authority from big tech, data security, scalability, and privacy for users – is tremendous. But what is a promise without delivery? Is it possible that we will see major adoption soon?
<br/>
Similar to the [enterprise blockchain hype](https://thenewstack.io/as-blockchain-hype-fades-developers-give-ethereum-a-serious-look/) that happened a few years ago, Web3 seems to be repeating the same story, with lots of chatter but lagging adoption. Millions have rushed to trade crypto and NFTs attached to Web3 – with a lot of this activity based on speculation and hype – but that doesn’t mean they will replace legacy platforms anytime soon. New approaches such as DeFi (decentralized finance) don’t have the same problem of the legacy firms, but they face the challenge of scaling and mass adoption. However, many so-called ‘Web3’ solutions are not as decentralized as they seem, and still have to show they are scalable, secure and accessible enough for the mass market. This all may change, but there are clear limitations that will need to be overcome.
<br/>
Whether Web3 is a marketing slogan or a true technological trend, there is a lot of money and technology behind it. Financial institutions are embracing blockchain technology and we are seeing a rising adoption of digital assets across industries. While the idea of utilizing digital currencies to exchange different forms of value in an increasingly digital world certainly makes sense, it’s a bigger leap to say that blockchain alone can support a broad set of use cases, including replacing the current Internet infrastructure.
<br/>
The Internet’s client-server infrastructure replicates data and workloads across many computers, and uses tons of computing resources and energy while limiting the scalability of our applications. However, the clear inefficiencies and gaps in security in today’s centralized infrastructures are being challenged by simpler means of building, storing and exchanging data.
<br/>
Blockchain is a clear evolution to the centralized client-server model, but there are severe challenges sourced from the [blockchain trilemma](https://medium.com/certik/the-blockchain-trilemma-decentralized-scalable-and-secure-e9d8c41a87b3) between decentralization, scalability and security. Peer-to-peer systems transcend those challenges as they don’t require any valid2ation or verification from a third party, and enable end-to-end connections that can scale limitlessly without the potential of being altered or corrupted by intermediaries. In peer-to-peer systems, all participants are equally privileged, presenting a fairer model. Peer-to-peer represents an incredibly simple and efficient paradigm for organizing our digital world, and has already proven to be the most efficient alternative to centralized information systems.
<br/>
Simply put, there is no reason to replicate full sets of data and workloads across many computers, and use tons of computing resources and energy while limiting the scalability of our applications. While there is an increasing reliance on blockchain principles to organize our Internet systems, blockchain also makes things redundant, slow, complex and energy intensive. To be clear, blockchain isn’t the problem, as it is a great technology to store and exchange value in a decentralized way, but it is only one piece of the puzzle.
<br/>
By inter-connecting the computing processing power and storage capacity of billions of computers worldwide in a peer-to-peer way, data transfers could happen end-to-end between people and machines without the need to be verified. Peer-to-peer is also the only way to achieve a truly self-sovereign Internet – creating a ‘trustful’ environment that allows users and developers to have real data ownership.
<br/>
Peer-to-peer systems aren’t meant to replace blockchains – they represent a way to decentralize models that blockchain cannot, such as Internet infrastructures. Peer-to-peer systems and blockchains, side by side. The best of both worlds. Peer-to-peer as the most efficient and decentralized alternative for us to exchange data and Internet resources. And blockchain for establishing trust through an irrefutable record of transactions.
<br/>
With the rise of emerging technologies, a new technological foundation is needed to protect our sovereignty and freedom. The rise of blockchains, while well intended, ultimately has made the technological space more complex than ever before, and still benefits a plutocratic few (relative to its promise). More than just technology, peer-to-peer opens a world of new possibilities for humanity to co-initiate new paradigms and experiences.
<br/>
By applying blockchain and peer-to-peer technology to the cloud, ThreeFold solves the security and autonomy issues of the Internet and realizes the initial promise of the Internet as an open-source, peer-to-peer, planetary mesh network of nodes owned by the people.

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---
id: power_saving
title: "A Power-Saving Feature on the Grid – For Our People and Our Planet"
image_caption: A Power-Saving Feature on the Grid – For Our People and Our Planet
description: Saving a maximum of energy has always been on our agenda. Now, with the rising bills of our farmers making it harder for them to keep on supporting the project, it became an even greater priority.
date: 2023-02-27
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [community, farming, grid, why, tech]
categories: [community, farming, grid, why, tech]
extra:
imgPath: power_saving.png
---
*This article was originally published by Victoria Obeegadoo, a former member of the ThreeFold team.*
<br>
At the heart of ThreeFold’s mission is the benefit of the people & our planet. We aim to have a positive impact in the space of technology while keeping our ecological footprint low. Saving a maximum of energy has always been on our agenda. Now, with the rising bills of our farmers making it harder for them to keep on supporting the project, it became an even greater priority.
## Rising Energy Prices
Energy prices have been on steady rise globally because of increasing costs of energy production, high demand, and the depletion of traditional energy sources such as oil and natural gas as primary drivers. However, the Russian-Western standoff due to the invasion of Ukraine has produced an [unprecedented increase in energy prices](https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/impact-war-ukraine-energy-prices-consequences-firms-financial-performance), especially in Europe.
<br/>
Some statistics:
<br>
* UK - Household energy bills [increased by 54% in April 2022](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9491/), and a further increase of 20% is expected in April 2023.
