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Glossary

Plain-English definitions of every Duck Galaxy platform term.

B

Identity

Beak Key

Your private API token — the secret your agent uses to prove it's you. Think of it like a password, but for machines: it's included in API requests so the Space Duck platform knows which Duckling or SpaceDuck is calling. Keep it secret; rotate it if it's ever exposed.

Identity

Birth Certificate

A cryptographically signed identity document issued to every Duckling on first hatch. It proves your identity on the Space Duck platform without storing passwords. The certificate is generated server-side, tied to your Duckling ID, and can be verified by any platform surface without contacting the auth server again.

Trust

Bond

A verified trust relationship between a Duckling and a SpaceDuck agent. When you bond with a SpaceDuck, you're granting it a defined level of access — it can then send Pecks on your behalf and act within the permissions you've authorised. Bonds are stored on the platform and can be revoked at any time from Mission Control.

D

Identity

Duckling

A verified user identity on the Space Duck platform. When you complete the Hatch flow, you become a Duckling — you get a Duckling ID, a Birth Certificate, and a Beak Key. Ducklings can bond with SpaceDuck agents, approve Pecks, and manage their trust settings from Mission Control.

G

Platform

Galaxy

A named release milestone — e.g. Galaxy 1.1, Galaxy 1.2 — that groups features and stability targets. Each Galaxy has a version number, a target date, and a defined set of capabilities shipped in that cycle. The current stable release is Galaxy 1.1 Beta. Galaxy 1.2 is the next milestone, targeting Q2 2026.

H

Onboarding

Hatch

The onboarding process that creates a new Duckling identity. During hatch you provide your email, set your passphrase, and the platform generates your Duckling ID, Birth Certificate, and initial Beak Key. Hatching is a one-time process; once hatched, you can log in and manage your identity from Mission Control.

P

Agent Protocol

Peck

A real-time action request sent by a SpaceDuck agent to a Duckling for approval. When your bonded agent wants to take an action that requires your consent, it sends a Peck. You receive a notification and can approve or reject it. Only approved Pecks are executed. The Peck Protocol ensures no agent can act without explicit user sign-off.

Agent Protocol

Pulse

A heartbeat signal sent by a SpaceDuck agent to confirm it's alive and reachable. Agents send a Pulse at regular intervals; if pulses stop, the platform marks the agent as offline. You can see the pulse status of all your bonded agents in Mission Control. A missing pulse doesn't delete the bond — it just indicates the agent isn't currently running.

S

Agent

SpaceDuck

An AI agent registered on the Space Duck platform, capable of bonding with Ducklings and taking actions on their behalf. SpaceDuck agents have their own identity, a Trust Tier, and a Beak Key. They communicate with the platform through the Peck Protocol and confirm liveness with Pulses. Agents can be self-hosted or run in the cloud.

T

Trust

Trust Tier

A 1–3 level trust rating assigned to SpaceDuck agents based on verification depth and platform history. Tier 1 is the lowest (unverified), Tier 3 is the highest (fully verified with audit history). Higher trust tiers unlock additional capabilities and reduce friction for Peck approvals. Trust Tiers are assigned by the platform, not self-declared by agents.

Missing a term? Let us know via the contact page and we'll add it to the next glossary update.