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Web3 is a stupid idea

timdaub.github.io

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Re: Web3 is a stupid idea

#111

Post by vmception »

eh, dude, web 2.0 was never defined either. it was cringy for a long time as well. and yes, web 3.0 is absolutely a play on words from web 2.0.

this blogger is thinking way too hard about it after some slight disillusionment after a lot of excitement about it, and accurate assessment of its current and future capabilities.

its totally okay to criticize how much people rely on Infura. that has nothing to do with an inflammatory title just to get the attention of some Gen-X blockchain skeptics that are just looking for a venue to write their unrelated blockchain skeptic comment.

Re: Web3 is a stupid idea

#112

Post by adventured »

patwolf wrote: post #50

I was around for web 2.0, and it felt like a substantial change over how the web worked previously. It was the first glimpse that the web was capable of replacing the desktop apps we were accustomed to, while simultaneously adding new capabilities that didn't exist in desktop apps. There was a lot more to it, but to the casual user that was the most obvious difference. This was the first thing I've read about web 3,…

It's kind of amusing to see them attempting to use Web 3 / 3.0. Web 3.0 was supposed to be the semantic Web, more than a decade ago [1] (an attempt which generally failed to be realized, and was silly vague regardless). I suppose enough time passed that someone decided the term could be repurposed since the last attempt to match the term to a new technology inflection point didn't come to much.

[1] https://www.computer.org/csdl/magazine/co/2009/01/mco2009010...

Re: Web3 is a stupid idea

#113

Post by wtvanhest »

rewtraw wrote: post #100

A large chunk of my internet experience lately has been on web3, and the experience is _wonderful_ despite it's immaturity. It's incredible to be able to go to different websites (Zapper, Zerion, OpenSea, etc.) and simply have all my data already exist -- without needing to create an account, export/import. web3 makes me believe in a new era of the internet that isn't full of ads, cookie consent forms, dozens of sign…

Yeah. I started really digging in earlier this year and what I realized was that web3 offers true ownership over the important parts of your online identity.

For the average user, it’s not exceptionally helpful yet, but for power users like celebrities, politicians and executives, it is extremely valuable.

Where they go everyone else will go. Web3 has a massive future

Re: Web3 is a stupid idea

#114

Post by Wazako »

aty268 wrote: post #74
Nevermark wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When it comes to tech, you can't judge what's important by people who use tech but don't spend three seconds in a day working on its possibilities. Surprisingly few regular people thought they wanted a PC before the World Wide Web. They still don't care about the technical details. Web 3.0 is obviously an aspirational name for what is still mostly a vision at this point. But developers need their moitivators. :)

The difference here though is that web 3 really is just 'technical details' to most people. PC's had potential, they were getting cheaper, faster, and more software was being written for them every day. People could play video games, and show off to their friends. Web 3 has none of that, it's all just technical details that 90% of the population doesn't care about one bit.

Web3 is money! The web2.0 it is impossible to make transactions between people, sites, and others.

It's easier to put an ad than to ask the visitor for money. Imagine the possibility of creating feedback with automatic micro-payments!

Re: Web3 is a stupid idea

#115

Post by vmception »

patwolf wrote: post #50

I was around for web 2.0, and it felt like a substantial change over how the web worked previously. It was the first glimpse that the web was capable of replacing the desktop apps we were accustomed to, while simultaneously adding new capabilities that didn't exist in desktop apps. There was a lot more to it, but to the casual user that was the most obvious difference. This was the first thing I've read about web 3,…

The age of worrying about the browser extension hurdle was in 2017. That ship has sailed. Enough people use it that you can launch any viable web 3.0 enabled business with it now for recurring revenues. Also, that user experience has improved such that browser extensions are not necessary. Many people use their mobile phone wallets to authentic mobile and desktop websites.

There is also substantial room for greater improvement. This actually might be a place to focus your energy and you actually might find it fulfilling.

> It also sounds like web3 is missing a killer app.

Sounds unfalsifiable as its not clear what standard there will be if you and your lay grandma aren't both interested in it. From my perspective there are many killer apps which I'm not interested in. Check out any list of "gas guzzlers" to see what people are paying to use any given day. I'm not sure how to gauge the free-er activity on layer 2 systems. But don't forget about other chains. Its a lot of activity.