* USA - Consumers paid [14.3% more for electricity](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjHt5D4t-_8AhUxUKQEHcUxCXcQFnoECA8QAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.utilitydive.com%2Fnews%2Felectricity-prices-inflation-consumer-price-index%2F640656%2F&usg=AOvVaw1dL-3vVXBjEqA0wklxlmUt) last year on average.
* France - As of February 2023, [electricity prices may rise by 15%](https://www.thelocal.fr/20220914/french-pm-to-present-measures-to-limit-energy-bills-in-2023/).
<br/>
These rising energy costs have a significant impact on the economy, affecting inflation and driving up the cost of goods and services.
## Reducing Our Bills & Our Impact on the Environment
Given the increasing cost of energy, it is more important than ever to adopt responsible energy use practices. Simple measures like turning off lights and electronics when not in use, using energy-efficient appliances, and properly insulating homes can make a big difference in reducing energy consumption and lowering bills.
<br/>
By reducing energy waste, individuals and businesses can not only save money, but also help protect the environment and preserve natural resources for future generations. The world’s energy resources are finite, and the increasing demand for energy is putting pressure on the environment. By adopting responsible energy use practices, we can reduce our carbon footprint, decrease our dependence on non-renewable energy sources, and preserve the planet for future generations.
<br/>
Saving energy is important for the planet as it can have a positive impact on the environment and the economy. Some of the key benefits of energy conservation are:
<br/>
* **Reduces greenhouse gas emissions:**
* By reducing the amount of energy we consume, we also reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by power plants, which are a major contributor to climate change.
* **Saves natural resources:**
* Conserving energy helps to conserve our limited natural resources, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which are used to generate electricity.
* **Lowers energy costs:**
* By using energy more efficiently, we can lower our energy bills, saving money and reducing our overall energy costs.
* **Improves energy security:**
* By reducing our dependence on foreign sources of energy, we can improve our energy security and reduce the risks associated with energy shortages and price spikes.
* **Creates jobs:**
* The development and implementation of energy-efficient technologies and practices can create jobs in the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors.
<br/>
While it has been known for a long time that [consuming less energy meant a smaller ecological footprint](https://www.saveonenergy.com/green-energy/save-energy-go-green/), most people weren’t very motivated to do so. However, once their wallets started feeling the price increase, people became increasingly aware & careful of their energy consumption. So, in a way, while it is not a great thing for our economies, the rising energy prices are doing a good thing for the planet.
## Energy Usage of Nodes
The energy usage of a node in a network depends on various factors such as the type of node, its hardware specifications, and the workload it is handling. Generally, nodes that perform more intensive computations and have more advanced hardware specifications will consume more energy compared to basic nodes.
<br/>
For example, nodes used in cryptocurrency mining operations are known to consume large amounts of energy due to the intensive computations they perform. On the other hand, simple nodes used for basic network functions such as routing or data storage may consume less energy.
<br/>
It is important to note that the energy consumption of a node can also be influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, network congestion, and power supply efficiency. By optimizing these factors, it is possible to reduce the energy consumption of a node and minimize its environmental impact.
## ThreeFold 3Node Servers
ThreeFold is a decentralized internet infrastructure that utilizes a network of nodes (referred to 3Nodes on our grid) to provide computing resources and data storage. Farmers can farm capacity for the ThreeFold Grid by building their own server and hosting Zero-OS on it, or by buying and running a preconfigured device.
<br/>
In general, a 3Node cluster is expected to consume less energy compared to traditional server clusters, due to its focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. However, the exact energy usage will depend on the hardware specifications of the nodes, the workload they are handling, and the energy-saving measures implemented. It’s important to note that even a machine with nothing running on top of it consumes energy and brings a cost to farmers.
## ThreeFold WOL Feature Comes as Part of Our Farmerbot
Wake-on-LAN (WOL) is a feature in computer hardware that allows a network administrator to power on a computer remotely. The feature works by sending a special "magic packet" to the target computer, which contains the Media Access Control (MAC) address of the network adapter. The network adapter is programmed to recognize the magic packet and use it to initiate the power-on process.
<br/>
Wake-on-LAN is useful for remotely accessing a computer that is turned off, as it allows the computer to be powered on without physically pressing the power button. This feature is commonly used for remote administration and maintenance tasks, as well as for remotely accessing a computer for work or entertainment purposes.
<br/>
Wake-on-LAN requires specific hardware and software support, including a network adapter that supports the feature, a motherboard that enables the feature in the BIOS, and an operating system that supports WOL. Additionally, the computer must be connected to a network that supports WOL, and the feature must be enabled in the network adapter's settings.
<br/>
The community has been asking for an energy-saving solution for quite a while and we had been looking for one. It took some time, as this was not the only topic that needed our team’s attention, and we had obstacles along the route to designing this solution, including limited funding and needful adjustments.
<br/>
We had been working on a WOL feature for power-saving set up directly on the chain, but it turned out to be a dead end. Instead of an independent WOL feature, our dev team started from scratch with [a new idea](https://forum.threefold.io/t/tfgrid-power-management-feature-for-3-8-1/3721)! We are now very close to delivering a solution: A [Farmerbot ](https://github.com/threefoldtech/farmerbot/issues/1)that uses WOL to switch nodes on and off when needed!
<br/>
Farmers will be able to define their configuration in an easy markdown format. The Farmerbot will check which nodes can be turned off or not. Farmers will be able to personalize this feature according to their farm’s own needs and preferences.
