Hypha
Federation protocol for persistent worlds.
Hypha enables Lotus servers to form interconnected networks where players can travel between worlds owned by different authorities.
Key Features
- Authoritative Handoff - Single server owns each world, no state merging
- Intent-Based Protocol - Clients send intent, servers compute results
- Two-Layer Architecture - Replicated substrate (static), authoritative simulation (dynamic)
- Import Policies - Customs validation for player transfers between worlds
Why Not State Merging?
Traditional federation (like Matrix) merges state from multiple servers. This creates attack surfaces:
- State resolution DoS
- History rewriting
- Split-brain attacks
Hypha avoids these by using single-authority ownership. When you move between worlds, you disconnect from Server A and connect to Server B.
Ghost Mode
When authority connection is lost:
- World desaturates visually
- Player becomes observer (client-side collision only)
- Static world data (substrate) remains visible
- Universe pauses, doesn't disappear