Healthpro

healthpro

By Stacco Troncoso and Ann Marie Utratel Have you ever gone out dancing with a bunch of friends? If so, chances are you went to a disco, at least once or twice. How does a group of friends dance at a disco? Everyone knows, or learns by observation, some basic rules of social cooperation — avoid stepping on anyone’s feet, watch out that you don’t slam into people sharing the space around you, and please don’t micromanage the dj. But everyone can decide when and how they want to dance, whether solo, in pairs or in larger groupings. The aim is to have a good time together, and to care about each other’s well-being, too. Doing things like going dancing with friends or colleagues can be fun and spontaneous, with nothing more than some informal or unspoken rules. Of course, if you want to achieve a more defined collective goal, that takes time, patience and more explicit guidelines — and if you really want to be cooperative about it all, it’s even better if you debate and create those guidelines together. When we were writing up our organisational model for cooperative groups, we thought about how to name it. Acronyms or initials are popular for models with multi-word titles, and can sometimes also hint at some characteristic of the ideas behind the name. So, what do we mean by a DisCO? It stands for , and it’s a set of organisational tools and practices for groups of people who want to work together in a cooperative, commons-oriented, and feminist economic form. DisCO is also an alternative to another form called the , or . If you're not familiar with DAOs, they are blockchain-based entities that can execute payments, levy penalties, and enforce terms and contracts without human interaction. Think of a virtual robot that can automate governance processes and execute investments and payments for an organization and you're on the right track. Distributed Cooperative Organizations Decentralized Autonomous Organizations DAO [1] While there are , DAO projects have mostly prioritised focus on , and grandiose promises of , while reproducing many of the of the normative systems they aim to disrupt and decentralise. There is also a distinct lack of political and historical of other movements which have prefigured the dynamics of decentralisation and who could benefit from the advantages offered by DAOs. many exciting aspects to this technology speculative assets tokenization disruption power dynamics awareness [2] By design, DAOs can earn their own money, and contract and pay for services — they can actually create and wield their own economic power, according to the interests of their programmers. That’s a crucial point to recognize - technology doesn’t develop itself, it’s built by people and companies with specific worldviews and intentions which underlie the aims of the code. With being made by mega-corporations like IBM, HSBC, Facebook, Goldman Sachs and others, there is a very real danger that the future of these decentralised autonomous organizations will reproduce and existing inequalities and power dynamics. Image DAOs that automate and hyper-boost things like mass surveillance, economic tyranny and the suppression of dissent. Sound dystopian? Take a look at the list of investors above and engage in some speculative thinking about their means, motives and objectives. blockchain investments in the billions of USD amplify After analysing the situation, it’s clear that we need counter-cultural alternatives to leverage the positive aspects of DAOs for radically different economic and social ends. Our proposal is the DisCO framework. Feminist economic, commons-oriented, cooperative, and value sovereign: The DNA of DisCOs DisCOs are a cultural and structural framework combining influences from other forms and movements into a practical toolkit that benefits from the potential of Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs) . Despite boasts of decentralization and challenges to existing power structures, many of these aspects are curiously absent from most blockchain projects. These are: [3] [4] Harnessing the potential of the blockchain while addressing its deficits, DiSCOs prototype and permit tailoring of the originally developed for , a radical translation collective/cooperative and the first pilot project for DisCOs. These initial DisCO experiences can be greatly amplified to make DAO technologies accessible to common people, cooperators and the economically disadvantaged, breaking the monopoly of a white/male tech elite's involvement and benefit. Distributed Cooperative Organization (DisCO) Governance Model Guerrilla Translation The Seven DisCO principles DisCOs are distributed cooperatives based on the , but cooperatives have their shortcomings. The seven DisCO principles build on the existing cooperative tradition, as well as to arrive at a series of guidelines for highly efficient, socially and environmentally-oriented organizations. original seven cooperative principles Platform and Open Cooperativism In DisCOs, production is guided not by profit but by social and environmental priorities. Individual organizations embed these values in their cultural, productive and organizational processes, and technical/legal statutes. Geared toward positive outcomes in key areas: DisCOs extend decision making and ownership to all contributors whether present in all value chains or affected by the coop’s actions. Beyond workers, this may include neighbouring communities, suppliers, clients, reproductive and affective labour, financial backers, etc. as constituents. Multi-constituent: Unlike the typical behavior of market enterprises that exploit shared resources, DisCOs steward existing common wealth and generate new forms of shared resources. These new commons are created through market and value-tracked pro bono work. Commons may be digital (code, design, documentation, legal protocols and best practices, etc.) or physical (productive infrastructure, deliberation spaces, machinery, etc.) Active creators of commons: While physical production is kept local and needs-based following the , knowledge, resources and are shared at the global level with like-minded enterprises to create political and cultural counterpower to the prevailing corporate/capitalist economy. Transnational: “Design Global, Manufacture Local” logic value flows We distinguish between two types of care work: that performed (where the collective is seen as a living entity that needs commitment, material inputs and fidelity to its social mission) and care work performed for (mutual trust and intimacy support structures). Centered on care work: for the health of the collective the individual persons within the DisCO Three types of value — productive market value, pro-bono/commons-generating value, and care work value — are tracked through complementary value metrics. Value tracking is applied to all DisCO members, in turn influencing decision making, payments, work priorities, and more. Reimagining the origin and flows of value: While networks may or may not share common goals, federations are held together by shared commitments. Scaling extends a worldview from a center and forces everything in its path to conform to the animating logic. By contrast, DisCOs, as distributed and differentiated structures, replicate themselves through a standard that allows the federation to achieve critical mass without regimenting all parts. This dynamic resembles how TCP/IP allows a network of networks, the Internet, to function. Each node can be based on small group trust, intimacy and mutual support while still achieving a larger impact through federation. Primed for federation: federation protocol Prototyping DisCOs in the field: The DisCO Project Moving beyond (the tendency for blockchain/DAO projects to over promise on technical specifications before there is any solid, lived experiences to a project or proposal), DisCOs are based on the practices of the four movements mentioned earlier ( ; ; ; ) as well as the concrete experience of Guerrilla Translation and its . whitepaper culture Commons/P2P Open Cooperativism Feminist Economics Open Value Accounting fully developed DisCO governance model The has been created to cooperatively develop, prototype and popularize DisCOs, and provide integrated resources for those wanting to take part in their development. Here we intend to mature, codify and open source our for other collectives practising contributive accounting. We are also co-developing a modular for other commons-oriented collectives and businesses to adapt. This culture/structure distinction is expressed through two complementary components to the project: The DisCO and the DisCO . DisCO project cultural practices legal/technical infrastructure Framework Stack (Culture) is predicated on care work, and prototypes real world practices. It includes resources such as an educational portal; handbooks; audiovisual materials; infographics; DiSCO-thons and workshops to engage communities in developing and prototyping the model in practice. The purpose is to make DLTs, Contributory Accounting, Feminist Economics and other components accessible to the precariat. The DisCO Framework (Structure) will offer plug-and-play systems for the value tracking and online collaboratory dynamics inherent to DisCOs. Utilizing a combination of non-blockchain Distributed Ledger Technologies with public blockchains, the Stack will provide user-friendly, lightweight and energy efficient small node, trustworthy value tracking and economic networking systems. The DisCO Stack Together, DisCO culture and structure can allow us to transcend blockchain normativity, bringing a slew of fresh influences to the decentralised space, while making it more accesible to a more diverse and engaged set of users. Footnotes This is a gross simplification. For a more in-depth look at Decentralised Autonomous Organizations we recommend by Primavera de Filippi. These can include lowered transactional costs for social interactions within commons-oriented organizations and the potential for value sovereignty. I.e., when done right DAOs can make countercultural, post-capitalists processes cheaper and more efficient. are, basically, synchronized databases shared among several nodes and without central administrators. Think of these as a broader understanding of a blockchain, although . For a quick overview, here are infographics for , , Open Value Accounting ( and ) and . These include adopting capitalist practices to ensure competitiveness as defined by market logics, a disconnected managerial class unfamiliar with cooperative practices and ethics, and, worst case, the demutualization of coops. See more . [1] this critical overview [2] [3] Distributed Ledger Technologies not every DLT is a blockchain [4] P2P and the Commons Open Cooperativism 1 2 Feminist Economics [5] here This article has been adapted from If I Only had a Heart: a DisCO Manifesto , a publication analysing the role of supposedly disruptive technologies in social change, the potentials and pitfalls of DAO cultures, and how DisCOs can provide a coherent, more socially grounded alternative. The DisCO team plans more to produce more accessible, inclusive reading materials for potential partners and peers. Written by Stacco Troncoso and Ann Marie Utratel Art by id iom CC-BY-NC

Last Night A Distributed Cooperative Organization Saved My Life: A brief introduction to DisCOs

