# Pubky Documentation

> Pubky is an open protocol for key-based, censorship-resistant web applications.
> It provides identity via public keys, data storage on homeservers, and discovery
> via the Mainline DHT — all over simple HTTP/REST APIs.

- [Complete documentation](https://pubky.org/llms-full.txt): all pages in a single file

## Pages

- [App Architectures](https://pubky.org/app-architectures.md): Pubky applications use the Pubky protocol for identity and data storage.
- [System Architecture](https://pubky.org/architecture.md): This page provides a comprehensive overview of the Pubky ecosystem architecture, showing how all components work together to enable decentralized, censorship-resistant applications.
- [Authentication](https://pubky.org/authentication.md): Pubky apps request scoped access to a user's Homeserver through grant authentication.
- [Censorship](https://pubky.org/censorship-resistance.md): Censorship is the suppression or control of speech, communication, or information by a governing body or authority, often resulting in a lack of free expression and limited user autonomy.
- [Comparisons](https://pubky.org/comparisons.md): Pubky combines public-key identity, signed service discovery through PKARR, and mutable files on a user-chosen Homeserver.
- [Contributing](https://pubky.org/contributing.md): :::caution[AI-Assisted Contributions]
- [Credible Exit](https://pubky.org/credible-exit.md): Credible Exit is the ability to leave a platform or service without losing access to your data, identity, or connections, ensuring full user control and portability.
- [Developer Guide](https://pubky.org/developer-guide.md): Stack[Run Local Stack] --> SDK[Install SDK]
- [First Steps](https://pubky.org/getting-started.md): :::note[Developer Guide]
- [Glossary](https://pubky.org/glossary.md): Quick reference for terms used throughout the Pubky ecosystem.
- [Homegate](https://pubky.org/homegate.md): Homegate is a backend service that manages and controls signups for Pubky Homeservers.
- [Homeserver](https://pubky.org/homeserver.md): A Homeserver stores and serves data for Pubky users.
- [HTTP Relay](https://pubky.org/http-relay.md): HTTP relay service for forwarding encrypted grants during Pubky authentication flows.
- [Indexing & Aggregation](https://pubky.org/indexing-and-aggregation.md): Homeservers store records under individual users' identities.
- [Mainline DHT](https://pubky.org/mainline-dht.md): Pubky uses BitTorrent's Mainline distributed hash table through PKARR to discover where a public key's services are hosted.
- [Overview](https://pubky.org/overview.md): Pubky is an open protocol for applications built around public-key identities and user-chosen hosting.
- [Paykit](https://pubky.org/paykit.md): Paykit is a payment protocol built on Pubky for payment discovery and coordination across multiple payment methods, including Bitcoin on-chain and Lightning.
- [PKARR](https://pubky.org/pkarr.md): PKARR (Public-Key Addressable Resource Records) associates a public key with signed discovery records.
- [PKDNS](https://pubky.org/pkdns.md): PKDNS is a DNS server that enables self-sovereign and censorship-resistant domain names by resolving PKARR (Public Key Addressable Resource Records) hosted on the Mainline DHT.
- [Private Storage](https://pubky.org/private-storage.md): Apps can use /priv/ on a Homeserver for non-public, user-specific data, such as preferences or drafts.
- [pubky-app-specs](https://pubky.org/pubky-app-specs.md): pubky-app-specs defines shared data models for the Pubky 'social' app ecosystem, with pubky.app as the reference implementation.
- [pubky.app](https://pubky.org/pubky-app.md): pubky.app is a social application and reference implementation built on the Pubky protocol.
- [Pubky Backup](https://pubky.org/pubky-backup.md): Pubky Backup is the desktop backup app for maintaining a local copy of published Homeserver data.
- [Pubky Docker](https://pubky.org/pubky-docker.md): Pubky Docker runs a full local Pubky environment, including Pubky Homeserver, Homegate, and the Pubky 'social' components Pubky Nexus and pubky.app.
- [Pubky Explorer](https://pubky.org/pubky-explorer.md): Pubky Explorer is a web-based file browser for exploring public data stored on Pubky Homeservers.
- [Pubky Nexus](https://pubky.org/pubky-nexus.md): Pubky Nexus indexes public social data from Homeservers using the pubky-app-specs data model and serves it through an API for pubky.app and compatible clients.
- [Pubky Noise](https://pubky.org/pubky-noise.md): Pubky Noise is a library under development for encrypted communication through Homeservers.
- [Pubky Passport](https://pubky.org/pubky-passport.md): Create and recover a Pubky identity with Google and sign in to Pubky apps from your browser.
- [Pubky Ring](https://pubky.org/pubky-ring.md): Pubky Ring is the key manager and identity application for the Pubky ecosystem.

# Resources

A curated directory of websites, applications, repositories, packages, and community channels across the Pubky ecosystem.

