From orbit to offline knowledge | Community fabric | Skybrary mission
skycache.jonbailey.xyz
| Skybrary plan
SkyCache receives public free-to-air / open satellite information (and USB education packs), prioritizes what matters, replicates across a local unlicensed Wi-Fi mesh, and serves a store-and-forward portal for schools, clinics, villages, and disaster zones.
Skybrary (the Sky Library) is the long-horizon mission on this foundation: a resilient, legal, dual-access archive of open written knowledge - online for the connected, offline packs for the rest. North star, not a claim of completeness: see docs/VISION-SKYBRARY.md.
Legal (non-negotiable): SkyCache is receive-only for satellite/RF reception and only targets unencrypted free-to-air, public, or openly licensed content. Mesh transmit uses unlicensed/ISM Wi-Fi (and optional regional LoRa for control). It is not free Starlink/OneWeb/commercial VSAT broadband, and it will not help decrypt paid services. Operators must check local spectrum and Wi-Fi regulations. Full policy:
docs/legal-ethics.md.
| Does | Does not |
|---|---|
| Cache weather, education, health, emergency packs | Provide free commercial broadband or Starlink |
| Serve phones over local hotspot + multi-node mesh | Decrypt commercial satellite constellations |
| Prioritize Emergency -> Health -> Education under pressure | Require cloud accounts or personal-data harvesting |
| DTN queues, USB data-mules, opportunistic open pulls | Satellite uplink by default |
| Run full multi-node simulation with zero RF hardware | Replace SatDump / Kiwix - it orchestrates them |
# From the SkyCache directory
python -m pip install -e ".[dev]"
python scripts/make_sample_package.py
python -m skycache first-boot --data-dir data --yes --pin 739184 \
--ssid SkyCache-Sim --legal-rf-mode receive_only --sim
python -m skycache serve --sim --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8080Open http://127.0.0.1:8080/ - icon portal with sample Emergency, Health, Education, Farm, Weather, Maps, and Skybrary Library content.
Village / Pi golden path (<2 hours): docs/first-boot.md | sudo bash deploy/install-village-fabric.sh
python -m skycache doctor
python -m skycache capabilities
python -m skycache nexus doctor
python -m skycache nexus sim --nodes 3 --disaster
python -m skycache nexus validate --nodes 2
python -m skycache skybrary pack --profile literacy-1gb
python -m skycache skybrary export-catalog --out data/catalog-export --starter-kits
python -m skycache pi-image bundle --out data/pi-download
python -m skycache rx doctor
python -m skycache rx watch --dir /path/to/satdump/products --once
python -m skycache mesh dual-radio-pack --out media/dual-radio-validation
python -m skycache handoff doctor
python -m skycache handoff join-card --portal-url http://10.42.0.1:8080/ --ssid SkyCache-Village
python -m skycache handoff export --limit 10
python -m skycache gateway doctor
python -m skycache gateway pull-preset gutenberg-sample --dry-run
python -m skycache gateway pull-preset gutenberg-sample --sim
python -m skycache village-day doctor
python -m skycache village-day readiness
python -m skycache village-day kit --out data/village-day-kit
python -m skycache federation doctor
python -m skycache federation sim --nodes 2
python -m skycache federation kit --out data/federation-kit
python -m skycache integrity doctor
python -m skycache integrity verify --record
python -m skycache integrity kit --out data/integrity-kit
python -m skycache disaster doctor
python -m skycache disaster run --nodes 3
python -m skycache disaster closeout
python -m skycache disaster kit --out data/disaster-kit
python -m skycache power doctor
python -m skycache power sheet --out data/ops/power-sheet.html
python -m skycache power kit --out data/power-kit
python -m skycache licenses doctor
python -m skycache licenses export --out data/ops/licenses-inventory.html
python -m skycache licenses kit --out data/licenses-kit
python -m skycache capabilities doctor
python -m skycache capabilities status
python -m skycache capabilities export --out data/ops/capabilities-matrix.html
