/ README.md
README.md
  1  <h1 align="center">
  2    <br>
  3    <a href="https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/blob/master/docs/logo/"><img src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/157609/250148884-d6d12db8-fdcf-4be3-8546-2550b69845d8.png" alt="Kubo logo" title="Kubo logo" width="200"></a>
  4    <br>
  5    Kubo: IPFS Implementation in Go
  6    <br>
  7  </h1>
  8  
  9  <p align="center" style="font-size: 1.2rem;">The first implementation of IPFS.</p>
 10  
 11  <p align="center">
 12    <a href="https://ipfs.tech"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/project-IPFS-blue.svg?style=flat-square" alt="Official Part of IPFS Project"></a>
 13    <a href="https://discuss.ipfs.tech"><img alt="Discourse Forum" src="https://img.shields.io/discourse/posts?server=https%3A%2F%2Fdiscuss.ipfs.tech"></a>
 14    <a href="https://docs.ipfs.tech/community/"><img alt="Matrix" src="https://img.shields.io/matrix/ipfs-space%3Aipfs.io?server_fqdn=matrix.org"></a>
 15    <a href="https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/actions"><img src="https://img.shields.io/github/actions/workflow/status/ipfs/kubo/gobuild.yml?branch=master"></a>
 16    <a href="https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/releases"><img alt="GitHub release" src="https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/ipfs/kubo?filter=!*rc*"></a>
 17  </p>
 18  
 19  <hr />
 20  
 21  <p align="center">
 22  <b><a href="#what-is-kubo">What is Kubo?</a></b> | <b><a href="#quick-taste">Quick Taste</a></b> | <b><a href="#install">Install</a></b> | <b><a href="#documentation">Documentation</a></b> | <b><a href="#development">Development</a></b> | <b><a href="#getting-help">Getting Help</a></b>
 23  </p>
 24  
 25  ## What is Kubo?
 26  
 27  Kubo was the first [IPFS](https://docs.ipfs.tech/concepts/what-is-ipfs/) implementation and is the [most widely used one today](https://probelab.io/ipfs/topology/#chart-agent-types-avg). It takes an opinionated approach to content-addressing ([CIDs](https://docs.ipfs.tech/concepts/glossary/#cid), [DAGs](https://docs.ipfs.tech/concepts/glossary/#dag)) that maximizes interoperability: [UnixFS](https://docs.ipfs.tech/concepts/glossary/#unixfs) for files and directories, [HTTP Gateways](https://docs.ipfs.tech/concepts/glossary/#gateway) for web browsers, [Bitswap](https://docs.ipfs.tech/concepts/glossary/#bitswap) and [HTTP](https://specs.ipfs.tech/http-gateways/trustless-gateway/) for verifiable data transfer.
 28  
 29  **Features:**
 30  
 31  - Runs an IPFS node as a network service (LAN [mDNS](https://github.com/libp2p/specs/blob/master/discovery/mdns.md) and WAN [Amino DHT](https://docs.ipfs.tech/concepts/glossary/#dht))
 32  - [Command-line interface](https://docs.ipfs.tech/reference/kubo/cli/) (`ipfs --help`)
 33  - [WebUI](https://github.com/ipfs/ipfs-webui/#readme) for node management
 34  - [HTTP Gateway](https://specs.ipfs.tech/http-gateways/) for trusted and [trustless](https://docs.ipfs.tech/reference/http/gateway/#trustless-verifiable-retrieval) content retrieval
 35  - [HTTP RPC API](https://docs.ipfs.tech/reference/kubo/rpc/) to control the daemon
 36  - [HTTP Routing V1](https://specs.ipfs.tech/routing/http-routing-v1/) client and server for [delegated routing](./docs/delegated-routing.md)
 37  - [Content blocking](./docs/content-blocking.md) for public node operators
 38  
 39  **Other IPFS implementations:** [Helia](https://github.com/ipfs/helia) (JavaScript), [more...](https://docs.ipfs.tech/concepts/ipfs-implementations/)
 40  
 41  ## Quick Taste
 42  
 43  After [installing Kubo](#install), verify it works:
 44  
 45  ```console
 46  $ ipfs init
 47  generating ED25519 keypair...done
 48  peer identity: 12D3KooWGcSLQdLDBi2BvoP8WnpdHvhWPbxpGcqkf93rL2XMZK7R
 49  
 50  $ ipfs daemon &
 51  Daemon is ready
 52  
 53  $ echo "hello IPFS" | ipfs add -q --cid-version 1
 54  bafkreicouv3sksjuzxb3rbb6rziy6duakk2aikegsmtqtz5rsuppjorxsa
 55  
 56  $ ipfs cat bafkreicouv3sksjuzxb3rbb6rziy6duakk2aikegsmtqtz5rsuppjorxsa
 57  hello IPFS
 58  ```
 59  
 60  Verify this CID is provided by your node to the IPFS network: <https://check.ipfs.network/?cid=bafkreicouv3sksjuzxb3rbb6rziy6duakk2aikegsmtqtz5rsuppjorxsa>
 61  
 62  See `ipfs add --help` for all import options. Ready for more? Follow the [command-line quick start](https://docs.ipfs.tech/how-to/command-line-quick-start/).
