My 2024 Journey: A Year of Reinvention on Hive đ
As I sit down to write this post, I can't help but marvel at how much has changed in just one year. 2024 has been a journey of endings and new beginnings, of tough decisions and exciting opportunities. Let me take you through my story of how a challenging year transformed into one of the most innovative periods of my time on Hive. â¨
Saying Goodbye to VIMM: A Bittersweet June đ
The story of 2024 really begins with one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. On June 8th, after six incredible years, we had to close VIMM's doors. As the lead developer who had been there since day one, watching our streaming platform go offline felt like saying goodbye to an old friend. We'd been through so much together â late-night coding sessions đģ, the infamous AWS catastrophe, countless community streams, and all those moments where our amazing community pulled together to keep the dream alive.
From Closure to Innovation: The Birth of VIMM 2.0 đą
But here's the thing about endings â they often spark new beginnings. In the weeks following VIMM's closure, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was still more to be done. This led to what I like to call my "mad scientist" phase â developing the VIMM 2.0 prototype. It became my playground for testing wild ideas and pushing the boundaries of what a Hive streaming platform could be. đŦ
I spent countless hours tinkering with features like Twitch integration, building new discovery systems, and crafting APIs that could connect with other Hive platforms. It wasn't just about creating a new platform; it was about exploring what was possible. đ ī¸
An Unexpected Plot Twist: The Dagamers Chapter đŽ
Sometimes the best opportunities come from unexpected places. As I was working on the VIMM 2.0 prototype, I found myself increasingly excited by what @ForeverAverage was doing with Dagamers. Their vision for streaming aligned perfectly with what I had been trying to achieve, but with an extra sprinkle of innovation â think actual loot drops for streamers (yes, really!), dual currencies, and some seriously cool anti-AFK mechanisms. âī¸
When the opportunity came to join forces with Dagamers, it felt like one of those "everything happens for a reason" moments. It was a chance to take everything I'd learned from VIMM and apply it in new, exciting ways. đ
Throughout this transformation, I've been incredibly fortunate to have @ForeverAverage in my corner. His perspective on the future of VIMM was eye-opening â seeing potential where I initially saw obstacles. It was his insight that helped crystallize the idea of taking VIMM in an open-source direction, transforming what could have been an ending into a new beginning for the entire Hive streaming ecosystem. đ¤
And speaking of incredible teammates, I have to shine a spotlight on @ddrfr33k, who's been there since the early days of VIMM. From tackling community challenges to managing project logistics, and everything in between, he was the glue that held so many pieces together. Our late-night planning sessions and problem-solving marathons were instrumental in shaping what VIMM became. đ
The Plot Thickens: VIMM's Open Source Evolution đ
As I worked on these projects, a new vision started taking shape â what if instead of building just one platform, we could create something that would enable dozens of streaming platforms on Hive?
This led to Proposal #320, transforming VIMM into an open-source framework. It's funny how things come full circle â what started as a single streaming platform is evolving into a foundation that could power an entire ecosystem of streaming services on Hive. đ
Now, as the lead developer working full-time on this vision, I'm not just coding a platform anymore; I'm helping build the future of streaming on Hive. Every line of code, every piece of documentation, and every development tool we create is another step toward making streaming on Hive accessible to everyone who wants to build something amazing. âĄ
Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter đ¯
As 2024 draws to a close, I find myself more excited than ever about what's coming next. The journey from running a streaming platform to creating tools that could power dozens of platforms has been unexpected, challenging, and absolutely thrilling.
To everyone who's been part of this journey â whether you were there during the original VIMM days, joined during the prototype phase, or are just getting excited about the open-source framework â thank you. Your support, feedback, and enthusiasm have made every twist and turn of this story worth it. đ
I can't wait to see what chapters we'll write together in 2025. After all, the best stories are the ones we create together, right? đĢ
I've shared my 2024 story on Hive - I'd love to hear about yours! How has your year been? What moments stood out for you in 2024? â¨