A comprehensive list of resources available for undergraduate entrepreneurs at Cal When I came to Cal, I was excited by the campus’s spirit of innovation and knew I wanted to start my own company. However, despite the ample opportunities available, the decentralized nature of our large campus made it difficult for me to find the resources I needed. It took me a good part of the past three years to become acquainted. Through this guide, I hope to make it easier for current and aspiring student founders to navigate the Berkeley startup ecosystem and take advantage of the fantastic opportunities listed below. Quick Notes: This guide was made with undergraduates in mind, however ~60% of these resources are accessible by graduate students and alumni as well. For a broad overview of all resources available at Cal, regardless of class status, check out Berkeley Gateway to Innovation . Because the previous version was so popular (over 7,000+ reads!!!), I updated this post in May 2018 to include relevant information for the 2018–2019 school year. Table of Contents: I. Undergraduate Courses II. Funding (VC & Competitions) III. Incubators & Accelerators IV. Student Organizations V. Events VI. Misc. I. Undergraduate Courses Most undergraduate classes on technology entrepreneurship are taught by the (SCET), a program within The College of Engineering under (IEOR). Undergraduates are eligible to receive a through the SCET upon completion of the A. Richard Newton Lecture Series, plus 5 additional units ( ). Sutardja Center for Technology and Entrepreneurship Industrial Engineering & Operations Research Certificate for Technology and Entrepreneurship more info here You can find SCET course descriptions, class numbers, and units count here Across the street from the SCET building in Memorial Stadium is the Haas School of Business, and the (BHEP). The BHEP, like the SCET, offers undergraduate courses on technology startups, but provides no certificate of its own. Berkeley-Haas Entrepreneurship Program You can find BHEP course descriptions, class numbers, and units count here Besides the SCET and BHEP, . These include: other departments at Berkeley also offer classes that students may find useful Principles of Engineering Economics (ENGIN 120) | Eric Friedman Industrial Design and Human Factors (IEOR 170) | and Ken Goldberg Cecilia Aragon Leading People (UGBA 105) | James Lincoln Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs (UGBA 190T) | Jon Metzler Integrated Device Design (CS 294–84) | Bjoern Hartmann Introduction to Product Development (Mec Eng 110) | Alice Agogino Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Social and Cultural Context (Sociology 121) | Szonja Ivester How to Build the Future (CS 198) | A Decal taught by student instructors . More information here You can find course descriptions, class numbers, and units count on BerkeleyTime.com UC Berkeley also offers a known as . Through a partnership with the , Berkeley students will spend a month in Europe (Portugal in 2018, Italy in 2017, France in 2016) to learn from famous motivational speakers, leaders in industry, and serial entrepreneurs and apply the teachings to launch their own company. summer study abroad program Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Europe European Innovation Academy II. Funding (VC & Funding Competitions) One of the amazing things about Berkeley is the . Here is a list of Berkeley affiliated funding opportunities I have come across: abundant on-campus funding available for student projects : The House Fund is an early-stage (pre-seed & seed) investment fund exclusively for startups founded by Berkeley students, alumni, and faculty. It is founded and managed by , a recent Berkeley alum himself (c/o 2014), with The House Fund Jeremy Fiance $6 million in AUM currently and reportedly raising up to $50M for a second fund . Dorm Room Fund SF is a supported by and run by an all-student investment team to invest purely in student-run startups in the area. The Investment Team is composed of 8 students from UC Berkeley and Stanford (read: Stanfurd). Dorm Room Fund : $500,000 fund First Round Capital : Contrary is a decentralized, university-focused venture capital fund for seed stage companies with presence on 50+ campuses including UC Berkeley. They recently announced and plans to cut Contrary Capital their debut fund of $2.2M checks ranging from $50,000 up to $150,000. : A network of Berkeley alumni, current and former faculty interested in building and investing in the entrepreneurial community at Cal. They hold quarterly pitch meetings that students can apply to to be considered. Berkeley Angel Network : Cal Hacks is a weekend long hackathon hosted by UC Berkeley, the largest collegiate hackathon in the world, . Hackers are given free reign to create , and will ultimately be judged by a panel of industry judges on “creativity, technical difficulty, polish, and utility”. Tech companies from around the Bay provide mentorship for the event as well as financial sponsorship for over Cal Hacks open to undergraduate students of all majors from any university any type of project that sparks their interest $50,000 in prizes for the top teams. The Dean’s Seed Fund, part of the BHEP, awards to early-stage start ups involving current Haas students (undergrad or MBA). Berkeley-Haas Dean’s Startup Seed Fund: Startup 20 $5,000 seed grants (10 in December, 10 in May) as well as office spaces Shameless plug: My non-profit start-up, Paradigm Shift , was part of the Spring 2016 Cohort. Feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions about the application process. The Berkeley Challenge: The Berkeley Challenge is an annual entrepreneurship competition hosted by Pear VC for startups with at least one founding member that is a current Berkeley student or alumnus. Pear will invest in the winning team for a 5% stake, and designate 10% of ownership back to UC Berkeley. . Pear’s up to $250,000 via equity seed financing Winners will also gain access to Pear’s network, exclusive events, office-hours, and “hacker studio” in downtown Palo Alto Click here to learn more. : Big Ideas is an annual contest aimed at providing funding, support, and encouragement for student projects in the 9 following categories: Art & Social Change, Energy & Resource Alternatives, Financial Inclusion, Food Systems, Global Health, Hardware for Good, Improving Student Life, Information Technology for Society, and Scaling Up Big Ideas. The funding for the program is provided by Andrew & Virginia Rudd Family Foundation with Big Ideas @ Berkeley awards ranging between $5,000 to $10,000 for winners. : GSVC is a global competition that provides over to help student founders tackle some of the world’s most pressing social challenges. The program was initially founded by Haas MBAs in 1999 and have grown to receive 600 entries from 65 countries in 2017. Global Social Venture Competition $80,000 in funding, mentorship, and exposure : The CITRIS Tech for Social Good Program provides support to UC Berkeley undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students, groups, teams or organizations developing hardware, software or hosting events which support technology for social good to applicants each semester. CITRIS Tech for Social Good Program up to $2,000 in funding : Provides for technology-based student projects. Student Technology Fund up to $5,000 : hosted by and for the first time in 2017. Not sure if this will be an annual event. CalSpark $10,000 startup competition NextGen Consulting at Berkeley PlayScape : Startup pitch competition for blockchain companies hosted by . Held for the first time in Spring 2018, the winning team, , received over Frontier Innovation Awards Bee Partners Shelf Auctioning Network $500K in funding. : A newly formed blockchain investment fund focused on privacy preserving technologies. Founded by recent graduates and Blockchain at Berkeley early members. Dekrypt Capital Besides approaching these opportunities directly, . Deal scouts are students who are well-integrated within the school’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and selected by venture funds to serve as their eyes and ears on campus. At Berkeley we have scouts from CRV (me!), Pear, Sequoia Capital, NEA, and more, all of whom are willing and able to provide feedback and connect you with someone on the investment team if he/she thinks there is a good fit. I aggregated , but this list is likely somewhat outdated. A simple LinkedIn search for “Deal Scout” or something similar and filtering by UC Berkeley should yield a more up-to-date list. founders can also try reaching out to Student deal scouts a list of all the Berkeley deal scouts in the past BHEP’s Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Map. Some of these programs are exclusive to Haas-MBA students and are not mentioned in this post. III. Incubators & Accelerators Beyond VC and competitions, students also have access to to receive funding and guidance for their companies. numerous student-run incubators and accelerators : LAUNCH is Berkeley’s leading accelerator, designed to transform early stage startups into fundable companies. It is a where companies are paired with serial-entrepreneur mentors to build out their teams, protect IP, connect with industry experts, get minimum viable products into customers’ hands, prove their scalable business model, pitch to investors, and become fundable. Companies with at least one team member that is affiliated with any UC campus are eligible. LAUNCH 3-month program Winning teams at LAUNCH’s demo-day typically receive around $50,000. Select LAUNCH companies: TubeMogul (acq. by Adobe for $540M), Byte Foods ($5.5M seed led by Bessemer Venture Partners ), Xendit (YC S15). Below is this year’s LAUNCH demo day for those interested. Launch 2018 Demo Day drive.google.com : SkyDeck is a Berkeley affiliated accelerator and venture fund located in the tallest building in Downtown Berkeley. It provides startups with at least one member affiliated with Berkeley, UCSF, or Lawrence Berkeley National Labs . There are two tracks: Cohort (full 6-month program), and Hot-desk (more flexible, for earlier stage companies or companies with funding already). SkyDeck workspace, programming, speaker series, and mentorship Select SkyDeck companies: Ensighta Security (acq. by FireEye), Lendsnap (YC S16), Civil Maps ($6.6M seed). : The Foundry is a UC accelerator located on Berkeley’s campus for startups with at least one member affiliated with a UC campus. It is a accelerator program where admitted teams receive in cash plus worth of in-kind infrastructure and services, as well as space and mentorship. CITRIS Foundry one-year $5,000 to $10,000 up to $50,000 : The House Residency is an incubator part of The House Fund. Berkeley students, faculty, and alumni will receive necessary to build a company. Companies that join this residency program will also The House Residency space, mentorship, and infrastructure resources receive up to $20,000 in funding from The House Fund. : Free Ventures is a UC Berkeley student-run accelerator for student startups located in . Free Ventures The House building Student founders receive 2 academic units, need-based funding, mentorship, and workspace to pursue their ideas. Select Free Ventures companies: Blitz Esports (formerly Instant eSport, YC S15, $2M seed from KPCB Edge & Greylock Partners), Dot (Raised $115,401 on KickStarter) Not technically an incubator, but a great resource on-campus for students to . Open to all Berkeley students. CITRIS Invention Lab : design and prototype ideas : QB3 incubators provide with access to laboratory space. QB3 Garabge@Berkeley is located in Stanley Hall with . Qb3 Garage@Berkeley biotech startups 800 square feet of wet laboratory space and 8 stations There are also non-UC Berkeley affiliated accelerators & incubators in the area, including The Batchery and Berkeley Ventures , that are worth checking out. IV. Student Organizations On-campus clubs and independent student organizations are great places for founders to expand their network, find co-founders, and discuss ideas. Here are some good places to look: Will represents the entrepreneurship community at Berkeley in the Associated Students of the University of California (aka undergraduate student council). Following his , joining his office, and staying up to date on his upcoming programs are all great ways to watch the Berkeley ecosystem develop. ASUC Senator’s Office of Will Wang: Facebook Page Human-centered consultancy. Berkeley Innovation : design : Organize key events, issue directories and publications, and serve as a connector for student entrepreneurs. Berkeley Leadership Network : Community of students interested in crypto and blockchain technology. , would recommend students who are interested in this space joining. Blockchain at Berkeley This is their public slack highly : Pro-bono software development for non-profits. Blueprint : Technology consulting club for high-growth startups. CodeBase Community that hosts talks, hackathons, info sessions, workshops, and a . Computer Science Undergraduate Association: biannual Startup Fair : Undergraduate student organization focused on education, professional development, and community building within the data science community. Data Science Society at Berkeley : Technology consulting club for students of all backgrounds. DiversaTech Consulting : National EECS honor society. Eta Kappa Nu : Organization for female technologists of all backgrounds. FEM Tech : Hosts workshops and an innovation hackathon to mitigate solve campus related problems. Innovate Berkeley : ML/AI project development club. Launchpad : Cal’s machine learning community ML@Berkeley : A community of mobile app developers. Mobile Developers at Berkeley Consulting for Biotech companies. Phoenix Consulting Group: : Co-ed entrepreneurship fraternity. Sigma Eta Pi : Association for Berkeley’s entrepreneurship community connecting students, organizations, and external partners. SCET Student Association : Non-profit that provides consulting for Israeli startups. TAMID Group : Strategy consulting for Bay Area startups. Venture Strategy Solutions : Cal’s VR community. Virtual Reality @ Berkeley Click here to see all student organizations at Berkeley. V. Events There are many tech/startup events at Berkeley, so instead of listing them individually, here are some channels to subscribe to to stay up-to-date: soooo Berkeley Entrepreneurship Association FB Group Berkeley Startups & Entrepreneurs FB Group Class of 20xx Official FB Group ( , , , ) 2019 2020 2021 2022 Blockchain at Berkeley FB Group Startups@Berkeley FB Group Innovators@Cal Forum FB Group Sutardja Center’s FB Group EECS Event Calendar : Free weekly dialogue every Wednesdays (starts at 12pm PST) highlighting leading voices on societal-scale technology challenges. CITRIS Research Exchange Seminar Series Free lunch is provided with RSVP in advance. VI. MISC And finally, here is an assortment of useful links that doesn’t quite fit anywhere else: : Most exhaustive public database for Berkeley startups ( BerkeleyBase Credit to Ruochen Huang ). : Help users make startup connections such as finding co-founders, investors, interns and more within the Berkeley ecosystem. BearFounders : Like TechCrunch but ran by university students covering campus affiliated startups exclusively. Launched in early 2018 and currently cover startups from Berkeley, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, and UPenn. It’s a great way to see what other student entrepreneurs are working on around the country. StartU : Group for startup founders who are also UC Berkeley alumni. CalFounders I’m subscribed to over 20 technology and entrepreneurship related newsletters. It’s a great way to stay up to date on technology trends and what other ambitious founders are working on; here are some of my favorites: : weekly newsletter ran by & Moore, investors at , covering trends, news, and internship and full-time job openings in technology. Accelerated Justine Olivia CRV : daily musings from a prolific investor in the NYC ecosystem AVC USV’s Fred Wilson, : daily newsletter on general technology news Crunchbase Daily : Weekly newsletter containing the best of Y Combinator’s blog Hack News. Full of interesting articles and links. Hacker Newsletter : Weekly opinionated recap of the most interesting news in blockchain. Token Economy I hope you found this post helpful in turning the ideas gnawing at the back of your head into reality. Feel free to email me at dtao114@berkeley with feedback, and best of luck to you going forward! :D About the Author: David Tao is a Senior studying Economics at UC Berkeley. He is passionate about working with startups, and is involved in Berkeley’s entrepreneurship ecosystem through the LAUNCH accelerator, CRV’s Deal Scout program, and blogging. He interned at Anthos Capital, a Santa Monica based venture and growth equity firm, during Summer 2018 and will return as a full-time investor upon graduation.