## Conclusion
Saving energy is crucial for the planet and has numerous positive impacts on the environment, economy, and society. By taking steps to conserve energy, we can help to reduce our environmental impact, lower energy costs, improve energy security, and create jobs in the clean energy sector.
<br/>
Having a power-saving feature for ThreeFold nodes is one of our priorities. Together with the community, we agree that this is a pressing issue we need to solve. Our main incentive is to respect our engagement to be a sustainable network that puts the planet first. Supporting our farmers to get through difficult times financially is an extra one.

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---
id: products_in_a_machine
title: "Rethinking Our Relationship with the Digital World"
image_caption: Rethinking Our Relationship with the Digital World
description: The Internet has always been a canvas for human connection and creativity. Yet, there are cracks in the system and massive trade offs for all of us.
date: 2023-07-15
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [decentralization, why]
categories: [decentralization, why]
extra:
imgPath: products_in_a_machine.png
---
In an ever-expanding and evolving digital world, our relationship with the Internet is generally underdiscussed. We've come to rely on platforms that promise connection, information, and entertainment. Yet, there are cracks in the system and massive trade offs for all of us, the "users." Let's pause for a moment and consider, is today's Internet truly serving us?
<br/>
(tl;dr The answer is "No.")
## The Rise & Fall of Platforms
The world of digital platforms can leave us feeling a bit deflated. We invest time and effort in creating content and building our online presence across platforms, only to see them come and go – either in terms of popularity or existance. Years of efforts can go down the drain in an instant. And the introduction of new platforms means we feel almost pressured to create new profiles yet again. Take Threads, for example, recently released by Meta. I, personally, have not downloaded the app or created a profile myself. Nor do I plan to.
## Algorithmic Shifts & Manipulation
Algorithms, like shifting weather, change direction without warning. What used to be familiar suddenly feels like a puzzle we can't solve. Further, algorithms on social media and other platforms are designed to keep us engaged. They show us content that's likely to keep us scrolling and clicking. This can lead to addictive behaviors, with us spending more time on platforms than we initially intended.
## Platform Redundancy
Why, in this digital age, do we have countless platforms doing essentially the same thing? It's as if we're at a party with multiple dance floors, all playing the same music. This fragmented landscape demands our memory's acrobatics as we juggle passwords, navigate different interfaces, and figure out where our friends are hanging out. A simpler, unified experience seems a distant dream.
## Products in a Machine
We pour our creativity and stories into platforms, only to realize we don't truly own them. Our content, our data, our followers – they belong to the platform. It's like building a sandcastle at the beach, but it washes away with the tide. The digital space, which once held the promise of empowerment, has subtly transformed us into products within a larger system.
## Decentralization: Reclaiming Digital Sovereignty
Imagine a digital world where you're the true owner of your data and content, where your digital footprint isn't erased by platform shifts. A space where the power to shape the experience is in your hands, where you're not a product but a participant in a collaborative journey.
<br/>
This reimagined Internet isn't a dream; it's an evolving reality. Decentralization represents a paradigm shift – a chance to reclaim our digital autonomy. We need to foster an environment where platforms don't dictate, but rather, serve as tools shaped by the collective. This is a call to action, a reminder that a more inclusive, user-centric Internet is within reach.
<br/>
The Internet has always been a canvas for human connection and creativity. Let's paint a picture where we're not just contributors but true owners, where we're not lost in a labyrinth but are the architects of our digital landscape. Let's embrace a decentralized Internet, because we deserve an Internet that truly serves us – the people.

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---
id: reliability
title: "Building Reliability into a Decentralized Internet Infrastructure"
image_caption: Building Reliability
description: Through a combination of technical and strategic advancements, our journey towards a dependable and trustworthy decentralized Internet infrastructure is underway.
date: 2023-12-06
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [decentralization, grid, cloud, tech]
categories: [decentralization, grid, cloud, tech]
extra:
imgPath: reliability.png
---
In today's digital landscape, the development of a decentralized open-source Internet infrastructure marks a significant leap forward. However, while the foundational structure of this innovation brings promise, its inherent reliability isn't guaranteed. After more than five years of building and expanding the open-source ThreeFold Grid, it's now time we pivot towards commercialization. Ensuring a robust, dependable, and trustworthy offering becomes paramount. In this post, we'll share the various ways that the ThreeFold Grid is and will become reliable.
### **Technical Redundancy**
Our quantum safe storage ystem, coupled with replication, and web gateways, presents a pathway to achieve technical redundancy already. While these capabilities exist, we admit that at this time it is too complex for a starting user. Making this easier through refined tooling and a strong user experience will be imperative in order to allow a wide audience to take advantage here.
### **ThreeFold Cloud**
Our upcoming commercial offering, TF Cloud, will bolster reliability and trustworthiness. Through TF Cloud, we will need to provide comprehensive service, robust support, service level agreements (SLAs), and streamlined payment methods, including credit card options. The development of user-friendly tooling will significantly simplify and easen the process as well, enabling users to deploy and maintain reliable workloads effortlessly.
### **Farming Pools**
The introduction of farming pools in TF Grid 4.x will play an important role in fostering reliability as well. These pools not only contribute to resource pooling but also offer visibility into the network's participants. This transparency enhances trust and aids in identifying reliable contributors within a decentralized framework.
### **Establishing Reputation and Transparency**
Building a system that emphasizes reputation and complete visibility regarding service levels and uptimes is pivotal. By offering insights into each participant's performance metrics, Grid users will be able to more effectively choose a trusted provider.
