Definitions

To ensure everyone shares the same context, here are key terms used in Arkipel DevKit:

Term	Definition
👥 Communities	A community in Arkipel’s network is a shared digital space where people connect, collaborate, and create—all through their profiles, which are securely linked to their identities.
🔗 Networks	In Arkipel’s ecosystem, a network is the dynamic, living system that links communities together, enabling them to share events, messages, and collaborations in a structured and meaningful way.
🆔 Identity (User)	An identity is your digital representation, the unique, trusted core that proves you are you across all of Arkipel’s communities and platforms. It’s not just a username or profile; it’s the foundational key that unlocks your access to the communities, resources, and tools you’re authorized to use.
🔐 Keypair	A keypair is like a digital lock and key for your identity online: Public key: The “lock” — you share it with others so they can verify it’s really you or encrypt messages for you. Private key: The “key” — you keep this secret. It proves you’re the owner and lets you decrypt messages or sign actions (like sending data). Think of it like your password and username combo, but way more secure and math-powered. Lose the private key, and you lose access—so guard it like your wallet!
🖼️ Profile (Membership)	A profile is your personal presence within each community in Arkipel’s networks. While your identity proves who you are, your profile shapes how you appear and engage in different communities.
📡 Feed	A feed is the chronological stream of messages published by a community to its subscribers. Each message in the feed is signed by the community’s identity, ensuring authenticity, and timestamped to mark when it was shared. Feeds can include a variety of message types—announcements, updates, events, or discussions—each tailored to the needs of the community and its subscribers.
🖥️ Site	A site is the server or platform where one or more communities are hosted. It acts as the technical backbone, providing the infrastructure for communities to exist, interact, and thrive—whether on a small scale or as part of a larger network.