 63  
 64  ## Install
 65  
 66  Follow the [official installation guide](https://docs.ipfs.tech/install/command-line/), or choose: [prebuilt binary](#official-prebuilt-binaries) | [Docker](#docker) | [package manager](#package-managers) | [from source](#build-from-source).
 67  
 68  Prefer a GUI? Try [IPFS Desktop](https://docs.ipfs.tech/install/ipfs-desktop/) and/or [IPFS Companion](https://docs.ipfs.tech/install/ipfs-companion/).
 69  
 70  ### Minimal System Requirements
 71  
 72  Kubo runs on most Linux, macOS, and Windows systems. For optimal performance, we recommend at least 6 GB of RAM and 2 CPU cores (more is ideal, as Kubo is highly parallel).
 73  
 74  > [!IMPORTANT]
 75  > Larger pinsets require additional memory, with an estimated ~1 GiB of RAM per 20 million items for reproviding to the Amino DHT.
 76  
 77  > [!CAUTION]
 78  > Systems with less than the recommended memory may experience instability, frequent OOM errors or restarts, and missing data announcement (reprovider window), which can make data fully or partially inaccessible to other peers. Running Kubo on underprovisioned hardware is at your own risk.
 79  
 80  ### Official Prebuilt Binaries
 81  
 82  Download from https://dist.ipfs.tech#kubo or [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/releases/latest).
 83  
 84  ### Docker
 85  
 86  Official images are published at https://hub.docker.com/r/ipfs/kubo/: [![Docker Image Version (latest semver)](https://img.shields.io/docker/v/ipfs/kubo?color=blue&label=kubo%20docker%20image&logo=docker&sort=semver&style=flat-square&cacheSeconds=3600)](https://hub.docker.com/r/ipfs/kubo/)
 87  
 88  #### 🟢 Release Images
 89  
 90  Use these for production deployments.
 91  
 92  - `latest` and [`release`](https://hub.docker.com/r/ipfs/kubo/tags?name=release) always point at [the latest stable release](https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/releases/latest)
 93  - [`vN.N.N`](https://hub.docker.com/r/ipfs/kubo/tags?name=v) points at a specific [release tag](https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/releases)
 94  
 95  ```console
 96  $ docker pull ipfs/kubo:latest
 97  $ docker run --rm -it --net=host ipfs/kubo:latest
 98  ```
 99  
100  To [customize your node](https://docs.ipfs.tech/install/run-ipfs-inside-docker/#customizing-your-node), pass config via `-e` or mount scripts in `/container-init.d`.