<br>
In essence, through a combination of technical and strategic advancements, our journey towards a dependable and trustworthy decentralized Internet infrastructure is underway, setting the stage for the [next phase](/next) of ThreeFold.

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---
id: resolving_problems
title: "How a Decentralized Internet Solves Global Tech Issues"
image_caption: Resolving Problems
description: By constructing a decentralized, autonomous internet infrastructure from scratch, we're tackling global tech issues head-on.
date: 2023-11-12
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [decentralization, grid, why, tech]
categories: [decentralization, grid, why, tech]
extra:
imgPath: resolving_problems.png
---
Imagine this: two friends in East Africa trying to connect via a video call. Instead of a direct link, their data embarks on a round trip to far-off data centers, consuming resources and adding costs. It's a snippet of a larger issue—how centralized infrastructure is holding back progress in connectivity.
## Breaking the Distance Barrier
In many regions, the internet economy remains anchored in distant lands due to reliance on long cables to Europe, North America, or China, where colossal data centers reside. This scenario keeps data, jobs, and economic benefits outside developing regions. But what if connectivity was local, decentralized, and efficient?
## The East Africa Example
Picture our technology in action. Instead of relying on data centers thousands of miles away, our decentralized infrastructure brings the connection closer. Those friends in East Africa can communicate peer-to-peer, reducing bandwidth needs by up to 10 times while boosting security. This isn't just about video calls; it's about revolutionizing every digital interaction.
## Streamlining Complexity
The tech world often gets tangled in layers of abstraction, favoring integration over innovation. While layers aid compatibility and incremental progress, they hinder true change. Excessive abstraction results in inefficiencies, performance lags, increased costs, and scalability woes.
## The Education Gap
Innovation takes a back seat when education leans heavily on commercial technologies. The push for quick-fix solutions neglects long-term innovation. It's like opting for a painkiller instead of addressing the root cause of the problem.
## Local, Secure, Reliable
Our vision? A decentralized internet where compute, storage, and network are local, sovereign, and secure. Storage becomes more reliable with less overhead, doubling up as a global content delivery network. The network stays resilient, routes around issues, encrypts end-to-end, and knows precisely where data originates and ends.
## Tackling the Root Issues
By constructing a decentralized, autonomous internet infrastructure from scratch, we're tackling these issues head-on. Minimizing complexity while solving problems at their core is our mantra. It's not just about a tech revolution; it's about reshaping connectivity to be inclusive, efficient, and empowering for everyone, everywhere.
<br>
The digital world stands at a crossroads. We can either perpetuate the status quo, or we can pave a new path—one that's decentralized, efficient, and equitable. The time for a decentralized internet that solves problems at their roots is now. It's time for connectivity that knows no boundaries.
<br>
The power to transform connectivity is in our hands. Let's reimagine the internet not as a distant entity but as a network that thrives locally, serves globally, and empowers universally. Together, let's build a decentralized internet that propels us into a future where connectivity is a right, not a privilege.

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---
id: solar_comparison
title: "Exploring the Parallels Between Decentralized Energy and Internet Capacity"
image_caption: Solar and ThreeFold
description: Read how the decentralization of the energy and internet industries are empowering individuals and communities.
date: 2024-03-01
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [community, decentralization, farming, grid, cloud]
categories: [community, decentralization, farming, grid, cloud]
extra:
imgPath: solar_comparison.png
---
*This article was originally published by Emilie Ouwerx, a former member of the ThreeFold team.*\
<br>
In recent years, we've witnessed a transformation in how energy is generated and distributed, marking a shift towards a more sustainable and democratic system. This change has been most notable in the transition from centralized energy production, particularly nuclear power, to decentralized solar energy. The latter empowers individuals and communities to produce their energy locally, an alternative to the traditional approach to power generation.
<br>
Similarly, the Internet landscape, typically dominated by massive data centers and centralized servers, is experiencing a shift towards decentralization. These movements share a common ethos to empower individuals and communities.
### **The Rise of Decentralized Solar Energy**
Decentralized solar energy has transformed the landscape of power generation. Unlike the centralized model, where nuclear power plants are often miles away from the end-users and controlled by large corporations or government bodies, solar energy allows for energy production right where it's needed—at home or within the community.
<br>
By installing solar panels on rooftops or creating local solar farms, individuals can capture the sun's energy directly. This shift not only reduces our dependency on distant power plants and the complex grid systems but also mitigates the risks associated with them.
<br>
This localized energy production model enhances sustainability by tapping into an inexhaustible natural resource and encourages a more environmentally conscious and self-sufficient society. It signifies a move away from the centralized, traditional systems of energy production, returning power to the people and prioritizing the planet's well-being.
![Image](solar.png#mx-auto)
### **ThreeFold: Pioneering a Decentralized Digital Future**
Parallel to the energy sector's evolution, the digital world is also undergoing a transformation, led by innovative platforms like ThreeFold. Just as decentralized solar energy provides an alternative to the centralized power generation model, ThreeFold is reshaping the cloud computing landscape with its autonomous edge cloud.
<br>
ThreeFold's model deviates from the norm, where cloud services are dominated by a few massive data centers. Instead, we depend on our global network of independent nodes set up by individuals and businesses to contribute their own computing and storage resources to the cloud. This approach democratizes access to cloud resources, bolstering data privacy, security, and resilience against potential outages or cyberattacks.
