HAF stands for Hive Application Framework. It's the new framework software we've developed to make it easier to create high-performance Hive-based apps.
The block explorer is being created for several reasons: 1) as a further way of testing HAF itself to look for any improvements we should make, 2) to provide a relatively light weight block explorer for API node operators (the major cost is the storage for the HAF database itself and they will already be paying that cost), and 3) to provide an open-source block explorer that is easily extensible for 2nd layer apps (2nd layer apps will likely want unique block explorer features specific to their functionality).
This is certainly good for developers, but from the average end-user perspective, will this be more useful, more informative, or simply better in any aspect than Hiveblocks?
Of course I am talking about only the block explorer itself. Applications built on HAF probably will be better, because it is designed for high-performance Hive-based applications.
Hiveblocks is a bit legacy. The developer isn't really involved with hive any more and it generates no revenue so I'd be concerned about it going away. I have no specific information on this however.
It's also closed source so app developers can't extend it.
more search queries possible... things like that
So it is somewhat more detailed, and it will be easier to look for blockchain transactions in general. Good to know. Thank you.