A Student’s Guide to UC Berkeley’s Startup Ecosystem (2018–19 Update)

There is no doubt that the cloud has changed the way we run our software. Startups, for instance, can get started without buying expensive hardware and scale flexibly. Also, the cloud has enabled novel solutions such as serverless, managed Kubernetes and Docker, or edge functions. For a time, cloud-native applications seemed to be the way forward for most teams, big or small. But in exchange for all this power, we pay a cost. And it can be a steep one. — the company behind and — has calculated that by buying a few servers and moving from the cloud to on-premise, they can save . 37signals HEY.com Basecamp.com 7 million dollars over 5 years And it is not an isolated case. Recently, Amazon Prime — the poster child of serverless architectures — moved part of its infrastructure from and cut costs by 90%. serverless into a monolith Does this mean that we should go back to bare metal servers like in the old days? Not quite. We can still enjoy many of the benefits of the cloud, like horizontal scalability and no-outage upgrades using containers in combination with an orchestration platform. On that note, 37signals recently released , a tool that allowed them to , saving them money and improving performance for their users. MRSK completely leave the cloud What is MRSK? MRSK is a deployment tool for containerized applications. It uses Docker containers to run the software and Traefik, a reverse proxy and load manager, to perform rolling updates. The application container runs behind an instance of Traefik running as a reverse proxy. User requests are routed to the active application container. MRSK keeps things simple by: Using standard Docker images. Connecting to the servers via SSH. Giving each server a single role. The last point gives us the first clue about how MRSK works. It assumes a multi-server setup, where every machine fulfills only one role. In other words, if your application requires a database, MRSK expects to have at least two servers: one for the application and one for the database. Deploying the application and database with a single MRSK command. MRSK cares about your servers and little else. Load balancing is limited to the server level. MRSK uses Traefik to forward HTTP traffic to every container running on a machine. If you want to do horizontal scaling, you'll need to put a separate load balancer in front of everything. MRSK does not manage multi-server load balancing. You need to add your own. Because MRSK doesn't care where the application runs, you can use a cloud server, on-premise machines, or even run VMs on your laptop to test drive the tool. Getting started with MRSK You'll need the following to build and deploy an application with MRSK: Docker. A Docker Hub account or similar. A software project with its Dockerfile. Two servers with SSH access. : we will need at least one server for each role. A deployment will typically need at least two machines: one for the application and one for the database. Note You cannot host the database on the same machine as the application. Ensure you have SSH access. Before starting, ensure that you have SSH access to the deployment server. It can be any cloud, bare metal server, or even a VM on your laptop. What matters is that it already has your SSH key authorized for root access. $ ssh root@SERVER_IP_ADDRESS If that doesn't work, but you know the root's password, you can add your key with the following command: $ ssh-copy-id root@SERVER_IP_ADDRESS Installing MRSK So, now that we have our server, we can install MRSK on your local machine. Either as a Ruby Gem: $ gem install mrsk -v 0.13.2 Or, you can try the ready-made official Docker image by aliasing the command in your shell like this: $ alias mrsk='docker run --rm -it -v $HOME/.ssh:/root/.ssh -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock -v ${PWD}/:/workdir ghcr.io/mrsked/mrsk:v0.13.2' Since MRSK is in active development and quite new, I suggest picking a version and sticking with it to prevent updates from breaking your deployments. Configuring MRSK For this next step, we will need a project to deploy. MRSK works with any codebase as long as it includes a Dockerfile. For this tutorial, I will be using the following demo project, which exposes an API-based address book with PostgreSQL for persistence: TomFern/dockerizing-nodejs In the project's root folder, run: $ mrsk init This will create three files: : the main configuration file. It declares how to deploy the application to all your servers. config/deploy.yml : for sensitive environment variables, including passwords and tokens. It should be added to so it's never checked in the repository. .env .gitignore : contains Git-like hooks. We won't be using any of these features in this tutorial. .mrsk/hooks The building block of MRSK deployments is called , which are containers running in one or more servers. They are connected to the Internet via , a reverse proxy. applications Traefik Let's configure our deployment. To do that, open deploy.yml and edit the following values near the top of the file. Uncomment the lines as needed. You will, at the very least, need to define the following: A name for the application. The server IP address. This will be your application server. The Docker image name without the tag. Your Docker Hub username (you can also use a different registry). In the registry.password add "DOCKER_PASSWORD". This is a reference to a variable defined in .env. Environment variables for the application. The values under clear are stored in plaintext. Passwords should be stored in .env, and their variable name should be listed under secret in the config file. I'm configuring an "addressbook" application in the example below. Its image name is TomFern/addressbook (notice the lack of tags, which are handled by MRSK). My application uses a PostgreSQL database, for which I set to the IP address of the db and reference the variable containing the password in . DB_HOST .env service: addressbook
image: tomfern/addressbook

