Hello IPFriendS!
I wanted to make you all aware of our latest release of Qri -pronounced ‘query’- (0.6.1), a free and open source dataset version control system / network for finding, collaborating on and publishing open datasets on IPFS.
With this version, we’re finally ready to recruit users (crash test smarties) who will take qri for a test drive and let us know what they love / don’t love / what’s broken. You likely have some questions about qri before you consider doing that. I wrote this up to help:
So, what is Qri?
Qri is a global dataset version control system on IPFS. Breaking that down:
- global so that if anyone, anywhere has published work with the same or similar datasets, you can discover it.
- Specific to datasets because data deserves purpose-built tools
- version control to keep data in sync, attributing all changes to authors
- On the distributed web (IPFS) to make all of the data published on qri simultaneously available, letting peers work on data together.
Qri tackles four common data problems:
- Discovery: Can I find data I’m looking for?
- Trust Can: I trust what I’ve found?
- Friction: Can I make this work with my other stuff?
- Sync: How do I handle changes in data?
Because qri is global and content-addressed, adding data to qri also checks the entire network to see if someone has added it before. Since qri is focused solely on datasets, it can provide meaningful search results. Every change on qri is associated with a peer, creating an audit-able trail you can use to quickly see what has changed and who has changed it. All datasets on qri are automatically described at the time of ingest using a flexible schema that makes data naturally inter-operate. Qri comes with tools to turn all datasets on the network into a JSON API with a single command. Finally, all changes in qri are tracked & synced.
Things to know before you get started:
- All data on qri is public, and discoverable by anyone on the network once you hit publish. Until you hit ‘publish,’ the dataset is in a state much like an unlisted phone number in the phonebook. It’s still reachable/findable, but only if you know or ‘dial’ the dataset’s hash.
- Qri is still in its SUPER early stages, so it will be very buggy, offer little guidance/help within the app. That’s what our team is here for.
How to Download:
- qri.io/download/
- For now, you’ll need a Mac to use the front-end app. Windows support is coming, so let us know if we’ll need to reach out again when we have it. To run qri from your command line, scroll down on the download page.
How to use Qri:
- Check out our Documents: qri.io/docs/
- Check out our Tutorials: qri.io/docs/tutorials/
- Watch our Screencast Demos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7E3_hURgFO2mVCLDwPSyOQ
(These were filmed on prior versions of qri so the UI/UX are a bit out of date, but still useful)
Sharing your Feedback:
You can share your feedback, questions, problems, ideas, etc. in a few ways.
- File an issue on our Github: Qri.io · GitHub
- Joining our user community on Discord.
- Email us: rico AT qri DOT io
How you can support Qri:
- Try it out!
- Introduce us to a data scientist in your life.
- Follow / promote qri on Twitter (@qri_io) or star on Github.
Thank you so much!
—Rico