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Show HN: Cipher – Mobile Ethereum Web3 DApp Browser

cipherbrowser.com

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Re: Show HN: Cipher – Mobile Ethereum Web3 DApp Browser

#41

Post by ique »

raingrove wrote: post #28
eximius wrote: post #25

Erm, who made this and why should I trust it? Wallet apps need a lot of trust behind them, more than a normal app. It could be really well made and still run off with my money if they're malicious or just implemented the crypto wrong.

If that's really what I wanted, there are many much easier ways than making a full app, such as writing a lame whitepaper and doing a scam ICO. You will see a lot of open-source code from Cipher soon, hopefully that puts your mind at ease.

This is just a trusted RPC connection right? You're not embedding any sort of light (or otherwise) client? Are you running the nodes on the backend, as opposed to outsourcing to someone like infura? What are you running if so (geth, parity, something else) and how (single node or multiple nodes load-balanced)? Curious to hear the setup.

Re: Show HN: Cipher – Mobile Ethereum Web3 DApp Browser

#42

Post by elcritch »

raingrove wrote: post #18
albertgoeswoof wrote: post #13

This is really nice, it’s a bit annoying having to enter the entire recovery phrase during setup, could you just pick a few random words instead to enter? My biggest concern with these types of apps is the security of the wallet, given everyone is rolling their own build, so personally I probably won’t put any real funds in here for some time.

You can tap on skip button in the corner but do copy it down as soon as you are able (it can be viewed again in settings screen). Cipher uses features like the Secure Enclave chip to make things more secure, but obviously the best practice is to treat it as a hot spending wallet and use a hardware wallet to store large amounts.

Is there a way to copy the recovery password as text? I want to store it in my password manager, but typing in 20 words (correctly) passes my threshold for trying out new apps.

Re: Show HN: Cipher – Mobile Ethereum Web3 DApp Browser

#43

Post by raingrove »

ique wrote: post #41
raingrove wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If that's really what I wanted, there are many much easier ways than making a full app, such as writing a lame whitepaper and doing a scam ICO. You will see a lot of open-source code from Cipher soon, hopefully that puts your mind at ease.

This is just a trusted RPC connection right? You're not embedding any sort of light (or otherwise) client? Are you running the nodes on the backend, as opposed to outsourcing to someone like infura? What are you running if so (geth, parity, something else) and how (single node or multiple nodes load-balanced)? Curious to hear the setup.

The app uses Infura, just like MetaMask, but future version will allow you to specify your own RPC. Geth/Parity light clients are not quite usable on mobile yet, but they are improving rapidly, so hopefully in the future.

Re: Show HN: Cipher – Mobile Ethereum Web3 DApp Browser

#45

Post by raingrove »

la_fayette wrote: post #36

cool project! is it a cordova app or facebook react? as you have typescript in there it probably is something like that?? i think this really fills a great whole. i am happy that you did this work ;) i would definitely be willing to contribute, if you open source it.

It's mostly React Native for the UI, but there's a lot of native code for crypto/secure enclave operations.

Re: Show HN: Cipher – Mobile Ethereum Web3 DApp Browser

#46

Post by gator-io »

eximius wrote: post #25

Erm, who made this and why should I trust it? Wallet apps need a lot of trust behind them, more than a normal app. It could be really well made and still run off with my money if they're malicious or just implemented the crypto wrong.

Exactly. Remember the recent Parity wallet fiasco?

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/11/10/parity_280m_ethereu...

Re: Show HN: Cipher – Mobile Ethereum Web3 DApp Browser

#47

Post by DennisP »

gator-io wrote: post #46
eximius wrote: post #25

Erm, who made this and why should I trust it? Wallet apps need a lot of trust behind them, more than a normal app. It could be really well made and still run off with my money if they're malicious or just implemented the crypto wrong.

Exactly. Remember the recent Parity wallet fiasco? https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/11/10/parity_280m_ethereu...

The general principle applies but just in case anyone's confused, Cipher's wallet is a client running on the phone, and Parity's wallet was a smart contract running on the blockchain. It's a bit unfortunate that the term got reused for multisig contracts.

Re: Show HN: Cipher – Mobile Ethereum Web3 DApp Browser

#48

Post by AdamSC1 »

dchuk wrote: post #11

I really feel like the #1 problem for all crypto stuff is that it is completely unapproachable without having to learn a massive amount of new terms/vocabulary. Look at this description: "The Power of Ethereum in the Palm of Your Hand Cipher Browser is the world's first full-featured mobile dapp browser and wallet for the Ethereum blockchain. Cipher allows you to interact with dapps powered by Ethereum on your mobile…

Yeah it's not like the good old days where I had to use my 'dial-up' 'modem' to connect to the 'world wide web' and go to AOL and use my 'keyword' to load a 'website' from their 'server' and 'download' my 'emails' - it was so simple back then without that jargon.

Usability isn't about only using existing terms, it's about explaining the process well during on-boarding.

Human language is malleable and we all now know 100x the technical terms we did in the 90s. The same will eventually happen with blockchain tech, you're just seeing it in the early stages.

Re: Show HN: Cipher – Mobile Ethereum Web3 DApp Browser

#49

Post by jasonlaramburu »

raingrove wrote: post #14
dchuk wrote: post #11

I really feel like the #1 problem for all crypto stuff is that it is completely unapproachable without having to learn a massive amount of new terms/vocabulary. Look at this description: "The Power of Ethereum in the Palm of Your Hand Cipher Browser is the world's first full-featured mobile dapp browser and wallet for the Ethereum blockchain. Cipher allows you to interact with dapps powered by Ethereum on your mobile…

Your feedback is legit. Unfortunately the app has to initially cater to the early adopters of Ethereum, but making Ethereum and Dapps approachable is the #1 goal of this project. I will be spending a lot of time on further simplifying the UI/UX of the app and the what you see on the website. If anyone wants to help, please let me know.

Are you running the light Geth client on the device?

Re: Show HN: Cipher – Mobile Ethereum Web3 DApp Browser

#50

Post by jtms »

spookthesunset wrote: post #22
dchuk wrote: post #11

I really feel like the #1 problem for all crypto stuff is that it is completely unapproachable without having to learn a massive amount of new terms/vocabulary. Look at this description: "The Power of Ethereum in the Palm of Your Hand Cipher Browser is the world's first full-featured mobile dapp browser and wallet for the Ethereum blockchain. Cipher allows you to interact with dapps powered by Ethereum on your mobile…

I think ethereal deliberately uses such fancy talk to wow people into buying ETH and pumping the value.

You do realize ETH is just the abbreviation/symbol for Ethereum (not "ethereal") right?
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