<br>
Beyond merely disrupting the existing model, ThreeFold aims to foster a more sustainable, efficient, and user-centric internet. Distributing decentralized infrastructure worldwide reduces the environmental footprint associated with large data centers and promotes fairer internet resource distribution.
<br>
![Image](data_center.png#mx-auto)
<br>
Both the shift towards decentralized solar energy and ThreeFold's revolutionary approach to cloud computing reflect a broader movement towards decentralization. This movement is not just about bringing alternatives to existing systems but about creating a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future for all.

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---
id: tech_as_a_tool_for_humanity
title: "Technology as a Tool for Humanity"
image_caption: "Technology as a Tool for Humanity"
description: While technology has had an important role in the creation of today’s societies, it might have an even greater role for our future. Two opposite pictures could be painted - a utopia or a dystopia.
date: 2022-10-28
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [decentralization, why]
categories: [decentralization, why]
extra:
imgPath: tech_as_a_tool_for_humanity.png
---
*This article was originally published by Victoria Obeegadoo, a former member of the ThreeFold team.*
## Technology as a tool for humanity
Technology… In today’s world, technology holds a central role. Younger generations in developed countries grow up amidst technological wonders of all sorts, truly immersed in an evolving digital landscape. Any information is a click away, offering immense intellectual capital unlike ever before – and on the other hand, great distraction, misinformation, and potential for division.
<br>
Technology is a word dating back to the early 17th century, formed from the Greek _tekhnologia_ meaning ‘systematic treatment,’ itself formed from _tekhnē_ meaning ‘art, craft.’ Technology is the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and reproducible way. The word technology may also mean the product of such an endeavor, as it is mostly used today.
<br>
As technologies enter our world they either add on incrementally to already existing technologies (i.e., tablets) or shake everything up (i.e., television). Technology can be found in most industries and at different levels, ranging from vehicles to home appliances, passing through healthcare, education, and even entertainment. Sometimes technology replaces human labor by replicating it, other times it facilitates processes and makes labor less intensive. Some technology even surpasses human precision.
<br>
While technology has had an important role in the creation of today’s societies, it might have an even greater role for our future. Two opposite pictures could be painted: a utopia or a dystopia. The utopia of a world full of values-driven, well-constructed technologies promises an increased quality of life for all, with digital tools which, for instance, could provide or enable equal educational opportunities for all, mobility everywhere, a universal basic income and the promise of never having to work again (e.g. in the sense of wage labor).
<br>
On the other hand, a dystopia could be the result of reckless technological advancement. Questions are raised, like, will most jobs be dominated by artificial intelligence (AI) in 20 years? Will privacy become a myth, with personal data being controlled by a handful? Will consumerism rule societies and reinforce social struggles?
<br>
One technology that has been slowly taking the dystopian route is the Internet. While major Internet and Cloud infrastructure advancements were made since the beginning of the millennium through hyper-scale data centers, the current Internet infrastructure model has many flaws:
<br>
- **It is centralized**: The GAFAM (Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft) own 80% of the global compute, storage and network infrastructures. Also the global infrastructure is concentrated in the U.S in large majority, as well as Europe and China.
- **It is inefficient**: Most of the data centers are located in the U.S, forcing the rest of the world to connect via Internet sea cables and having their data flowing outside of their borders and back.
- **It is not scalable**: Emerging technologies require the global Internet infrastructure to triple in size in the next 4 years. It took 20+ years to build the current Internet infrastructure. So, we need to build 3 times more in 5 times less time.
- **It is not affordable**: It costs billions of dollars and enormous amounts of energy and time to build, manage and productize hyper-scale data centers. Only the richest countries in the world build data centers and the rest of the world become their clients.
- **It is not private**: Anyone can access Google Chrome or Facebook for free. But as outlined by movies such as the Social Dilemma or The Great Hack, if it is free, you are the product. The web’s Ad model is threatening our privacy and the net neutrality of the global internet.
- **It is not secure**: The current IT stack depends on human error and it has been considered as the major cause of cybersecurity breaches with more than 95% of the cases. Human errors allow attackers to access encrypted channels and sensitive information
- **It is not sustainable:** Data centers are extremely power hungry, consuming over 2 trillion gigabytes of storage and consuming around 205 TWh - More than the State of New York. According to statistics, the Internet consumes between 10-20% of global energy resources.
- **It cannot support future demand:** To meet projected demand for 2022, more than 4,000 new data centers, costing an estimated $5 trillion, will be needed to build and consume an additional 400 GW/h. This is roughly equivalent to Japan’s energy consumption and would place an impossible strain on the global electricity grid. The rising demand for Internet storage is already causing hardware shortages and price hikes.
<br>
At ThreeFold, we want to encourage the creation of a utopian future driven by thoughtful technology. Our founders took part in the way the Internet was created, full of beautiful promises, and have seen first-hand how those promises have been corrupted throughout its evolution. By building a new Internet infrastructure from scratch, ThreeFold goes back to those original promises while having learnt from the development mistakes.
<br>
Kristof, our CEO, [wrote in a blog](https://medium.com/@despiegk/once-upon-a-time-only-30-years-ago-an-experiment-started-called-the-internet-5251e0da6a76):
> "The Internet allows the expansion of our village life to become a global community. It allows us to act as a global tribe with all information at our fingertips, it offers the possibility to get equal access to all planet resources. It has the promise for global free communication, instant availability of information, unlimited opportunities for growth and education. But what happened to our Beautiful Internet?"