python -m skycache capabilities kit --out data/capabilities-kit
python -m skycache ops doctor
python -m skycache ops status
python -m skycache ops export --out data/ops/local-ops-board.html
python -m skycache ops kit --out data/ops-kit
python -m skycache rx doctor
python -m skycache rx status
python -m skycache rx export --out data/ops/rx-station-board.html
python -m skycache rx kit --out data/rx-kit
python -m skycache report doctor
python -m skycache report status
python -m skycache report export --out data/ops/node-report.html
python -m skycache report kit --out data/report-kit
python -m skycache corpus doctor
python -m skycache corpus status
python -m skycache corpus export --out data/ops/corpus-board.html
python -m skycache corpus kit --out data/corpus-kit
python -m skycache seal doctor
python -m skycache seal status
python -m skycache seal export --out data/ops/seal-board.html
python -m skycache seal kit --out data/seal-kit
python -m skycache dual-radio doctor
python -m skycache dual-radio status
python -m skycache dual-radio export --out data/ops/dual-radio-board.html
python -m skycache dual-radio kit --out data/dual-radio-kit
python -m skycache partner doctor
python -m skycache partner status
python -m skycache partner export --out data/ops/partner-board.html
python -m skycache partner ops-kit --out data/partner-ops-kit
python -m skycache skybrary import-gutenberg-catalog --catalog path/to/catalog.json --allow-local --dry-run
python -m pytest -qv0.9.0 Skybrary Live: dual-access online portal complete, curated PD corpus (~18 works), Gutenberg catalog adapter, starter kits with license passports, public /library/ overhaul - see CHANGELOG.md | https://skycache.jonbailey.xyz/library/
Windows: use py -3 instead of python if needed.
Antenna/SDR (RX only) -> decoder plugins -> ingest + prioritizer -> SQLite + packages
↓
Nexus fabric (mesh gossip, DTN, gateway quotas)
↓
FastAPI + multi-language PWA ← Wi-Fi AP / batman-adv mesh
Details: docs/architecture.md | Mesh field guide: docs/mesh-deployment.md | Village recipe: docs/village-nexus-playbook.md.
| Phase | Goal |
|---|---|
| 0 | Simulation/demo with sample packages |
| 1 | File ingest, package create/validate, USB drop watch, hotspot enable - docs/phase1-file-ingest.md |
| 2 | Live FTA weather via SatDump on RTL-SDR - docs/phase2-live-rx.md |
| 3 | Full prioritization ops, power sensors, DTN-lite messaging |
| 4 Nexus | Multi-node mesh, content fabric, opportunistic gateway, disaster mode, village playbooks |
| 4.0 Community UX | Search, boards, ratings, license inventory, power/traffic monitors, onboarding |
| S0 - S1 Skybrary | Mission docs + architecture + PD sample scaffold |
| S2 Skybrary | Works FTS catalog, Library tab, facets |
| 0.6 Legal surface | Full capability matrix, open fetch, pack profiles, verify, handoff |
| 0.7 Village + dual-access | First-boot, PWA reader, USB kits, handoff UI, corpus import, passport, federation E2E |
| 0.7.1 Phone offline demos | No cell plan: hub Wi-Fi -> Save demos to this phone (3 PD texts zip) |
| 0.7.2 Zero-network kit | No Wi-Fi and no cell: USB/SD/BT/pre-deploy -> open READ-OFFLINE.html |
| 0.8 Village Ready | Signed pack kits 2.0, power sheets, gateway ethics, mesh validate, dual-access catalog export, partner kits |
| 0.9 Skybrary Live | Dual-access portal complete, curated PD corpus, Gutenberg catalog adapter, starter kits + passports, site /library/ overhaul - CHANGELOG |
| 0.9.1 Field depth | Pi bake plan, batman day-one OOB, OA science import, chapters/EPUB spine, blob store, maps-offline, partner kits - CHANGELOG |
| 0.9.2 Depth complete | Golden SD kit hosting, dual-radio validation media, MBTiles via blob store, CSS pagination reader - CHANGELOG |
| 1.0 Resilience Fabric | Scheduled bit-rot doctor, multi-node works federation sim, local ops metrics, threat-model one-pager - CHANGELOG |
| 1.0.1 Compact gossip | Bandwidth-aware compact works_manifest + locale status parity - CHANGELOG |
| 1.1 Live FTA RX Ops | SatDump product watch, RX doctor, station/passes, field log, recipes - CHANGELOG |