---

## Websites

- [pubky.org](https://pubky.org/) — Official Pubky documentation
- [pubky.tech](https://pubky.tech/) — Awesome list: Ecosystem directory
- [synonym.to](https://synonym.to/) — Synonym (company behind Pubky)
- [pkdns.net](https://pkdns.net/) — PKDNS public resolver
- [stats.pubky.app](https://stats.pubky.app/) — Pubky metrics dashboard

## AI Resources

- Pubky documentation for LLMs: [overview](https://pubky.org/llms.txt), [page index](https://pubky.org/llms-small.txt), and [full documentation](https://pubky.org/llms-full.txt)
- [Pubky agent skills](https://github.com/pubky/agent-skills) — Maintained skills for AI coding tools working with Pubky
- [Nexus Scout](https://nexus-scout.pubky.app/) — Read-only query gateway for AI agents exploring the Pubky social graph ([agent guide](https://nexus-scout.pubky.app/llms.txt), [source](https://github.com/pubky/nexus-scout))
- Context7 resources to keep LLMs up to date: [pubky.org `llms.txt`](https://context7.com/llmstxt/pubky_llms_txt), [Pubky Homeserver repo](https://context7.com/pubky/pubky-homeserver), [Pubky Nexus repo](https://context7.com/pubky/pubky-nexus), [PKARR repo](https://context7.com/pubky/pkarr), [PKDNS repo](https://context7.com/pubky/pkdns), [pubky-app-specs repo](https://context7.com/pubky/pubky-app-specs), [Pubky Docker repo](https://context7.com/pubky/pubky-docker), and [Mainline repo](https://context7.com/pubky/mainline)
- DeepWiki (AI-generated codebase wikis with LLM chat): [pubky-homeserver](https://deepwiki.com/pubky/pubky-homeserver) and [pubky-nexus](https://deepwiki.com/pubky/pubky-nexus)

## Live Applications

- [pubky.app](https://pubky.app/) — Decentralized social media app ([source](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-app))
- [mypubky.com](https://mypubky.com/) — Shareable bio page for your profile, links, posts, and payment options ([source](https://github.com/pubky/mypubky))
- [pubkyring.app](https://pubkyring.app/) — Pubky Ring key manager ([source](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-ring))
- [passport.pubky.app](https://passport.pubky.app/) — Pubky Passport browser signer with Google sign-in and encrypted recovery backups ([source](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-passport))
- [payky.app](https://payky.app/) — Payment profile for sharing payment details in one link
- [mapky.app](https://mapky.app/) — Social map with user-owned location-based data
- [explorer.pubky.app](https://explorer.pubky.app/) — Pubky data explorer ([local testnet instance](https://explorer.pubky.app/testnet/), [source](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-explorer))
- [simulator.pubkyring.app](https://simulator.pubkyring.app/) — Browser tool for signing in to Pubky apps on a local testnet ([source](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-ring-simulator))
- [pubky.observer](https://pubky.observer/) — Pubky data explorer
- [playground.pubky.org](https://playground.pubky.org/) — Interactive demo: same user-owned data powering multiple apps with different layouts

## Core Repositories

All under [github.com/pubky](https://github.com/pubky):

- [pubky-homeserver](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-homeserver) — Pubky Homeserver and protocol implementation
- [homeserver-dashboard](https://github.com/pubky/homeserver-dashboard) — Admin dashboard for Pubky homeservers
- [pubky-backup](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-backup) — Desktop app for local backups of published Homeserver data
- [pubky-nexus](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-nexus) — Aggregator and indexer for pubky.app
- [pubky-app-templates](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-app-templates) — Starter templates for building Pubky apps ([demos](https://pubky.github.io/pubky-app-templates/))
- [pubky-core-ffi](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-core-ffi) — Pubky Mobile SDK
- [pkdns](https://github.com/pubky/pkdns) — DNS server resolving pkarr self-sovereign domains
- [pkdns-resolver-extension](https://github.com/pubky/pkdns-resolver-extension) — Browser extension for PKDNS resolution
- [homegate](https://github.com/pubky/homegate) — Gateway service
- [pubky-docker](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-docker) — Local Pubky stack for development and experimentation on testnet
- [umbrel-app-store](https://github.com/pubky/umbrel-app-store) — Install your own Pubky Homeserver on your Umbrel node
- [pubky-cli](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-cli) — Command-line companion for interacting with Pubky homeservers
- [atomicity](https://github.com/pubky/atomicity) — Proposal for a P2P credit system

