A centralized architectural team with a dedicated budget offers advantages, particularly in terms of efficiency. However, such centralization can become a target for state actors to introduce subtle vulnerabilities into the core design, potentially compromising security or stifling future innovation. Even without malicious contributors, no centralized team can anticipate every possible use case, leading to the well-documented issue of protocol ossification. The most effective approach is to allow the design process to evolve organically within a federated community of voluntary contributors, which is how Nostr began. We should not sacrifice flexibility in the pursuit of perfection. Just as in nature, the most efficient designs emerge over time, even if they leave behind a few vestigial elements.
Growing Nostr is hard. Not because we don't have the tools, but because it requires the hard work of many of us, not just the few. Decentralization is great, however this means that no centralized growth team is going to step in and do the work that's needed. We'll have to rely on a multitude of people to accomplish this. These people will be cultivating and nurturing Nostr's growing ecosystem. They're seeking out unique communities, on-boarding new users, and educating them on the tools at hand, so that new users can create their own spaces on Nostr.
These have been initiatives of mine since the beginning days here. I love building communities, helping people use technology, and speaking about my passions.
Many people across Nostr are working on similar initiatives, trying to #grownostr and foster community. nostr:npub1hz5alqscpp8yjrvgsdp2n4ygkl8slvstrgvmjca7e45w6644ew7sewtysa is one of them. We spoke at extent last week about her current project. She volunteered at the Nostr Booth that I organized at nostr:npub167n5w6cj2wseqtmk26zllc7n28uv9c4vw28k2kht206vnghe5a7stgzu3r a few months ago, got purple pilled in the process, and is now planning on doing similar initiatives at three Latin American conferences coming up soon.
I had a conversation with the organizer of LaBitConf in Prague, who expressed a strong interest in having a Nostr presence at his upcoming conference. He asked that I replicate the same level of involvement he witnessed in Prague, including a booth, speakers, panels, and more. He clearly recognized the significance of Nostr and was eager to feature it prominently at his event. Unfortunately, I had to decline, as it’s not feasible for me to attend every conference. However, this is where the strength of the Nostr community comes in—others can step up and make it happen.
This is what Tanja is doing! Check out her project.
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