Overview
The ComputeNet network is organized as a decentralized mesh of validators, coordinators, and clients. This section describes the network topology and how different components interact.
Network Participants
The network consists of several types of participants:
Validators
Nodes that execute compute jobs and generate proofs. Validators stake collateral and earn rewards for honest participation.
Coordinators
Nodes that manage job distribution, validator selection, and consensus coordination. Planned for decentralization in future versions.
Clients
Applications and users that submit compute jobs and consume verified results.
Archive Nodes
Nodes that store historical compute receipts and provide data availability for the network.
Communication Patterns
Network participants communicate using a gossip-based protocol:
- Job announcements propagate through the validator mesh
- Attestations are broadcast and aggregated
- Finalized receipts are replicated across archive nodes
Validator Sets
Validators are organized into rotating sets for each epoch:
- Active set — Currently eligible to process jobs
- Standby set — Ready to activate if needed
- Jailed set — Temporarily excluded due to violations
Draft Documentation
Network topology specifications are still being finalized. The current testnet uses a simplified topology for development purposes.
Geographic Distribution
The protocol encourages geographic distribution of validators to improve resilience and reduce latency. Validator selection algorithms consider geographic diversity when assigning jobs.