File storage

Users can store files on the HostAI network using STORE messages. By publishing a STORE message, users can:

• store a file in the native HostAI storage system

• pin an IPFS CID on the HostAI network.

STORE messages tell the HostAI network to store data on behalf of the user. The data can either be pinned to IPFS or stored in the native HostAI storage system depending on the content item type.

STORE message content format

The content field of a STORE message must contain the following fields:

• address [str]: The address to which the file belongs. See permissions.

• time [float]: The epoch timestamp of the message.

• item_type [str]: storage or ipfs. Determines the network to use to fetch and store the file.

• item_hash [str]: Hash of the file to store. Must be a CIDv0 for IPFS, or a SHA256 hash for native storage.

• ref [Optional[str]]: Optional reference to another file/STORE message. See Updating files.

Updating files

While files on the HostAI network are immutable, you can use the ref field of STORE messages to create a virtual filename and update it.

When posting a STORE message, you can specify a value of your own liking to the ref field (ex: ref: my-dynamic-nft). If you do not specify a value, it is automatically set to the item hash of the STORE message.

From that point, you can then update your file by sending additional STORE messages with the same ref value. These messages will be considered as updates of the original.

Updating a file does not delete the previous versions. Each file is preserved on the HostAI network until you emit a FORGET message targeting these files.