Decentralized Registry Package Manager (DRPM)

DRPM is npm for the DWeb. Install and publish Decentralized Packages to your Decentralized Web Node using DRPM!

Setup
Usage
Summary
Goals
Details
Tools
Vocabulary
Project Resources

Setup

For setup, see SETUP.md.

Usage

For usage, see USAGE.md.

Summary

DRPM is a set of tools using DIDs to publish, install, and interact with DPKs published to a DWN. Every DID created has a DID Document containing relevant information for how to interact with that DID.

In the case of DRPM, we add the DID Method and ID to the package name, so the registry server can lookup the DID document using the DID method (which defines where the DID doc was stored, i.e. which decentralized storage network).

DRPM support one DID method - DHT - with upcoming support for DID WEB and DID BTC. The creation of a DID DHT requires the inclusion of a DWN endpoint. This endpoint is included in the DID document under the “service” section.

{
 "service": [
    {
      "id": "did:dht:tqa1ep34zbg3kwrt89irbj6sib333ps1ued5frwbug39meq3a4oy",
      "type": "DecentralizedWebNode",
      "serviceEndpoint": [
        "https://dwn.example.org/"
      ],
      "enc": "#enc",
      "sig": "#sig"
    }
  ]
  }

The service key is a list of objects where each object defines a service available to that DID. In this case, the service used is called DecentralizedWebNode.

Resolving the did yields the doc yields the endpoint yields the location for record reads and creates. To participate, you merely need to install the DRPM protocol into your DWN. To view the protocol rules, checkout out drpm.tools/protocols/drpm.

Goals

The goal of DRPM is to decentralize package management putting control of the packages in the hands of the users - not the package registry or package manager. This ensures reliability by eliminating the possibility for broken links. With DRPM, publishers write code to their DWNs.

Developers can discover packages here just like npmjs.com, except explorer.drpm.sofware does not store the code, only offers publishers the ability to list it for discovery. The publishers store the code in their own DWNs and users can query, download and keep a copy of that code as immutable an source in their own DWN. This forever eliminates the possiblity for brokens links or censorship.

Npmjs packages are published under usernames or organization names. Devs can publish packages directly to npmjs under the package name and organizations can have an organization username (such as @web5) with a list of packages that under that org name. This paradigm is well known and understood but has a limited namespace resulting in gatekeeping, sniping or squatting.

Details

The below sections outline various details differentiating DRPM, explaining how it works and why its an improvement on the current centralized solutions.

Dependencies

DRPM reuses the package.json and package-lock.json files for easy integration to the normal npm dev env. The same principals apply: the entries in each file ensure version locking and integrity hashing. This approach guarantees that packages are always accessible and versioned securely, enabling a more resilient and trustworthy ecosystem for software distribution

DRPM intercepts npm install and redirects the GET calls to a registry running on localhost:2092
This registry is a simple express server mimicing the paths used by npm to GET pacakges from registry.npmjs.org
The express server parses API url path to construct a DRL (Decentralized Resource Locator)
DRPM requests the DPK from the DWN found in the DID doc assocaigted with the DID from the dependency version string
The registry server installs the DPK metadata and tarball into a local folder called .registry and passes the path to the tarball back to the npm install cli call
From there, npm handles the rest normally installing the tarball into node_modules under @drpm/{packageName}/{version}
Integrity hashes are produced using the DPK.tgz content ensuring the publisher cannot swap out code under a specific verion in the protocol path.
Additionally, DRPM allows developers to republish the code pulled from the remote DWN to their own DWN forever allowing them to secure an immutable copy
Once a release is published and copied to your own DWN, it can only be changed by the DWN owner.
To see the custom registry server, check out registry.ts

Example package.json

{
    "dependencies": {
        "@drpm/tool5~8w7ckznnw671az7nmkrd19ddctpj4spgt8sjqxkmnamdartxh1bo": "^6.1.0",
        "@drpm/express~8w7ckznnw671az7nmkrd19ddctpj4spgt8sjqxkmnamdartxh1bo": "^4.21.1", 
        "@drpm/react~web~dwn.nonni.org": "^18.3.1", // Example of did:web
        "@drpm/next~btc~xg4x-ay5y-q5zq-232": "^15.0.2", // Example of did:btc
    }
}

