Hello everyone,
I’m writing to let you know the decision we’ve made with regards to ICNS and an Internet Computer based Naming System.
Firstly, we managed to contact Rocklabs regarding ICNS. However, we have decided not to take it over. As far as we understand Rocklabs has ceased any further development on ICNS, but we welcome them to comment on this thread if they wish to provide any further information.
The topic of a naming system is undoubtedly significant for us. We are actively planning to address this through the development of CNS (Chain Name System), guided by the specifications we’ve been discussing in the Working Group. However, at present, our engineering resources have competing priorities and are assigned for other critical projects within the foundation. This means that our work on the CNS will have to wait until these resources are available again.
Once we resume our focus on CNS, our initial goal is to develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that integrates seamlessly with the local IC HTTP Proxy. This integration will enable the direct resolution of Top-Level Domains (TLDs) managed by CNS from the browser. In addition, we plan to develop a comprehensive library that will facilitate the efforts of resolving domain records for a variety of applications, including HTTP Gateways, wallet address resolution, and establishing globally unique usernames, among others that the community may find useful.
As part of the MVP phase, it’s a logical next step to provide a reference implementation for TLD Operators. In this context, DFINITY will propose to serve as the TLD Operator for .icp Top-level domain under the CNS ecosystem.
Our overarching goal with the CNS architecture is to establish a secure, stable, and resilient naming system. A key aspect of our approach is to ensure continuity and stability, even in scenarios where TLD Operators discontinue their services. To this end, we have started the discussions on that governance model in the working group. This model is designed to maintain the integrity and functionality of domains, irrespective of the operational status of individual TLD Operators.
Unfortunately, the current situation with ICNS does not reflect these governance standards. However, we are confident that our proposed CNS architecture and governance model will address these concerns effectively, paving the way for a reliable and community-driven naming system.
We will keep you updated on our progress with CNS. In the meantime, we encourage you to continue the discussions within the working group.
Best regards,