Sphere — Layered Architecture View
This index presents the Sphere project through its own natural layering: from philosophical principles at the base, through three conceptual layers, up to the technical implementation that supports them all.
Layer 0: Philosophy & Principles
Section titled “Layer 0: Philosophy & Principles”The bedrock. Everything in the Sphere project flows from five principles: Decentralization (no central authority), Transparency (explain and visualize everything), Ownership (you own your data, time, attention, algorithms), Trust (you choose who to trust), and Cooperation (everyone builds the system).
These are not just ideals — they are design constraints that shape every technical and structural decision in the system.
Layer 1: Trust-Based Social Network
Section titled “Layer 1: Trust-Based Social Network”The graph. The foundational data structure of the entire system.
This layer establishes the abstract distributed graph of entities and connections that represents human interaction. Unlike existing social media’s flat friend/follower model, this network supports typed, directional, weighted connections with fine-grained permission controls.
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Trust-Based Social Network | The P2P trust model — entities, connections, permissions, and the network theory underpinning it all |
| Identity | The 1-to-1 identity problem, identity recovery, pseudonymity, and the n-to-m identity spectrum |
| Ego Network | The network as seen from one individual’s perspective — personal view of connections and communities |
| Web3 Social Media | Data ownership model — users control storage, distribution, and sharing conditions for their own information |
What this layer provides: A decentralized social graph where people own their data, control their connections, and choose who to trust — the raw substrate on which everything else is built.
Layer 2: Governance Engine
Section titled “Layer 2: Governance Engine”Decision-making on the graph. This layer adds the ability for groups to organize, decide, and act.
The governance engine formalizes organizational structures into composable activity graphs of entities, objects, procedures, and connections. Groups range from simple circles to complex spheres with nested sub-groups and self-modifying governance rules.
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Circles and Spheres | Group models from simple (autocratic, representative, pure) to complex composable spheres with nested sub-groups |
| Governance Engine | The four-element framework (Entities, Objects, Procedures, Connections) for representing any decision-making structure |
| Democratic Procedures | Full catalog of procedure types — votes, elections, courts, councils, referenda, audits, petitions, and more |
| Social Smart Contracts | Voluntary human agreements stored and managed on decentralized networks, bridging blockchain logic and real social contracts |
| Social Tokens | Trust, reputation, and verification tokens — the accountability layer (mistrust, trust, checked, judged) |
| Decentral Voting Systems | Privacy-preserving voting mechanisms — the “Stille Post” votechain and related cryptographic protocols |
| Tribe Unification Protocol | Formal protocols for merging and splitting communities using set theory operations |
What this layer provides: The tools for any group of people to define, execute, and evolve their own governance structure — from a small club to a nation-state — without relying on a central authority.
Layer 3: Value Networks & Applications
Section titled “Layer 3: Value Networks & Applications”What you build on top. This layer uses the governance infrastructure to create real-world applications and higher-order systems.
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Value Networks | Value objects, weighted voting, and destructive voting — voting on values rather than representatives |
| AI Alignment | Using decentralized value determination to guide AI training and behavior |
| QuestBoard | Token-based bounty system connecting users who need features with developers who can build them |
| Open-Source Development | Funding and incentivizing open-source work through network-native reward mechanisms |
| Decentral University | Decomposing and decentralizing the core functions of universities: research, teaching, accreditation |
| Decentral Knowledge Verification | Decentralized peer review and knowledge validation protocols |
| E-Democracy | Applying governance engines to real-world democratic decision-making |
| Sphere Localization | Privacy-preserving location protocols for local community organization |
What this layer provides: Practical applications that demonstrate the value of the underlying infrastructure — from funding open-source development to aligning AI with democratic values.
Cross-Cutting: Technical Implementation
Section titled “Cross-Cutting: Technical Implementation”The software architecture that makes it all run. Three technical layers mirror the three conceptual layers:
| Technical Layer | Purpose | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Blockchain Layer | Block drivers interfacing with external chains for immutable data | Proof of Work (variable) |
| Network Layer | P2P node infrastructure for managing the social graph | ”Proof of Chain” |
| Application Layer | Plugins and custom functionality via Base Node API | ”Proof of Convergence” |
Three node types operate across these layers: Blockchain Nodes (chain access), Light/User Nodes (end-user access), and Full/Admin Nodes (network maintenance).