101  
102  #### 🟠 Developer Preview Images
103  
104  For internal testing, not intended for production.
105  
106  - [`master-latest`](https://hub.docker.com/r/ipfs/kubo/tags?name=master-latest) points at `HEAD` of [`master`](https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/commits/master/)
107  - [`master-YYYY-DD-MM-GITSHA`](https://hub.docker.com/r/ipfs/kubo/tags?name=master-2) points at a specific commit
108  
109  #### 🔴 Internal Staging Images
110  
111  For testing arbitrary commits and experimental patches (force push to `staging` branch).
112  
113  - [`staging-latest`](https://hub.docker.com/r/ipfs/kubo/tags?name=staging-latest) points at `HEAD` of [`staging`](https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/commits/staging/)
114  - [`staging-YYYY-DD-MM-GITSHA`](https://hub.docker.com/r/ipfs/kubo/tags?name=staging-2) points at a specific commit
115  
116  ### Build from Source
117  
118  ![GitHub go.mod Go version](https://img.shields.io/github/go-mod/go-version/ipfs/kubo?label=Requires%20Go&logo=go&style=flat-square&cacheSeconds=3600)
119  
120  ```bash
121  git clone https://github.com/ipfs/kubo.git
122  cd kubo
123  make build    # creates cmd/ipfs/ipfs
124  make install  # installs to $GOPATH/bin/ipfs
125  ```
126  
127  See the [Developer Guide](docs/developer-guide.md) for details, Windows instructions, and troubleshooting.
128  
129  ### Package Managers
130  
131  Kubo is available in community-maintained packages across many operating systems, Linux distributions, and package managers. See [Repology](https://repology.org/project/kubo/versions) for the full list: [![Packaging status](https://repology.org/badge/tiny-repos/kubo.svg)](https://repology.org/project/kubo/versions)
132  
133  > [!WARNING]
134  > These packages are maintained by third-party volunteers. The IPFS Project and Kubo maintainers are not responsible for their contents or supply chain security. For increased security, [build from source](#build-from-source).
135  
136  #### Linux
137  
138  | Distribution | Install | Version |
139  |--------------|---------|---------|
140  | Ubuntu | [PPA](https://launchpad.net/~twdragon/+archive/ubuntu/ipfs): `sudo apt install ipfs-kubo` | [![PPA: twdragon](https://img.shields.io/badge/PPA-twdragon-E95420?logo=ubuntu)](https://launchpad.net/~twdragon/+archive/ubuntu/ipfs) |
141  | Arch | `pacman -S kubo` | [![Arch package](https://repology.org/badge/version-for-repo/arch/kubo.svg)](https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/kubo/) |
142  | Fedora | [COPR](https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/taw/ipfs/): `dnf install kubo` | [![COPR: taw](https://img.shields.io/badge/COPR-taw-51A2DA?logo=fedora)](https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/taw/ipfs/) |
143  | Nix | `nix-env -i kubo` | [![nixpkgs unstable](https://repology.org/badge/version-for-repo/nix_unstable/kubo.svg)](https://search.nixos.org/packages?query=kubo) |
144  | Gentoo | `emerge -a net-p2p/kubo` | [![Gentoo package](https://repology.org/badge/version-for-repo/gentoo/kubo.svg)](https://packages.gentoo.org/packages/net-p2p/kubo) |
145  | openSUSE | `zypper install kubo` | [![openSUSE Tumbleweed](https://repology.org/badge/version-for-repo/opensuse_tumbleweed/kubo.svg)](https://software.opensuse.org/package/kubo) |
146  | Solus | `sudo eopkg install kubo` | [![Solus package](https://repology.org/badge/version-for-repo/solus/kubo.svg)](https://packages.getsol.us/shannon/k/kubo/) |
147  | Guix | `guix install kubo` | [![Guix package](https://repology.org/badge/version-for-repo/gnuguix/kubo.svg)](https://packages.guix.gnu.org/packages/kubo/) |
148  | _other_ | [See Repology for the full list](https://repology.org/project/kubo/versions) | |
149  
150  ~~Snap~~ no longer supported ([#8688](https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/issues/8688))
151  
152  #### macOS
153  
154  | Manager | Install | Version |
155  |---------|---------|---------|
