Golem

Golem: Everything You Need to Know

Golem is a project that aims to create a global, open and censorship-resistant platform for sharing and renting computing resources. Users can connect to the network and pay each other for using their idle or underutilized machines, or request computing tasks that require more power than their own devices can provide. In this article, we will explore what golem is, how it works, who is the team behind it and what are the use cases for it.

What is Golem?

Golem is a decentralized computation network, a new way of distributing redundant computing power to those who are in need of it, on-demand. It creates a peer-to-peer network where users join on an equal basis to buy and sell computation, splitting up complicated tasks into smaller subtasks in the network1. In Golem, there is no central authority and no user is more or less important than another.

Golem uses its own native token, GLM, to facilitate transactions on the network. GLM is an ERC-20 token that was created through a migration from the previous GNT token in 20201. Users need GLM to pay for computations on the network and to reward providers for their services. GLM can also be used for governance purposes, as users can vote on proposals and decisions that affect the development of the network.

How does Golem work?

Golem works by connecting two types of users: requesters and providers. Requestors are those who need extra computing power for their projects, such as rendering, machine learning, scientific simulations, etc. Providers are those who have spare or unused computing resources that they are willing to share with others for a fee.

To use Golem, users need to install the software on their devices and create an account. They can then choose to act as either a requestor or a provider, or both. Requestors can create tasks and specify their requirements, such as the type of computation, the deadline, the budget and the quality. Providers can browse the available tasks and select the ones that match their capabilities and preferences. The network then matches requesters and providers and distributes the tasks among them.

The tasks are executed in isolated environments called execution units (EUs), which ensure security and privacy for both parties. The EUs can be based on different technologies, such as WebAssembly, virtual machines or Intel SGX. The network also verifies the results of the computations using various methods, such as redundancy, reputation or zero-knowledge proofs2. Once a task is completed and verified, the provider receives the payment in GLM from the requestor.

Who is the team behind Golem?

Golem was founded in Switzerland in 2016 by Julian Zawistowski, Andrzej Regulski, Piotr Janiuk and Aleksandra Skrzypczak3. The idea for Golem was first presented during DevCon 0 in November 2014. The team launched a public crowdfunding event in November 2016 and raised over $8 million in less than 30 minutes3. The network launched on mainnet in April 2018.

The team behind Golem is composed of developers, researchers, designers and entrepreneurs who share a vision of creating a more accessible and democratic internet. The team operates as Golem Factory GmbH, a company based in Zug, Switzerland. The company also supports other initiatives and projects related to decentralized technologies, such as Clay Golem, Graphene-ng, gWASM and Layer 2 payments.

What are the use cases for Golem?

Golem can be used for a variety of applications that require high-performance computing power. Some of the current and potential use cases include:

Rendering: Golem can be used to render 3D graphics, animations and videos faster and cheaper than traditional cloud services. Users can leverage the power of thousands of machines on the network to produce high-quality images and videos. For example, Blender users can use Golem to render their projects using the Golem Blender app.

Machine learning: Golem can be used to train and run machine learning models on large datasets. Users can access more computing resources than their own devices can offer and speed up their experiments and results. For example, PyTorch users can use Golem to run their models using the Golem PyTorch app.

Scientific simulations: Golem can be used to perform complex simulations that require intensive calculations and data processing. Users can benefit from the distributed nature of the network and run parallel simulations on multiple machines. For example, researchers can use Golem to simulate molecular dynamics using the Golem HOOMD-blue app.

These are just some of the examples of how Golem can be used for different purposes. The network is open and flexible, allowing developers to create their own applications and use cases using the Golem SDKs and APIs2. The network also supports various programming languages, such as Python, JavaScript and Rust2.

Conclusion

Golem is a project that aims to create a global, open and censorship-resistant platform for sharing and renting computing resources. Users can connect to the network and pay each other for using their idle or underutilized machines, or request computing tasks that require more power than their own devices can provide. Golem uses its own native token, GLM, to facilitate transactions on the network. Golem works by connecting two types of users: requesters and providers. Requestors can create tasks and specify their requirements, while providers can browse the available tasks and select the ones that match their capabilities and preferences. The network then matches requesters and providers and distributes the tasks among them. The tasks are executed in isolated environments called execution units, which ensure security and privacy for both parties. The network also verifies the results of the computations using various methods. Once a task is completed and verified, the provider receives the payment in GLM from the requestor. Golem was founded in Switzerland in 2016 by Julian Zawistowski, Andrzej Regulski, Piotr Janiuk and Aleksandra Skrzypczak. The team behind Golem is composed of developers, researchers, designers and entrepreneurs who share a vision of creating a more accessible and democratic internet. The team also supports other initiatives and projects related to decentralized technologies. Golem can be used for a variety of applications that require high-performance computing power, such as rendering, machine learning, scientific simulations and more. The network is open and flexible, allowing developers to create their own applications and use cases using the Golem SDKs and APIs. Golem is a project that aims to create a new way of distributing redundant computing power to those who are in need of it, on-demand.