A lot has changed in the course of a week since @ned's announcement about laying off 70% of the Steemit, Inc team.
It is very uplifting to see different members of the community stepping up. This should give everyone confidence going forward about this blockchain. The people who are on here are top notch.
During Ned's livestream last week, he spelled out what his vision is and how Steemit strayed from that. Basically, the idea of handling development while also doing social media is too much. It becomes too broad to operate successfully.
Since that time, Steemit has looked at cutting other costs including how the data interacts with nodes. The conclusion is that switching to RocksDB is the best option both in the short and long term. This will help reduce costs while keeping them down.
There was a post put out about the progress along with some other updates.
https://busy.org/@ned/steemit-inc-blockchain-roadmap-and-cost-reductions
One interesting proposal that arose came from @blocktrades. The team there proposed the idea of handling the conversion to RocksDB for the Steemit team, thus allowing them to focus upon the development of SMTs. This is something that I felt was needed, getting others involved in the blockchain coding to help decentralize things.
It was presented to Ned who wanted it passed on to the community.
Here is the post that they put up about the proposal. Please give this a read and comment.
https://busy.org/@blocktrades/blocktrades-rocksdb-proposal-to-steemit
There is one thing missing from this entire equation: Steemit.com.
On the livestream last week, Ned made it clear that he is not going to be focusing upon the social media end of things. That means that Steemit.com is not going to get any updates and the Destiny project is shelved.
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There was a time when Steemit.com served a purpose. As the flagship application, this was the one that allowed the blogging platform to come into being. That time has passed. We now see a variety of other applications that not only serve the same function, but do it better with more features. Two that are garnering users are Busy.org and @steempeak. Both of these are better interfaces with a lot more features. In short, they provide a much better user experience.
Essentially, Steemit.com is competition for these applications. To survive, they charge a percentage of the payout for development. That is only fair and a good business model. Steemit.com does not meaning one gets all of the rewards. The challenge with this is, as we saw, at some point money is required.
Many proposed, including myself, of doing things to Steemit.com like charging a percentage or placing ads as a means to raise money. This is a failed idea since Steemit Inc is not going to be in the social media game. They need to figure out a business model that provides revenue without Steemit.com. It is time to put that to bed.
Thus, since Steemit.com is not going to be supported in the future, it is time for the community to move on. I suggest everyone reading this to give the two applications I mentioned a try. While the change can be a bit daunting at first because of a different layout, I think people will find a better experience on these applications.
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For mobile users, which admittedly I am not, there is @partiko and @esteem. Esteem does offer an interesting option since they are already running their own full node meaning they are decentralizing the ecosystem a bit more than everyone else.
The future lies on Steemit Inc working on the blockchain, hopefully with the input/assistance of other community members, while the applications provide the social media aspect of things. Our growth going forward will be due to the features of these applications and the creativity of the development teams.
I thank Steemit Inc for all they did including having Steemit.com. Without that interface, this blockchain would have died long ago. Nevertheless, in the course of progress, it is time to move on. There are much better options along with more important reasons.
Basically, I feel the community needs to focus upon moving away from Steemit Inc as much as it can. Certainly there is a major role for that organization to play yet we now realize how exposed we are when we give it too much power. Mass migration to other interfaces will assist in the transformation that is taking place.
Many non-technical people have asked how they can help out since the news broke last week. Here is a simple way to do it: support other interfaces.
They are the future of social media on the Steem blockchain.
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If you found this article informative, please give an upvote and resteem.
Like children growing up, users moving onto other interfaces is a sign of real maturity of the Steem ecosystem.
Posted using Partiko iOS
agree... just learnt more about this Steem blocjkchain, knowing other applications are built in it and I can login using the ID I used for Sttemit, coz its given me access to Steem ecosystem. Anyway.
I'm sorry, but I see these types of comments everywhere... I get that a lot of people have invested some decent amounts of cash into the platform, and in a sense that can be blinding.
This isn't like children of productive parents going out and making a mark in the world.
This is more like the children of dysfunctional parents are now in competition for the same resources as the parents, while claiming that the shared resources is their strength...
The interfaces might be maturing, but the core is rotting.
I think you are misunderstanding what decentralisation is about.There is nothing wrong with the core steem blockchain. Its running perfectly fine and you and I are using it right now. The API layer, above the blockchain, is currently too centralised and dependent on Steemit Inc. But this changing. SteemMonsters just moved into @anyx's full node. eSteem is running its own full node.
If Steemit Inc had disappeared last week it would have been a crisis. But it hasn't and is now focussed on bringing down costs of full nodes and core blockchain development. This is as it should be.
It is simply untrue that the children are in competition for the same resources as the parents. Steemit Inc is refocussing on core blockchain development and getting out of the way at the application layer (letting Steemit.com die) and doing improvements that allow greater decentralisation at the API layer.
I do understand what decentralization is about... and the issue is nothing to do with it.
The circumstance is that a strong foundation was built, then because everyone was benefiting, nobody did anything while the termites started coming in. Some people did try to point this out, and it was always an excuse to not consider it a problem.