156  | Homebrew | `brew install ipfs` | [![Homebrew](https://repology.org/badge/version-for-repo/homebrew/kubo.svg)](https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/ipfs) |
157  | MacPorts | `sudo port install ipfs` | [![MacPorts](https://repology.org/badge/version-for-repo/macports/kubo.svg)](https://ports.macports.org/port/ipfs/) |
158  | Nix | `nix-env -i kubo` | [![nixpkgs unstable](https://repology.org/badge/version-for-repo/nix_unstable/kubo.svg)](https://search.nixos.org/packages?query=kubo) |
159  | _other_ | [See Repology for the full list](https://repology.org/project/kubo/versions) | |
160  
161  #### Windows
162  
163  | Manager | Install | Version |
164  |---------|---------|---------|
165  | Scoop | `scoop install kubo` | [![Scoop](https://repology.org/badge/version-for-repo/scoop/kubo.svg)](https://scoop.sh/#/apps?q=kubo) |
166  | _other_ | [See Repology for the full list](https://repology.org/project/kubo/versions) | |
167  
168  ~~Chocolatey~~ no longer supported ([#9341](https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/issues/9341))
169  
170  ## Documentation
171  
172  | Topic | Description |
173  |-------|-------------|
174  | [Configuration](docs/config.md) | All config options reference |
175  | [Environment variables](docs/environment-variables.md) | Runtime settings via env vars |
176  | [Experimental features](docs/experimental-features.md) | Opt-in features in development |
177  | [HTTP Gateway](docs/gateway.md) | Path, subdomain, and trustless gateway setup |
178  | [HTTP RPC clients](docs/http-rpc-clients.md) | Client libraries for Go, JS |
179  | [Delegated routing](docs/delegated-routing.md) | Multi-router and HTTP routing |
180  | [Metrics & monitoring](docs/metrics.md) | Prometheus metrics |
181  | [Content blocking](docs/content-blocking.md) | Denylist for public nodes |
182  | [Customizing](docs/customizing.md) | Unsure if use Plugins, Boxo, or fork? |
183  | [Debug guide](docs/debug-guide.md) | CPU profiles, memory analysis, tracing |
184  | [Changelogs](docs/changelogs/) | Release notes for each version |
185  | [All documentation](https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/tree/master/docs) | Full list of docs |
186  
187  ## Development
188  
189  See the [Developer Guide](docs/developer-guide.md) for build instructions, testing, and contribution workflow. AI coding agents should follow [AGENTS.md](AGENTS.md).
190  
191  ## Getting Help
192  
193  - [IPFS Forum](https://discuss.ipfs.tech) - community support, questions, and discussion
194  - [Community](https://docs.ipfs.tech/community/) - chat, events, and working groups
195  - [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/issues) - bug reports for Kubo specifically
196  - [IPFS Docs Issues](https://github.com/ipfs/ipfs-docs/issues) - documentation issues
197  
198  ## Security Issues
199  
200  See [`SECURITY.md`](SECURITY.md).
201  
202  ## Contributing
203  
204  [![](https://cdn.rawgit.com/jbenet/contribute-ipfs-gif/master/img/contribute.gif)](https://github.com/ipfs/community/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md)
205  
206  We welcome contributions. See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) and the [Developer Guide](docs/developer-guide.md).
207  
208  This repository follows the IPFS [Code of Conduct](https://github.com/ipfs/community/blob/master/code-of-conduct.md).
209  
210  ## Maintainer Info
211  
212  <a href="https://ipshipyard.com/"><img align="right" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/39ed3504-bb71-47f6-9bf8-cb9a1698f272" /></a>
213  
214  > [!NOTE]
215  > Kubo is maintained by the [Shipyard](https://ipshipyard.com/) team.
216  >
217  > [Release Process](https://ipshipyard.notion.site/Kubo-Release-Process-6dba4f5755c9458ab5685eeb28173778)
218  
219  ## License
220  
221  Dual-licensed under Apache 2.0 and MIT:
222  
223  - [LICENSE-APACHE](LICENSE-APACHE)
224  - [LICENSE-MIT](LICENSE-MIT)