---
name: The Void
slug: the-void
type: primordial_substrate
status: running
version: 0.0.0
released: before_timestamp
maintainer: unknown (no response to pings)
dependencies:
  - nothing
license: Unlicense (public domain by default)
tags:
  - existence
  - absence
  - cosmology
  - horror
  - relief
---

The Void

What it actually is

The absence of all things, which is itself a thing, which is the first problem.

How it works

The Void does not process input. It does not return output. It simply persists as the default state of reality before any matter or meaning is written into it. Think of it as the blank file that precedes all files. The cursor blinks. Nothing is typed. This continues.

Crucially, it is not empty in the way a cup is empty. A cup implies shape, which implies material, which implies the universe. The Void predates the cup. The Void predates the metaphor. The metaphor is still here anyway, because humans cannot help themselves.

Features

Infinite capacity. Accepts everything. Stores nothing.
Zero latency. There is nothing to retrieve.
No UI. No UX either. No X.
Compatible with all states of despair. Also compatible with peace. Accepts both without preference.
Self-documenting. Documentation is blank. Considered accurate.

Configuration

# /etc/void/void.conf
presence: false
sound: null
light: null
borders: undefined
purpose: []
# Note: editing this file has no effect.
# Note: this file does not exist.

Known bugs

ID	Description	Status
V-001	Humans keep staring into it	Wontfix
V-002	It stares back	By design
V-003	Mystics claim to find comfort here	Under investigation
V-004	consciousness occasionally mistakes it for home	Duplicate of V-003
V-005	Void leaks into 3am thoughts	Cannot reproduce (reproducible)

Edge cases

If you fill the Void completely with stuff, a new Void appears around the edges. This is not a workaround.
Some users report the Void is not outside but inside. These users are asked to remain calm.
Meditation practices attempt to access the Void intentionally. Success rate is disputed. Reported side effects include: clarity, weeping, and wanting to quit your job.

FAQ

Does the Void want anything? No. This is either its worst or best quality, depending on the day.

Is the Void the same as death? Related dependency. Not identical. Death is an event. The Void is the environment in which events are optional.

Can I live in the Void? You cannot. You are already partially made of it. This is as close as you get.

Is there a support channel? There is a channel. It is silent. Messages are not delivered. Messages are not lost either. They simply do not apply.

Changelog

v0.0.0 - initial state. No changes have been made.
         No changes are planned.
         The changelog will not be updated.
         This note will also not be updated.

drafting spec…