unitshare

UnitShare is a resource-sharing protocol for distributed networks in which compute, storage, and bandwidth resources are divided into standardized units called units. Access to resources is determined by the number of units a participant holds, is allocated, or can acquire through exchange within the network.

Its core concept is a unit ledger that records issuance, transfer, and consumption of units. Providers publish available capacity and unit prices, while users obtain units via purchase, staking, or allocation from pools. When a resource request is made, it is converted into a unit demand and scheduled according to a defined allocation policy.

Implementation typically includes a unit registry, cryptographic signatures to verify transfers, and auditable logs to support accountability. Allocation policies may use proportional fairness, priority queues, or max-min fairness to balance throughput and latency across participants. The system can be designed to operate in a decentralized or quasi-decentralized manner, reducing single points of failure.

Applications include grid and edge computing, decentralized storage networks, and peer-to-peer bandwidth sharing. UnitShare can complement existing resource managers by providing a standard unit-based abstraction that scales with demand and supply.

Advantages of the approach include modularity, transparency of resource accounting, and resilience through unit-based quotas. Criticisms focus on overhead from ledger maintenance, potential for strategic unit hoarding, and the need for robust security and governance to prevent abuse.