1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: performing, by a network node, distance-vector routing with one or more network neighbors to determine a network topology for a computer network; receiving a namespace-join message that specifies a publisher in the computer network that is to provide content objects for the namespace; constructing an acyclic graph that includes one or more publishers for the namespace, and includes one or more forwarder nodes that form network paths between the one or more publishers; and responsive to receiving an Interest message that specifies a name prefix associated with the namespace, forwarding the Interest message along the acyclic graph to one or more publishers associated with the namespace.