Microsoft, Azure, IoT, and Lisk at First Glance - Why I Can't Stop Looking Into It and a Shout Out to Stratis

Disclosure: I don't work for any company mentioned in this article. All ideas are my own based on my interpretation and understanding (right or wrong) of what I've read, watched, or have otherwise been a part of. I am not offering professional advice. I'm just sharing my thoughts.

The official Microsoft Azure blog leaves no room for doubt, Lisk is supported.

By night I'm a not so great Linux web front-end developer because it's just fun! By day I'm all about Microsoft Office 365 and Azure. Then there's blockchain, it's a global game-changer. I try to keep up with the crypto world, and when I first heard about Lisk and Stratis and how well they're expected to integrate with Microsoft technologies I wanted to learn more. I also spend hours a week trying to keep up with the Microsoft world because it's my job to know what they're up to.

I won't explain Microsoft Azure, except to say that it is, at a bare minimum, a platform-independent and cloud-based infrastructure (Iaas) solution built to support 100% the Internet of Things (IoT). It does a lot more than support IoT, but for now, IoT is all that matters. Whatever you used to know about Microsoft, it no longer applies. Presently, Microsoft has positioned themselves, by an incredible margin, ahead of its competitors as the number one deliverer of IoT tech. They are spending billions of dollars to build up their cloud and Azure services, which can/does/will provide the infrastructure by which all of these amazing cryptos can be used, developed, and mass distributed throughout the world.

Microsoft has a huge international customer base. Remember, Microsoft's no longer just a software builder. Individual consumers, small business, government agencies, and mega companies around the world depend on Microsoft's cloud and Azure services now.

Microsoft Azure has a new service, Block Chain as a Service (BaaS). Ultimately, I believe, **Microsoft Azure intends to support all crypto technologies by using Azure as a platform whereby cryptos can be developed and their services distributed, worldwide. ** Presently, they only support Ethereum forked cryptos. Crypto technology is nothing but codde unless it can be put into play. The more a crypto is in play, the more it is used, and the more profitable it becomes.

The official Microsoft Azure blog leaves no room for doubt, Lisk is supported.

It's worth saying twice: Crypto tech is nothing but code unless it can be put into play. The more a crypto is in play, the more it is used, and the more profitable it becomes. Many cryptos sit around waiting for mass adoption from banks and companies before they can become profitable to investors, but not all. Some cryptos like STEEM, Lisk, and Stratis don't need to.

Lisk and Stratis are blockchain tech for developers. Web and software developers use Lisk and Stratis to build applications and software. I won't discuss the differences between Lisk and Stratis, from here on I'm just talking Lisk because it's perfect for the web developer as it allows us to develop applications using javascript. Stratis coding languages are out of my league, i.e. C#.

WHAT IS LISK? SOME OF LISKS HIGHLIGHTS

1 - Microsoft's Endorsement
Lisk is now/or will be offered by Microsoft to every customer with an Azure account as one of several Blockchain as a Service (Baas) options.

2 - Instant Availability to Millions with a built-in infrastructure for Others to Develop Lisk Blockchain Apps
Microsoft Azure BaaS

3 - Minimal Learning Curve for Millions of People to Use
Javascript! This is one of the easiest and most basic, still hugely powerful, programming languages. Billions of developers around the world already know how to use javascript.

4 - Community
Lisk's developer chat room, user chat room, GitHub, Twitter, Reddit, and other communities are active.

5 - SDK
The Lisk App Software Developer Kit (SDK ) is slated to come out very soon. I think before the end of the year.

6 - They Have an API
Yes, they have an application program interface (API)! Someone, please, develop a better crypto exchange tracking app for my phone.

8 - Sidechains
The Lisk API allows developers to deploy sidechains to improve security and performance.

7 - Wallets
They call it the Lisk Nano. Download the Lisk Nano wallet. I've heard/read that they might be coming out with a new wallet after they rebrand. Also, try Apple's (iOS mobile Lisk wallet)[https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lisk-wallet-by-freewallet/id1136830637?mt=8] or the (Google Play Android mobile wallet)[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=lsk.org.freewallet.app&hl=en].

8 - Documentation
There's a lot. They have a lot of documentation about their company, its purpose, help for wallet users, and so on.Lisk is only successful if the javascript developers using Lisk have the support they need, so far Lisk's documenation, Lisk's FAQ, and the Lisk Blog are impressive.

9 - Rebrand: Website - Marketing
Lisk will soon rebrand. See the blog post, (Lisk to Rebrand its Platform with Design Agency Taikonauten)[https://blog.lisk.io/lisk-to-rebrand-its-platform-with-design-agency-taikonauten-617863d1132]. Awhile back they were publically shopping for a design company, they found one.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

Lisk hasn't been on the scene for long, but they've accomplished a lot. Technically they seem solid, Microsoft alone will expose Lisk to millions without any advertising, they haven't started marketing (I suspect that will happen after the rebrand), their product meets present day needs, the amount of documentation they have and how well it is organized speaks volumes to their professionalism, mass adoption is not needed (not an all or nothing coin), millions of people worldwide currently have the skillsets needed to create blockchain apps on Lisk.

"Until now, Lisk has been concentrating its resources on the development of the back end. We have released many optimization, stability and security updates to date marking the significant progress the platform is making. Now, our attention moves to making visible changes to our current ecosystem."

Lisk Foundation President Max Kordek