The externals of Urbit haven't changed very much in the last six months.  However, we couldn't be much happier with the internals.  We are about to start writing applications in the new Arvo (aka nextbreach), and we expect this disparity to rapidly adjust itself.

For this reason, we're unlaunching Urbit — if the concept has any meaning.  Whatever it means, urbit.org is now just a landing page.  

Of course the github is exactly where it used to be, and you can even still get to the doc if you need it [1]. There is no question of bringing the servers down or anything like that (though we will re-root the keyspace with elliptic curves).  Very clever people can even get to a page which will issue them a free destroyer. 

But we are not asking anyone to use Urbit right now.  And we think our present presence doesn't make this clear enough.  A nonlaunch pollutes a real launch.

We are also canceling the Wednesday weekly chats.  Frankly, class participation doesn't justify them.  Urbit is not really a decentralized system — it's a para-decentralized one.  It is very decentralized in its designed middle age, but very centralized in its imbecilic infancy.  We love contributions but we are hardly a healthy open-source project, though in the future we must become one.  It's senseless to pretend that we are something we aren't as we do the work to get us from here to there.

Yes, we do intend to actually launch.  When?  When Urbit is actually useful for people.  

Or, as we say on the unlaunch page: when Urbit is stable, properly documented, and most importantly fully self-hosting.  

Don't worry - we'll keep you posted.

Regards,

Tlon

[1] - http://doc.urbit.org/