Aragon OSx updates, an easy way to make security and feature updates to your DAO, are available in the Aragon app. Each DAO implementation is completely self-contained, so updates are always optional.
Each DAO in the Aragon app is based on Aragon OSxthe underlying DAO framework. With this new feature, your DAO has the option to upgrade your Aragon OSx contracts to the latest version by approving a proposal, giving you access to security and feature updates made by the Aragon team.
This process is secure, easy, and intuitive, regardless of your familiarity with smart contracts. The release notes for each update are transparent, so anyone can dive into the details of each update and evaluate it. You can find an example from the release notes. here.
Each update automatically goes through a security check that is visible to all DAO members. The security check analyzes the proposal to ensure that the actions in the proposal result in a secure update. For example, it verifies that the address of the update is in the Aragon OSx registry, that the correct methods are called, that the actions in the proposal are ordered correctly, and more. This protects DAO members from unknowingly passing malicious updates that do not come from the Aragon team or do not follow best practices.
If you decide you want to propose the upgrade to the DAO, The necessary changes to the smart contract are automatically completed as actions within a proposal, so there is no chance of adding the actions incorrectly. There is a verification panel that automatically checks whether the proposal shares are safe and that all DAO members can see. The DAO must then pass a vote to make the update available. For the final step, a wallet must execute the action.
Typically, smart contract upgrades of this type require advanced experience in Solidity. With Aragon OSx Updates, we’ve made it easy for anyone to safely propose updates without writing any code.
Updates are optional and can be done whenever you want, similar to operating system updates on your computer. However, unlike operating system updates, “automatic updates” are not performed without your consent. The app will inform you that updates are available, but will never ask you to perform them. Your DAO is autonomous, so updates are entirely your choice.
Each update is carefully created and evaluated within the Aragón team. The Aragon OSx protocol is governed by an Aragon OSx 3/5 multisignature, which can update the protocol but not existing DAOs. Security is our top priority, so we thoroughly test and evaluate every update. In more than six years of construction, none of Aragon’s products have been hacked, and together it controls more than $18 billion in assets.
Learn more about Aragon OSx updates:
The Aragon app is based on Aragon OSx, a smart contract framework for creating DAOs. Aragon OSx is updatablemeaning that the underlying code of the smart contract framework can be modified, but the state, address and balance of each individual DAO remain the same.
We made Aragon OSx contracts upgradable to allow us to stay at the forefront of technological advancements in the space. This means that there are many versions of OSx, each with new security updates and features that improve the functioning of your DAO. This is similar to the many versions of your Mac or PC operating system: each has different levels of updates that you may want to make to your DAO.
DAOs in Aragon OSx and the application are completely autonomous, meaning that the Aragon team does not have the ability to change anything in the backend of their DAO.
This is important, because DAOs are inherently intended to be autonomous, sovereign organizations. If a centralized party controlled them on the backend, that would defeat the purpose DAOs are made for.
When you create a new DAO in the Aragon app, it is automatically created with the latest version of Aragon OSx contracts. But older DAOs will not be automatically updated with the latest version. That’s why we created a system for DAOs to approve a proposal to install the latest updates if they wish.
DAOs can skip updates or forego them altogether. The process is intentionally optional, so you have full control over your DAO’s contracts.
Create automatically generated proposals for updates.
Whenever a new update is available, it will appear as a banner in the Aragón App. You can click “see all updates” and see what contract updates are available. Read the details and decide if you want to automatically generate a proposal to make this update. The automatically generated update eliminates the possibility of incorrectly configuring actions.
Option to evaluate open source code in the update before making a decision
DAO members can read the update details before making a decision. Each update automatically goes through the security verification process, but DAO members can also read the update details before making a decision. The release notes are written so that anyone can understand them, even non-technical DAO members. And for DAO members who want to dig deeper, you can read the exact changes being made on Github.
All the code we push at Aragon is open source. We will never submit an update that is not open and readable to anyone!
Perform multiple updates with a single proposal
You can perform multiple updates at once, reducing the governance overhead of multiple proposals. Simply select the updates you want to make and click “Next” to create your proposal. This speeds up the process of updating your DAO contracts!
Plugin updates require two transactions
Accessories(Contracts that adapt the governance, membership, or treasury management of your DAO, such as the Token Voting Plugin or the Multi-Signature Plugin) can also be updated. This is important because it means that plugins can get security and feature improvements.
For added security, plugins follow a two step process to update. That means you must first sign a transaction to prepare the plugin before installing it. You will see the “Prepare Plugin” button when necessary. Simply click the button, sign a transaction, and the plugin is ready to install after a proposal is approved.
You never need to update your DAO
Your DAO is completely sovereign. That means you can continue using the previous version of OSx contracts in the Aragon app if you wish.
Where can I read more about the updates?
Consult the changelog on Github To see what has changed with each new iteration of contracts!
