I sometimes wonder if the whole account / log in / register terminology is a giant mistake. đ§
Discussion
What icon(s) do you most associate with npub?
With nsec?
Iâm talking about the language we use and how we frame it.
I wonder if we should completely do away with it and embrace âkeysâ
âAccess keyâ
âRead only keyâ
For example âŠ
Yes.
I am asking about the visual language, which I am guessing is easier for people to grok.
For instance, microsoft gulag corporate âaccountâ is the faceless person upper body silhouette.
I just wouldnât use any icons.
Yes. I've been using nostr only for a few days but have been thinking that it was a bit off when clients referred to "accounts".
"Read-Only Key" works, but "Access Key" does not capture the main idea since "access" could also mean only "read". Maybe something like "Write Key" or "Write Access Key".
View-only key
Full-access key
Publish
Read only
Publish key doesn't emphasize, that this is the secret key.
On centralized platforms you can give someone publish rights, and later revoke it with your full/admin access.
I have qualms about key being used for the npub.
Key Etymology: â
> instrument for opening locks," Middle English keie, from Old English cĂŠg "metal piece that works a lock, key" literal and figurative ("solution, explanation, one who or that which opens the way or explains"), a word of unknown origin, abnormal evolution, and no sure cognates other than Old Frisian kei.â
Key makes perfect sense for nsec.
I agree. IDs and Keys.
npub = Nostr Public ID
nsec = Nostr Secret Key
Yea. Nostr has no âaccountsâ and no âlogging inâ ⊠and EVEN IF the paradigm shift is inevitable (big if), low friction onboarding TODAY requires language that people are used to.
âProfileâ can be used interchangeably instead of âAccountâ. One can âcreate a profileâ and âdelete a profileâ and âfollow a profileâ without too much mental gymnastics.
âSign Event(s)â is a little more of a hurdle, being ephemeral. People are used to âsigning inâ and staying âsigned inâ until âsigning outâ. The nostr ecosystem is just more complex than this⊠and the mental burden is unavoidable.
Agree on profile. Think we might be on without signing in and out
Key managers will help. One could (sort of) âsign inâ to a client using a key manager. But this experience is no where near consistent.
None the less ⊠âsign inâ (as a term) is closer to the nostr truth than âlog inâ.