| 1.1.1 Windows RX setup | Setup-RxStation / Start-RxWatch / Scheduled Task helpers - CHANGELOG |
| 1.1.2 SatDump/RTL tools | Install-RxTools-Windows, PATH doctor, live_decode + rtl_device_seen - CHANGELOG |
| 1.2 Pass Autopilot | schedule/arm/cmd/duty, SatDump sketches, watch auto field-log - CHANGELOG |
| 1.3 Partner Pilot Ops | partner kit zip/package-all, report validate, readiness score, /partners/ - CHANGELOG |
| 1.4 Golden Node Bake Ops | pi-image doctor/seal/sealed-manifest, kit zip v2, /install/ - CHANGELOG |
| 1.5 Bulk Open Corpus Ops | corpus doctor/status/batch manifests, legal bulk scale - CHANGELOG |
| 1.6 Field Mesh Ops | mesh doctor/readiness/disaster-drill/field-kit, /mesh/ - CHANGELOG |
| 1.7 Phone Handoff Ops | handoff doctor/join-card QR/export/import, /handoff/ - CHANGELOG |
| 1.8 Gateway Ops | gateway doctor/presets/pull-preset+passport/receipts/ethics-kit, /gateway/ - CHANGELOG |
| 1.9 Village Day Ops | village-day doctor/readiness/runbook/kit, /village-day/ - CHANGELOG |
| 1.10 Federation Ops | federation doctor/sim/export-gossip/kit, /federation/ - CHANGELOG |
| 1.11 Integrity Ops | integrity doctor/verify/report/kit, /integrity/ - CHANGELOG |
| 1.12 Disaster Drill Ops | disaster doctor/run/report/closeout/kit, /disaster/ - CHANGELOG |
| 1.13 Power Ops | power doctor/status/sheet/kit, /power/ - CHANGELOG |
| 1.14 Licenses Ops | licenses doctor/status/export/kit, /licenses/ - CHANGELOG |
| 1.15 Capabilities Ops | capabilities doctor/status/export/kit, /capabilities/ - CHANGELOG |
| 1.16 Local Ops | ops doctor/status/export/kit, /ops/ (fleet heartbeat OFF) - CHANGELOG |
| 1.17 RX Ops | rx doctor/status/export/kit, /rx/ (receive-only FTA) - CHANGELOG |
| 1.18 Node Report Ops | report doctor/status/export/kit, /report/ (partner passport) - CHANGELOG |
| 1.19 Corpus Ops | corpus doctor/status/export/kit, /corpus/ kit - CHANGELOG |
| 1.20 Seal Ops | seal doctor/status/export/kit, /install/ seal kit - CHANGELOG |
| 1.21 Partner Ops | partner doctor/status/export/ops-kit, /partners/ - CHANGELOG |
| 1.22 Dual Radio Ops | dual-radio doctor/status/export/kit, /mesh/ dual-radio kit - CHANGELOG |
| 1.23 Skybrary PD Expand | curated PD library 18 -> 44 works, /library/ catalog fatten - CHANGELOG |
| 1.24 Library Ops + ML PD | library doctor/status/board/kit + API; 44 -> 52 works (multilingual wave) - CHANGELOG |
| 1.25 Library Publish + ML2 | library publish catalog for marketing; 52 -> 58 works (ar/sw/hi/ja/yo/bn) - CHANGELOG |
| 1.26 Zero-Network Parity | library zero-network kit matches full curated sample count; doctor parity check - CHANGELOG |
| 1.27 Library Sync | one-shot library sync staging for marketing site (catalog + kits) - CHANGELOG |
| 1.28 Apply-Web + ML pack | library sync --apply-web; multilingual-literacy pack profile - CHANGELOG |
| 1.29 Pack kits | library pack-kits + sync --with-packs for USB pack zips on marketing site - CHANGELOG |
| 1.30 Clinic packs | pack-kits default includes emergency-health + health-priority zips - CHANGELOG |
| 1.31 Health corpus | +10 educational health/emergency PD samples; fatter clinic packs - CHANGELOG |
| 1.32 Zero-network 68 | zero-network kit parity at 68 works; zip self-include guard; doctor 100 - CHANGELOG |
| 1.33 Open Resilience | STEM/civics corpus 78 works; disaster prioritizer; open_fta_sim plugin; archive pack budgets - current - CHANGELOG |
- Python 3.11+, FastAPI, SQLite, static multi-language PWA
- Plugins wrap SatDump, gr-satellites, file/ZIM import
- Mesh: batman-adv hooks + in-process sim; hotspot hostapd + dnsmasq
- Inspired by SatNOGS, TinyGS, Kiwix, Internet-in-a-Box/RACHEL, community networks (see
docs/open-sources.md)
skycache/ # Python package (CLI, pipelines, web, policy, nexus/)
webui/ # Mobile-first PWA (i18n: en fr es ar sw hi pt)
samples/packages/ # Demo content
deploy/ # systemd, hotspot, Debian installer, village fabric notes
docs/ # Architecture, legal, mesh deploy, BOM, playbooks
tests/ # pytest (including multi-node Nexus sim)
Ultra-low-cost target: RTL-SDR + Raspberry Pi/Orange Pi + commodity Wi-Fi APs, optional LoRa for control plane, optional solar.