Now, the structure of the house is rotting and the solution is to add more attachments to the house so that the load gets spread out.... there's still termites at the core, and since all extensions to that structure are connected. It becomes like trying to pretend there are no termites by just giving them more wood so the infestation doesn't appear as bad.
It is something of a shame really, there really was a great opportunity to build something great. Unfortunately, greed got in the way. Now, we get to witness this downward spiral.
5-10 articles a minute of mostly rubbish, often bot generated, now fewer, higher quality posts from real people.
But Steem is not just about posts. More importantly, it is about apps.
Have a look at Steem Monsters figures here https://beempy.com/steemmonsters
1 million games played in only 8 weeks with 3500 player and rising fast.
When the issues bottom line to not enough revenue to sustain the nodes, that's really irrelevant.
You know what you call it when you offset losses (or generate revenue) by putting the cost to newcomers?
PONZI SCHEME!!!!
That is the answer to the problems of the platform that I've seen repeated by many. Interestingly, ponzi schemes RARELY begin with the intent of becoming a scheme.
Ultimately, it's poor planning, poor decision making and poor implementation. So, NOW the solution is to cast a wider net... except that's not going to increase revenues, that will increase strain on the nodes... So then it becomes a push for a wider net and again and again until some of the decision makers are being given their perp walk.
Actually I am a legal expert on the difference between a Ponzi or Pyramid scheme and a legitimate business and Steem is most definitely the later. I was the General Counsel and main intellectual driver on this landmark case on the issue.
The solution when revenue drops because of outside forces is to cut costs, which is exactly what Steemit Inc is doing. It is cutting costs for EVERYONE who runs a witness or full node by moving to RocksDB etc.
Hi @apshamilton, bmanmcfly
I completly agree with you. It has been one week only since one bad news ha been announced and many are already coming to crazy fast conclusions. Many things may change within next months if not weeks.
We're facing some real challenge and the fact that development of Steemit is being pushed and focus is on cutting cost doesnt mean that Steemit is done.
Why can guarantee that similar issues with high costs will not be a common problem of other apps?
Yours
Piotr
Great article. steemit.com really is like an albatross around steem's neck. the quicker we make this transition the better. Steemit.com just started without announcement using 640px photos for all their posts (see https://steempeak.com/steemit/@jpphotography/did-steemit-inc-just-destroy-all-our-images) . This has to be the straw that breaks the camels back. It is like going back to 1990s. Even Instagram uses 1080px as a minimum for phone screens let alone desktop. For the moment steemitimages have not deleted the original images ; so it seems the other interfaces like steempeak can still reference them at higher resolutions .
I rarely use SteemIt.com.
Busy.org is my favourite but I also use eSteem for Linux.
I have also been accompanying the developments of Steeve.app
SteemIt has the worst interface of them all, in my opinion.
As I said in my post "A Letter To Ned" it isn't inspiring that the demo that was to prove what is possible is sinking. On top of this, there is a trust level having the creator of Steem in charge of login security. I have mentioned it before elsewhere, but I can't bring myself to use an app where they don't even say who they are or where they can be reached legally if they are careless with our keys, or worse, do something criminal. It does not inspire trust in me to hand those keys over to someone who demands they remain anonymous.
I might be willing to use another interface at some point if they conduct themselves with transparency and run their own node. As it is, there is nothing on the Busy site explaining who they are and can be found, nor if they run a node.
I've been testing a number of these platforms and like Steempeak the most. However, that site doesn't have a power down option, only a delegate option. I've since checked several other sites and only steemit.com has a power down option afaict. I find this alarming because if Steemit.com goes down, your funds are locked for as long as it takes to learn how to submit a manual blockchain transaction using the equivalent of DOS prompt. :(
I asked around and someone said steemworld allows for powering down. I did not check it out myself but there appears the option is out there.
Busy also allows it too.
At least we are protected on that end.
This brings up a very valid point that I have not heard mentioned.
The fact that Steemit is the only way to power down means that other applications need to find another way around it.
This is something else that needs to be on the to do list for outside development.
I've found busy.org has a power down option. Crisis averted... :)
I love Partiko and Busy apps. Maybe I should also try out Steempeak.
Posted using Partiko Android
I use esteem on my laptop and like it a lot. And do not forget about the ulog app and dtube. Hopefully they are here to stay.
These are trying times. I have not made very many posts on steemit in the last month or so, but I still use it for replying and wallet transactions etc. I guess that will have to change.
We need to do a lot of education if this is the path forward. I'm shocked how many people think 'Steemit' is all there is and they have no clue other apps show the same content only with a different layout/functionality. Will write a post about it myself the coming days - see what my readers are using :-)
Well said.
I have mentioned that in my posts before.
Learn how to use # busy.org
#partiko
#esteem has tea ways mobile and a pc user interface.
Posted using Partiko iOS
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"It Is Time To Stop Using Steemit.com"
Yes, exactly. A lot of people are left and leaving Steemit.
You don't need to tell me, I am also already stopping using it.
I am becoming more and more inactive on Steemit.
