Search

SearchSearch

0.Introduction

Nov 15, 20242 min read

Public-Key Addressable Resource Records

PKARR is a revolutionary system that bridges the gap between the Domain Name System (DNS) and peer-to-peer overlay networks. It allows self-issued public keys to function as sovereign, publicly addressable domains. This means that anyone with a private key can have a domain that is accessible to everyone.

The core idea is to streamline the process of publishing and resolving resource records for keys, leveraging the Distributed Hash Table (DHT) for efficient and scalable data distribution.

Key Features

  • Simplicity: PKARR streamlines the integration between DNS and peer-to-peer networks.
  • Sovereignty: Public keys can be used as domains, enabling users to maintain control over their digital identities.
  • Accessibility: The system is designed to be accessible to anyone capable of maintaining a private key.
  • Scalability and Resilience: Designed with scalability and resilience in mind, using the Mainline DHT for storing ephemeral data, and employing caching strategies to minimize DHT traffic.
  • Compatibility with Existing Applications: Supports existing applications through DNS over HTTPS (DoH) queries to PKARR servers, ensuring broad compatibility.

How It Works

  1. Publishing Records: To publish resource records for a key, create a small encoded DNS packet (⇐ 1000 bytes), sign it, and publish it on the DHT. This can be done directly or through a relay if necessary.
  2. Resolving Records: To find resources associated with a key, applications can query the DHT directly or through a relay, verifying the signature themselves.
  3. Fallback for Existing Applications: Applications unaware of PKARR can make normal DNS Queries over HTTPS (DoH) to PKARR servers, ensuring accessibility.
  4. Caching and Republishing: Both clients and PKARR servers cache records extensively to improve scalability. The DHT drops records after a few hours, necessitating periodic republishing to keep records alive.

For more technical details on PKARR’s architecture and how it works, refer to the architecture note.

Getting Started

To start using PKARR, you can visit the web app demo or explore the Rust examples provided in PKARR repository.

Graph View