BOM: docs/hardware-bom.md (~$90 - 180 MVP without solar; multi-node scales with extra Pis/APs).
| Doc | Audience |
|---|---|
docs/legal-ethics.md |
Everyone - read first |
docs/mesh-deployment.md |
Mesh / spectrum / multi-node |
docs/mesh-field-checklist.md |
Printable 2-node day checklist |
docs/disaster-drill.md |
Disaster mode drill + partner checklist |
docs/village-nexus-playbook.md |
Field install recipe |
docs/first-boot.md |
Golden path - demo node in <2 hours |
docs/phone-offline-demo.md |
Phone, no cell plan - download 3 demos over hub Wi-Fi only |
docs/zero-network-phone.md |
No Wi-Fi, no cell - USB/SD/BT kit; open READ-OFFLINE.html offline |
docs/installation.md |
Technical volunteers |
docs/community-playbook.md |
NGOs / local clubs |
docs/training-local-maintainer.md |
Field training |
docs/content-packaging.md |
Content authors |
CHANGELOG.md |
Release notes |
skycache init [--load-samples]
skycache first-boot --yes --pin NNNN [--ssid] [--legal-rf-mode] [--sim]
skycache serve [--sim] [--host] [--port]
skycache ingest <path>
skycache package create|validate ...
skycache watch [--once]
skycache pipeline --plugin sim_file|satdump_weather|gr_satellites|package_import
skycache status
skycache doctor
skycache mesh status [--compliance]
skycache gateway [--sim] [--request ID] [--pull]
skycache nexus doctor
skycache nexus sim [--nodes 3] [--disaster]
skycache nexus status
skycache search [query]
skycache licenses doctor|status|export|kit
skycache skybrary doctor [--verify] # --verify: content-tree integrity (bit-rot)
skycache skybrary samples [--ingest]
skycache skybrary search [query]
skycache skybrary pack --profile literacy-1gb|--list
skycache skybrary import-folder DIR --license "public domain" [--ingest]
skycache skybrary import-open URL --license "project gutenberg" [--ingest]
skycache capabilities doctor|status|export|kit # also bare / --json for matrix
skycache open-fetch URL --out FILE
skycache verify data/content # same integrity pass; schedule weekly via cron
skycache handoff --out data/handoff
Corpus import (legal bulk, operator-run): see docs/skybrary-corpus-import.md.
License passport: GET /api/packages/{id}/passport and GET /api/skybrary/works/{id}/passport (license, provenance, sha256, redistribute yes/no/review). PWA shows a Passport chip on cards.
Legal RF mode (env SKYCACHE_LEGAL_RF_MODE): receive_only | ism_mesh | ism_lora_control | hybrid_gateway | amateur_operator (requires SKYCACHE_AMATEUR_LICENSE_AFFIRMED=true).
Never: commercial decrypt or default satellite uplink.
Repo: https://github.com/Pitchfork-and-Torch/SkyCache
Site: https://skycache.jonbailey.xyz
See CONTRIBUTING.md. Please keep the legal rails intact - PRs that add commercial decryption, satellite uplink, or dishonest "free broadband" claims will be rejected.
Apache License 2.0 - see LICENSE and NOTICE.
Built on open tools and community-network practice. SkyCache Nexus maximizes what is already legal for humanitarian impact: education, health, emergency coordination, and local ownership after volunteers leave.