# **Welcome 👋** Hi there - if you’re looking for the future of secure communications, you’ve come to the right place! Diode’s next generation solutions eliminate third-parties at all levels of the communications stack… without requiring self-hosted servers. We make this available to the world in four primary components - each of which have an additional documentation area you can dive into: 1. **[Network](https://network.docs.diode.io/)** - an open, permissionless secure communication network that uses blockchain technology for security and scalability. 2. **[App](https://app.docs.diode.io/)** - cross platform messaging app that is a secure replacement for Discord and Slack. 3. **[CLI](https://cli.docs.diode.io/)** - a command-line interface tool that allows you to quickly build on top of the Diode Network and create capabilities that can interact with App users. 4. **[Vault](https://vaults.docs.diode.io/)** - a hardware device that runs both the App and the CLI and can perform duties like being a backup-device for your Zones or hosting a decentralized website ### **[\#](https://docs.diode.io/#diodes-vision-is-to-transform-the-internet-into-everyones-private-network-and-were-adding-daily-to-those-capabilities)Diode’s vision is to transform the Internet into everyone’s private network, and we’re adding daily to those capabilities!** \ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_-r1ARlivs&t=4s](oembed:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_-r1ARlivs&t=4s) # **Why Diode** Diode’s mission is to transform the Internet into everyone’s private network. We believe that privacy is an inherit human trait and that the broken state of today’s Internet (e.g. [public Certificate Authorities](https://diode.io/blog/why-there-are-3652-organizations-that-can-read-everyones-encrypted-traffic)) makes retaining digital sovereignty really hard. This is surmountable for some enterprises and nation-states, but at high cost. It is not typically within the reach of medium size organizations, and certainly not individuals. Diode makes secure communications accessible to everyone. # **What is Diode** Diode’s core capability is a next generation blockchain-enabled communications network. The [Diode Network](https://network.docs.diode.io/) is sort of what it would be like if Signal were able to offer their E2EE infrastructure for anyone to build a new Signal app on top of. But, the network is open (open source, collaborative, not-for-profit) and permissionless (anyone can bring their own node - for rewards or for desire to control infra - without asking for permission to join the network). The pioneer app on the Diode Network is our app - [a next generation team messaging app](https://app.docs.diode.io/). If you need to collaborate as a team, and either need or want secure communications and extensible integrations, this could be a great fit for you. It is a match made in heaven for field teams operating in adverse environments, or for devops teams operating with sensitive mission critical systems. This is the first application of many that are being built, or have been built, on the Diode Network. Because no app is an island, we also have the open source [Diode CLI](https://cli.docs.diode.io/) - the swiss army knife command line tool that opens up the Diode Network to a whole host of IT-level integrations, CI/CD efforts, and custom applications. Finally, we even sell a little Raspberry Pi based hardware device called the [Diode Vault](https://vaults.docs.diode.io/). It comes in a couple of flavors and runs the app and the CLI out of the box so you can quickly deploy for common use cases. # **When can I use Diode?** We have hundreds of customers and many thousands of users taking advantage of Diode’s uniquely secure, affordable, and extensible zero trust ecosystem. The [Diode Network](https://network.docs.diode.io/), [Diode App](https://app.docs.diode.io/), [Diode CLI](https://cli.docs.diode.io/), and [Diode Vault(s)](https://vaults.docs.diode.io/) are all ready to use now - dive in, the water’s fine! If you don’t want to read any more, here are the download links: - [Download the app](https://diode.io/download/#app) and start secure collaboration - [Download the CLI](https://diode.io/download/#cli) and publish assets off the public Internet - [Download the Network Node](https://diode.io/download/#network) and isolate your traffic or earn points - The Vault is hardware - you have to [buy](https://mk4kxqqc.paperform.co/) or [make a Vault](https://vaults.docs.diode.io/docs/using/vault-getting-started-guide/) # **How to Diode?** Diode, as a verb, is basically “secure tunneling”. So, you tunnel by first deciding what you want to do and then doing it: - Securely collaborate: [Download the app](https://diode.io/download/#app) and invite team members. - Publish assets / content: [Download the CLI](https://diode.io/download/#cli) and run it along side your asset with “diode publish”. Access world-wide, but off the public Internet. - Earn rewards: [Download the Network Node](https://diode.io/download/#network) and put it on a VM/device with a static IP address and earn rewards for traffic it handles - Contribute: check out [our github](https://github.com/diodechain). - Join the community: start at our [Telegram group](https://t.me/diode_chain) - or, if you are hardcore and want to start E2EE community involvement right off the bat, then [download the app](https://diode.io/download/#app) and[ join the Diode Community zone](https://diode.io/joinzone/#tB0kOiAdLwJs7CGXhZXtWy4VlVWhqb094hgKktTOCkJFF-8VMA91SoferyZv). # **Who is Diode?** Diode is a collection of amazing individuals and entities who work tirelessly to achieve a better Internet future. You could be one of them. Structurally speaking, Diode is two entities: 1. [Diode Foundation](https://diode.foundation/)\: The Diode Foundation’s purpose is to deploy world-wide secure and decentralized communications with the Diode Network. In addition, the Diode Foundation is the Web3 operating entity and is responsible for the tokenomics of the overall system. 2. [Diode](https://diode.foundation/), the for-profit C Corp: Diode owns the intellectual property used by the Diode Network and provides the Diode app (messaging, files) to customers. Diode was founded by Dominic Letz and Hans Rempel when Dominic started investigating how to use blockchain to fully secure the house-of-cards that is PKI. [Blockquick](https://eprint.iacr.org/2019/579.pdf) was born, NTP was validated, an open/permissionless ZTNA was created, and the pioneer self-custody messaging and file transfer app was developed. Both the company and the foundation were created in 2021. The teams operate out of five regions: North America, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia. [Please get in touch!](https://t.me/diode_chain) # **How does Diode make money?** Although we offer a lot of capabilities as open source and for free, our primary source of revenue is from the [paid Diode App plans](https://diode.io/pricing). # **Is Blockchain really an advantage for Diode Drive?** Diode Drive uses the Diode Network, which leverages certain blockchain-based capabilities. We’re using the blockchain to register unique usernames, drive addresses and store drive memberships (public keys) so there is no central database or custom IT administration required to keep the system up and running. The goal is to provide the convenience of a centralized system, without the privacy and security limitations of a centralized system. # **Why does Diode use Google Analytics - Is that counter to your mission?** Since most people still use Google search, Google Analytics tells us when there are search issues with our website. It also allows us to submit correction and no-spam indications through the Google search console to ensure as many people as possible are able to find the digital sovereignty options Diode has to offer. # **Docs on other products** **Diode has four primary components - each of which have an additional documentation area you can dive into:** 1. **[Network](https://network.docs.diode.io/)** - an open, permissionless secure communication network that uses blockchain technology for security and scalability. 2. **[App](https://app.docs.diode.io/)** - cross platform messaging app that is a secure replacement for Discord and Slack. 3. **[CLI](https://cli.docs.diode.io/)** - a command-line interface tool that allows you to quickly build on top of the Diode Network and create capabilities that can interact with App users. 4. **[Vault](https://vaults.docs.diode.io/)** - a hardware device that runs both the App and the CLI and can perform duties like being a backup-device for your App zones or hosting a decentralized website