diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md index a1de391..2e6b911 100644 --- a/Readme.md +++ b/Readme.md @@ -1,10 +1,10 @@ Codex Contracts ================ -An experimental implementation of the contracts that underlay the Codex storage -network. Its goal is to experiment with the rules around the bidding process, -the storage contracts, the storage proofs and the host collateral. Neither -completeness nor correctness are guaranteed at this moment in time. +An experimental implementation of the smart contracts that underlay the Codex +storage network. Its goal is to experiment with the rules around the bidding +process, the storage contracts, the storage proofs and the host collateral. +Neither completeness nor correctness are guaranteed at this moment in time. Running ------- @@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ Overview The Codex storage network depends on hosts offering storage to clients of the network. The smart contracts in this repository handle interactions between -client and host as they negotiate and fulfill a contract to store data for a +client and hosts as they negotiate and fulfill a contract to store data for a certain amount of time. -When all goes well, the client and host perform the following steps: +When all goes well, the client and hosts perform the following steps: Client Host Marketplace Contract | | | @@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ When all goes well, the client and host perform the following steps: | | | ----- data (2) ---> | | | | | - | --- fulfill (3) ---> | + | ----- fill (3) ----> | | | | ---- proof (4) ----> | | | @@ -51,19 +51,23 @@ When all goes well, the client and host perform the following steps: 1. Client submits a request for storage, containing the size of the data that it wants to store and the length of time it wants to store it 2. Client makes the data available to hosts - 3. The first host to submit a storage proof can fulfill the request - 4. While the storage contract is active, the host proves that it is still + 3. Hosts submit storage proofs to fill slots in the contract + 4. While the storage contract is active, host prove that they are still storing the data by responding to frequent random challenges - 5. At the end of the contract the host is paid + 5. At the end of the contract the hosts are paid Contracts --------- -A storage contract can be negotiated through requests. A request contains the -size of the data and the length of time during which it needs to be stored. It -also contains a reward that a client is willing to pay and proof requirements -such as how often a proof will need to be submitted by the host. A random nonce -is included to ensure uniqueness among similar requests. +A storage contract contains of a number of slots. Each of these slots represents +an agreement with a storage host to store a part of the data. Hosts that want to +offer storage can fill a slot in the contract. + +A contract can be negotiated through requests. A request contains the size of +the data, the length of time during which it needs to be stored, and a number of +slots. It also contains the reward that a client is willing to pay and proof +requirements such as how often a proof will need to be submitted by hosts. A +random nonce is included to ensure uniqueness among similar requests. When a new storage contract is created the client immediately pays the entire price of the contract. The payment is only released to the host upon successful @@ -82,23 +86,32 @@ percentage (slashed). Proofs ------ -A host is required to submit frequent proofs while a contract is active. These -proofs ensure with a high probability that the host is still holding on to the -data that it was entrusted with. +Hosts are required to submit frequent proofs while a contract is active. These +proofs ensure with a high probability that hosts are still holding on to the +data that they were entrusted with. -To ensure that a host is not able to predict and precalculate proofs, these +To ensure that hosts are not able to predict and precalculate proofs, these proofs are based on a random challenge. Currently we use ethereum block hashes to determine two things: 1) whether or not a proof is required at this point in -time, and 2) the random challenge for the proof. Although a host will not be -able to predict the exact times at which a proof is required, the frequency of -proofs averages out to a value that was agreed upon by the client and host -during the request/offer exchange. +time, and 2) the random challenge for the proof. Although hosts will not be able +to predict the exact times at which proofs are required, the frequency of proofs +averages out to a value that was set by the client in the request for storage. Hosts have a small period of time in which they are expected to submit a proof. When that time has expired without seeing a proof, validators are able to point out the lack of proof. If a host misses too many proofs, it results into a slashing of its collateral. +References +---------- + + * [A marketplace for storage + durability](https://github.com/status-im/codex-research/blob/main/design/marketplace.md) + (design document) + * [Timing of Storage + Proofs](https://github.com/status-im/codex-research/blob/main/design/storage-proof-timing.md) + (design document) + To Do ----- @@ -107,10 +120,10 @@ To Do Because the actual proof of retrievability algorithm hasn't been determined yet we're using a dummy algorithm for now. - * Contract take-over + * Contract repair - Allow another host to take over a contract when the original host missed too - many proofs. + Allow another host to take over a slot in the contract when the original + host missed too many proofs. * Reward validators