Quick Start Guide

For Decision-Makers (5 minutes)

The Problem

Traditional resource coordination operates slower than modern challenges require. Crisis response takes months when days would serve better.

The Solution

Free Association enables automatic resource allocation proportional to recognition - no bureaucracy, no gatekeepers.

Key Benefits

• <48 hours from need to commitment (vs. 90+ days typical)

• >95% resources to mission (vs. ~70% after overhead)

• Real-time adaptation as circumstances evolve

Explore organizational pilots →

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For Technical Teams (5 minutes)

System Architecture

• Peer-to-peer network

• Published data: recognition weights, capacity, needs

• Distributed calculation

• Proportional allocation algorithm with constraint satisfaction

Core Algorithm

Recognition → Proportional Allocation → Constraint Satisfaction
Dynamic equilibrium: recomputes ~100-200ms per state change

Implementation

• Open source (AGPL-3.0)

• Browser-based reference implementation

• Protocol specification available

Development setup →

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For Researchers (5 minutes)

Mathematical Properties

• Proportional allocation: Allocations proportional to recognition

• Two-sided optimization: Satisfies both provider priorities and recipient preferences

• Dynamic equilibrium: Maintains instantaneous optimality as network evolves

• Constraint satisfaction: Respects capacity and need bounds

Key Formula

Allocation ∝ Recognition
A_i ∝ R_i / Σ R (proportional to recognition share)
Subject to: Σ A_i ≤ Capacity and A_i ≤ Need_i

Mathematical foundations →

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Three-Minute Concept

1. Recognition (Who contributes to your goals?)

Each entity allocates 100% recognition among contributors based on their contribution to goal realization.

2. Capacity & Needs (What can you offer? What do you need?)

Entities declare available resources and requirements.

3. Automatic Allocation

System calculates optimal distribution through two-sided optimization:

• Provider side: Allocate proportional to recognition of recipients

• Recipient side: Prefer sources they value most

• Constraints: Respect capacity limits and need bounds

• Updates: Real-time recalculation as network evolves

Result

Resources flow automatically to recognized partners based on actual need and contribution - no meetings, no applications, no bureaucracy.

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Next Steps by Role

Organizational Leaders:

• See use cases

• Join pilot program

• Contact coalition team

Technical Contributors:

• Development setup

• Review protocol

• Explore codebase

Researchers:

• Mathematical foundations

• Recognition

• Allocation