The Hitchhiker Time Bank aspires to strip away non-essential complexity, following these principles: ### 1. Peer-to-Peer Mutual Credit Mutual credit is at the core—a group of people track time exchanges with each other. Each individual’s balance and transactions are mainly their own concern. No central authority or "broker" is necessary at first, allowing anyone to join with zero infrastructure cost—just a phone or laptop. ### 2. Modular Ecosystem Instead of building one monolithic app, this vision proposes a family of small, interoperable apps with well-structured, standardised data. Examples include: - A Skills & Wants app - An AI-driven onboarding/interviewing app - A matching app for connecting needs and offers - A project management layer - Each “app” can be developed independently and “mixed and matched” depending on needs. If the community grows and demands more features (analytics, legal contracts, additional currencies, etc.) extra modules can be added as needed. ### 3. Decentralised, File-Based Ledgers All records exist as simple, federated JSON files—mirroring the approach of platforms like Federated Wiki. Transactions are signed (even with basic identities) and can be stored or synced between devices. Privacy is minimal, but basic signing authenticates events. Key advantages: - Works offline or on low-cost devices - Data can be merged, archived, or shared as needed - Potential to later add cryptographic robustness or blockchain integration ("Web3 layer") - Supports “long-tailed” human interactions: you can attach photos, audio notes, and even small videos to a transaction record, transforming a balance sheet into a memory bank. ### 4. Minimal UI/UX - Interfaces will be simple, optimised for mobile use with playful, memory-rich design rather than spreadsheet complexity. - Main display: show your balance, the last few transactions, and possibly some light stats to gamify participation. - Each transaction can hold personal, human-context notes—a story, audio, or photo so you recall the meaning and experience of your exchange.