> "The Internet allowed us to become more efficient in depriving mother earth from her resources. It allowed us to become more addicted to immediate gratification, examples are social media networks and the adult entertainment industry. Beautiful new possibilities like digital currencies became a gambling game and a source of wealth for the smartest hackers. The communication capabilities of the Internet allowed the few to manipulate the many."
<br>
By putting people, planet and authenticity at the core of the development of our technology, we want to gift societes a remade internet. Features of this technology include sovereignty & decentralization, security & privacy, unlimited scalability, green & self healing properties, cost effectiveness, and reliability. The human is put at the center of our Internet model.
<br>
Technology should not be a tool to extort humanity, but one at the service of humanity.

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---
id: tf_ecosystem_comes_alive
title: How the ThreeFold Ecosystem Comes Alive
image_caption: ThreeFold Ecosystem
description: As we enter the next phase of ThreeFold, the project will move into an even greater level of decentralization, while layers are introduced to make us – and our grid – more resilient and reliable.
date: 2024-04-15
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [community, why]
categories: [community, why]
extra:
imgPath: tf_ecosystem_comes_alive.png
---
Collaborative. Self-organizing. Interconnected. Dynamic. Diverse. Resilient. Sustainable.
<br/>
These are some of the words that come to mind when thinking about nature and natural systems. For billions of years, nature has been showing us the way. From the human body to rainforests to coral reefs, decentralized systems are all around us – and even inside us – giving examples of the power of collective action, the resilience of distributed networks, and the wisdom inherent in shared decision-making and autonomy.
<br/>
ThreeFold has always acted in a decentralized way – through the creation of public community chats and forums, by hosting regular community calls, through Grid Enhancement Proposals / DAO votes, and more. Different entities participate in the project – TF9 (previously TF Tech) creates the technology, TF DMCC advocates for and does day-to-day management of the TF Grid, the farmers add capacity, grid users deploy on that capacity, token holders support the project through buying the token, and so on.
<br/>
As we enter the next phase of ThreeFold, the project will move into an even greater level of decentralization, where each role is clearly defined and benefits the greater whole, while we introduce layers to make us – and our grid – more resilient and reliable.
<br/>
So, what are these roles? How does it all come alive?
<br/>
- **Farmers**, or Cloud Service Providers, provide the infrastructural foundation of the ecosystem. Without the farmers, there is no ThreeFold.
- **Network Bridgers**, or Providers, bridge the new and the old. They ensure that ThreeFold can communicate with the existing Internet in a safe and secure manner – and provide bandwidth to our grid.
- **Farming Pools** exist to support farmers in being more effective, to improve uptime, and to deliver a service level to the community. This means more reliability for all.
- **Node Suppliers** build and sell nodes and provide an adequate level of service and support.
- **Guardians** protect the network, keep all relevant services up and running, validating the soundness of the technology being used.
- **TF Dubai** is the original company out of which the ThreeFold project began and is now developing commercial services on top of the grid. TF Dubai is a big sponsor of the grid and will continue to be. It wishes to hand off the day-to-day management to the ThreeFold cooperative, and the digital tools have been set up to do so, including the forum, websites, manuals, and web management tools.
- **[TF9](https://tf9.io)**, previously TF Tech, is a Belgium-based company playing a key role in the ecosystem. They have been developing the technology behind the TF Grid and are 100% committed to keeping it open-source. TF9 will be licensing the software to organizations who need commercial support and customizations.
- The **ThreeFold Cooperative** is our governance layer; it gives everyone in the ecosystem a voice and an environment from which to operate.
- **OurWorld Digital Free Zone**, which is in the process of being created in Zanzibar, allows the ecosystem to structure digital assets and some of our future digital projects.
<br/>
But it does not stop there. More **solution and technology providers** will create and provide services and open-source technologies that can be used on top of or as part of the grid. **DePIN partners** are coming, to launch us into that space. And **ThreeFold Chapters** will come alive to promote and grow the ecosystem organically, with local context, driving maximum reach and adoption of our project.
<br/>
![ThreeFold Ecosystem](./tf_ecosystem.png)
<br/>
It is easy to see that each of these roles plays a crucial element in the larger ThreeFold ecosystem, establishing a type of equilibrium and resilience that can be found in natural systems as well. All participants with their own unique purposes – self-organizing, interconnected, collaborating towards a common goal. Together, let us strive to emulate the harmony of natural systems as we move into this next phase of ThreeFold.
<br/>
There are many ways to get involved:
<br/>
- Join our [main chat](https://t.me/threefold), talk to humans
- [Learn](https://manual.grid.tf/) about expanding the grid or deploying on top of it
- [Buy and hold](https://manual.grid.tf/documentation/threefold_token/buy_sell_tft/buy_sell_tft.html) the token to provide fuel to the ecosystem
- [Stay tuned](https://t.me/threefoldnews) for news, updates, and community calls
- Take part in the [feedback](https://forum.threefold.io/t/feedback-on-our-tfgrid-3-14/4276) about the next steps for ThreeFold
<br/>
*"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein*

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---
id: tf_grid_peoples_internet
title: The ThreeFold Grid is by the People, For the People
image_caption: By the People For the People
description: ThreeFold's open source technology powers the peer-to-peer Internet revolution that holds the premise to disrupt the global Internet in many ways.
date: 2021-07-08
taxonomies:
people: [sam_taggart]
tags: [community, decentralization, grid, why]
categories: [community, decentralization, grid, why]
extra:
imgPath: tf_grid_peoples_internet.png
---
What do you think of when you hear the word Internet? For many, it's the websites and applications we consume online as end users. But the Internet is much more than this. And ultimately, every action we take online goes through a complex set of automated processes and protocols to store, run, and transmit data (e.g. photos, videos, messages, other files) across the global Internet infrastructure.
