Damus
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jb55 · 93w
I don't even see how decentralization is possible at this point just by looking at their architecture. it's completely controlled centrally. I don't see how they are going to magically decentralize it...
 Mike Staub profile picture
Mike Staub @mikestaub
I did a deep-dive on the code and the only part of the architecture that is not currently decentralized is the plc-service, which resolves the DIDs with a custom method. You can literally run any other component yourself. Arguably this is the most important piece, so criticism is valid. But it's not clear how to decentralize governance of such a system while preserving the UX. Bitcoin 'gave up' on trying by just piggybacking off physics with PoW for consensus, which was not obviously going to work when it was created. I think perhaps the ultimate solution is just to use Bitcoin for the ID consensus with something like the did:btc or did:ion methods. The incentives to host decentralized infra without a token are not strong. Even nostr struggles with this currently. https://app.ilograph.com/@mikestaub/atprotocol%2520overview/Protocol%2520Overview/_walkthrough/1
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jb55 · 93w
that architecture diagram looks insane. who is going to run all that?
Kirpy · 93w
That too, but even with the other parts. They have all the power and that's the important part. Member twitters "decentralized" beginning? How about hangouts?
Matt Corallo · 93w
Hmm, the did resolution part isn’t all that critical to the overall system, DID creation is basically just adding a DNS/HTTP record. I guess I don’t really understand your concern here, tbh.
fiatjaf · 93w
Your deep dive missed the fact that they have a big central data hub that is ran by a single company that all apps hardcode and has all the network effect such that it is de facto impossible for anyone else to run another (and if someone did it would be inconsequential and useless since there would ...