# Deploy to these servers.
servers:
 - 216.238.101.228

# Credentials for your image host.
registry:
 username: tomfern
 password:
 - DOCKER_PASSWORD

# Environment variables
env:
 clear:
 DB_HOST: 216.238.113.141
 secret:
 - DB_PASSWORD MRSK can handle containerized dependencies like databases, caches, or search services. MRSK calls them . If you need to define an accessory, scroll down the config file until you find the section. Then, set the following values: accessories accessories The db engine image name with its tag, e.g. . postgres:14 The db server IP address and the database port. Any secrets or environment variables needed for database initialization. One or more volume mappings for data persistence — so data is not wiped out when the container stops. You can also define startup scripts to run during database initialization. The following snippet shows how to configure a PostgreSQL database accessory for our demo app: accessories:
 db:
 image: postgres:14
 host: 216.238.113.141
 port: 5432
 env:
 secret:
 - POSTGRES_PASSWORD
 volumes:
 - /var/lib/postgresql/data:/var/lib/postgresql/data Now, open the file. Fill in the password of your Docker Hub account and for the "Postgres" user in your PostgreSQL server. The value of every secret environment variable defined in must be set here. .env deploy.yml DOCKER_PASSWORD=YOUR_DOCKER_HUB_PASSWORD
POSTGRES_PASSWORD=THE_POSTGRES_ADMIN_PASSWORD
DB_PASSWORD=THE_ADDRESSBOOK_APP_PASSWORD You may use the same password for and or create a dedicated user for the app in the database. If you do so, you'll also need to define in the config file like this: POSTGRES_PASSWORD DB_PASSWORD DB_USER service: addressbook
image: tomfern/addressbook

# ...

env:
 clear:
 DB_HOST: 216.238.113.141
 DB_USER: my_app_username
 secret:
 - DB_PASSWORD Add a healthcheck route By default, MRSK checks that the application container is up by running curl on the route. You can change the healthcheck endpoint in the config file. /up Since the demo does not have a healthcheck route, let's add one. In , add the following lines: app.js // app.js

// ....

const healthRouter = require('./routes/health');
app.use('/up', healthRouter);

// ... And create a new file called with the following content, which checks if the app can connect with the database: routes/health.js // routes/health.js


const express = require('express');
const router = express.Router();
const db = require('../database');

router.get("/", function(req, res) {
 db.sequelize.authenticate()
 .then(() => res.status(200).send(JSON.stringify({ ok: true })))
 .catch( err => res.status(500).send(JSON.stringify(err)));
});

module.exports = router; MRSK uses curl inside the container to perform the healthcheck, so ensure that your Dockerfile installs the tool. For example: FROM node:18.16.0-alpine3.17
RUN apk update && apk add curl

... Prepare servers and deploy We're set to begin with the deployment. MRSK can do everything with a single command: $ mrsk setup

Acquiring the deploy lock
Ensure curl and Docker are installed...
Log into image registry...
Build and push app image...
Ensure Traefik is running...
Start container with version c439617 using a 7s readiness delay (or reboot if already running)...
Releasing the deploy lock This command does the following: Installs Docker on all machines. Starts Traefik in the app server. Starts the PostgreSQL container in the database server. Builds the Docker image for your application on your laptop and uploads it to Docker Hub. Pulls the image and starts the application on the server. Routes inbound traffic into the application container. MRSK runs a health check to verify that the application is ready to work before being exposed to the Internet. Once the check passes, Traefik routes traffic into the app's container. By default, the health check is a GET request to the route (expecting status code 200), but you can change that in . /up deploy.yml MRSK deployment mechanism. The image is built into the developer's machine, uploaded to Docker Hub, and pulled into the server. Then, a health check ensures it starts correctly. Once verified, Traefik routes traffic into the application container. We can check what containers are running with the following: $ mrsk details

Traefik Host: 216.238.101.228
CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND CREATED STATUS PORTS NAMES
5d08d56b760b traefik:v2.9 "/entrypoint.sh --pr…" 2 minutes ago Up 2 minutes 0.0.0.0:80->80/tcp, :::80->80/tcp traefik

App Host: 216.238.101.228
CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND CREATED STATUS PORTS NAMES
28acfd2cda02 tomfern/addressbook:3ecd87430ab7ab6cc30a1542784ddb75fbfd8e74 "docker-entrypoint.s…" 2 minutes ago Up 2 minutes 3000/tcp addressbook-web-3ecd87430ab7ab6cc30a1542784ddb75fbfd8e74


CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND CREATED STATUS PORTS NAMES
a843852686b6 postgres:14 "docker-entrypoint.s…" 2 minutes ago Up 2 minutes 0.0.0.0:5432->5432/tcp, :::5432->5432/tcp addressbook-db As you can see, MRSK tags every built image with a unique identifier, allowing us to track changes, rolling back and forwards as needed. Before testing the application, we should run any database migration/setup scripts to initialize its contents. MRSK allows us to run commands in running containers with the following: $ mrsk app exec "npm run migrate" Finally, we can test the application, which should be ready to receive user requests. $ curl -X PUT http://216.238.101.228/persons -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{
"id": 1,
"firstName": "David",
"lastName": "Bowie"
}'

$ curl 216.238.101.228/persons/all
{
 "firstName": "David",
 "lastName": "Bowie",
 "id": 1,
 "updatedAt": "2023-04-30T22:44:29.115Z",
 "createdAt": "2023-04-30T22:44:29.115Z"
} Deploying updates with MRSK Let's make a change to the application so we can see how MRSK handles updates. In the demo code, we have a API endpoint; it would be a good idea to version it. So let's change this line in : /persons app.js app.use('/persons', personsRouter); Change the line so the base endpoint route is . /persons/v1/ app.use('/persons/v1', personsRouter); The fastest way to update the container is with , which does away with a few tasks like checking whether Docker is installed in all servers. mrsk redeploy $ mrsk redeploy

Acquiring the deploy lock
Running docker buildx build
Running docker image rm --force tomfern/addressbook:7db892 on 216.238.101.228
Running docker pull tomfern/addressbook:latest on 216.238.101.228
Health check against /up succeeded with 200 OK!
Finished all in 35.8 seconds
Releasing the deploy lock The redeploy command will rebuild the image, upload it to Docker Hub and start it on the application server. As soon as the health check passes, the traffic is routed to the new version, and the old container shuts down. MRSK redeploy mechanism. A new instance of the application is built and deployed. Once its health check passes, traffic is routed to the new instance, and the old one is shut down. After deployment, we can check that the new route is working: $ curl 216.238.101.228/persons/v1/all

[
 {
 "id": 1,
 "firstName": "David",
 "lastName": "Bowie",
 "createdAt": "2023-05-07T17:41:45.580Z",
 "updatedAt": "2023-05-07T17:41:45.580Z"
 }
] Rolling back updates with MRSK MRSK gives us a safe path for rolling back updates. If the new version is causing trouble, we can return to the last working version with a single command. To rollback, first, we need to find which images are available on the server with the following: $ mrsk app containers