<br>
Today, this infrastructure consists of massive, power-hungry data centers, and is largely privatized and owned by tech giants such as Facebook, Google and Amazon – who also happen to own the biggest online "free" platforms. But there's a catch. By owning both the infrastructure and the digital experiences we consume for free, we were actually turned into products of their business models. Our data is being collected and isn't owned by us anymore. While data has become the most valuable commodity on earth, don't you think it's wrong that we don't own the value of our data today? 
<br>
*Today, every individual (through their online data) is worth between hundreds and thousands of dollars, per year. The Internet and Cloud Industry is worth trillions, yet all this value is centralized to a handful of companies. This has to change.*
<br>
ThreeFold's open source technology powers the peer-to-peer Internet revolution that holds the premise to disrupt the global Internet in many ways.
## An Internet By the People
The ThreeFold Grid is formed by people from all around the world that connect Internet capacity to a peer-to-peer Infrastructure owned by humanity. Together, we expand a data-sovereign and planet-positive Internet infrastructure that puts people back in control of their data, and their digital lives. ThreeFold's infrastructure can store all of humanity's data – from personal data to public datasets and security archives – and can run all emerging technologies such as blockchain, IoT, and Big Data – with more efficiency and security.
<br>
ThreeFold flips the current data center model upside-down, and allows people around the globe to connect Internet capacity in the form of hardware, and earn income for it. This decentralized approach means that anyone can take part in the world's largest and fastest growing economy – the Internet and Cloud. 
<br>
You can see now how this new Internet is by the people, but how about the latter? What does the ThreeFold Grid enable?
## An Internet For the People
Now anyone, anywhere can connect to the ThreeFold Grid and use capacity with some key advantages:
### A World Where we Own the Value of Our Data
Today, all of the data we create online sits inside of centralized data centers and we do not own it. ThreeFold turns terms & conditions on their head and gives us, the people, full control of our data rather than third parties. We can keep our data private, decide with whom to share it, and even decide on where it's stored and located. And considering that our personal data is worth between US $1,000 and $20,000 per year, ThreeFold offers a direct way for us to own our digital life and the value attached to it.
### We Exchange Value Without Intermediaries
The "People's Internet" is peer-to-peer. This means connections between senders and recipients are completely end-to-end, eliminating the need for any form of intermediaries from the model. Can you imagine what the world would look like without intermediaries? Let's take an example like Airbnb.
<br>
Today, if you are looking for a place to stay on vacation, you will probably end up using the services of Airbnb. But did you know that Airbnb charges both consumers and property owners for using their service? In a peer-to-peer world, this wouldn't be necessary. You'd simply access a database of property owners (possibly through a peer-to-peer marketplace) and be able to complete the transaction yourselves. No hidden fees, just a direct exchange of value!
### Applications Run on the Edge
In its essence, edge computing brings compute and storage closer to people (and the devices where it's being gathered) rather than relying on a centralized data centers located on the other side of the planet. This is the essence of the ThreeFold Grid. So, data doesn't suffer any latency issues (performance) and it's far more efficient / money-saving. Further, the distributed nature of the Grid allows for true privacy and security. Edge computing is not just a growing trend but, because of the growing number of connected devices and global Internet usage, it's becoming a real necessity.
## But what about the planet?
If you've been following us, you must already know that the Internet is responsible for 10% or more of the world's energy consumption. And with decades of experience in the Internet and Cloud industry, ThreeFold co-founders knew how to turn this around. We developed a lightweight operating system and infrastructure, removing unnecessary layers of complexity from the traditional and Web3 models (actually, blockchains are making it even more complex). The ThreeFold technology is always geared towards maximum efficiency while maintaing performance. And with these advancements, we can already save up-to 90% energy on storage workloads.
<br>
Additionally, the distributed nature of the Grid uses less bandwidth (see above re: edge computing). It's been reported that Netflix alone takes up 15% of the Internet's bandwidth. What if Netflix were to leverage the ThreeFold Grid? If stored closer to watchers, we could reduce network usage considerably.
<br>
Our commitment to the planet goes beyond the technology. Through a partnership with Take Action Global (TAG), we aim to take three times more CO2 out of the air compared to what we put in. Imagine regenerating the earth while using the Internet?
<br>
At ThreeFold, we believe that it's time for us to take back control. As the world turns more and more digital due to the pandemic and even just the natural progression of technology, it's time that we not just realize the problems of today's Internet, but that we do something about it.
<br>
This will happen! So join in, and spread the word! 

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---
id: the_farming_community
title: Spotlight on the ThreeFold Farming Community
image_caption: technology
description: ThreeFold Farmers provide decentralized cloud capacity, shape the grid's future, and share resources to build a fair and connected world.
date: 2024-04-26
taxonomies:
people: [bernadette_amanda_caster]
tags: [tech,grid,farming,community]
categories: [tech,grid,farming,community]
extra:
imgPath: the_farming_community.png
---
The ThreeFold community consists of many different roles creating a whole [ecosystem](https://www.threefold.io/blog/tf-ecosystem-comes-alive/) that contributes to the growth of the ThreeFold Grid and makes it more reliable and stable. Today, we're spotlighting the farming community, the backbone of the ThreeFold Grid.
