And, in order to have applications to use/run on the ecosystem, you need an idea for a decentralized application (e.g., P2P Encrypted Messaging, Community Messaging, Word Processing, Cryptocurrency Portfolios…) and then a developer to build the decentralized application.  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 created for developers (and others) to build the decentralized applications (dApps) that can be used on the decentralized internet.  

To begin with, Blockstack is probably a developer’s dream come true.  By that, we mean Blockstack is making it a lot easier for developers to build decentralized applications for use on the Blockstack ecosystem. 

How did Blockstack make it a little easier, well they setup the kitchen (architecture and infrastructure) with almost everything the cook (developer) needs to create the dish (decentralized application – dApp).  The kitchen – Blockstack’s ecosystem, includes (among many other items):

• a decentralized domain name system (DNS)(it is called BNS)
• a decentralized public key distribution system
• a registry for applications (dApps)
• a registry for user identities
• a decentralized storage system
• tokens…

so the cook (developer) can bake (build) some wonderful creations (dApps).  Below, you will find a couple of different diagrams (e.g., stack for decentralized applications & how blockstack works) laying out the major components – blockchain, virtualchain, routing layer and storage layer – of the Blockstack architecture:

It is all there – the Blockstack infrastructure described above, provides a lot of the tools that a developer might need to build decentralized applications for use on the Blockstack ecosystem.  And, by providing some of the tools needed to build decentralized applications, Blockstack has enabled the developer to more easily build a dApp.  For example, the 

• developer can use java-script (and libraries) to build a single page application(s)
  • that does not plug into the front-end of a centralized API
    • but one that plugs into an API run by the user (as the API is pre-built and runs on the user’s device)
• developer does not have to worry about
  • running servers
  • maintaining databases
  • building out user management systems because:
    • the applications are server-less and decentralized
    • users bring their own storage
    • user/applications use public-key cryptography for authentication
    • the developer’s of the application and the application itself do not have to store anything

To make it even easier, Blockstack also includes libraries and step-by-step tutorials (e.g., identity, storage, tokens (coming soon)) for the developer, hacker, hobbyist and others to build decentralized applications. 

All of this looks so good that we might try and build a decentralized application too.  All kidding aside (not really though), it looks like Blockstack has put forth a complete package so developing decentralized applications should be a lot easier.  In addition, Blockstack has put together a great team in case a question should arise.   And, to top it off, everything Blockstack ecosystem is an open source community project.  So, not only is Blockstack there to help, the open source community of developers, hackers, users and supporters, and others  – already participating in the environment –  are helping out too (e.g. forums, meet-ups, code/programing feedback, testing…).  

Please find below, some links that might be most helpful as you learn more about Blockstack’s tools for developing a decentralized application for use on Blockstack.

Resources re: Blockstack and dApps

• Blockstack
• @blockstack
  • @blockstackapps
• Developers
  • Introduction
    • Papers
    • Videos
    • Tutorials
      • (e.g., todo and multi-player storage)
    • Installation
    • Github
      • Javascript
      • Core API
• Blog
• Frequently Asked Questions

And, if all of the above wasn’t enough, Blockstack and the Blockstack Signature fund have sprinkled a little powdered sugar on top with the dApp bounties – Blockstack: $50,000 Bounty for Messaging Applications.  Bounties – One aspect of promoting the Blockstack ecosystem is to provide a platform to help support the global community of developers, designers, and others to submit their ideas and products for a chance to win a prize (e.g., decentralized application(s), dApp, dApps on the Web 3.0).

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.

The post Blockstack: Developers Corner… 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.

The post Blockstack: A Quick Look … appeared first on The Stack Cafe™.