There was an insightful discussion on Discord featuring valuable input from @JimCollinson, @dirvine and @Bux regarding partners, the Foundation, and ways in which other development teams can participate in advancing the Autonomi protocol. I’d like to thank them for their thoughtful responses. I’m sharing the information here for those who don’t follow or don’t have access to the MaidSafe Discord.
And as a special guest in the discussion @whiteout2 shared a link to his Discord channel SAFE-FS Community, feel invited!
Dimitar
@JimCollinson , will you be giving ANT or Ethereum to partners for data upload?
JimCollinson
I’m not involved with the foundation BTW,
Dimitar
Is anyone from the foundation present in the chat? If another team of devs wants to apply for support from the foundation, how can they do so?
JimCollinson
Might depend if this is core developement (which would probably be direct to the foundation), or app development — which would be through something like IF. Or if it’s more of a strategic data partnership — then Bux would probably the first port of call.
Dimitar
My question concerns how the project appears from the outside—specifically, the intention for MaidSafe to be only one of the companies developing the protocol, and how this is perceived by others. For example, on the Autonomi protocol website it’s not easy for an outsider to understand that this is actually one of the project’s core goals. Instead, the site currently looks more like MaidSafe’s corporate business card.
For instance, the Team section of the website could be replaced with content that highlights the Foundation and provides clearer information on how new participants can get involved in the project.
I hope it’s clear that this is meant as constructive feedback aimed at improving how the protocol is understood by people outside the current community.
Understand Jim, I was wondering why I was under the impression that the number of nodes was decisive in the decision not to touch the emissions, when in fact it is that MaidSafe does not want to exercise control. I was mistaken because this is not talked about enough, I can’t even remember it being talked about except in this one (1) post here in the news channel…
JimCollinson
I don’t really know why you were under that impression either, and you’re not the only one. It just doesn’t really factor in our thinking to be honest so it’s odd to see that repeated. It’s not really a measure or KPI that we use in any way to inform prioritisation or decisions or next steps. What matters is that the network can meet the needs of people who want to store data and make it useful. That’s what we are focused on.
I mean, the live number of nodes is useful as a bit secondary validation in marketing — i.e. it shows that the network is real, and alive, and not just a whitepaper or an aspiration. But TBH, how big that number is not so relevant, nor something we get hung up on.
dirvine
Must be bad coms, but honestly I see a lot fo things start as option and then become fact. It’s a bad look to always defend as we saying we did not do X we do not want Y and so on. So the whitepaper is there, it’s being executed. The foundation is there handling legal side of execution of the whitepaper and validated by all the legals (which is a nightmare and Swiss law is great, but very very in depth and we have to validate each change at a significant cost etc.). In terms of other core teams doing work in the backend, then this is what we want, but maidsafe so far are the only team with deep knowledge, not driven by short term emotinoal changes and so on. There is a lot of work for maidsafe to have to prove to the foundation they are doing what the whitepaper and legals state. These action include ensuring nobody from the foundation can benefit and so on. Its quite strict. So if there are other team who can work to the whitepaper and can show they will do at least what maidsafe does, including the level of devops and testnets and measurements etc. then it’s what we want to see. It’s significant backend work though for sure, but our future surely has to be totally decentralised development. Finding that mechanism and those teams is a goal for certain 100% it’s a goal. The foundation though should be seen as the human element we currently use, but their goal is to also become irrelevant as we automate away any authority they have over time. Smart contracts are a huge help, but not enough, however we have a way to go even there to pass more human decisions to smart contracts. Emissions is interesting as we could have smart contracted that away and then no opinion woudl matter to change that. So defo ying/yang vibes there and this is what we need to be very careful off. We cannot totally automate just yet and we cannot bend to the whim of only small groups, no matter how loud they shout, but we cannot either ignore good ideas and progressive changes over time. Anyway, the granite like approach to following any agreed plans is vital, then we have still humans in the loop, we have the ability to change, it’s very non trivial to do so though and this is where we are. What is good with the foundation though is the folk there cannot benefit and they make decisions only for the good of the network, not for any group or philosophy etc. They will also not directly have a channel for folk to debate with, they will follow the agreed route that is signed up for and make changes when they must, but at a cost and a timescale for sure. If we got the white-paper wrong as a community and company then there will be routes to change, but currently the goal is network stability and everyone may have an opionion, but the core tem or another core team need to be focussed and consider deeply all aspects and then apply to the foundation for funding to continue their work.
Dimitar
I’m trying to figure out how this is supposed to happen. Who should other dev teams contact?
Bux
Beyond what the guys have already said, I would only add that the impossible futures program, is a critical tool in supporting development going forward – it needs some time and some energy spent on it, and to be as automated and community reflective (well beyond where we are today) as possible. The rewards for the inaugural season of IF were made possible because of the foundation (MaidSafe does not have that type of money nor does it earn ANT) – those amounts were not inconsequential and went directly to those developing and submitting ideas (such as yourself), and of course the winners of the program received funds, and the backers, who for locking up ANT, will also see a benefit
For now, please see above.
When there are further answers, and system/processes and channels established we will of course let everybody know – that is not the case right now.
Dimitar
Everything is clear to me, thanks for the answer.
Bux
you’re in the Maidsafe discord, and the focus here should be what the Maidsafe team are doing to support the project - that doesn’t mean other teams can’t spin up their own channels/places and forums and gather the support (we’re also trying to draw attention to them in here and via our content outside of here as well)- the current status, certainly doesn’t mean that the autonomi foundation won’t have an interest in supporting development teams (current and future) going forward, especially as we all start to see a healthier token and more opportunities unfold
WhiteOutMashups
Well, since you mention it
SAFE-FS Community
Check out the Impossible Futures!