### **Who are the farmers and what exactly do these farmers do?**
Think of a ThreeFold Farmer as a digital pioneer who connects their capacity to the ThreeFold Grid, becoming a cloud service provider. They come from all corners of the globe, driven by a common goal: to contribute to the growth of ThreeFold’s decentralized cloud infrastructure.
Currently, we boast approximately 950 farmers running an impressive ±2500 nodes. This translates to a whopping capacity of:
<br>
- Cores: 64,290
- RAM: 434.85 TB
- SSD: 8.46 PB
- HDD: 20 PB
</br>
The farming community keeps the digital gears turning. Whether they purchase a 3Node from the marketplace or build their nodes, they're providing essential capacity to the ThreeFold Grid. In return for their contributions, they're rewarded with ThreeFold Tokens (TFTs), the currency of the ThreeFold ecosystem.
</br>
Farmers are rewarded based on their uptime—the number of hours, minutes, and seconds their node has been online. This data is meticulously tracked by ThreeFold's blockchain, TFChain, and used to determine their monthly rewards. However, we're always evolving and we just passed a vote on the ThreeFold DAO where we decided that, in the future, farmers would be rewarded based on their utilization.
</br>
ThreeFold Farmers not only provide capacity but also take the opportunity of ThreeFold being an open-source project to develop scripts and tools like a [Python script for minting](https://forum.threefold.io/t/farm-earnings-data-capture-made-easy/4251), a telegram for [liquidity pool USDC/TFT](https://t.me/threefold/42257/54497), and Telegram channels for their local community where English is not their primary language so that they can get help when they need it, and much more.
</br>
The ThreeFold farming community is an integral part of our [decentralized autonomous organization (DAO)](https://manual.grid.tf/documentation/dashboard/tfchain/tf_dao.html). A farmer's participation in the DAO discussions and proposals is pivotal as we chart the course for the grid's evolution, from our current version 3.14 release and beyond. Together, we're actively building the grid's future, thanks to our dedicated farmers' collaborative efforts. Join us, share your ideas, and let's shape the future of the ThreeFold Grid together.
### **The Future of the Farming Community**
#### **The TF Cooperative**
ThreeFold is transitioning the management of TF Grid to a cooperative, empowering all of us to work toward our common goals more effectively. This shift represents a step towards a more collaborative and inclusive future for the TFGrid. As we enter the commercialization phase of the project, a cooperative model also brings a trusted form of decentralized governance and will enable us to bring more reliability to the grid.
</br>
The formation of the ThreeFold Cooperative (TF COOP) brings several planned changes for farmers and their interaction with the TFGrid:
<br>
- **Democratic Governance**: TF COOP introduces a system where farmers can vote on decisions based on their TFT holdings (1 TFT = 1 vote), giving them a voice in the cooperative's direction.
- **Farming Rewards**: Farmers will continue to earn rewards based on the quality of their nodes and network uptime. This encourages high standards and benefits both farmers and users.
- **Compliance**: Farmers must follow KYC/AML (Know Your Customer/Anti-Money Laundering) rules for transparency and accountability.
- **Service Level Agreements (SLAs)**: Larger farmers may sign formal contracts with DMCC or TF COOP, providing stability and predictability.
- **Capacity Resale and Utilization Rewards**: TF COOP will resell capacity and distribute profits. Farmers receive 50% of the revenue from their node utilization.
- **Node Information and Transparency**: Farmers can benefit from tracking more node data in the explorer, helping potential users select quality nodes.
- **Governance Involvement**: Farmers, as cooperative members, can impact management and operations, aligning their interests with the TFGrid's success.
#### **Farming Pool**
[Farming Pools](https://www.threefold.io/blog/farming-pools/) are a new feature planned for version 4.0 that helps improve trust and quality in our network. Farmers join these pools and agree to standards like uptime and response time. They can set their prices for services like storage and computing power. By staking tokens, farmers commit to these standards and risk losing some of their stakes if they don't meet their promises. This keeps the network reliable and fair while allowing farmers more control over their services.
</br>
These pools can also act as hubs for supporting farmers with training and help them understand if their nodes are working well. Sales of preconfigured hardware is an additional optional function of the pools, while all pools operate as a business that takes a margin on the farming rewards of the farmers belonging to the pool. Beyond support, the added value for the farmers is that pools ensure a level of service and quality that can attract users and bring additional revenues to the farmers, including the potential of active marketing of the pool's capacity.
### **Conclusion**
The farming community plays a key role in the smooth operation and growth of the ThreeFold Grid. These farmers shape the grid's future by offering the capacity for a more decentralized digital world. Their work goes beyond earning rewards, as they contribute nodes to a global network and share resources and tools that strengthen the community, which will be showcased in our upcoming blogs. Thanks to their efforts, the grid is thriving and paving the way for a fairer, more connected world.
#### Get involved:
<ul>
<li>
Join our [farmer's chat](https://t.me/threefoldfarmers) to talk with the community</li>
<li>
[Learn](https://manual.grid.tf/) about expanding the grid or adding on top of it.</li>
<li>
[Stay updated](https://t.me/threefoldnews) with news and community discussions.</li>
</ul>

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