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|
Arching Kaos Tools
==================
> Warning: The tools and the whole project is in an experimental state.
> Everything is subject to change.
Introduction
------------
Tools that help you to create a blockchain called `zchain` by preparing small
JSON objects that are pointing one to another in the following way:
```
ZBLOCK = BLOCK + SIGNATURE
BLOCK = ACTION + DATA + DATA_SIGNATURE + TIMESTAMP + GPG + PREVIOUS_ZBLOCK
DATA = IPFS_CID + SIGNATURE ( + key-pair values that are based on ACTION )
```
Most of the times, IPFS_CID in DATA is expected to be a file. And the module
is responsible for handling it properly.
For the zchain to be valid, all the signatures must be verifiable against the
provided GPG key.
Latest developments
-------------------
1. A proof of work blockchain is introduced to synchronize the zchains among them.
2. A miner prototype is introduced as well.
3. From a directory full of blocks, find the latest block of the longest chain
4. API for calling some of the bash scripts
Description
-----------
This is an installable repository which provides various tools for running
Arching Kaos and using it.
Generic tools:
`ak-enter` - Can be used to crawl zchains.
`ak-zchain-rebase` - Can be used to rebase your zchain to a previous zblock.
`ak-zchain-reset` - Can be used to reset your zchain to zgenesis.
ACTION tools (modules):
`ak-mixtapes` and `news` - Can be used to add content to your zchain.
`ak-profile` - Can be used to build up a profile of the contributor.
Based on your GPG, zchain and other values provided by `profile`, you can create
with `akconfig` a pointer to some basic information that you can share with others
in order for them to crawl your zchain or view your "profile".
There are more tools available under the `bin` folder. Make sure you deeply
understand what they are doing before using them.
Changes are mentioned in `git log` of the repo, as well as in [CHANGELOG](https://github.com/arching-kaos/arching-kaos-tools/blob/master/CHANGELOG) file.
Requirements
------------
Some Linux machine will propably work. It's tested under Fedora Linux. External
programs used are:
- bash (v5.1.8) or zsh (v5.8)
- gpg (v2.3.4)
- wget (v1.21.2)
- curl (v7.79.1)
- git (v2.34.1)
- which (v2.21)
- jq (v1.6)
- nodejs (v18.14)
- npm (v9.5.0)
- npx (v9.5.0)
How to install the repository
-----------------------------
Write on your terminal:
```
git clone https://github.com/arching-kaos/arching-kaos-tools
cd arching-kaos-tools
sh install.sh
```
If you encounter any errors, please open an issue.
Update
------
Navigate to your cloned repository and execute the following commands:
```
git pull
./update.sh
```
Examples
--------
### Add a news article ( `ak-news add` )
You could use ZCHAIN with NEWS model. Or MIXTAPE model, or make your own.
``` bash
$ ak-news create
```
This would pop up a vim editor for you to write a news article or whatever is text or markdown format with a title.
Saving the file, will save it locally, add it to IPFS, sign it, pack detached signature with metadata on a JSON object. Then a block will be created packing your GPG public key, the news/add action with the JSON object and a detached signature of this, timestamp and finally an entry for the previous *zblock*. After that (!) we finally write this as a json object, add it to IPFS, sign it and pack a *zblock*. That, is published over our IPNS zchain key.
Other options... let's try help!
``` console
$ ak-news help
ak-news
-------
#TODO
All you need to know is that there are two options available:
help Prints this help message
index Prints an indexed table of your news files
import <file> #TODO
add <file> Creates a data file from the news file you point to
create Vim is going to pop up, you will write and save your
newsletter and it's going to be saved
```
Clearly there is a TODO item. Import is not working so avoid it, or fix it.
Add is nice, you can add an already existing file directly. `news` is the second module after `mixtape`. Both modules need refactoring but they work at a level that someone can be productive with these tools.
### Explore chains ( `ak-enter` )
You can view your zchain as a JSON object using `enter`. There are some flags in order to either view other zchains or change the depth of view ( includes or ignores data object and action ).
``` console
$ ak-enter -h
ak-enter - Crawl an arching kaos chain
-----------------------------------
Usage:
--help, -h Print this help and exit
--chain <ipns-link>, -n <ipns-link> Crawl specified chain
--show-zblocks-only, -z Show only zblocks
--no-verify, -nV Don't verify signatures
<ipfs-link> Specify IPFS CID for entrance
Note that combined flags don't work for now
Running with no flags crawls your chain
```
Podman (or Docker)
------------------
There is a ContainerFile that you can use to build an image which you can then deploy in a container.
Use:
```
podman build -f ContainerFile -t arching-kaos-tools .
```
TODO
----
Next things to come are:
- [ ] - zblock manipulator to fix wrong previous block references and repack zblocks.
- [X] - zchain rebase-like procedure to move the zblocks to another seed or set another previous block (e.g. join chains)
- [ ] - Clean up installation and filesystem usage
- [ ] - Log rotate to gzip archives
- [ ] - Filters for log searching for IPFS hashes or names
- [ ] - Use of IPFS file system to store/pin sub chains, previous chains or other chains
Concepts under thought
----------------------
- Base chain, derived from personal ones.
- Daemon to monitor chains' states, update and sign new zblocks.
- Find a minimum agreement of what is valid or not. (important)
- Spam defence (e.g. how to protect the network from abuse cases) (important)
- Reduce size of all parts of chain (stringify JSON) (improvement)
|