App Host: 216.238.101.228

CONTAINER ID   IMAGE                                                          COMMAND                  CREATED         STATUS                     PORTS      NAMES

f648fec5f604   tomfern/addressbook:66347a86f8a123e35492dd43463540c23f7db892   "docker-entrypoint.s…"   4 minutes ago   Up 4 minutes               3000/tcp   addressbook-web-66347a86f8a123e35492dd43463540c23f7db892

b3b1d13b8a1c   9500e07b6387                                                   "docker-entrypoint.s…"   9 minutes ago   Exited (1) 4 minutes ago              addressbook-web-66347a86f8a123e35492dd43463540c23f7db892_05d41f3ba39d2b1b

ce4a5c31e6fc   tomfern/addressbook:f043325e3984ec245a94b21bd236afcc537a9739   "docker-entrypoint.s…"   3 hours ago     Exited (1) 9 minutes ago              addressbook-web-f043325e3984ec245a94b21bd236afcc537a9739 We can see that the previous version was tagged as "f043325e3984ec245a94b21bd236afcc537a9739". We can run to go back to it. For example: mrsk rollback $ mrsk rollback f043325e3984ec245a94b21bd236afcc537a9739 If the container does not exist on the server — MRSK routinely prunes older images — you can always look up the last good version in Docker Hub or by checking the logs in your CI/CD platform. MRSK rollback mechanism. The old version is restarted and health-checked. Once working, traffic is switched over to the old version, and the new container stops. Once you're done with your application, you can remove everything, including the database, with mrsk remove. This will destroy the database, remove Docker and stop all applications. MRSK’s limitations MRSK development is ongoing, so we may expect behavior changes and new breaking features in the future. But do not mistake its newness for immaturity; 37signals has reportedly begun using it to move away from the cloud with great success already. That being said, there are a few things MRSK cannot do, and that makes it a bad fit for some use cases: The default behavior is to expose the application's HTTP port without SSL. You are supposed to set up an SSL terminator, a load balancer, or a CDN in front of the whole deployment. Containers cannot communicate between themselves within the same server. This is . You can always configure Docker networks server-side manually. But it's better to stick to one server per role, so putting the application and the database on the same machine is a bad idea. by design You will need to configure a firewall in front of your whole setup to ensure users can only access the web application. If you want to distribute the load among many servers, you should set up a load balancer in front of your servers. MRSK does not provide this feature. MRSK is designed for each server to have one role and does not provide load balancing or SSL termination. You need to handle it by yourself. At the end of the day, MRSK offers a simplified workflow — especially when compared with beasts like Kubernetes — by not trying to handle every aspect of the system. Troubleshooting If you experience issues with deployment, try the following: If the healthcheck fails, ensure that curl is installed in the application container image. If it still fails after ensuring curl is installed, check that connectivity works between the application and the database. You may need to configure a VPS or set firewall rules. You can try starting the images manually by running the docker exec commands in the machines to see the output of the logs. These will help you find the root cause of the problem. If you get an error message stating that there is a lock, run mrsk lock release. This can happen when MRSK fails during deployment, and the admin lock is not released. Conclusion MRSK is minimalistic to the point of elegance. By combining traditional servers with the flexibility of containers, it allows us to run our containerized services with ease on any server. MRSK presents a compelling solution if you're seeking to optimize your software deployments, reduce vendor lock-in, and maintain flexibility in choosing deployment environments while enjoying the benefits of cloud-native architectures. Also published . here

Unlocking Freedom from the Cloud: Empower Your Apps with MRSK's Optimal Orchestration

A Step-By-Step Guide to Unit Testing for Express API

Scaling Microservices with Message Queues, Spring Boot and Kubernetes

DePIN- an acronym for decentralized physical infrastructure networks–attests to the enduring potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize the world.It seeks to create an interconnected world where computing power and resource sharing drive innovation forward. Most especially, it presents a contrast to the status quo of centralized servers, data silos, and centralized control of critical infrastructures through a decentralized ownership model and by bridging the gap between existing physical infrastructure and the digital world. Today, the dangers of centralization are more threatening than ever, breeding palpable concerns over data integrity and user privacy and fueling the desire of the masses of mankind to control their own destiny and technology. This democratic sentiment is the foundation for blockchain as a peer-to-peer infrastructure removed from the control of any central authority. And it can also be said to be the inspiration behind Decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN). With DePIN, every of society's critical infrastructure–from wireless connectivity to health to transport and even energy —can be reimagined, reinvented, and repurposed for the greater good. As an amalgam of decentralized networks, DePIN offers cost-effective solutions to the everyday challenges faced by humans by harnessing computing power and fostering a resource-sharing economy. In other words, DePIN models allow every individual to contribute their computing resources in exchange for rewards or incentives. A compelling example of the DePIN model is a decentralized health platform or network where users can contribute to a global health data pool and earn rewards for their contributions or a decentralized ecosystem that enables internet users to significantly improve internet performance in exchange for rewards. This example embodies a democratic and efficient distribution of computing power and potentially eliminates the problem of centralization or or what is commonly described as “the risks of single points of failure”. The emergence of DePIN models has been profoundly impactful, and its trajectory is a future of decentralized ownership of critical infrastructure on which the continuity of modern society depends. In data storage, Filecoin is supercharging the transition to decentralized storage; in transportation, Drife is gearing up to change the dynamics of global ride-sharing; in the health sector, Healthblocks is paying users to contribute to global health data, and in telecommunications and internet, Qualoo Network is building a global community of test node operators to enhance the performance of the internet. The Fundamentals of DePINs As an emerging blockchain-powered technology, DePINs have strong fundamentals and a total addressable market(TAM) worth trillions of dollars. And due to their potential  to streamline processes, reduce operational costs, and manage physical infrastructure, they have been hailed as the next big thing. In essence, DePIN fundamentals are the features or characteristics that define its scope and objectives. Some of these include: Decentralization Blockchain serves as the core infrastructure on which decentralized infrastructure protocols are built, enabling a peer-to-peer value exchange and eliminating the need for intermediaries. Additionally, the logic behind decentralization is to reduce the risks of single points of failure. Resource-Sharing Economy DePIN models encourage participants to join a global network of incentivized users and drive efficient distribution of computing resources, which altogether creates a resource-sharing economy built on an incentive system. Efficient Utilization of Physical Resources DePIN models introduce a novel  way to manage real-world physical assets or resources on-chain. The problem of underutilization of these resources often implies that there are vast amounts of physical resources (i.e., storage units) that are underutilized owing to centralized control and the lack of invention and transparency. With DePIN, managing these assets is cost-effective and incentive-based. Transparency In addition to facilitating an efficient allocation of resources, DePIN also leverages blockchain technology for transparency, enabling verifiable records of asset ownership and its management. Community & Incentives Every DePIN project incorporates community building as a way to grow its user base and accelerate its adoption. For example, a ride-sharing decentralized network can appeal to a community of drivers who want to earn incentives by offering their services. Challenges Facing DePIN implementation As a tool, DePIN offers a promising era of efficient distribution of computing power of physical and digital resources. However, there are certain challenges it must overcome on its path to mass adoption. Technical Complexity DePIN platforms have two major components: the physical and the digital components or (the on-chain and off-chain components) .  Current DePIN models face technical barriers in integrating both components for the end-users of the products. Regulation Crypto regulations are evolving around the world. This evolution is creating a divergent era for local regulations that apply to various innovations in the crypto industry. Case Study : Qualoo Network Solution: Mobile and Physical Nodes Qualoo Network offers a compelling example as a case study in the internet/telecommunication space as a DePIN project. This decentralized platform was recently launched to address the systemic challenges facing the internet. The current state of the internet is plagued with issues like inconsistent service quality, network failure and congestion, and the lack of transparency and accountability. As a DePIN platform, Qualoo Network leverages Qualoo Test Nodes to conduct active internet performance tests. These nodes are designed to collect valuable and actionable data and they function by means of the network’s algorithms. It appeals to a community of test node operators who are incentivized to earn the platform's token($QXT) as rewards for their contributions to the performance of the internet. By leveraging data generated from users’ participation, it is able to serve a wide range of communities ranging from the internet users to internet service providers (ISPs) to regulatory bodies, fostering an internet economy built on transparency and accountability. Conclusion DePIN is yet another groundbreaking innovation embodying the forward progression of blockchain technology. At the base level, it is a novel tool for managing underutilized physical infrastructure or idle infrastructure, and its key objective is reducing costs, eliminating single points of failure, and fostering a transparent resource-sharing economy. DePIN- an acronym for decentralized physical infrastructure networks–attests to the enduring potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize the world.It seeks to create an interconnected world where computing power and resource sharing drive innovation forward. DePIN- Most especially, it presents a contrast to the status quo of centralized servers, data silos, and centralized control of critical infrastructures through a decentralized ownership model and by bridging the gap between existing physical infrastructure and the digital world. Today, the dangers of centralization are more threatening than ever, breeding palpable concerns over data integrity and user privacy and fueling the desire of the masses of mankind to control their own destiny and technology. This democratic sentiment is the foundation for blockchain as a peer-to-peer infrastructure removed from the control of any central authority. And it can also be said to be the inspiration behind Decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN). With DePIN, every of society's critical infrastructure–from wireless connectivity to health to transport and even energy —can be reimagined, reinvented, and repurposed for the greater good. As an amalgam of decentralized networks, DePIN offers cost-effective solutions to the everyday challenges faced by humans by harnessing computing power and fostering a resource-sharing economy. In other words, DePIN models allow every individual to contribute their computing resources in exchange for rewards or incentives. A compelling example of the DePIN model is a decentralized health platform or network where users can contribute to a global health data pool and earn rewards for their contributions or a decentralized ecosystem that enables internet users to significantly improve internet performance in exchange for rewards. DePIN This example embodies a democratic and efficient distribution of computing power and potentially eliminates the problem of centralization or or what is commonly described as “the risks of single points of failure”. The emergence of DePIN models has been profoundly impactful, and its trajectory is a future of decentralized ownership of critical infrastructure on which the continuity of modern society depends. In data storage, Filecoin is supercharging the transition to decentralized storage; in transportation, Drife is gearing up to change the dynamics of global ride-sharing; in the health sector, Healthblocks is paying users to contribute to global health data, and in telecommunications and internet, Qualoo Network is building a global community of test node operators to enhance the performance of the internet. The Fundamentals of DePINs As an emerging blockchain-powered technology, DePINs have strong fundamentals and a total addressable market(TAM) worth trillions of dollars. And due to their potential  to streamline processes, reduce operational costs, and manage physical infrastructure, they have been hailed as the next big thing. In essence, DePIN fundamentals are the features or characteristics that define its scope and objectives. Some of these include: Decentralization Blockchain serves as the core infrastructure on which decentralized infrastructure protocols are built, enabling a peer-to-peer value exchange and eliminating the need for intermediaries. Additionally, the logic behind decentralization is to reduce the risks of single points of failure. Resource-Sharing Economy DePIN models encourage participants to join a global network of incentivized users and drive efficient distribution of computing resources, which altogether creates a resource-sharing economy built on an incentive system. Efficient Utilization of Physical Resources DePIN models introduce a novel  way to manage real-world physical assets or resources on-chain. The problem of underutilization of these resources often implies that there are vast amounts of physical resources (i.e., storage units) that are underutilized owing to centralized control and the lack of invention and transparency. With DePIN, managing these assets is cost-effective and incentive-based. Transparency In addition to facilitating an efficient allocation of resources, DePIN also leverages blockchain technology for transparency, enabling verifiable records of asset ownership and its management. Community & Incentives Every DePIN project incorporates community building as a way to grow its user base and accelerate its adoption. For example, a ride-sharing decentralized network can appeal to a community of drivers who want to earn incentives by offering their services. Challenges Facing DePIN implementation As a tool, DePIN offers a promising era of efficient distribution of computing power of physical and digital resources. However, there are certain challenges it must overcome on its path to mass adoption. Technical Complexity DePIN platforms have two major components: the physical and the digital components or (the on-chain and off-chain components) .  Current DePIN models face technical barriers in integrating both components for the end-users of the products. Regulation Crypto regulations are evolving around the world. This evolution is creating a divergent era for local regulations that apply to various innovations in the crypto industry. Case Study : Qualoo Network Case Study : Qualoo Network Solution: Mobile and Physical Nodes Solution: Mobile and Physical Nodes Qualoo Network offers a compelling example as a case study in the internet/telecommunication space as a DePIN project. This decentralized platform was recently launched to address the systemic challenges facing the internet. The current state of the internet is plagued with issues like inconsistent service quality, network failure and congestion, and the lack of transparency and accountability. As a DePIN platform, Qualoo Network leverages Qualoo Test Nodes to conduct active internet performance tests. These nodes are designed to collect valuable and actionable data and they function by means of the network’s algorithms. It appeals to a community of test node operators who are incentivized to earn the platform's token($QXT) as rewards for their contributions to the performance of the internet. By leveraging data generated from users’ participation, it is able to serve a wide range of communities ranging from the internet users to internet service providers (ISPs) to regulatory bodies, fostering an internet economy built on transparency and accountability. Conclusion DePIN is yet another groundbreaking innovation embodying the forward progression of blockchain technology. At the base level, it is a novel tool for managing underutilized physical infrastructure or idle infrastructure, and its key objective is reducing costs, eliminating single points of failure, and fostering a transparent resource-sharing economy.

How Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs) Are Reshaping Our World

Brave New Word: Exploring the Diverse Niches for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks 

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 7th, 2024/Chainwire/--Blockchain-based solution drives significant improvements in data visibility, accuracy and operational efficiency within cargo handling sector, according to research conducted by Aventus at Heathrow Airport. Airlines can benefit from overall cost savings in their cargo handling operations by leveraging Web3-based solutions, according to a study conducted by Aventus & Airport Perishables Handling (APH) at Heathrow Airport. The existing toolset used for global ULD management has remained unchanged since the 1990s and relies heavily on manual data inputs, resulting in critical challenges with data visibility and accuracy, secure information sharing, and costly ULD losses, damages and delays – costing airlines north of $1.6 billion annually. Web3, through blockchain technology, offers a robust solution to the challenges of traditional ULD management, by: Enabling immutable, tamper-proof records that provide a single source of truth, eliminating disputes and improving regulatory compliance;
Reducing administrative overhead and minimize errors by automating manual processes via self-executing smart contracts;
Enabling real-time visibility into ULD location, custodianship and condition, and streamlining data sharing to enable airlines to optimize operations. In a pilot study conducted at Heathrow Airport, Aventus, an industry-leading provider of end-to-end Web3 solutions for enterprises and parachain on Polkadot, found that its end-to-end blockchain-based cargo handling solution drives improvements in data visibility, accuracy and operational efficiency within the cargo handling sector. 90% reduction in communication and error incidents as a result of digitized data capture;
83% reduction in manual documentation time;
81% reduction in time between ULD stock updates from 3-4 hours to just 30 minutes, enabling real-time decision-making; and
28% reduction in loading times as a result of optimized ULD loading workloads. Alan Vey, Founder at Aventus, comments: “These results are truly remarkable, underscoring the transformative potential of blockchain for not only the aviation industry but for supply chains globally. We are proud to be empowering enterprises to enhance data accuracy, reduce operational inefficiencies, and achieve greater transparency. As we expand our partnerships across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we anticipate these results to only improve via network effects.”
Michelle Roosevelt, Director at Aviation Perishables Handling, adds: “Aventus' technology is fast and responsive, which is key in our busy airport environment. We've seen huge improvements in productivity. The app is more than a tool – it's reshaped how we manage and track our aircraft containers, and the Aventus team's support and expertise in meeting our needs has been outstanding.” Aventus’ aviation solution brings partnerships with major enterprises to the Polkadot ecosystem, including Aviation Perishables Handling at Heathrow Airport, Vodafone’s Digital Asset Broker, as well as other major airlines across Asia and the Middle East. For more information on the study, users can download the full report here. About Aventus Aventus transforms how customers create trust and unlock growth, crafting pioneering Web3 solutions for brands, from creating more connected, integrated experiences to enhancing traceability, transparency, and product authentication. Founded in 2020, Aventus is the only trusted digital product extension platform that provides a secure and reliable Web3 environment for customers to launch market-leading programs and product activations. With deep industry expertise and a strong understanding of enterprise needs, Aventus delivers the best feature sets of Web3 with the familiarity of Web2, driving significant brand reputation, trust, and enterprise growth for its customers. Its production-ready, end-to-end Blockchain-as-a-Service software is modular, scalable, and interoperable, giving clients the flexibility they need to respond to rapidly-evolving market opportunities. Contact Head of Marketing Ellie Hyman Aventus ellie.hyman@aventus.io This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here. LONDON, United Kingdom, August 7th, 2024/Chainwire/--Blockchain-based solution drives significant improvements in data visibility, accuracy and operational efficiency within cargo handling sector, according to research conducted by Aventus at Heathrow Airport. Airlines can benefit from overall cost savings in their cargo handling operations by leveraging Web3-based solutions, according to a study conducted by Aventus & Airport Perishables Handling (APH) at Heathrow Airport. Aventus Aventus The existing toolset used for global ULD management has remained unchanged since the 1990s and relies heavily on manual data inputs, resulting in critical challenges with data visibility and accuracy, secure information sharing, and costly ULD losses, damages and delays – costing airlines north of $1.6 billion annually. Web3, through blockchain technology, offers a robust solution to the challenges of traditional ULD management, by: Enabling immutable, tamper-proof records that provide a single source of truth, eliminating disputes and improving regulatory compliance; Reducing administrative overhead and minimize errors by automating manual processes via self-executing smart contracts; Enabling real-time visibility into ULD location, custodianship and condition, and streamlining data sharing to enable airlines to optimize operations. Enabling immutable, tamper-proof records that provide a single source of truth, eliminating disputes and improving regulatory compliance; Reducing administrative overhead and minimize errors by automating manual processes via self-executing smart contracts; Enabling real-time visibility into ULD location, custodianship and condition, and streamlining data sharing to enable airlines to optimize operations. In a pilot study conducted at Heathrow Airport, Aventus, an industry-leading provider of end-to-end Web3 solutions for enterprises and parachain on Polkadot, found that its end-to-end blockchain-based cargo handling solution drives improvements in data visibility, accuracy and operational efficiency within the cargo handling sector. 90% reduction in communication and error incidents as a result of digitized data capture; 83% reduction in manual documentation time; 81% reduction in time between ULD stock updates from 3-4 hours to just 30 minutes, enabling real-time decision-making; and 28% reduction in loading times as a result of optimized ULD loading workloads. 90% reduction in communication and error incidents as a result of digitized data capture; 83% reduction in manual documentation time; 81% reduction in time between ULD stock updates from 3-4 hours to just 30 minutes, enabling real-time decision-making; and 28% reduction in loading times as a result of optimized ULD loading workloads. Alan Vey, Founder at Aventus, comments: “These results are truly remarkable, underscoring the transformative potential of blockchain for not only the aviation industry but for supply chains globally. We are proud to be empowering enterprises to enhance data accuracy, reduce operational inefficiencies, and achieve greater transparency. As we expand our partnerships across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we anticipate these results to only improve via network effects.” Michelle Roosevelt, Director at Aviation Perishables Handling, adds: “Aventus' technology is fast and responsive, which is key in our busy airport environment. We've seen huge improvements in productivity. The app is more than a tool – it's reshaped how we manage and track our aircraft containers, and the Aventus team's support and expertise in meeting our needs has been outstanding.” Alan Vey, Founder at Aventus, comments: “These results are truly remarkable, underscoring the transformative potential of blockchain for not only the aviation industry but for supply chains globally. We are proud to be empowering enterprises to enhance data accuracy, reduce operational inefficiencies, and achieve greater transparency. As we expand our partnerships across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we anticipate these results to only improve via network effects.” Michelle Roosevelt, Director at Aviation Perishables Handling, adds: “Aventus' technology is fast and responsive, which is key in our busy airport environment. We've seen huge improvements in productivity. The app is more than a tool – it's reshaped how we manage and track our aircraft containers, and the Aventus team's support and expertise in meeting our needs has been outstanding.” Aventus’ aviation solution brings partnerships with major enterprises to the Polkadot ecosystem, including Aviation Perishables Handling at Heathrow Airport, Vodafone’s Digital Asset Broker, as well as other major airlines across Asia and the Middle East. For more information on the study, users can download the full report here . here here About Aventus Aventus transforms how customers create trust and unlock growth, crafting pioneering Web3 solutions for brands, from creating more connected, integrated experiences to enhancing traceability, transparency, and product authentication. Founded in 2020, Aventus is the only trusted digital product extension platform that provides a secure and reliable Web3 environment for customers to launch market-leading programs and product activations. With deep industry expertise and a strong understanding of enterprise needs, Aventus delivers the best feature sets of Web3 with the familiarity of Web2, driving significant brand reputation, trust, and enterprise growth for its customers. Its production-ready, end-to-end Blockchain-as-a-Service software is modular, scalable, and interoperable, giving clients the flexibility they need to respond to rapidly-evolving market opportunities. Contact Head of Marketing Ellie Hyman Aventus ellie.hyman@aventus.io This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here. This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here . here here