## Community Projects

- [Uploadky](https://uploadky.vercel.app/) — File sharing with files stored on your Pubky homeserver ([source](https://github.com/PastaGringo/uploadky))
- [TimechainWiki](https://timechain.wiki/) — Bitcoin encyclopedia with reader annotations synced through Nostr or Pubky ([source](https://github.com/RadVladdy/timechain-wiki))
- [Loopky](https://github.com/jvsena42/loopky) — Flashcards with spaced repetition and decks stored on Pubky ([Android releases](https://github.com/jvsena42/loopky/releases/latest))
- [Chessky](https://chessky-ten.vercel.app/) — Multiplayer chess across homeservers, with no indexer or other backend ([source](https://github.com/gcomte/chessky))
- [Ghostly](https://ghostly.tools/) — Encrypted chat and file sharing built on PKARR ([source](https://github.com/MiguelMedeiros/ghostly))
- [Pubky Pulse](https://pubkypulse.com/) — Experimental app observability with SDKs and MCP access for AI agents ([source](https://github.com/Jasonvdb/pubky-pulse))
- [eventky.app](https://eventky.app/) — Event management on Pubky ([source](https://github.com/gillohner/eventky/))
- [tagky](https://github.com/PastaGringo/tagky) — Automated tagging using LLM
- [Pubky Watcher Canvas](https://eventky.app/watcher-canvas/) — Multiplayer pixel canvas demonstrating Pubky event streams ([source](https://github.com/gillohner/pubky-watcher-canvas))
- [pubky-mint](https://github.com/ok300/pubky-mint) — RSS-like way to browse your follows' Pubky activity
- [vanity-pubky](https://github.com/coreyphillips/vanity-pubky) — Vanity key generator
- [pubky-messenger](https://github.com/coreyphillips/pubky-messenger) — Rust library for private messaging over Pubky
- [pkdns-vanity](https://github.com/jphastings/pkdns-vanity) — PKDNS vanity key generator

## Package Registries

- Pubky SDK — [Rust crate](https://crates.io/crates/pubky) and [JavaScript/TypeScript npm package](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@synonymdev/pubky)
- [pkarr](https://crates.io/crates/pkarr) — Public Key Addressable Resource Records ([npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@synonymdev/pkarr), [source](https://github.com/pubky/pkarr))
- [pubky-app-specs](https://crates.io/crates/pubky-app-specs) - Shared data models and validation for Pubky apps ([npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/pubky-app-specs), [source](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-app-specs))
- [mainline](https://crates.io/crates/mainline) — BitTorrent Mainline DHT implementation ([source](https://github.com/pubky/mainline))
- [@synonymdev/react-native-pubky](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@synonymdev/react-native-pubky) — React Native SDK ([source](https://github.com/pubky/react-native-pubky))

## Community Channels

- [Pubky on pubky.app](https://pubky.app/profile/ihaqcthsdbk751sxctk849bdr7yz7a934qen5gmpcbwcur49i97y) — Official Pubky profile
- [Telegram: pubkycore](https://t.me/pubkycore) — Community chat
- [Discord](https://discord.gg/DxTBJXvJxn) — Developer community
- [X/Twitter: @getpubky](https://x.com/getpubky) — Official updates
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyNruUjynpzvQXNTxbJBLmg) — Tutorials, demos, roundtables, presentations
- [Medium: pubky](https://medium.com/pubky) — Blog posts and articles

## Videos & Talks

- [Introducing Pubky Collections](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLcYgW8rg-Y) (08/10/2026) — Save, organize, and share Pubky posts
- [Payky: One Link, Every Way to Pay You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrYJCxmD8e8) (06/16/2026) — Create and share a payment profile using Pubky Ring
- [MyPubky: Your Link-in-Bio, Without the Lock-In](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUXGgTyrY20) (06/09/2026) — Build a portable profile with links and payment options
- [Why the Internet Is Broken by Design and How Pubky Changes the Model](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cUTp9jKMX8) (03/03/2026) — Introduction to key-based identity and portable data
- [Pubky Introduction — BTC Prague 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPxLz4VQpKk) (08/01/2025) — Introduction to Pubky
- [The Atomic Economy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3ogGRuv7qY) (08/29/2025) — The Atomic Economy talk
- [Pubky Community Call #3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eMYq-WJiNg) (02/17/2026) — Community call
- [PKDNS Explainer](https://youtu.be/GJHMlyKUoWY) (10/26/2024) — How PKDNS works
- [Pubky Explorer Explainer](https://youtu.be/qESmEhDNl4E) (10/27/2024) — Using the Pubky Explorer
- [Nuh @ Thank God for Nostr podcast](https://fountain.fm/episode/HXQpcOdQU9Tnxa9BQO2v) (11/19/2024) — Podcast interview

## Philosophical Foundations

Essays, talks, and resources exploring the vision, principles, and philosophy behind Pubky and the Atomic Economy.

