Neural Transfer Layer (NTL)

The Neural Transfer Layer for Modern Compute

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NTL is an open source data transfer layer that replaces the request-response paradigm of traditional APIs with neural signal propagation. Built for the age of AI, Web3, and quantum computing.

Why NTL?

Every major data transfer protocol in use today — HTTP, REST, GraphQL, gRPC — was designed for a world of clients and servers, requests and responses. That world is ending.

NTL introduces:

• Signals instead of requests — typed, weighted, cryptographically signed payloads
• Synapses instead of connections — persistent channels that strengthen with use
• Activation thresholds instead of rate limiting — intelligent, adaptive flow control
• Emergent routing instead of endpoint registries — the network self-organizes
• Pluggable cryptography — post-quantum ready, no hardcoded schemes

Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│         Applications            │
│      (Mukoko, dApps, AI)        │
├─────────────────────────────────┤
│     Neural Transfer Layer       │  ← This project
│    (Neural Signal Transport)    │
├─────────────────────────────────┤
│          SiafuDB                │
│   (Swarm-based Graph Storage)   │
├─────────────────────────────────┤
│     Network / Hardware          │
│   (TCP/UDP/QUIC substrate)      │
└─────────────────────────────────┘

Quick Start

# Install
cargo install ntl-cli

# Initialize a node
ntl init

# Start (development mode)
ntl start --dev

# Emit a signal
ntl emit --type data --payload '{"hello": "world"}'

# Listen for signals
ntl listen

Documentation

Full documentation is available at openntl.org.

• Introduction
• Why NTL
• Architecture
• Core Concepts
• Specification
• Quickstart Guide

Repository Structure

ntl/
├── spec/               # Protocol specification documents
├── runtime/            # Rust reference implementation
│   ├── ntl-core/       # Core library
│   ├── ntl-cli/        # CLI tooling
│   ├── ntl-node/       # Full node binary
│   └── ntl-edge/       # Edge node (lightweight)
├── adapters/           # Protocol adapters
│   ├── web2/           # HTTP, WebSocket, gRPC, GraphQL
│   ├── web3/           # EVM chains, DID, tokens
│   └── legacy/         # REST/SOAP wrapper
├── docs/               # Mintlify documentation source
├── rfcs/               # Request for Comments
├── examples/           # Example applications
└── benchmarks/         # Performance benchmarks

Project Status

NTL is in Phase 0: Foundation — specification development and documentation. See the roadmap for details.

Contributing

We welcome contributions from anyone, anywhere. See CONTRIBUTING.md and our contribution guide.

NTL is built on the Ubuntu philosophy — "I am because we are."

Built by The Bundu Foundation

NTL is stewarded by The Bundu Foundation, an open source foundation building infrastructure for African markets and beyond.

Entity	Role
The Bundu Foundation	Owner and steward
Nyuchi Web Services	Engineering, reference implementation
Nyuchi Africa	Core maintainer
Mukoko Africa	Core maintainer
SiafuDB	Companion storage layer
Mukoko	Application platform

License

Apache 2.0 — see LICENSE.