henry-hz
commented
4 months ago Lurk programs deal with a concept called zero-knowledge proofs. Imagine you want to prove you know something without revealing what it is. Lurk programs let you do this for computations.
Here's the breakdown:
- Lurk programs can include private data: You can write a program that uses some secret information.
- Prover needs the data for proofs: The person creating the proof (prover) needs this information to convince someone (verifier).
- Final proofs hide the data: The proof itself doesn't reveal the secret data. It's like showing someone you aced a test without showing them your answers.
This is the magic of zero-knowledge proofs. You can prove you did a computation with some private data, without showing the data itself!
Here are some benefits of this:
- Verification without revealing secrets: You can prove you meet certain conditions (like having enough funds) without revealing your bank balance.
- Privacy-preserving applications: This can be used in things like secure voting or anonymous transactions.
Lurk is a specific programming language designed for this kind of zero-knowledge proofs, especially useful for something called zk-SNARKs (zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive arguments of knowledge). It's a bit technical, but hopefully this explanation gives you a good idea of how Lurk programs and zero-knowledge proofs work together to keep your data secret.
While Lurk programs are designed for specific cryptographic applications, the concept of zero-knowledge proofs with private inputs has broader applications. Here are 5 use cases that reflect the breakdown steps:
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Age Verification System:
- Private Input: Your date of birth.
- Prover Needs Data: The system proving you're above 18 needs your birthdate.
- Final Proof Hides Data: It reveals only that you're above a certain age without showing your exact birth year.
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Medical Record Sharing:
- Private Input: Specific medical conditions in your record.
- Prover Needs Data: You want to prove you have a certain condition for treatment, but not all details.
- Final Proof Hides Data: The proof shows you have the condition relevant to the treatment without revealing your entire medical history.
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Secure Voting System:
- Private Input: Your vote for a candidate.
- Prover Needs Data: The system needs to verify your cast vote.
- Final Proof Hides Data: The proof confirms your participation without revealing who you voted for.
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Cryptographic Wallets:
- Private Input: Your private key to access your cryptocurrency.
- Prover Needs Data: The system needs to verify you own the funds for a transaction.
- Final Proof Hides Data: The proof shows you have the necessary funds without revealing your private key.
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Cloud Gaming Platform:
- Private Input: Specifications of your local gaming device.
- Prover Needs Data: The platform needs to verify your device meets the minimum requirements to run the game.
- Final Proof Hides Data: The proof shows compatibility without revealing your device's specific configuration.
Starknet
Lurk
Lean4
Telegram
Solidity
Risc0
Circom
Vitalik Series
Sure! Let's imagine you have a secret, like the location of a hidden treasure. You want to prove to your friend that you know where the treasure is, but you don't want to tell them the actual location because you want to keep it a secret. This is similar to what a "zero-knowledge proof" is.
The Magic Cave Story
The Characters:
The Setup:
Imagine there's a magical cave with two paths, Path A and Path B. The two paths go around a giant rock and meet at a hidden door on the other side of the cave. Only someone who knows the magic password can open the door from either side.
The Plan:
You want to prove to your friend that you know the magic password without actually telling them the password.
The Proof:
Repeat to Be Sure:
To make absolutely sure you know the password and it's not just a lucky guess, your friend asks you to do this many times. Each time you go into the cave, choose a random path, and then come out from the path your friend shouts. After seeing you come out correctly many times, your friend is convinced that you must know the magic password.
What Happened Here?
This is a fun and simple way to understand how zero-knowledge proofs work! They let someone prove they know something without revealing the actual information.