Example package-lock.json

{
    "node_modules/@drpm/express~8w7ckznnw671az7nmkrd19ddctpj4spgt8sjqxkmnamdartxh1bo": {
      "version": "4.21.1",
      "resolved": "http://dwn.nonni.org/did:dht:dhdsxf8w7rd36i5jx8hcpw8hkg1cg8sjhepm1n9iuj55zd3gpjdy/read/protocols/aHR0cHM6Ly9kcnBtLnRvb2xzL3Byb3RvY29scy9kcnBt/package/release?filter.tags.name=@drpm/express~8w7ckznnw671az7nmkrd19ddctpj4spgt8sjqxkmnamdartxh1bo&filter.tags.version=4.21.1",
      "integrity": "sha512-7oag0DgteUmGA5Hg2ixMjW4ogs+q59v3ir/5I38PqueZsO49t5Y9TPIF+0Zz1ZJRHPYM43eok73pv0BlhxpOrw==",
      "license": "ISC",
      "dependencies": {}
    },
    "node_modules/@drpm/tool5~8w7ckznnw671az7nmkrd19ddctpj4spgt8sjqxkmnamdartxh1bo": {
      "version": "6.1.0",
      "resolved": "https://dwn.nonni.org/did:dht:dhdsxf8w7rd36i5jx8hcpw8hkg1cg8sjhepm1n9iuj55zd3gpjdy/read/protocols/aHR0cHM6Ly9kcnBtLnRvb2xzL3Byb3RvY29scy9kcnBt/package/release?filter.tags.name=@drpm/express~8w7ckznnw671az7nmkrd19ddctpj4spgt8sjqxkmnamdartxh1bo&filter.tags.version=6.1.0",
      "integrity": "sha512-7oag0DgteUmGA5Hg2ixMjW4ogs+q59v3ir/5I38PqueZsO49t5Y9TPIF+0Zz1ZJRHPYM43eok73pv0BlhxpOrw==",
      "license": "ISC",
      "dependencies": {}
    },
    "node_modules/@drpm/react~web~nonni.org": {
        "version": "18.3.1",
        "resolved": "https://dwn.nonni.org/did:dht:dhdsxf8w7rd36i5jx8hcpw8hkg1cg8sjhepm1n9iuj55zd3gpjdy/read/protocols/aHR0cHM6Ly9kcnBtLnRvb2xzL3Byb3RvY29scy9kcnBt/package/release?filter.tags.name=@drpm/react~web~dwn.nonni.org&filter.tags.version=18.3.1",
      "integrity": "sha512-7oag0DgteUmGA5Hg2ixMjW4ogs+q59v3ir/5I38PqueZsO49t5Y9TPIF+0Zz1ZJRHPYM43eok73pv0BlhxpOrw==",
      "license": "ISC",
      "dependencies": {}
    },
    "node_modules/@drpm/next~btc~xg4x-ay5y-q5zq-232": {
        "version": "15.0.2",
       "resolved": "https://dwn.nonni.org/did:dht:dhdsxf8w7rd36i5jx8hcpw8hkg1cg8sjhepm1n9iuj55zd3gpjdy/read/protocols/aHR0cHM6Ly9kcnBtLnRvb2xzL3Byb3RvY29scy9kcnBt/package/release?filter.tags.name=@drpm/next~btc~xg4x-ay5y-q5zq-232&filter.tags.version=15.0.2",
      "integrity": "sha512-7oag0DgteUmGA5Hg2ixMjW4ogs+q59v3ir/5I38PqueZsO49t5Y9TPIF+0Zz1ZJRHPYM43eok73pv0BlhxpOrw==",
      "license": "ISC",
      "dependencies": {}
    }
}

Namespace

In DRPM, packages are published to DWNs referenced by DIDs. Any entity can have a DID: user, org, device, etc. This unlimits the namespace and eliminates gatekeeping and censorship.

NPM User npmjs.com/~bnonni
NPM Organization: npmjs.com/org/web5
NPM Package: npmjs.com/package/tool5
DRPM User did:dht:dhdsxf8w7rd36i5jx8hcpw8hkg1cg8sjhepm1n9iuj55zd3gpjdy
DRPM Organization did:web:drpm.tools
DRPM Package @drpm/tool5~dhdsxf8w7rd36i5jx8hcpw8hkg1cg8sjhepm1n9iuj55zd3gpjdy

DID Methods

DRPM only supports 3 DID Methods “out-of-the-box”. If you want a method included, please feel free to open an issue and corresponding PR.

did:dht = Uses BitTorrent Mainline DHT
did:web = Uses DNS and web servers
did:btc = Uses Bitcoin (Coming Soon!)

If no DID method is included, DRPM assumes dht. Otherwise, you should list the correct DID method should dependency name in package.json using this general format:

Package Naming Format

{
    "@drpm/packageName~didMethod~methodSpecificId": "[p]M.m.p"
}

Package Naming Example

{
    "@drpm/tool5~dhdsxf8w7rd36i5jx8hcpw8hkg1cg8sjhepm1n9iuj55zd3gpjdy": "^2.1.2",
    "@drpm/react~web~nonni.org": "^18.3.1",
    "@drpm/next~btc~xg4x-ay5y-q5zq-232": "^2.1.2"
}

How does DRPM lookup packages?

Using the DID Method (method) and Method Specific Idetifier (method id) listed in the dependency object in package.json. By passing the listed method to a Universal Resolver, DRPM can lookup any id on the corresponding method storage network.

Resolving the id yields the DID Document for that id located on the method network. If that DID Document includes a service field with a DWN object, DRPM can use the endpoint listed to make REST API calls to the DWN endpoint to retrieve packages.

