If crypto succeeds, it's not because it empowers better people, it's because it empowers better institutions. - Vitalik Buterin on forbes.com
Some may have jumped out of their seats after reading the title of my today's blog post.
How could she dare to argue that Steem wasn't decentralized!
Now here's my bold theory: The Steem blockchain is architecturally decentralized, but the way we use it is not. The options a regular user has (excluding blockchain developers for a second) to access, sort and display data being stored in the chain, are clearly limited and predetermined in a centralized way.
IMO as long as users are required to adapt the way the blockchain is used from a centralized authority, our doings can never be considered decentralized.
Chances to decentralize Steem are obvious, but it seems that not everybody wants them to take.
d(ecentralized)Apps built on Steem - do they even exist?
@surfermarly thinking out loud
What is a dApp?
As the concept is still in its infancy, there might not be only one definition of what a decentralized application is.
However, independently from the source you consider there are some features that are commonly used to describe a dApp:
- It's open source, being changes ideally be decided by consensus.
- It's decentralized, being all records of the app stored on a public and decentralized blockchain.
- It's incentivated, being validators of the blockchain rewarded with cryptographic tokens.
- It follows a specific protocol, such as PoW (Proof of Work) or PoS (Proof of Stake).
Now I'd like to direct your attention to point 1 on the list.
Changes on dApps being decided by consensus?
As far as I understand the current situation in the Steem network, consensus is only required on blockchain level, needing a new hardfork to be approved by 100% of the top 20 witnesses, for instance.
Wouldn't it be great to see updates on applications requiring a consensus as well?
Getting back to my initial theory, I think that there should be manifold options on how to use data from the Steem blockchain to make it become truly decentralized.
Why can't I sort and display the content the way I want? Why do I have to follow a predetermined algorithm? Doesn't such a standard remind us of Google and Facebook?
Wouldn't it be great to organize Steemit.com's starting page the way every user individually wants? Why do we even need a trending page that is equal to all of us?
I'm pretty sure that most of the discussions we have about content quality and excessive vote buying and its consequences would be obsolete if content could be structured and organized in a different (personalized) way.
Decentralization means that we - as members of this community - should have a choice.
Investment opportunity
Do you wonder how interesting it would be from an investment point of view to announce that Steem hosted the first truly decentralized social applications on a blockchain?
Wouldn't it be revolutionary to offer a social media app where users decide how they want it to look like on a daily basis, like a truly dynamic space that is in constant motion according to the community's input?
Wouldn't that be truly innovative?
I'm pretty sure that such a product could become a killer app, altering the whole crypto landscape.
And from a technical point of view, the applications that are currently running on the Steem blockchain are not even decentralized.
Why leave it to a centralized authority to decide on how we want this place to look like?
I wish I was a software developer or had enough money to hire one.
But hey, if you're a developer and read this: my idea has no copyright. Just remember me once you're rich, then you might want to invite me for a coffee or so...:-)
Much love,
Marly -
Steem Ambassador
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This blog was created in July 2016, aiming to provide thought-provoking content for open-minded people who go on adventure, step out of comfort zones and embrace the new.
Thanks for being part of the journey!
PS: All my blog posts are created and submitted via eSteem Surfer 1.1.12 - my favorite Steem desktop client that was developed by @good-karma's @esteemapp team. Check out their account for more information.
Original content. Quote found on quotefancy.com