3.5 KiB
3.5 KiB
Mycelium Names
Mycelium Names is a global fair name system that provides addressing services within the TF Grid ecosystem. It operates on principles of decentralization, fairness, and community benefit, addressing the limitations of traditional DNS systems.
Core Principles
- Decentralized: No central authority controls the naming system
- Fair Pricing: Cost based on name length, with shorter names commanding higher prices
- Community Benefit: 100% of revenue used for ecosystem development
- Sovereignty: Users define their own names and administrators
- Scalability: Designed to scale globally
- Geo-Awareness: Queries return results from the closest location
- Load Balancing: Distributes traffic across multiple sites based on location
How It Works
Name Structure
- Top Names: Format of
xxxx.yyyy- Price depends on the length of both segments
- Shorter names (vanity names) are more expensive
- Names with 8+ characters in each segment are nearly free
- Each name is globally unique
- Circle Names:
- Top names link to a Circle and its administrators
- Edge names are stored per circle
- Can be any depth (subdomains)
- Updates are frictionless and free
Technical Implementation
- Name services are built into the TF Grid infrastructure
- Replicated across all subnets for redundancy and performance
- Queries are resolved to the nearest geographic location
- Load balancing automatically distributes traffic for busy sites
- Supports unlimited subdomains with efficient updates
Administration Model
- Each person can define their own names
- Multiple administrators can be assigned (more than 1)
- Decentralized governance prevents single points of control
- Community-driven development and improvement
Pricing Model
- Pricing Factors:
- Length of name segments (shorter = more expensive)
- Registration period (longer periods may offer discounts)
- Renewal fees follow the same pricing structure
- Examples:
- Very short names (3-4 characters): Highest price point
- Medium-length names (5-7 characters): Moderate pricing
- Long names (8+ characters): Nearly free, accessible to all
- Payment:
- Paid in TFP Points through the mutual credit system
- TFP flow from name registrants to the TF COOP
Comparison to Traditional DNS
| Aspect | Traditional DNS | Mycelium Names |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Centralized (ICANN, registrars) | Decentralized (community) |
| Pricing | Often arbitrary, high margins | Fair, based on name length |
| Revenue Use | Profit for registrars | 100% for community benefit |
| Geographic Awareness | Limited (CDNs as add-ons) | Built-in geo-awareness |
| Load Balancing | Requires additional services | Native functionality |
| Subdomain Management | Often requires technical knowledge | Frictionless, user-friendly |
Benefits for Users
- Affordability: Everyone can access a name they can afford
- Sovereignty: Control over your own namespace
- Performance: Geo-aware resolution improves speed
- Reliability: Replicated across the network for high availability
- Simplicity: Easy management of domains and subdomains
- Fairness: Transparent pricing based on objective criteria
Integration with TF Grid
- Seamlessly works with Mycelium Gateways for web access
- Integrates with all other TF Grid services
- Essential component of the mutual credit TFP system
- Enables discovery of services and resources across the grid