I am doing things like not writing a blog post for 9 days and so on.
But I am still using the Steem blockchain. Although not by/with eSteem or Partiko. The current version of Partiko Android is not even compatible with my smartphone (Huawei Ascend Y300).
I am mostly using Musing nowadays, which is a Q&A (Questions and Answers) platform on the Steem blockchain.
I can also suggest using Busy.org, but that is already mentioned by you and by @pouchon as well.
You talked me into it! Switched to busy.org. I have used this and enjoyed it in the past. Not sure why I didn't make the switch. Now I just wish this Steem blockchain would become more open sourced and decentralized going forward.
Thank you so much for participating the Partiko Delegation Plan Round 1! We really appreciate your support! As part of the delegation benefits, we just gave you a 3.00% upvote! Together, let’s change the world!
Correct me if I am wrong. But busy does not ask a beneficiary reward.
Esteem does!
Also another interesting project is @steeveapp (steeve.app).
Cheers,
Pete
As English is not my first language, and I am trying to buy moreSP.. What are you telling us? Do I have to stop to invest on SP? Do you think after this bear market, Steem price would recover? You look its future positive? Teach me in that I am confused of your position due to my language capability. I enjoy your post always. Thanks.
Posted using Partiko Android
Do not confuse steem and steemit.com.
When you buy STEEM, you are increasing your stake in the ecosystem which is all the applications on the steem blockchain. What I am referring to here is Steemit.com, the interface.
I see.. Thank you very much!
Posted using Partiko Android
hi @taskmaster4450
But what will happend with STEEM once it's locked on Steemit in form of SP? assuming that Steemit Inc would shut down?
Yours
Piotr
Very right, after Steemfest3 I discussion with attendees and also watching the video, it became clear to me that we are going to witness a much better decentralized Steem than ever.
We'll now have a choice to make from different interface to the blockchain and each interface will be in competition with each other to get more people interested in them.
The future is bright, and we should support it in whatever way we can.
I use a lot the steempeak and now I'm starting to use the steeve.app. We have a lot of different apps that are better than steemit.com. People just need to know them.
Cheers!
I just checked busy.org... and find things more clear, coz I had no idea I got messages and replies ...steemit never showed clear notifications. I am so disappointed that there are issues with this blockchain): ... I just joined like 10 days ago... anyway, atleast can read posts and write posts, I don't care about anything else right now. Its good that more cooler blogging application are built in STEEM though... any thanks for the useful info.
thanks for the post , now i know what significant on @ned announcement . I currently use partiko but still steemit to upload bundle of picture for my blogging . seem i also have to move on to use other alternative publisher
Posted using Partiko iOS
Avid steempeaker here.
It's a quaint little nostalgia trip to revisit steemit occasionally, but I wouldn't want to live there.
LOL Like going retro...like a drive in movie .
Progress is in the air and it is obvious steemit.com is not part of it.
I can second the recommendation to use @steempeak. It's by far the most functional interface for now and the small team behind it is actively working to keep things going forward.
The Steemit interface has one huge advantage:
I have to admit that in my testing the waters of other alternatives, I have found to enjoy using them much more. SteemPeak and Busy while on my laptop and partiko while mobile. They are truly a ways ahead of Steemit which is great although Steemit still has the brand advantage given its history.
Posted using Partiko iOS
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Great post. I have been using parkito a lot my self latley.
Posted using Partiko Android
Probably its a food thing going forward that Steemit.inc is not the main social media frontend to go to. I really like Steampeak and Steeve more than Steemit.
I hope that most activity in the future will be on the App side of Steem. Where specialited communities control there own ecosystem and therfore content. A good example is Steemhunt with its moderators who fight spam, plagiarism and abuse. If that system because more widespread over all Steem communities than there will be less complains about reward abuse and users gain more trust into the system.
Good post thanks for sharing!
Posted using Partiko Android
Which dApps have a usable wallet? Busy has one that I can see when logged in but if it has transfer capabilities, I can’t see it in my browser.
Posted using Partiko iOS
It does. Blue button, upper right "transfer".
Hmmm... No such button on my iPhone, will try from home tonight.
At home, I do have a blue transfer button. Cool.
I'm using partiko now. I haven't used steemit in months!
Posted using Partiko Android
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hi @taskmaster4450
Why would you stay that time has passed? Isn't still flagship application? I dont know much about busy and steempeak.com but I always thought that the biggest advantage of Steemit is it's community.
And this community seem to be way stronger than any other one I ever came across. Perhaps Im wrong and you're right. But I obviously hope it's the other way around and you're wrong :)
I wouldn't be surprissed if things would change rapidly soon. Ned is changing his vision a lot, plus he is under heavy pressure. Coming to such a conclusion one week after one annoucement is ... very fast conclusion.
Do you mind telling me, if posts and comments published on Steempeak are being visible on Steemit? And the other way around? Or trying those sites means that we need to start from the scratch? (that would be a huge turn-off for someone who already managed to build some strong follower base on Steemit).
And do steempeak use STEEM as a currency? Or also current SP would be worthless?
Yours
Piotr