Community Awards Grant: Onboarding Resources

Welcome to the Internet Computer

What is the Internet Computer?

The Internet Computer is the world’s first blockchain that runs at web speed and can increase its capacity without being bound to host any volume of smart contract computations and store any quantity of data.

It is an incredibly fast blockchain singularity you can build anything on, and easily participate in. 

Youtube: The Internet Computer Vision

How does the Internet Computer work?

The Internet Computer is based on a blockchain computer protocol called Internet Computer Protocol (ICP). The network itself is constructed from a hierarchy of building blocks. At the bottom are independent data centers that host specialized hardware nodes. These node machines are combined to create subnets. Subnets host canister smart contracts, which are interoperable compute units that are uploaded by users and contain both code and state.

Here are some helpful resources:

• The Internet Computer Dashboard
• The Internet Computer Network Status
• Network status and incident reporting, Network Nervous System
• Everything regarding the Internet Computer, community-built and driven: Internet Computer Wiki
• Everything regarding the Internet Computer as per DFINITY's documentation: smartcontracts.org 

Try the Internet Computer

The Internet Computer token is called the ICP. ICPs can be easily acquired through these actions: 

• Purchase ICP tokens directly through an exchange that lists ICP tokens available for trade. Coinmarketcap maintains a reasonably complete list of exchanges that trade ICP tokens.
• Receive tokens as voting rewards for participating in the governance of the Internet Computer.
• Receive ICP tokens from someone who sends them to an account you created.
• Receive a developer grant of tokens through the Internet Computer Association (ICA) or the DFINITY Foundation.
• Receive tokens as remuneration for providing computing capacity as a node provider.

To participate in the governance of the Internet Computer, one must lock ICP tokens in a stake. On the IC, the stakes are called neurons, and allow participation in the algorithmic governance system implemented on the IC by the Network Nervous System (NNS). 

Neuron owners can submit proposals and vote on proposals that guide the evolution of the IC. At regular intervals, (currently, every 24h,) the neurons that have voted the proposals settled in the previous period earn rewards proportional to the voting power of the neuron.

[Source:https://wiki.internetcomputer.org/wiki/ICP_token]

Storing ICP can be done through different methods. Check our wiki to know which different options are available: ICP custody options

ICPs are not needed to run dapps or to become a user of dapps developed on the Internet Computer.

Many different applications have already been developed and launched on the Internet Computer. We recommend you check DFINITY's showcase: The Internet Computer Ecosystem Showcase

The Internet Computer dapps work with sensitive information without the risk of having profiles hacked or passwords misused or misplaced. Read more about Internet Identity on Medium: The End of Usernames and Passwords | by DFINITY | The Internet Computer Review

Get involved in the Internet Computer

Apply to our community awards program 

• Read more about the program:
  DFINITY Announces Community Awards Program to Supercharge the Internet Computer Ecosystem
• Participate in our community events:
  • Community Conversations and monthly grantees meetup online

• Join our channels and check our community manager office hours
  • Discord / Twitter 

• Get involved with the DFINITY Foundation by attending events.

FAQs

• Where can I find branded resources?
  • You can find the branded resources and brand guidelines here: https://dfinity.frontify.com/d/XzkdhhDptijE/dfinity-brand-guide#/dfinity/logo

• Where can I read about best practices for a project?
  • Be sure to check out the Medium post about tips for writing applications and the Community Awards Verticals document for help regarding your milestones settings and best practices.

• I need help with my project. Where can I recruit help?
  • We recommend you to reach out to people in the ICCC Discord channel and in the Developer Discord channel. 

• I would like to ask DFINITY for help.
  • You can book our Community Manager during the designated Office Hours or write on the main channel on Discord.

• Where can I read more about the categories?
  • You can read more about the verticals on the Community Awards Verticals document, or reach out on Discord to learn more from your peers who've applied in the same category.