Aventus Supply Chain Solution Demonstrates Polkadot's Impact On Aviation Industry

এভেন্টাস সাপ্লাই চেইন সলিউশন এভিয়েশন ইন্ডাস্ট্রিতে পোলকাডটের প্রভাব প্রদর্শন করে

Aventus Supply Chain Solution demonstriert den Einfluss von Polkadot auf die Luftfahrtindustrie

La solución de cadena de suministro de Aventus demuestra el impacto de Polkadot en la industria de la aviación

La solution de chaîne d'approvisionnement d'Aventus démontre l'impact de Polkadot sur l'industrie aéronautique

एवेंटस सप्लाई चेन सॉल्यूशन एविएशन इंडस्ट्री पर पोलकाडॉट के प्रभाव को प्रदर्शित करता है

Aventus サプライチェーン ソリューションが Polkadot の航空産業への影響を実証

Aventus 공급망 솔루션은 항공 산업에 대한 Polkadot의 영향을 보여줍니다.

A solução de cadeia de suprimentos da Aventus demonstra o impacto da Polkadot na indústria da aviação

Решение Aventus для цепочки поставок демонстрирует влияние Polkadot на авиационную отрасль

Aventus Tedarik Zinciri Çözümü Polkadot'un Havacılık Endüstrisindeki Etkisini Gösteriyor

Giải pháp chuỗi cung ứng Aventus chứng minh tác động của Polkadot đối với ngành hàng không

Aventus 供应链解决方案展示了 Polkadot 对航空业的影响

Everything You Need to Know About Testcontainers-Based Load Testing Bench

টেস্ট কনটেইনার-ভিত্তিক লোড টেস্টিং বেঞ্চ সম্পর্কে আপনার যা কিছু জানা দরকার

Alles, was Sie über den Lasttest-Bench auf Basis von Testcontainern wissen müssen

Todo lo que necesita saber sobre el banco de pruebas de carga basado en contenedores de prueba

Tout ce que vous devez savoir sur le banc de test de charge basé sur des conteneurs de test

