Thread by @Reserve_Weekly

Realm is not like Discord

Realm is not like Metamask

Realm is not like Windows nor macOS

Realm is not like Zoom, nor Telegram, nor Whatsapp

It is not like any of these things, but because it is so new, you can only understand it using these things.

1/n

Realm, developed by @HoliumCorp, is an interface to your @urbit ship. The desktop feels like macOS, Discord and Metamask were beautifully melded together.

Realm will power "web3" and DAO's better than Discord ever could.

And it works - right now.

The most powerful feature of Realm is that it runs on @urbit. This allows you to have a single identity that persists throughout. No need to create new accounts for services and remember silly passwords. 2FA to login to Discord? Scan a QR code every few weeks for Whatsapp? Nope.

That also means messaging is done with your identity, not through a service. It is composable, and interfaces can be built on top this component. DM's in Realm exist on your desktop, and group chats can be accessed via Groups, an app developed by @tloncorporation.

Urbit runs P2P, which means DAO's no longer need to rely on a centralized service like Discord or Telegram, nor Metamask. You own the groups you create. You own and control your DM's. You own and control all of the data on your ship. And it's all e2e encrypted.

Also on your desktop is a wallet...

Goodbye @MetaMask, @Frame_io and @Rabby_io.

Since your OS is the interface to your wallet, you can use funds within any app that you install. Remember Metamask blocking IP addresses in certain countries?

You can also host a room, directly from your desktop, and talk via P2P. You can compute together as well, while in this room.

In the bottom right corner are all of your notifications, and settings.

But all of these things are just built into Realm. Are there any other apps that this can run?

Yes.

However, don't let your imagination be limited to how DAO's can use these tools...real world organizations can, and will, use these tools to more efficiently operate. 👇

Ballot

A voting application. Votes can take place on chain, and off chain, via your identity. Since @uqbarnetwork 's smart contracts can be written in Hoon (Urbit's human-readable code language), that means you can compose and execute the results of votes.

Lexicon

Urban Dictionary + Wiki, but instanced per space. It allows you to define things between your friends or organization.

Campfire

Facetime but P2P. You transmit data, but there's no server run by Meta or Apple sniffing around your conversation, trying to find the next best ad to serve you. Video shown here is Campfire in a browser, but it works in Realm perfectly.

https://twitter.com/jmrphy/status/1561059082051665920

Radio

Streaming app. Imagine if you never had to sign up for a Twitch account to stream, or comment on a stream. Let alone to...donate to a streamer? What is the cut that Twitch takes from subs and donations again? Does Twitch ban any streamers?

*Two clicks to start streaming*

Escape

A great mobile app for both iOS and Android that allows you to access Groups on the go. Developed by @uqbarnetwork.

So what does all of this mean? A beautiful clean interface that allows you to be productive, fluid software that is built upon a strong identity foundation, the ability to communicate P2P, and a wallet that lives outside of the browser?

I think it means a lot of good things.

Here are some predictions:

Realm starts to directly compete, simultaneously with Patreon, Twitch, Telegram, Discord, Google Drive and Reddit. The total of what Urbit + Realm + Crypto can provide makes all of these services obsolete.

Imagine if a popular YouTube content creator made a Space, and in the app suite had an app that would only allow the user to view their videos if they had paid a subscription. The subscription needs to be paid via a stablecoin on an L2, bypassing credit card fees.

You could also imagine that same creator having their merch store in the app suite. If your ship holds your address information, no account needs to be created to have said merch delivered to you.

The creator could also make a gated chat group based on your subscription status.

While I don't think the days of Twitch or YouTube taking x% of subscribers or donations are over, I think that from here we the volume of transactions will start to shift. @moby_app, a @signalapp co, will let you send $eUSD, privately for a 1/4 cent fee. Potentially relevant.

The communities that can be built on Realm will enable group productivity that I think has not been possible before. @balajis's network states may not occur here, but I think their precursors will. A shared set of tools, and #urbit's composability of existing tools is noteworthy.

The fact that @HoliumCorp has a product this solid in alpha, and it's only been in development since April of 2022...I think says a lot about the potential future for Realm and @urbit.

Ok, so how do you begin? First, you'll need an Urbit ship and host it some how. I am currently using tlon.io/hosting, and it works quite well.

Once you have that up-and-running, head over to holium.com and sign up for the waitlist. macOS, Windows and Linux builds have all been released. I've used both macOS (m1) and Windows 10 builds, both are solid.

If you're a community or DAO leader, you'll definitely want to go back to the tweet above and make sure you're on the waitlist.

And if you're already on Urbit, add me on %pals, my @p is ~tansyr-tilbus.