Example DID Document

{
  "id": "did:dht:tqa1ep34zbg3kwrt89irbj6sib333ps1ued5frwbug39meq3a4oy",
  "verificationMethod": [
    {
      "id": "did:dht:tqa1ep34zbg3kwrt89irbj6sib333ps1ued5frwbug39meq3a4oy#0",
      "type": "JsonWebKey",
      "controller": "did:dht:tqa1ep34zbg3kwrt89irbj6sib333ps1ued5frwbug39meq3a4oy",
      "publicKeyJwk": {
        "crv": "Ed25519",
        "kty": "OKP",
        "x": "i7EkNzq4TZVQkT_qQKfWqHOcttKaB7KSgZmz9aHZxqA",
        "kid": "Ca7pHOF9jtaQ61vuTSgWqZalEWIJJbeixVjfmS6mKOQ",
        "alg": "EdDSA"
      }
    }
  ],
  "authentication": [
    "did:dht:tqa1ep34zbg3kwrt89irbj6sib333ps1ued5frwbug39meq3a4oy#0"
  ],
  "assertionMethod": [
    "did:dht:tqa1ep34zbg3kwrt89irbj6sib333ps1ued5frwbug39meq3a4oy#0"
  ],
  "capabilityDelegation": [
    "did:dht:tqa1ep34zbg3kwrt89irbj6sib333ps1ued5frwbug39meq3a4oy#0"
  ],
  "capabilityInvocation": [
    "did:dht:tqa1ep34zbg3kwrt89irbj6sib333ps1ued5frwbug39meq3a4oy#0"
  ],
  "service": [
    {
      "id": "did:dht:tqa1ep34zbg3kwrt89irbj6sib333ps1ued5frwbug39meq3a4oy",
      "type": "DecentralizedWebNode",
      "serviceEndpoint": [
        "https://dwn.example.org/"
      ],
      "enc": "#enc",
      "sig": "#sig"
    }
  ]
}

NPM Compatible

DRPM leverages the existing npm cli took to achieve all of this eliminating the need for developers to adopt a whole new cli took and new dev workflow.

How does DRPM highjack the NPM flow?*

On npm install, npm sees @drpm in .npmrc and redirects the GET requests from the defaul registry at registry.npmjs.org to a localhost registry server. Npm structures the request based on the left-hand-side name in the dependency object and forms a GET URL using it (e.g. http://localhost:2092/@drpm/tool5~dhdsxf8w7rd36i5jx8hcpw8hkg1cg8sjhepm1n9iuj55zd3gpjdy). The server routes are setup to capture this request, parse the path params and construct the needed info to find the DWN and fetch the package.

The method (or implied method) after name and before ~ is the network to use to lookup to specific id at the end of the ~. If no method is passed, the local server assumes dht. Think of it the method (e.g. dht) answers “in what general direction should I look?” (e.g. look in Atlanta, GA) and the id answers “where specifically in that direction should I look?” (look at 123 Main Street Apt 1, Atlanta GA 30308).

Node.js Runtime (Register/Hooks)

The DRPM register hooks paradigm can be used to run one-off scripts without downloading the DPK into the node_modules folder. Check out hooks.ts and register.ts

npm run build
node --import ./dist/esm/src/register.js ./path/to/your/script.js

Tools

Below are sections outlining the tools included in this repo as part of DRPM.

Decentralized Package Explorer (DPX)

COMING SOON! explorer.drpm.tools

The DRPM Explorer will be a listing service similar to npmjs.org where devs can create profiles with their DIDs and list their DPKs for discovery.

Decentralized Package Registry (DPR)

DOCS COMING SOON! Check out /registry for code.

Decentralized Package Manager (DPM)

See Issue #39.

Decentralized Package Import (DPI)

DPIs (or DMIs) are used to import code from locally installed DPKs

Example import

import express from '@drpm/express~8w7ckznnw671az7nmkrd19ddctpj4spgt8sjqxkmnamdartxh1bo';

Example require

const express = require('@drpm/express~8w7ckznnw671az7nmkrd19ddctpj4spgt8sjqxkmnamdartxh1bo');

Vocabulary

Acronyms galore! But what does it all mean!?

Web5 Vocab

DID = Decentralized Identifier
DWN = Decentralized Web Node
DWA = Decentralized Web App

DRPM Vocab

DRG = Decentralized Registry
DPK = Decentralized Package
DPM = Decentralized Package Manager
DRPM = Decentralized Registry Package Manager
DMI = Decentralized Module Import
DPI = Decentralized Package Import (alt name for DMI)

Other Vocab

NPK = Node Package
NPM = Node Package Manager

Project Resources

Resource	Description
CODEOWNERS	Outlines the project lead(s)
CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md	Expected behavior for project contributors, promoting a welcoming environment
CONTRIBUTING.md	Developer guide to build, test, run, access CI, chat, discuss, file issues
GOVERNANCE.md	Project governance
LICENSE