One area of confusion for new users is understanding what keys are. In user testing practically nobody could figure out what they mean.

One way I think we can make this concept less difficult is just by assigning old terminology next to the new terms.

Instead of just saying "Public key" we can say "Public key (acts as username) or "Public key / username"

Likewise: "Private key / password"

This allows for display names and keeps things on familiar terms although not technically accurate.

Then, as the user signs up, we can slowly introduce concepts to them and educate them on these things to explain how keys actually work.

We can also do a better job of explaining why the user did not need to enter an email or set their own password. For this, we can experiment with micro copy "No emails or passwords, just magic" or some variation that quickly gets to the point that the user will not have to specify either, and briefly explains why, with an option to learn more.

If you have other ideas / better ones, please let me know.

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Discussion

It’s like no one learned for the same issues we had with bitcoin keys originally

what do you mean?

All the issues with private & public keys people used to get em mixed up share the wrong one unknowingly

I think you're right. Less sausage making and more easy to eat sausage

I like it and that’s how I explain keys to people, but they have to know if they lose their “password” in this case, there is no reset

Could you implement something similar to Bip39 where their username generates them an Npub cryptographically?

What happens when someone else sets the same username?

I like the idea of "no emails or passwords, just magic"

Can have a small "wtf how?" button on the side that pops up an explainer modal :P

#NotADesignerTho

I love the idea of making the terminology familiar. Just need to be careful about establishing an expectation that your “password” is easily recoverable if lost.

Absolutely. But I think that’s doable. And if new user loses password it’s not the end of the world. As long as they back up their keys as they grow