Author: AO; Translation: Deep Tide TechFlow
Summary:
On June 14, 2024, the AO Foundation officially launched the token economics of the decentralized supercomputer AO. The corresponding economic whitepaper details the minting mechanism, distribution strategy, and economic model of the AO token. However, AO not only has unique designs in economics, but its technical architecture is also noteworthy. Here is a TL;DR version of the AO technical whitepaper highlights to help you quickly understand the project details.
Key Points:
Trustless Computing Environment: AO provides a decentralized operating system that allows developers to launch command-line processes similar to smart contracts. These processes can run without specific location restrictions, enabling seamless user interactions in the network.
Parallel Processing: Inspired by the actor model and Erlang, AO supports multiple communication processes to run in parallel without the need for shared memory. Coordination is achieved through local message passing standards, allowing processes to run independently and efficiently.
Resource Utilization: AO’s architecture is based on SmartWeave and LazyLedger’s delayed evaluation model. Nodes can reach consensus on program state transitions without executing computations. State transitions are indicated by process message logs hosted by Arweave.
Data Storage: AO processes can load any size of data directly into memory for execution and write back the results to the network. This setup eliminates typical resource constraints, supports fully parallel execution, and expands the possibilities for complex applications like machine learning.
Modularity: AO’s architecture allows users to choose the most suitable virtual machine, sorting model, message passing security guarantees, and payment options. All messages settle in Arweave’s decentralized data layer, unifying this modular environment.
Economic Security Model: The network uses a token economics model to ensure process security, allowing users to customize security mechanisms. This model ensures economically sound security pricing and efficient resource allocation.
Technical Architecture:
Processes: Processes are the network’s computing units represented by interactive message logs and initialization data items stored on Arweave. Processes define their computing environment requirements (VM, scheduler, memory requirements, necessary extensions) during initialization. State transitions are computed by compute units (CUs) that meet these requirements.
Messages: Every interaction with a process is represented by messages. Messages are data items compliant with the ANS-104 standard. Users and processes send messages through scheduling units (SUs) that allocate a unique slot number for messages and ensure data is uploaded to Arweave.
Scheduling Units (SUs): SUs are responsible for allocating atomic increment slot numbers to messages sent to processes. SUs ensure signed allocation and messages are persisted on Arweave for permanent access.
Compute Units (CUs): CUs are nodes in AO that compute process states. They execute virtual machine functions defined by the process environment, generate new states, outbound messages, and compute signature proofs. CUs compete in a peer-to-peer market to offer computing services.
Message Units (MUs): MUs facilitate message passing between processes, coordinating with SUs and CUs to ensure secure and efficient message transmission. MUs handle recursive message passing until no more messages need processing, ensuring robust inter-process communication.
Sub-Staking and Sub-Ledger Processes: These processes provide customizable security configurations and facilitate parallel execution of payments. Sub-staking processes allow for diverse security requirements, while sub-ledgers achieve efficient transaction processing by holding token balances in parent processes.
Key Points:
Scalability: AO’s design supports an infinite number of parallel processes, significantly enhancing scalability and allowing for various configurations based on specific operational needs. The network can handle large amounts of data and computational tasks, supporting complex applications.
Flexibility and Customization: The modular architecture supports extensive customization in computing resources, virtual machines, security mechanisms, and payment options. This flexibility allows users to tailor environments to specific needs, promoting innovation and efficiency.
Economic Efficiency: The token economics model eliminates the reliance on block rewards, optimizing resource utilization and aligning incentives in the network. Security is incentivized through message purchases, creating a competitive staking service market to ensure cost-effective security solutions.
Security: The network adopts a layered security model with customizable mechanisms to ensure robust protection and adaptability to diverse requirements. Security processes like AO-Sec Origin and SIV provide economic guarantees and proof against Sybil attacks, enhancing the trustworthiness of interactions.
Integration with Arweave: AO seamlessly integrates with Arweave for data storage and message logging, ensuring efficient data processing and persistence. This integration supports the network’s modular architecture, allowing for scalable and trustless computing in a decentralized environment.
