What Is Ethereum? • Hacker News Board

Re: What Is Ethereum?

#21

Post by RexetBlell » Sat, Jul 08, 2017, 1:44 AM UTC

52-6F-62 wrote: post #4

prodtorok wrote: post #3

How important is the adoption of Solidity for Ethereum's success?

I've been reading a lot about Ethereum, and I am really interested in blockchain tech -- but I also wonder about this. I am really curious as to whether it would be possible to develop new languages for the handling of smart contracts, or if it is possible to develop smart contracts (using a library or other resource) with existing, popular languages like c++, python, or javascript. I know web3 is already quite acces…

I know that Consensys (who is looking to hire hundreds of engineers https://consensys.net/open-positions/) is working on a special smart contract language that would be easy for lawyers to learn. The language compiles into EVM bytecode.

Re: What Is Ethereum?

#22

Post by revelation » Sat, Jul 08, 2017, 1:45 AM UTC

thatswrong0 wrote: post #15

revelation wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is drivel. Protocols and decentralized applications around decentralized file storage, decentralized computation and decentralized prediction markets, among dozens of other such concepts, have the potential to substantially increase the efficiency of the computational industry, and provide a massive boost to other peer-to-peer protocols by adding for the first time an economic layer

It's a bit silly to dismiss the whole thing because the cofounder is trying a little too hard to sell the technology.. it certainly doesn't mean the technological aspect of the paper is "drivel"

This is Sokal level writing. If this was a random person trying his hand at a writing class, whatever, but this is the guy writing the code behind your crypto coin.

Re: What Is Ethereum?

#23

Post by booleandilemma » Sat, Jul 08, 2017, 1:46 AM UTC

notadoc wrote: post #8

Are we at the "mania" stage of cryptocurrency interest yet?

Not until we have cryptocurrency bootcamps and people pursuing degrees in cryptofinance.

Re: What Is Ethereum?

#24

Post by Breefield » Sat, Jul 08, 2017, 1:47 AM UTC

revelation wrote: post #22

thatswrong0 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a bit silly to dismiss the whole thing because the cofounder is trying a little too hard to sell the technology.. it certainly doesn't mean the technological aspect of the paper is "drivel"

This is Sokal level writing. If this was a random person trying his hand at a writing class, whatever, but this is the guy writing the code behind your crypto coin.

I wasn't aware of Sokal. I'm going to include this concept on the "scammer" page.

Re: What Is Ethereum?

#25

Post by SilasX » Sat, Jul 08, 2017, 1:47 AM UTC

This doesn't seem to do it for me. The multiple explanations it offers are all either:

1) Extremely vague and handwavy, or

2) Links to extremely long documents.

Neither one is an explanation, something that hits the key points and gives you enough to know what to ask to get greater detail.

Edit: toned down criticism.

Re: What Is Ethereum?

#26

Post by mikenew » Sat, Jul 08, 2017, 1:48 AM UTC

There's one point in particular that took me a while to grasp: while you can write code that runs on the Ethereum network, every single node has to process that code.

So if, for example, you had a big 3d animation sequence that you wanted to have rendered, you would not just send that code off to the network to be processed. You would have to pay to have every single person on the network process that job for you, and it would be so big the network wouldn't even accept it. Rather, you would create a simple contract that says "if you render this animation for me and prove that you did it right, I'll pay you X amount of Ether". Someone would take the job and the Ethereum network would process your contract and handle the payment. You would end up paying that person to do work for you, and you'd pay the network (using something called gas) to process the contract.

You could use Ethereum to create all kinds of interesting contracts for financial purposes, voting systems, insurance, or whatever else. But it's not some giant compute cluster that will run some big program for you.

Re: What Is Ethereum?

#27

Post by Breefield » Sat, Jul 08, 2017, 1:49 AM UTC

SilasX wrote: post #25

This doesn't seem to do it for me. The multiple explanations it offers are all either: 1) Extremely vague and handwavy, or 2) Links to extremely long documents. Neither one is an explanation, something that hits the key points and gives you enough to know what to ask to get greater detail. Edit: toned down criticism.

Be my guest: http://github.com/Breefield/whatthefuckisethereum It's supposed to be a combination of layman information, reference material, and humor, I agree some of the content was rushed.

Re: What Is Ethereum?

#28

Post by SilasX » Sat, Jul 08, 2017, 1:53 AM UTC

Breefield wrote: post #27

SilasX wrote: post #25

This doesn't seem to do it for me. The multiple explanations it offers are all either: 1) Extremely vague and handwavy, or 2) Links to extremely long documents. Neither one is an explanation, something that hits the key points and gives you enough to know what to ask to get greater detail. Edit: toned down criticism.

Be my guest: http://github.com/Breefield/whatthefuckisethereum It's supposed to be a combination of layman information, reference material, and humor, I agree some of the content was rushed.

As soon as I understand ethereum, I will!

Re: What Is Ethereum?

#29

Post by bsmithers » Sat, Jul 08, 2017, 1:53 AM UTC

mikenew wrote: post #26

There's one point in particular that took me a while to grasp: while you can write code that runs on the Ethereum network, every single node has to process that code. So if, for example, you had a big 3d animation sequence that you wanted to have rendered, you would not just send that code off to the network to be processed. You would have to pay to have every single person on the network process that job for you, an…

Thanks. In your example, how could one hope to prove they had rendered the animation correctly? Presumably each node must be able to verify the correctness of this in order to process the contract?

Re: What Is Ethereum?

#30

Post by ChrisClark » Sat, Jul 08, 2017, 1:55 AM UTC

mikenew wrote: post #26

There's one point in particular that took me a while to grasp: while you can write code that runs on the Ethereum network, every single node has to process that code. So if, for example, you had a big 3d animation sequence that you wanted to have rendered, you would not just send that code off to the network to be processed. You would have to pay to have every single person on the network process that job for you, an…

Definitely a very constrained system to write in. For anyone who loves to write compact optimized code though, Solidity is very fun to write. Squeezing out every last little bit of gas. With the Viper language in development being even more low level there could be a good market for developers who can create solid contracts. VISA recently posted a job opening looking for a Solidity developer. I think with how rare those developers are, you would be in a really great place to negotiate your salary.