Blockstack is a platform for decentralized, server-less applications. Building on Blockstack starts with single-page applications built in Javascript that are downloaded onto user devices. Developers plug into blockstack.js, which provides API’s for authenticating the user, grabbing application data from the user, and storing new application data with the user (encrypted and backed up to cloud storage). The blockchain is utilized to maintain a cross-application identity system, securely mapping user IDs to usernames, public keys, and data storage URIs. Developers don’t have to worry about running servers, maintaining databases, or building out user management systems, and decentralized, server-less applications can be built more simply than their traditional counterparts.
Rising Above_ Dubai Floods and the Fortitude of Dubai International Airport.pdf
Decentralized Server-less Applications with Blockstack at AllThingsOpen
1. Building a decentralized internet
Decentralized, Server-less Applications
with Blockstack
All Things Open, October 2016
2. Building a decentralized internet
About Me
1. Core Contributor for the Blockstack open source project
2. Co-founder of Blockstack Inc (a Blockstack company)
3. President Emeritus, Princeton Entrepreneurship Club
4. Inductee, Forbes 30 Under 30
5. Author, several crypto libraries
twitter: @ryaneshea
4. Building a decentralized internet
Over time the internet became highly centralized
1. Blind trust in others
2. No ownership of data
3. Bad for innovaMon
4. Bad for security
5. Building a decentralized internet
The Benefits of decentralization
For users:
1. OpMons
2. Availability
3. Savings
4. InfoSec
For developers & society:
1. Inclusion
2. InnovaMon
3. Independence
6. Building a decentralized internet
…but decentralized apps are hard to build
1. Complexity
2. Security
3. Scalability
14. Building a decentralized internet
Blockstack makes building decentralized apps easy
Without Blockstack With Blockstack
Servers to deploy and maintain Server-less, just publish code
Databases to set up and maintain Users bring their own cloud storage
IdenMty management systems to build IdenMty naMvely built-in
Payment systems to build out Payments naMvely built-in
15. Building a decentralized internet
We solved key problems over 2+ years of PhD-level engineering
Jan 16 Jul 16Jul 15Jan 15Jul 14
Identity Identity Naming
Identity
Naming
Identity
Auth
Naming
Identity
Auth
Storage
The core “kernel” has already been built and deployed
16. Building a decentralized internet
Blockstack Core handles the complexity
{ Authentication
Storage
Identity
Naming
Blockchain
App AppApp
17. Building a decentralized internet
Our community has expertise in security, distributed
systems, and UX
18. Building a decentralized internet
Our tech has been thoroughly vetted
Blockstack: A Global Naming and Storage System Secured by Blockchains
USENIX Annual Technical Conference (ATC), June 2016
Bootstrapping Trust in Distributed Systems
USENIX ;login: 2016
Extending ExisKng Blockchains with Virtualchain
Distributed Cryptocurrencies and Consensus Ledgers (DCCL), July 2016
20. Building a decentralized internet
Growth of online developer community
0
350
700
1050
1400
06/29/15
07/13/15
07/27/15
08/10/15
08/24/15
09/07/15
09/21/15
10/05/15
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11/02/15
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11/30/15
12/14/15
01/03/16
01/17/16
01/31/16
02/14/16
02/28/16
03/13/16
03/27/16
04/10/16
04/24/16
05/08/16
05/22/16
06/05/16
06/19/16
07/03/16
07/17/16
07/31/16
08/14/16
08/28/16
Slackcommunity
members
Join Blockstack Slack - chat.blockstack.org
21. Building a decentralized internet
Growth of in person developer community
1,816
members
6
interested
14
Meetups
14
cities
7
countries
22. Building a decentralized internet
Growth of in person developer community
0
300
600
900
1,200
March April May June July August
1,136
708
543
340
156
50
Meetupgroup
members
23. Building a decentralized internet
Value capture will move down the software stack
TCP/IP, HTTP, SMTP
SOFTWARE PROVIDERS
FACEBOOK, TWITTER,
AMAZON, ETC.
MINERS, EXCHANGES
DECENTRALIZED
APPLICATIONS
BITCOIN, ETHEREUM,
AND OTHER PROTOCOL
TOKENS
More info: https://www.usv.com/blog/fat-protocols
- 0%
- 100%
0% -
100% -
24. Building a decentralized internet
iOS and Android
made native apps easy
(UI components live on your device)
Blockstack
makes server-less apps easy
(UI components & data live on your device)
Blockstack
App Store