Glossary

Consistent terminology used across ShipLock's protocol, documentation, and UI.

Core Terms

Term	Definition
Bond	Collateral locked by the project (SOL / stablecoin / SPL token). Creates real downside for missed commitments.
Cadence	How frequently the project must deliver a valid check-in (e.g., every 48 hours).
Cycle	One cadence period — the time window in which the project must produce an accepted check-in.
Deadline	The time limit for the current cycle. After this, the grace period begins.
Grace period	Extra buffer after the deadline to avoid accidental slashes. After grace ends, slashing becomes valid.
Check-in	A submission that includes a claim (what was delivered), proof (links + optional content hash), and an endorsement window.
Endorsement	A watcher signs a transaction attesting: "This check-in meets the promise." Endorsements add weight toward acceptance.
Weight	Validation power derived from stake using diminishing returns: weight = floor(sqrt(stake)).
Threshold	Minimum total endorsement weight required to accept a check-in.
Slashing	Permissionless penalty executed when a project fails to produce an accepted check-in by grace end.

States

Term	Definition
Active	Project is within its deadline window and on track.
At risk	Near deadline and no accepted check-in yet. UX-only state — not an enforcement boundary.
Violation	Grace ended and no accepted check-in exists for that cycle. Slashing is now valid.
Slashable	Objective on-chain condition is true: slash() can be executed by anyone.
Slashed	The cycle was resolved by penalty. Bond partially transferred, cycle advances.

Check-in States

Term	Definition
Pending	Endorse window is open. Watchers can still endorse.
Accepted	Endorsement thresholds met within the window. Cycle is satisfied.
Rejected	Endorse window closed without reaching thresholds.

Roles

Term	Definition
Project Owner (Builder)	Creates a project, locks bond, submits check-ins.
Watcher (Validator)	Stakes $SHIP globally, endorses check-ins, earns rewards.
Enforcer (Slasher)	Any user who triggers slash() when conditions are met. Earns a bounty.
Watcher set	The active stakers able to endorse at any given time.

On-chain Variables

Term	Definition
cycleNonce	Integer cycle counter, starts at 0. Increments on each cycle advancement.
cycleStartAt	Timestamp when the current cycle began.
nextDeadlineAt	Deadline timestamp for the current cycle.
graceEndsAt	nextDeadlineAt + grace. Enforcement boundary.
lastAcceptedCheckinAt	Timestamp of the last accepted check-in. Used for streak calculation.
lastSlashedCycleNonce	Cycle nonce that was last slashed. Prevents double-slashing.

Metrics

Term	Definition
Compliance rate	(acceptedCheckins / totalExpectedCheckins) * 100. Measures shipping consistency.
Valid check-in	A check-in that ends as ACCEPTED.
Streak	Number of consecutive cycles with accepted check-ins.
Bounty	Portion of slashed amount paid to the slash executor.

Economic Terms

Term	Definition
Diminishing returns	sqrt(stake) ensures more stake gives less proportional weight.
Two-factor gate	Acceptance requires both weight threshold AND minimum endorser count.
Rolling cadence	Shipping sooner resets the timer. No fixed weekly schedule.
Stake-and-run	Attack where someone stakes, endorses, then immediately unstakes. Prevented by 72h unlock delay.