### Essays & Manifestos

- [The Age of Social Intelligence](https://pubky.app/post/gujx6qd8ksydh1makdphd3bxu351d9b8waqka8hfg6q7hnqkxexo/0034WADK62XRG) (03/29/2026) — Why social intelligence is the missing layer as AI scales, and the Semantic Social Graph as open cognitive infrastructure
- [Nostr vs Pubky: The Basics](https://pubky.app/post/gujx6qd8ksydh1makdphd3bxu351d9b8waqka8hfg6q7hnqkxexo/0034M0VM2ETV0) — John Carvalho compares the protocols' approaches to identity, discovery, and data ownership
- [How to Fix Spam, Bots, and AI Slop on the World Wide Web](https://howtofixtheweb.com) (03/16/2026) — The Semantic Social Graph as the real algorithm to replace centralized feed curation
- [Opening Pubky](https://medium.com/pubky/opening-pubky-4bdca7dc4c77) (01/30/2026) — The public launch, portable identity, and building apps around user-owned data
- [Building Blocks for the Atomic Economy](https://medium.com/pubky/building-blocks-for-the-atomic-economy-aeeba8ccde8e) (10/17/2025) — How each technical primitive maps to a philosophical principle of sovereignty
- [The Atomic Economy: Reclaiming Society from the Inside Out](https://medium.com/pubky/the-atomic-economy-reclaiming-society-from-the-inside-out-574504dfe326) (04/24/2025) — Extending Bitcoin's revolution into identity, trust, and coordination
- [Corporate vs. Community-Led Open Source Development](https://medium.com/pubky/corporate-vs-community-led-open-source-development-491a03da58e6) (11/07/2024) — Cathedral vs. Bazaar: why effective freedom tools require intentional design
- [Pubky: The Next Web](https://medium.com/pubky/pubky-the-next-web-3287b35408f1) (11/05/2024) — The founding manifesto: diagnosing the web's failures and proposing "You Are the Algorithm"
- [Introducing Pubky: Rebooting the Web with User Sovereignty at the Core](https://medium.com/@synonym_to/pubky-launch-260f36ba8fe3) (10/25/2024) — Synonym's official launch statement on digital autonomy and open-source sovereignty
- [Welcome to the Atomic Economy](https://bitcoinerrorlog.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-atomic-economy) (12/04/2021) — Early articulation of the Atomic Economy vision: webs of trust replacing centralized gatekeepers

### Bitcoin & Trust Philosophy

- [You Cannot Store "Lifetime"](https://pubky.app/post/gujx6qd8ksydh1makdphd3bxu351d9b8waqka8hfg6q7hnqkxexo/0035JX1KFXSRG) — Subjective value, reputation, and the limits of money as a store of value
- [How to Think About Data on Bitcoin](https://bitcoinerrorlog.medium.com/how-to-think-about-data-on-bitcoin-a5a80442ef68) (05/01/2025) — Blockspace as a free market, and why social data doesn't belong on-chain
- [Fiat Will Never Die, Long Live Bitcoin](https://bitcoinerrorlog.substack.com/p/fiat-will-never-die-long-live-bitcoin) (02/10/2021) — Units of trust vs. units of work: a nuanced framework for money and credit
- [Who secures Bitcoin?](https://medium.com/bitcoinerrorlog/who-secures-bitcoin-95b19bbcda3c) (10/26/2019) — Individual nodes as the ultimate guarantors of consensus, not miners or developers

### Talks & Interviews

- [The Next Web — Bitcoin Audible Chat 124](https://bitcoin-audible.castos.com/episodes/chat-124-the-next-web-with-john-carvalho) (01/15/2025) — Deep dive into Pubky's philosophy, credible exit, and pragmatic decentralization
- [Defending Bitcoin — HackerNoon](https://hackernoon.com/defending-bitcoin-with-john-carvalho-17f549b5e059) (01/21/2019) — Origin story: defending decentralization at the protocol level, the thread that leads to Pubky
- [AMA — Stacker News](https://stacker.news/items/17771) (04/03/2022) — Extended Q&A revealing first-principles thinking: "Primitives are all that matter"

### Third-Party Analysis

- [What is Pubky? — Bitfinex Blog](https://blog.bitfinex.com/education/what-is-pubky/) (08/01/2025) — Accessible overview of Pubky's philosophical and technical foundations
- [Synonym Launches Architecture For A Self-Sovereign Economy — Bitcoin Magazine](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/synonym-launches-architecture-for-self-sovereign-economy-around-bitcoin) (11/16/2021) — Synonym's founding announcement: replacing the legacy economy with self-sovereign alternatives
- [Pubky SDK](https://pubky.org/sdk.md): The Pubky SDK handles Homeserver discovery, authentication, and storage access for applications.
- [Security Model](https://pubky.org/security-model.md): Pubky separates identity from hosting, but applications still depend on key custody, Homeserver behavior, and network availability.
- [Semantic Social Graph](https://pubky.org/semantic-social-graph.md): A semantic social graph goes beyond simple follow/friend connections.