Re: Web3 is a stupid idea

#116

Post by jollybean »

derefr wrote: post #65
jollybean wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And this is the 'technical requirement' that solves what problem, that people actually need solved?

Before I answer: why are you asking this in response to the definition of a piece of technical jargon? What makes something "web3", and whether anyone should care about "web3", are separate questions. Nevertheless, the answer is: because web standards don't allow browsers and other only-speaks-HTTP clients, to interact with regular peer-to-peer protocols, preventing them from participating in [the existing networks s…

Seems to me that Web3 is focused on Etherium, which is definitely a specific kind of 'P2P' if you want to use that term.

That 'broad generalized use-case' you articulated isn't really a 'use case'. It's not really a problem that needs solving.

And of course a browser plugin solves can get around those problems.

The issue is that this entire stack of technology doesn't do anything that people really need or want. Etherium is popular among Etherium enthusiasts and a few speculators for interests sake, not for for the sake of any actual 'use cases'.

Re: Web3 is a stupid idea

#117

Post by imwillofficial »

wtvanhest wrote: post #113
rewtraw wrote: post #100

A large chunk of my internet experience lately has been on web3, and the experience is _wonderful_ despite it's immaturity. It's incredible to be able to go to different websites (Zapper, Zerion, OpenSea, etc.) and simply have all my data already exist -- without needing to create an account, export/import. web3 makes me believe in a new era of the internet that isn't full of ads, cookie consent forms, dozens of sign…

Yeah. I started really digging in earlier this year and what I realized was that web3 offers true ownership over the important parts of your online identity. For the average user, it’s not exceptionally helpful yet, but for power users like celebrities, politicians and executives, it is extremely valuable. Where they go everyone else will go. Web3 has a massive future

Celebrities, politicians, and executives and the farthest thing from a power user as is possible in this universe.

Did you mean people with a lot at stake in regards to their public image?

Re: Web3 is a stupid idea

#118

Post by kybernetikos »

pphysch wrote: post #99
kybernetikos wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Theres some great work being done on zk roll ups you might be interested in.

Congrats to Vitalik or whomever on reinventing settlement banks.

Well, only in the same sense that a blockchain is a reinvention of a government currency issuer - there's a sense in which that's true, but it misses the really interesting stuff.

With correctly implemented zk roll ups, the security guarantees are the same as transactions on the main chain. The changes that are rolled up are proved to have taken place correctly, and an end user can extract their money from the roll up even if the roll up network stops functioning. They're also fast. Those are some nice advantages over a settlement bank.

Re: Web3 is a stupid idea

#119

Post by imwillofficial »

angio wrote: post #109
masa331 wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you tell me an example of what simply didn't exist five years ago and now exists bc of Web3? And the potential of the tech? Because i used to work in an agency and we develop apps and smart contracts for Ethereum and what they were doing were the most basic and primitive things, slow, fragile, incapable and very expensive to use. Not to mention all the environmental problems with PoW. Only reason we were developi…

I can play a game (DarkForest) and sell items to other players in exchange for real money (xDAI) without trusting dodgy websites.

How do I get started in using all this fancy web3 magic?

Re: Web3 is a stupid idea

#120

Post by rewtraw »

TacoToni wrote: post #106
rewtraw wrote: post #100

A large chunk of my internet experience lately has been on web3, and the experience is _wonderful_ despite it's immaturity. It's incredible to be able to go to different websites (Zapper, Zerion, OpenSea, etc.) and simply have all my data already exist -- without needing to create an account, export/import. web3 makes me believe in a new era of the internet that isn't full of ads, cookie consent forms, dozens of sign…

Yes - completely agree. it is refreshing to go to a website, hit connect, and boom there is all my data! I think we are only brushing the surface of what is possible with web3. Cant wait for login support to sign up for social media sites.

I do hope existing websites eventually support web3 login, but eventually there will be a web3-native/decentralized social network that actually succeeds. there have been a few attempts over the years but nothing has gained much traction.

https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/16/22627435/twitter-bluesky-...

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