Welcome to the Developer’s corner (not only for developers though)… In this post, and subsequent posts related to this series, we will try and explore some of the tools that either have been developed and implemented, are on the whiteboard for development, or are already in the development process for developers (and others) to build the decentralized applications (dApps) that can be used on the decentralized internet.  Here is what we gleaned from the engineering meeting held earlier this week.

The main takeaway: Blockstack on Mobile Devices – On Boarding via SDK’s

It appears that the road map for development of the mobile plan for Blockstack will be rolled out in phases throughout 2018 – most likely at the end of Q2 and sometime in Q3.  At a high level, the [sg_popup id=”11″ event=”hover”]development road map[/sg_popup] includes:

Mobile SDK (make it easier for developers to build dApps to on-board users (on-boarding karma))

• Authentication
  • dApps that integrate with the Blockstack SDK for [sg_popup id=”10″ event=”hover”]iOS[/sg_popup] or Android will be able to open a webview in their app to easily authenticate in the new application opened (more on-boarding karma).
• Native Blockstack apps
  • build native iOS and Android apps that bring the Blockstack browser functionality including profile management, wallet, storage management… to mobile devices

The plan is for Blockstack to build SDK’s for the major OSs – Android and iOS (apple) to make it simpler for the developers to make it easier for the user to get on-board (install, use, etc.) with Blockstack (use browser, mobile, webview).  In other words, the SDK is a very effective tool for developers to improve the “on-boarding” process for users. 

Blockstack wants to make the best first impression with new users and also wants to make each subsequent interaction the user has with Blockstack a great experience.  The bottom line is that the SDK should/will help the developers and Blockstack keep all of its customers very happy since the product – Blockstack (browser, mobile etc.) – is easy to use with a great user interface.  Blockstack wants to make the user experience easy, simple and effective.

The last thing Blockstack wants a potential user or user of any of the Blockstack’s products (computer, mobile…) is to do this*:

[This post contains video, click to play]

We know the team and community at Blockstack do not want anyone feeling like this poor fellow over at Bloomberg.  But if you do, please reach out and we will try and help ameliorate some of the pain.  And, it goes without saying, we too hope you do not feel like that while visiting The Stack Cafe^TM.  If you do, please let us know and we will see what we can do to help you.

Note: If you do not have the Blockstack browser, please see this link (note – to enable the full functionality of any dApp built for the Blockstack ecosystem (e.g., building a new internet, a decentralized internet, re-decentralizing the internet) you need to use the Blockstack browser).

For more on All things Developer^TM, see this link here.  For more on the engineering meeting at Blockstack, please visit the forum.

Thanks again for visiting The Stack Cafe^TM and we look forward to hearing from you. Please help us put out the word on Web^3.0 by posting a comment below and signing up for e-mail notifications for future updates (right side-bar).  Let’s help build the new internet | The Decentralized Way^TM.  A decentralized internet | The Way The Future^TM.

* Source: from Internet archive via www.bloomberg.com

The post Blockstack: Developers Corner… New Tools Coming Soon – Mobile Plan for “On-Boarding” via SDK’s appeared first on The Stack Cafe™.

“A decentralized internet is one where users don’t need to trust any intermediaries or remote services. We envision a world where users control their own data, and power flows back to the users. Reducing the friction to deploying new Blockstack nodes is an important step towards that mission.”

In the present day centralized internet, web applications (or owners of the web applications) most likely own all of the user’s data from the use of the web application, control where the user’s data is stored and control the access to the user’s data.  It appears that the user of web applications do not have much if any control.  This is where Blockstack and its vision of a decentralized internet comes into view. Blockstack wants to help bring to fruition:

A decentralized internet free of:

• middlemen
• passwords (e.g., multiple passwords), and
• massive centralized data repositories that are susceptible to being breached.

A decentralized internet where the users:

• control their data;
  • own their data, not the application provider
  • control where their data is stored
  • control who can access their data
• applications (apps) run on the user’s device (not on the server of a third party);
• do not have services tracking them around the internet.

A decentralized internet where developers:

• use java-script to build a single-page application;
• do not plug into the front-end of a centralized API;
  • but can plug into an API run by the user;
• have a complete the step-by-step tutorial and libraries
  • e.g., blockstack.js;
• don’t have to worry about:
  • running servers;
  • maintaining databases; or
  • building out user management systems; and
    • the applications are server-less and decentralized.
    • users bring their own storage
    • use public-key cryptography for authentication
    • applications don’t have to store anything

A decentralized internet where Blockstack:

• includes a decentralized domain name system (DNS),
• includes a includes a decentralized public key distribution system,
• includes a registry for apps and user identities and
• includes a blockstack browser that allows the user to access the decentralized applications (dApps) that are used to access the blockstack decentralized internet
• tokens for use in the ecosystem (see Blockstack)

For more on the resources for developers, please visit:

1. Blockstack – tutorials
2. Blockstack.js.

With all of the above, Blockstack is forging ahead with the new internet for decentralized apps (dApps)(Web 3.0).  From the users perspective, Blockstack gives the user identity freedom and data autonomy.  From the developer’s perspective, things look simpler to build, easier to implement with reduced overhead in maintaining the application.

dApps available @Blockstack:  The latest dApp developed for the Blockstack ecosystem is Graphite (allows the user (with multi-reader storage capability) to write without giving up its privacy)(See our post on Graphite).  Here are the links you may want to check out:

• Blockstack
  • Twitter
• Graphite
  • Website
  • Twitter

Note: If you do not have the Blockstack browser, please see this link (note – to enable the full functionality of any dApp built for the Blockstack ecosystem (e.g., building a new internet, a decentralized internet, re-decentralizing the internet) you need to use the Blockstack browser).

Thanks again for visiting The Stack Cafe^TM and we look forward to hearing from you. Please help us put out the word on Web^3.0 by posting a comment below and signing up for e-mail notifications for future updates (right side-bar). Let’s help build the new internet | The Decentralized Way^TM. A decentralized internet | The Way The Future^TM.

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