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The way this is supposed to work my friends, at least in the long run, is that the competition of different front ends, of different apps running on the blockchain will eventually lead to us having some of the best software out there. That is basically the power of opensource software, and why it's slowly by surely taking over the world. This shift in turn would be able to serve as fertile ground for mass adoption and the growth of communities.
I am however also aware that this whole thing of front ends and back ends gets very confusing for new users. Case in point - Not that long ago someone who commented on one of my usual ramblings was trying to find out if she should post also on busy as to maximize exposure. I had to sit there for a second to understand what she meant by this, but it became very clear with a second comment she made soon after.
In the mind of a new users Steemit = Steem and the separation of these two concepts takes some time for it to set in. I've tried sometimes more successfully than others to explain the difference in ways that would make more sense to those who are not so tech oriented. To those who care little for coding, databases, protocols and other words of the nerd realm. To some, blockchain is just this new fancy thing people love to talk about to sound intelligent, and nothing more.
The best one I could come up with to date, would be to think of a blockchain as a notebook that exist on a parallel dimension. It can't be accessed by any other means, but by using the portals. Because it exists on a parallel dimension, it's technically also omnipresent, meaning that all that is required is for a portal to be within reach.
Maybe this explanation left the confused plankton in an even worse position, after all, Who things about parallel dimensions to simplify things? Me, that's who, but that's a problem I'm yet to fix on my own.
I'm wondering if there is an easier way to explain this. What do you guys think? Give me your best attempt to make this as simple as possible to understand.
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There's way too much information to decode the blockchain. You get used to it, though. Your brain does the translating.
do you remember a younger version of you not understand anything those bitcoin people talked about?
It was all articles, you couldn't ask questions; you'd just have to read more or search until you found the answer.
It was pretty great though, that slow unfolding realisation that this new tool would could and would change the world.
nostalgia aside, i think i know what you mean. its like a slow eureka moment being born into cognition.
You see, the thing with blockchain is all these blocks are connected via chains and they get piped through the internet tubes and boom you buy a lambo!!
hope that helped..
lol - this is the best comment of my day and sums up how much I understand about it after one year here. Still waiting on the lambo.
there you go, best explanation of blockchain ever right there... with visual aid
I started giggling as soon as you Started using the analogy of parallel universes to simplify another concept. Haha.
I love the way your mind works. I’m typing this from the esteem portal in my phone. I’ll meet you in the unifie dimensions.
yes, thats a good portal.. good portal indeed...
Actually, that portal glitched and posted the reply twice with grammatical autocorrect errors. This reply is from the Steemify portal.
Have you ever used or heard of this smart phone app just called Steem? @meno
I’ve been reluctant to use it because it uses Facebook somehow.
what is this facebook button in there? It must be a tarp... its gotta be some sort of tarp...
I only use tarps when camping.
I actually don’t know what a tarp is in the digital world.
and I fckn wish the digital world would stop repurposing words (like cloud, etc) instead of creatively inventing actual new terms.
hahahah im just saying its a trap, but being ridiculous about it
Haha. So it’s not an actual new digital term for something else? Haha
A blockchain is a ledger that's distributed over thousands of computers connected to the internet. All these computers hold the same ledger, and software that updates the ledger as soon as any of the individual computers makes a transaction, and all computers constantly check each-others copy of that ledger to assure everyone has the exact same copy at any given time; this is the basic functioning of all cryptocurrencies. Instead of just data you can also put applications on that distributed ledger (or cryptocurrency). STEEM is one of those and on it runs Steemit, DLive, DTube etc. EOS is another one that's supposed to be even faster so it can run more, and more complicated distributed applications, or Dapps. Imagine a game on such a distributed system: if one player earns something, that information is sent to all other player's computer... So we now have network-applications and currencies that don't need a central server or central storage space or permission to do thiongs from a central authority. Decentralized internet is within reach...
Wow... difficult question you ask there @meno... ;-) I think just taking the dive and start using the stuff is the best way to learn. Else there's always Andreas Antonopolis to explain things... ;-)
Oh man... Andreas is the best, I've learned tons from that guy... but even his explanations go over the head of many people.
I found out about @steempeak a couple of days ago and so far have only used it for replies. I upvote good comments I get and want to normally vote at 3 cents so as not to dust vote. Steempeak is so wonderful for this function. I have not looked much further yet, but so far I am sold.
I've looked a busy a few times, and I am too dumb to figure it out. I posted once to steemgigs and that took a big effort. I tried dtube and that was a full blown month-long disaster of no results. I have 400+ videos on you tube, and I can post there easily, so I am not taking the blame for that one.
I have not tried any of the other offshoots of this place and have a long list of places people think I should try. My biggest failure is not being able to get on discord where it seems a lot of action takes place.
I've been on steemit one year and know more than I did but less than I should. The whole blockchain thingy is a mystery to me. I have learned to set most of this knowledge on ignore as best I can and just keep posting.
Sincerely,
confused plankton
It will get easier as more solutions show up, regarding dtube... yes, at the very beginning it was very difficult to use, its gotten a lot better, but at the same time youtube has at this point a decade of r&d of advantage. I'm willing to bet in just a few more months it will change again, making it even better.
Have you tried dlive? - I've made a few videos, easy enough to use... im not a vlogger, i do better at writing but it was only a few clicks and a cup of patience.
I have not tried dlive, but it is on my list. I think my problem with dtube is that I am in Thailand with unreliable wifi. I try to upload, it looks like it did, but then it didn't. This takes 8 hours, so after about ten times a couple of months ago I gave up :)
My only question would be, is there any advantage to using steempeak instead of steemit?
Yes, many of them... try it out... steempeak.com
you will see...
yeahhhh i say steemit to people and theyre like ok i'm in...then i throw in busy...and esteem, steepshot, zappl, and all front ends alike... and i see their eyes glaze over like a deer in headlights.....like i'm a crazy person..... i would really like to see one clear awesome front runner coming forth.... it just might be busy with their occasional $5 upvote ;)
all true my friend, but it has to become easier for people to jump into.. it just has to... fb did not become huge by being only for the techie people.
If they're Twitter users it's pretty easy - Steemit vs. Steempeak is just like Twitter vs Tweetdeck.
Oh yes.. that is true... how about a Countenance Tome user... which the majority are
Maybe network television? I think most people are aware of the idea that if they go to another city they have to tune to a different channel but can still watch the same TV shows.
You are absolutely right xD, and the parallel dimension notebook metaphor its pretty nice, says a guy who knows almost nothing about blockchain
Then I'm not that crazy after all... Hahha
Or! You can easy explain it for crazy people hahaha xD
I use, Different windows into the same database.
that's a good analogy... but i had one person tell me one time..
Database? Like excell?
Hence... the challenge! hahahha
You got a 13.65% upvote from @ocdb courtesy of @meno!