[p2p-hackers] References for using hashes as unique identifiers?

[Mark S. Miller]

>On Tue, Feb 03, 2004 at 04:12:33PM +0200, Benja Fallenstein wrote:
>> does anybody know references for using cryptographic hashes as unique
>> identifiers for files in very large repositories (think all of the Web)?
>> The references I've found (e.g. Handbook of Applied Cryptography) don't
>> talk explicitly about that, but only about applications in message
>> authentication, and attacks related to that; of course that's related,
>> but it would be nice to know whether there are references from
>> cryptology talking explicitly about hashes as unique identifiers in very
>> large collections of messages.

I believe the concept originated at Xanadu around 1990 or so, but was never 
implemented or published. AFAIK, it was implemented for the first time at 
Electric Communities as the "Repository" -- a component of EC Habitats. This 
was perhaps around 1995. Jim McCoy then took the idea to MojoNation, which 
is how the rest of the world became exposed to it.

Of course, being an obvious idea, it may have been rediscovered many times, 
so it wouldn't surprise me if there were other independent historical 
sequences. If anyone knows any, I'd be curious to hear of them. Thanks.


-- 
Text by me above is hereby placed in the public domain

        Cheers,
        --MarkM