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+# IPFS: The Interplanetary File System
+
+## What is IPFS
+
+Ipfs is software that connects every computer thats a node in the system to the same,
+indestructable network of files. Its comparable to a bittorrent swarm and evokes the 
+spirit of the original version of the web. 
+
+## What can I do with it?
+
+Ipfs is designed to make anything you post on it, near impossible to get rid of as
+as the network is up. This means you can make files that are impossible censor and
+cant 404 just because the server hosting it craps out. Its even possible to make
+an indestructible, completely decentralized static website!
+
+## Basics of IPFS
+
+You can install it with your native package manager or snap if your distro supports it
+
+`sudo apt install snapd`
+`snap install ipfs`
+`ln -s /snap/ipfs/current/bin/ipfs /usr/local/bin`
+
+Setup is just as easy! 
+
+`ipfs init`
+`ipfs less /ipfs/QmS4ustL54uo8FzR9455qaxZwuMiUhyvMcX9Ba8nUH4uVv/readme`
+`ipfs daemon`
+`ipfs swarm peers`
+
+## Cool stuff to do after set up
+
+### Adding a file to ipfs 
+
+If having you're own immortal file sounds awesome, you'll be happy to know doing the
+same is easy! 
+
+Simply type:
+`ipfs add the_meaning_of_life.txt`
+
+and you're done!
+
+The command will return a hash that looks something like this: `QmZtmD2qt6fJot32nabSP3CUjicnypEBz7bHVDhPQt9aAy`
+
+You'll need that has to get your file from ipfs, just like a website url gets you the site. The hash changes when the file changes, so as long as the file is the same the has will also be.
+
+More can be found [here](https://flyingzumwalt.gitbooks.io/decentralized-web-primer/content/files-on-ipfs/lessons/add-and-retrieve-file-content.html)
+
+### Making an Indestructible Website
+
+If you've every wanted a website but
+
+a) Couldn't afford hosting
+b) Needed to post things you're government wouldn't approve
+or
+c) thought it was too complicated
+
+Ipfs has you covered!
+
+Start by making a directory containing your html files, lets say `zerzangang` is your 
+folder name. Make sure the daemon is running:
+
+`ipfs daemon`
+
+Then you can add the directory to ipfs
+
+`ipfs add -r zerzangang`
+
+You'll get something like this spat out at you
+
+`
+added QmcMN2wqoun88SVF5own7D5LUpnHwDA6ALZnVdFXhnYhAs zerzangang/pics/zerzan_sexy.jpg
+added QmS8tC5NJqajBB5qFhcA1auav14iHMnoMZJWfmr4k3EY6w zerzangang/pics
+added QmYh6HbZhHABQXrkQZ4aRRSoSa6bb9vaKoHeumWex6HRsT zerzangang/index.html
+added QmYeAiiK1UfB8MGLRefok1N7vBTyX8hGPuMXZ4Xq1DPyt7 zerzangang/`
+
+Something to note is how every file and subdirectory is given its own crypto hash. 
+For now, all you need to know is that the last line is what functions as your 
+"site url". And you're done! All you have to do is type `http://localhost:8080/ipfs/$SITE_CID` where `$SITE_CID` is your hash of your site's directory.
+
+And you're done!
+
+#### IPNS: The Problem Solver
+
+You might remember me saying that the entire hash changes when you change the file.
+So one downside is that if you edit your website and republish it on ipfs, your site's
+hash, which is part of its url, will change completely. This is obviously a pain in 
+the ass. But dont worry IPNS has you covered! IPNS allows you to register one hash
+that stays the same despite the file changes. Lets set it up with your site now!
+
+Start by running:
+
+`ipfs name publish $SITE_CID`
+
+The command will return
+
+`Published to $PEER_ID: /ipfs/$SITE_CID`
+
+`PEER_ID` will be the new site hash and you can verify everything went write by typing 
+`ipfs name resolove PEER_ID`. You can now visit your site on `https://ipfs.io/ipns/PEER_ID`. The next time you you want to update the site, simply run:
+
+`ipfs add -r zerzangang/`
+`ipfs name publish NEW_SITE_HASH`
+
+Now when someone wants to visit your site the address stays the same!
+
+## Up and Coming projects using IPFS
+
+[Neocities](https://neocities.org), the spirtual successor to geocities, uses ipfs to
+back up every change made on the sites it hosts. Making sure that a wealth of web 
+culture won't go AWOL again.
+
+[Radicle](http://radicle.xyz/) is a really interesting project that uses ipfs to make
+a p2p way to collab on code.