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Couldn't agree more. We're using some blockchain technology to solve specific problems at my company. It's a part of our stack, but we don't mention blockchain

Couldn't agree more. We're using some blockchain technology to solve specific problems at my company. It's a part of our stack, but we don't mention blockchain unless someone specifically asks. Blockchain is sensationalized beyond belief. I can't wait for the rose tinted glasses to fall off and we realize it's just a data management technology for specific use cases. I think the biggest danger to the technology is that the community focuses on "blockchain will change the world" not "how can we make this better".

neilwilson 9y ago
I'm rather more impressed by the DAG systems than the chain. A tree always seems more sensible that a linked list.
- merrickread 9y ago
  If you're into consensus algorithms take a look at Algorand: https://people.csail.mit.edu/nickolai/papers/gilad-algorand-eprint.pdf https://people.csail.mit.edu/nickolai/papers/gilad-algorand-... It has some novel approaches to node / data agreement. Also take a look at the many projects Hyperledger projects. Hyperledger is incubated by The Linux Foundation. Their attitude towards open source development is that of purely technical curiosity and experimentation. Brian Behlendorf is directing the project so it's in good hands. He speaks about this attitude here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4Hb0jb0lo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4Hb0jb0lo
pfftcst 9y ago
I've always wondered about this- all the hype about 'Blockchain'. Can you explain this a little bit more? How do you have a blockchain without bitcoin/ether or at least mining? Isn't that just a glorified database? What does a (I assume centralized) blockchain do for your company that a database or any type of electronic ledger cannot do?
- TazeTSchnitzel 9y ago
  how to get people to care about your computer science work 1. s/Merkle tree/blockchain/ 2. there is no step 2
- merrickread 9y ago
  Yes, right now it is completely a glorified database. It's always been a database. It's a different database. We're using it for compliant sharing of and collaboration on private information records between non trusting organizations and businesses. You could do this with something like a highly distributed Cassandra cluster. But some of the inherent rules to a blockchain allow us to provide higher security, higher data persistence and availability between nodes, auditable records, and accountable participants / contributors. And it's not centralized, it's completely distributed - just not publicly available to anyone who can download a mobile app.
  - ufo 9y ago
    If there is no mining isn't this just like git and other systems that use merkle-trees under the hood?
    - merrickread 9y ago
      This does a pretty good job of explaining the differences if you're curious: https://medium.com/@philippsandner/comparison-of-ethereum-hyperledger-fabric-and-corda-21c1bb9442f6 https://medium.com/@philippsandner/comparison-of-ethereum-hy...
- acangiano 9y ago
  The trouble with blockchain is that the technical discussion is often overshadowed by investment narrative. If you'd like to learn more about the actually useful applications of the technology beyond "the future of money", research Hyperledger and smart contracts. We recently launched a free introductory course on the subject of blockchain if you are interested in the business use case: https://cognitiveclass.ai/courses/blockchain-course/ https://cognitiveclass.ai/courses/blockchain-course/
- imtringued 9y ago
  It's a database that is designed to be very expensive to update but easy to verify. If someone still manages to update it with an invalid state other nodes will validate the new block and not accept it.

neilwilson 9y ago

I'm rather more impressed by the DAG systems than the chain. A tree always seems more sensible that a linked list.

merrickread 9y ago
If you're into consensus algorithms take a look at Algorand: https://people.csail.mit.edu/nickolai/papers/gilad-algorand-eprint.pdf https://people.csail.mit.edu/nickolai/papers/gilad-algorand-... It has some novel approaches to node / data agreement. Also take a look at the many projects Hyperledger projects. Hyperledger is incubated by The Linux Foundation. Their attitude towards open source development is that of purely technical curiosity and experimentation. Brian Behlendorf is directing the project so it's in good hands. He speaks about this attitude here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4Hb0jb0lo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4Hb0jb0lo

pfftcst 9y ago

I've always wondered about this- all the hype about 'Blockchain'. Can you explain this a little bit more? How do you have a blockchain without bitcoin/ether or at least mining? Isn't that just a glorified database? What does a (I assume centralized) blockchain do for your company that a database or any type of electronic ledger cannot do?

TazeTSchnitzel 9y ago
how to get people to care about your computer science work 1. s/Merkle tree/blockchain/ 2. there is no step 2
merrickread 9y ago
Yes, right now it is completely a glorified database. It's always been a database. It's a different database. We're using it for compliant sharing of and collaboration on private information records between non trusting organizations and businesses. You could do this with something like a highly distributed Cassandra cluster. But some of the inherent rules to a blockchain allow us to provide higher security, higher data persistence and availability between nodes, auditable records, and accountable participants / contributors. And it's not centralized, it's completely distributed - just not publicly available to anyone who can download a mobile app.
- ufo 9y ago
  If there is no mining isn't this just like git and other systems that use merkle-trees under the hood?
  - merrickread 9y ago
    This does a pretty good job of explaining the differences if you're curious: https://medium.com/@philippsandner/comparison-of-ethereum-hyperledger-fabric-and-corda-21c1bb9442f6 https://medium.com/@philippsandner/comparison-of-ethereum-hy...
acangiano 9y ago
The trouble with blockchain is that the technical discussion is often overshadowed by investment narrative. If you'd like to learn more about the actually useful applications of the technology beyond "the future of money", research Hyperledger and smart contracts. We recently launched a free introductory course on the subject of blockchain if you are interested in the business use case: https://cognitiveclass.ai/courses/blockchain-course/ https://cognitiveclass.ai/courses/blockchain-course/
imtringued 9y ago
It's a database that is designed to be very expensive to update but easy to verify. If someone still manages to update it with an invalid state other nodes will validate the new block and not accept it.