The AT Protocol community is busy working to rebuild the web in order to return power to people by fostering decentralization. This is centered on creating an open and user-centric internet in contrast to current centralized models driven by large corporations.
At the forefront of this movement is the AT Protocol, which powers platforms like Bluesky, a decentralized social network. The protocol is focused on providing users with control over their identities and data using a decentralized identifier (DID) system. The system allows users to have a permanent, immutable identifier that can be linked to multiple domains and hosting services, allowing for flexibility and portability.
One of the most powerful aspects of the AT Protocol is using DNS for domain verification, based on which the protocol is constructed using technologies like HTTP, JSON, and web sockets. The identity system is made highly portable, where one can change his/her hosting company or domain names without losing connection or access to his/her data. This is enabled by an identity registry that stores user information, such as public keys and domain handles, in self-verifiable form.
The AT Protocol also enables decentralized hosting of user repositories, where users can host their own data or utilize platforms’ services like Bluesky. The protocol includes a relay system that gathers and stores network data, enhancing performance and scalability. While Bluesky currently operates the main relay, the open-source protocol allows others to set up their own relays, further decentralizing the system.
The AT Protocol community is part of a broader decentralization movement, including blockchain, federation (e.g., ActivityPub), and peer-to-peer technology. This broad context has influenced the design of AT Protocol to address challenges such as scalability and content moderation within decentralized systems.
Recently, the first in-person developer event and builder event for the AT Protocol happened in Seattle, marking another milestone for the community’s work in advancing decentralized technologies. It is an indication of the excitement surrounding decentralized solutions and how AT Protocol can reshape the web.
AT Protocol’s interoperability with other decentralized technologies such as Solid’s Pod architecture and ActivityPub’s federation is also being planned. This integrated approach is being tried to leverage the best of each protocol to create highly resilient decentralized storage and networking solutions. With these technologies, systems can be developed that offer control over personal data as well as simple cross-platform communication.
Overall, the AT Protocol community is advocating for an internet future where people have more control and are more responsible for their digital lives. Through the creation of a decentralized platform, they want to create a more equitable and resilient web that works for humans, not businesses.
