Catalyst Network
The Catalyst network is Decentraland's decentralized content delivery infrastructure. Multiple independent operators run Catalyst nodes that store and serve content.
Overview
The Catalyst network operates as a fully-meshed distributed system where nodes communicate directly with each other to synchronize content and maintain network health.
Catalyst Components
Each Catalyst node consists of:
Content Server
Purpose: Asset storage and retrieval
Stores and serves:
Scene definitions
3D models and textures
Audio files
Scripts
Avatars and wearables
API Reference: Catalyst API
Lambdas
Purpose: Serverless query functions
Provides queryable endpoints:
Entity searches
Profile queries
Content metadata
Deployment history
Lambdas run as separate services that query the Content Server's database.
Nginx
Purpose: Reverse proxy and load balancing
Routes requests to appropriate services:
Content Server for uploads
Lambdas for queries
Static asset serving
Content Deployment
Deployment Flow
Deployment Steps
Compile: CLI bundles scene using build-ecs
Sign: Creator signs deployment with wallet
Upload: CLI uploads to any Catalyst node
Validate: Catalyst validates signatures and content
Store: Content saved to storage
Propagate: Event published to deployment queue
Process: Backend services process new content
Content Validation
Catalyst validates:
Digital signatures (ownership proof)
Content hashes (integrity)
Parcel permissions (land ownership)
File size limits
Content policy compliance
Deployments Pipeline
When content is deployed, multiple systems react:
Asset Processing
Triggered Services:
Asset Bundle Converter - Creates optimized bundles
Profile Images Producer - Generates avatar thumbnails
Badges Processor - Checks deployment achievements
Listening Services
Services that monitor deployments:
Worlds - For world deployments
Comms Gatekeeper - For world voice config
Atlas Server - For map updates
Content Replication
Catalyst nodes replicate content to ensure availability:
Replication Strategy
Active Syncing: Nodes actively sync new deployments
Pull-based: Nodes fetch missing content on-demand
Gossip Protocol: Deployment announcements propagate
Content Addressing
All content is content-addressed:
Files identified by IPFS CID (Content Identifier)
Immutable once deployed
Deduplication automatic
Archipelago Workers (Comms)
Communications infrastructure runs alongside Catalyst:
Components
WebSocket Connector
Maintains client connections
Protocol handling
Connection authentication
API Reference: Archipelago Workers API
Archipelago Core
Island formation - Groups nearby players
Peer limits - Enforces max peers per island (typically 100)
Position updates - Broadcasts player positions
Message routing - Routes chat and emotes
Stats Service
Active user counts per scene
Connection statistics
Performance metrics
Blockchain Integration
Subgraph Indexer
Catalyst uses a dedicated indexer:
The Indexer indexes:
Land ownership (LAND NFTs)
Wearable & Emotes collections
Name registrations
NFTs transfers
Next Steps
Review Backend Services for service details
See Infrastructure for supporting systems
Check Architecture Overview for the complete picture
Last updated