This page aims to highlight some relevant applications built on Urbit.
When you use Urbit for the first time, the best way to explore its features is by browsing through the applications that are already built.
Check out the list of applications below, in case you want to navigate directly to one in particular:
Index
Installing
It is important to note that you should only install applications you trust, as they interact with your ship. While there is no rating system available, only install applications if you have a prior reference and feel safe.
For those accessing Urbit as a comet, eventually, some applications may restrict some functionalities. But this is still uncommon at this time when the platform is still very new; as a comet, you can do practically everything a planet would do.
The initial dashboard for those accessing Urbit for the first time already comes with some installed applications.
You can use the search bar to look for a specific application by entering the shortcode of the application, for example: ~sogryp-dister-dozzod-dozzod/groups
Notice that the shortcode of an app is composed of the ID of the user who created the app, followed by a slash and the name of the app.
You can also search by developer (for example: ~sogryp-dister-dozzod-dozzod) and all his applications will be listed.
One of the most used apps is Groups, so let’s start by talking about it.
Groups
Shortcode: ~sogryp-dister-dozzod-dozzod/groups
The Groups application, as the name implies, aims to create conversation groups. First, you need to join an existing group or create a new one.
Click on the “Urbit Foundation” group to start, or search for the group by entering its full address ~halbex-palheb/uf-public if this group is not appearing on your dashboard.
The internal interface will be something similar to this:
By clicking on the General chat, you will see the messages from people who are talking in this group. As you are part of the group, you can send messages there and interact as well.
Note that in the left tab there are some articles (Office Hours, Ecosystem, Infrastructure…) and also a chat called General. This is the standard for the Groups application, as it offers content publication and chat channels.
A single group can have multiple chat channels, similar to Discord.
Note: if it is taking too long to load the messages or group content, this may be due to your internet connection or some congestion in the Urbit network, so be patient. Remember that Urbit is in the process of constant construction and improvement.
To learn more about the Groups application, read this article.
Talk
Shortcode: ~sogryp-dister-dozzod-dozzod/talk
Talk is an application focused on direct messaging, allowing private conversations between two users.
Talk supports various advanced features, such as message tagging, emoji integration, URL support, and image preview:
To learn more about Talk, read this article.
Pals
Shortcode: ~paldev/pals
Pals aims to provide a foundational architecture for social networking.
With Pals, you establish connections with other users, which can then be leveraged by additional applications to develop unique features.
Instead of using usernames and passwords, Pals uses your Urbit “key” identity, which is automatically generated for users who create an account on Urbit. This allows users to maintain their privacy and security, as they do not need to share their personal information to participate in this social network.
Pals is essentially a contact list, through which you send and receive friend requests easily, just by entering the Urbit ID.
After installation, open the application by clicking on “Open App”.
You will then see a screen like the one in the image below:
In the “~sampel” field in the “@p” column, you type the Urbit ID of the friend you want to add to the application. After pressing the Enter key, a green confirmation message will appear.
Once the request is confirmed, a smiling face icon indicates mutual status, and the user is added to the status pals. Other statuses are: targets (requests sent) and leeches (requests received). They appear in the “filter” category.
To learn more about Pals, read this article.
Portal
Shortcode: ~worpet-bildet/portal
Portal is a content platform within Urbit. With a friendly and intuitive interface, Portal allows users to interact with each other by sharing information, applications, groups and more.
Portal’s feed is global, everyone posts to and views the same feed.
In menu Explore, you will have access to a listing of some applications and groups from Urbit. You can install a new application directly through the Portal, just click on it in the listing and then on the ‘Install’ button on the right side of the screen. Similarly, you can join a group by clicking on it in the listing and then on the ‘Join Group’ button.
In menu My Profile, you can edit your profile, which will appear when a search for your user is made in the app.
To learn more about Portal, read this article.
Rumors
Shortcode: ~paldev/rumors
Rumors is a p2p platform allowing users to write and read messages in real-time from other users anonymously.
On the Rumors app, anonymous posts are sorted chronologically, so you’ll always see the most recent content first.
Not only do you see content posted by your friends, you also see content from friends of friends. That is, with just one connection it is possible to find out about rumors that are circulating throughout the network, if your friend is well connected.
To learn more about Rumors, read this article.
Astrolabe
Shortcode: ~dister-midlev-mindyr/astrolabe
Astrolabe is a comprehensive application designed for exploring the Urbit universe, providing users with detailed information on galaxies, stars, ships, and more.
The application allows users to view an interactive map of the entire Urbit architecture and its connections.
To learn more about Astrolabe, read this article.
This page will be constantly updated as we test useful applications that can be used today on Urbit. Stay tuned!
Learn more
Check also: Urbit Course for Beginners
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