टेस्टकंटेनर-आधारित लोड परीक्षण बेंच के बारे में आपको जो कुछ भी जानना चाहिए

テストコンテナベースの負荷テストベンチについて知っておくべきことすべて

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We live in a world where powerful technological forces such as AI and blockchain are not only shaping our digital destiny but also redefining the boundaries of innovation. A prime example on our radar is DePIN (short for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network), an amalgam of web3 ecosystems offering cost-effective solutions to the everyday challenges faced by humans. DePIN empowers a more democratic future for computing power through a vast global network where everyone can participate in a resource-sharing economy. As a peer-to-peer infrastructure, it unlocks efficient distribution of computing resources and allows users to earn rewards for their contributions. This innovation seeks to bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds through blockchain technology. There have been different groundbreaking DePIN projects such as StorX Network, Drife, Helium Network, Healthblocks, Smartpoints, Airweave, etc. Drife, for example, is not only poised to take Uber and Lyft out of business but it is also set to disrupt the transportation sector. The emergence of DePIN has paved the way for innovators to create cost-effective solutions to the inefficiencies and limitations of the existing critical infrastructure such as transportation, water supply, energy, communication systems, financial services, healthcare, and defense. Most especially, it is set to eliminate centralization and encourage decentralized ownership of these critical services. As an independent researcher, I find DePIN projects fascinating enough to be studied individually. In this article, we explore Aten Krotos (aka Suraj Venkat) and Arthava’s works on  Zero-knowledge Artificial General Intelligence(ZkAGI), an open-source AI project built on DePIN. Leveraging Zero-Knowledge and DePIN, the duo proposed ZkAGI to tackle the privacy concerns in AI. What Are Zero-Knowledge Proofs(ZKPs)? Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZkPs)are a cryptographic technique that allows one party (the prover) to convince another party (the verifier) that they possess a specific piece of information, without revealing the information itself. In a zero-knowledge system, a prover convinces a verifier they hold a secret without revealing it, using a special proof and verification key. This relatively new field  has become a cornerstone of privacy in the cryptocurrency world, reinventing how sensitive data or information is shared without it being revealed. Since the keypoint about ZK is to share data while preserving privacy, the team made a strong case for extending Zero-knowledge  use case to Artificial Intelligence(AI) within the DePIN ecosystem. As an open-source DePIN project, ZkAGI seeks to tackle the challenge of privacy in AI by combining two cutting-edge technologies: Zero Knowledge (ZK) and Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN). This innovative approach highlights the need for secure and private AI computation on a cost-effective platform. Using a diary analogy, Aten, the CEO and Founder, describes it as “a secret diary where you store important information but the diary not just records thoughts but understands what has to be done and gets it done”! Defining Zero knowledge Artificial General Intelligence(ZkAGI) ZkAGI (Zero-Knowledge Artificial General Intelligence) is an open-source framework that facilitates secure and private AI computation on a decentralized network (DePIN). By integrating federated learning and zero-knowledge proofs, ZkAGI incentivizes all participants – GPU providers, trainers, developers, and data owners – to contribute to a privacy-focused AI ecosystem. Aten (Suraj) the founder and CEO of ZkAGI writes that: “ZkAGI addresses the privacy issue in AI by merging Zero Knowledge (ZK) technology with decentralized GPU infrastructure (DePIN), offering secure and private AI computation on a cost-effective platform.” “Leveraging Zynapse, our ZkML Coprocessor, the API empowers seamless AI operations without exposing sensitive data, making it the prime choice for developers and enterprises seeking privacy-centric AI solutions with high processing speeds and significant cost savings.” Zynapse API As an open-source DePIN project, ZkAGI offers valuable insights into Zynapse, its proposed solution to privacy concerns in AI. According to Aten, Zynapse is a ZkML(Zero Knowledge Machine Learning) Coprocessor, which empowers seamless AI operations without compromising sensitive data. The associate API for Zynapse makes ZkAGI the ideal choice for developers and enterprises seeking privacy-centric solutions, high processing speeds, and cost-effective solutions. The choice for DePIN is justified by the fact that it offers efficient and scalable AI computation and significantly lowers the cost compared to what traditional AI platforms offer. By leveraging Zynapse, the goal is to help “ developers and enterprises unlock the full potential of AI while ensuring the privacy of their data”. Components of Zero-Knowledge Artificial General Intelligence It is crucial to briefly discuss the layers upon which Zero-Knowledge Artificial General Intelligence(ZkAGI) as a DePIN project is built. These layers are the basic building blocks for ZkAGI and they include: DePIN, Zk,Decentralized Data Ownership, Federated Learning and Incentivization. DePIN Aten defines DePIN “as a network of physical infrastructure resources (such as computing power, storage, and networking) that are distributed across various locations rather than being centralized in one data center”,highlighting the fact the this decentralized model offers benefits such as improved fault tolerance, scalability, and reduced latency. Incentivization/Resource-Sharing Experts have identified the key advantage of DePIN projects as their ability to provide token incentives, which helps to boost the supply-and-demand side of it . It is essentially the lifeblood that is sustained by participants who contribute their computing power and users who are in need of it. In the words of Aten: “ZkAGI aims to motivate various stakeholders within the ecosystem. GPU providers are incentivized to contribute their computational resources to the network, model trainers are encouraged to develop and refine AI models, and AI developers are motivated to create innovative applications. These incentives can take various forms, such as financial rewards, access to network resources, or reputation within the community”. Decentralized Data Ownership As the AI landscape continues to expand at a breakneck speed, one major concern that has recently surfaced in AI and data-driven applications is the ownership and privacy of data. According to Aten, solving this challenge through ZkAGI requires “implementing mechanisms to enable data owners retain control over their data while still allowing it to be used for training AI models. This solution may incorporate techniques such as federated learning “where models are trained collaboratively across multiple devices or servers without sharing raw data, and zero-knowledge proofs, which allow parties to prove the validity of a statement without revealing the underlying data” Federated Learning This underscores the role and importance of a machine learning model in the development of ZkAGI as a privacy-centric AI built on a Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network. Aten describes Federated learning as “a machine learning approach where the training process is decentralized, and individual devices or servers collaboratively train a global model without sharing their raw data”. ZK Proofs As discussed earlier, Zero-knowledge proofs are cryptographic techniques that allow the sharing of sensitive data or information between one party(the prover)and another(the verifier)without revealing its content. In the context of ZkAGI, zero-knowledge proofs can be used to verify the integrity of computations or to attest to the accuracy of AI models without disclosing sensitive data. Conclusion DePIN as a web3 innovation is revolutionizing how we access and share computing power. This shift fuelled by its potential to provide cost-effective solutions has seen the rise of groundbreaking companies such as Drife, a decentralized ride-sharing platform, and StorX Network, a decentralized cloud computing platform. This decentralized approach also empowers a more democratic future for AI. However, the demands for more powerful infrastructure, incentives for stakeholders, and heightened concerns for privacy are growing. The pressing concern over privacy protection in AI gave birth to ZkAGI, an innovative open-source framework poised to reshape AI data privacy within DePIN ecosystem. We live in a world where powerful technological forces such as AI and blockchain are not only shaping our digital destiny but also redefining the boundaries of innovation. A prime example on our radar is DePIN (short for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network), an amalgam of web3 ecosystems offering cost-effective solutions to the everyday challenges faced by humans. DePIN DePIN empowers a more democratic future for computing power through a vast global network where everyone can participate in a resource-sharing economy. As a peer-to-peer infrastructure, it unlocks efficient distribution of computing resources and allows users to earn rewards for their contributions. This innovation seeks to bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds through blockchain technology. There have been different groundbreaking DePIN projects such as StorX Network, Drife, Helium Network, Healthblocks, Smartpoints, Airweave, etc. Drife, for example, is not only poised to take Uber and Lyft out of business but it is also set to disrupt the transportation sector. The emergence of DePIN has paved the way for innovators to create cost-effective solutions to the inefficiencies and limitations of the existing critical infrastructure such as transportation, water supply, energy, communication systems, financial services, healthcare, and defense. Most especially, it is set to eliminate centralization and encourage decentralized ownership of these critical services. As an independent researcher, I find DePIN projects fascinating enough to be studied individually. In this article, we explore Aten Krotos (aka Suraj Venkat) and Arthava’s works on  Zero-knowledge Artificial General Intelligence(ZkAGI), an open-source AI project built on DePIN. Leveraging Zero-Knowledge and DePIN, the duo proposed ZkAGI to tackle the privacy concerns in AI. What Are Zero-Knowledge Proofs(ZKPs)? Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZkPs)are a cryptographic technique that allows one party (the prover) to convince another party (the verifier) that they possess a specific piece of information, without revealing the information itself. In a zero-knowledge system, a prover convinces a verifier they hold a secret without revealing it, using a special proof and verification key. Zero-Knowledge Proofs This relatively new field  has become a cornerstone of privacy in the cryptocurrency world, reinventing how sensitive data or information is shared without it being revealed. Since the keypoint about ZK is to share data while preserving privacy, the team made a strong case for extending Zero-knowledge  use case to Artificial Intelligence(AI) within the DePIN ecosystem. As an open-source DePIN project, ZkAGI seeks to tackle the challenge of privacy in AI by combining two cutting-edge technologies: Zero Knowledge (ZK) and Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN). This innovative approach highlights the need for secure and private AI computation on a cost-effective platform. Using a diary analogy, Aten, the CEO and Founder, describes it as “a secret diary where you store important information but the diary not just records thoughts but understands what has to be done and gets it done”! Defining Zero knowledge Artificial General Intelligence(ZkAGI) ZkAGI (Zero-Knowledge Artificial General Intelligence) is an open-source framework that facilitates secure and private AI computation on a decentralized network (DePIN). By integrating federated learning and zero-knowledge proofs, ZkAGI incentivizes all participants – GPU providers, trainers, developers, and data owners – to contribute to a privacy-focused AI ecosystem. Aten (Suraj) the founder and CEO of ZkAGI writes that: “ZkAGI addresses the privacy issue in AI by merging Zero Knowledge (ZK) technology with decentralized GPU infrastructure (DePIN), offering secure and private AI computation on a cost-effective platform.” “Leveraging Zynapse, our ZkML Coprocessor, the API empowers seamless AI operations without exposing sensitive data, making it the prime choice for developers and enterprises seeking privacy-centric AI solutions with high processing speeds and significant cost savings.” Zynapse API As an open-source DePIN project, ZkAGI offers valuable insights into Zynapse, its proposed solution to privacy concerns in AI. According to Aten, Zynapse is a ZkML(Zero Knowledge Machine Learning) Coprocessor, which empowers seamless AI operations without compromising sensitive data. The associate API for Zynapse makes ZkAGI the ideal choice for developers and enterprises seeking privacy-centric solutions, high processing speeds, and cost-effective solutions. The choice for DePIN is justified by the fact that it offers efficient and scalable AI computation and significantly lowers the cost compared to what traditional AI platforms offer. By leveraging Zynapse, the goal is to help “ developers and enterprises unlock the full potential of AI while ensuring the privacy of their data”. Components of Zero-Knowledge Artificial General Intelligence It is crucial to briefly discuss the layers upon which Zero-Knowledge Artificial General Intelligence(ZkAGI) as a DePIN project is built. These layers are the basic building blocks for ZkAGI and they include: DePIN, Zk,Decentralized Data Ownership, Federated Learning and Incentivization. DePIN Aten defines DePIN “as a network of physical infrastructure resources (such as computing power, storage, and networking) that are distributed across various locations rather than being centralized in one data center”,highlighting the fact the this decentralized model offers benefits such as improved fault tolerance, scalability, and reduced latency. Incentivization/Resource-Sharing Experts have identified the key advantage of DePIN projects as their ability to provide token incentives, which helps to boost the supply-and-demand side of it . It is essentially the lifeblood that is sustained by participants who contribute their computing power and users who are in need of it. In the words of Aten: “ZkAGI aims to motivate various stakeholders within the ecosystem. GPU providers are incentivized to contribute their computational resources to the network, model trainers are encouraged to develop and refine AI models, and AI developers are motivated to create innovative applications. These incentives can take various forms, such as financial rewards, access to network resources, or reputation within the community”. Decentralized Data Ownership As the AI landscape continues to expand at a breakneck speed, one major concern that has recently surfaced in AI and data-driven applications is the ownership and privacy of data. According to Aten, solving this challenge through ZkAGI requires “implementing mechanisms to enable data owners retain control over their data while still allowing it to be used for training AI models. This solution may incorporate techniques such as federated learning “where models are trained collaboratively across multiple devices or servers without sharing raw data, and zero-knowledge proofs, which allow parties to prove the validity of a statement without revealing the underlying data” Federated Learning This underscores the role and importance of a machine learning model in the development of ZkAGI as a privacy-centric AI built on a Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network. Aten describes Federated learning as “a machine learning approach where the training process is decentralized, and individual devices or servers collaboratively train a global model without sharing their raw data”. ZK Proofs As discussed earlier, Zero-knowledge proofs are cryptographic techniques that allow the sharing of sensitive data or information between one party(the prover)and another(the verifier)without revealing its content. In the context of ZkAGI, zero-knowledge proofs can be used to verify the integrity of computations or to attest to the accuracy of AI models without disclosing sensitive data. Conclusion DePIN as a web3 innovation is revolutionizing how we access and share computing power. This shift fuelled by its potential to provide cost-effective solutions has seen the rise of groundbreaking companies such as Drife, a decentralized ride-sharing platform, and StorX Network, a decentralized cloud computing platform. This decentralized approach also empowers a more democratic future for AI. However, the demands for more powerful infrastructure, incentives for stakeholders, and heightened concerns for privacy are growing. The pressing concern over privacy protection in AI gave birth to ZkAGI, an innovative open-source framework poised to reshape AI data privacy within DePIN ecosystem.

Exploring Zero-Knowledge Artificial General Intelligence Within The Context Of DePIN

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