Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is ShipLock?
ShipLock is an on-chain accountability protocol. Projects lock a bond, commit to recurring deadlines, and submit proof-based check-ins. Watchers validate check-ins via stake-weighted endorsements. If a project fails to produce an accepted check-in by deadline + grace, anyone can trigger a deterministic slash.
Who is ShipLock for?
- Builders who want to prove they ship consistently
- Communities who want a credible way to validate progress
- DAOs / grant programs that want measurable delivery signals
- Hackathons that want execution-based evaluation
Is ShipLock a launchpad or investment product?
No. ShipLock is not a launchpad, not an investment platform, and not financial advice. It's a credibility and accountability layer. It doesn't raise funds for projects or promote token sales.
How is ShipLock different from audit scores or safety ratings?
ShipLock doesn't analyze code or rate contract security. It measures shipping consistency — whether teams deliver what they promise on time. The enforcement is time-based and economic, not technical.
Projects & Commitments
What does it mean to "create a project" on ShipLock?
You define your shipping rules (cadence, grace, endorsement requirements), lock a bond into an on-chain vault, and start a recurring delivery cycle. Your project page becomes your public accountability ledger.
What is a bond and why is it required?
A bond is collateral locked by the project (SOL / stablecoin / SPL token). It creates real downside for missed commitments — turning promises into enforceable commitments.
Can a project change its rules after it starts?
For MVP: core rules are immutable once the bond is locked (cadence, grace, thresholds, slash percentage). Only metadata (links, description) can change. This prevents bait-and-switch.
What counts as a valid check-in?
ShipLock doesn't "auto-judge" quality. A check-in is valid if it's accepted by the community — it must reach the required endorsement thresholds within the endorsement window.
Strong proof typically includes demos, releases, commits, docs updates, or on-chain links. See Proof Standards for details.
Can a project submit multiple check-ins in the same cycle?
Yes, but MVP allows only one pending check-in at a time to avoid confusion. If a check-in fails (rejected), the project can submit an improved one before grace ends.
Watchers, Endorsements & Validation
What is a watcher?
A watcher is a validator: a wallet that stakes $SHIP globally and can endorse check-ins. Staking gives you validation weight across all projects.
Is staking tied to a specific project?
No. Staking is global to the protocol. Your stake gives you endorsement weight across all projects — it does not fund any project.
What does it mean to "endorse" a check-in?
You're attesting that the check-in meets the project's promise for that cycle. Your endorsement contributes weight toward acceptance.
If I think the check-in is not good enough, what should I do?
Don't endorse. No endorsement = no weight added. If the check-in fails to reach threshold, it becomes rejected after the endorsement window closes.
Does ShipLock have a "reject" button?
Not in MVP. A "reject vote" can introduce griefing games and complexity. MVP keeps it simple: non-endorsement is rejection. Disputes can be added in future versions.
How are endorsements weighted?
Weight = floor(sqrt(staked $SHIP)). This creates diminishing returns and reduces whale dominance. See the weight table.
Why do we also require a minimum number of endorsers?
To prevent a single large staker from accepting check-ins alone. ShipLock uses two requirements:
- Total weight threshold — economic conviction
- Minimum endorsers — diversity / anti-collusion
How many endorsers are required?
Recommended MVP default: minEndorsers = 3. Why not 1? Whale / collusion risk. Why not 10? Early network wouldn't reach it.
Slashing & Enforcement
What is slashing?
If a project does not produce an accepted check-in by deadline + grace, slashing becomes permissionless. A portion of the project bond is transferred out of the vault.
Who can trigger a slash?
Anyone. That's the point — enforcement can't depend on a small group being online.
Why does the slash caller get a bounty?
To ensure enforcement actually happens. If there's no incentive, missed commitments might go unpunished. The bounty makes enforcement rational for any user.
What happens after a project is slashed?
The slash executes, the event is recorded on-chain, and the project can continue into a new cycle (unless its bond is depleted). Repeated misses harm credibility and reduce remaining bond.
Can a project be slashed twice for the same missed cycle?
No. The program prevents double-slashing using a per-cycle nonce (cycleNonce and lastSlashedCycleNonce).
Rewards & Token ($SHIP)
What is $SHIP used for?
- Global watcher staking — validation weight
- Protocol fees — anti-spam, sustainability
- Rewards for validators — non-inflationary design
Where do rewards come from if there's no inflation?
From a pre-allocated rewards pool and a share of protocol fees (and optionally slashing). The goal is sustainability without printing infinite tokens.
Do watchers lose stake if they endorse something that later looks bad?
In MVP: no. Watchers risk opportunity cost — they only earn rewards if check-ins are accepted. Watcher penalties can be added later, but only if a strong dispute mechanism exists.
Trust & Abuse Resistance
Can projects bribe endorsements?
Bribery is possible in any human validation system. ShipLock limits it because:
- Bribery must be repeated every cycle to avoid slashing
- Endorsements are public and auditable on-chain
- Thresholds + minimum endorsers + sqrt-weight increase cost
- Suspicious patterns can be penalized in off-chain credibility metrics
See Abuse Resistance for a full analysis.
What about sybil attacks (many fake wallets)?
MVP doesn't claim perfect sybil resistance. It raises the cost with:
- Minimum stake to endorse (100 SHIP per wallet)
- Project creation fees and bond minimums
- Minimum endorsers requirement
sqrt(stake)reducing reward per extra identity
Over time, stronger defenses can be added (stake age, reputation, disputes).