#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub16c9a45p5dr6l3jzmrvgdh9m7xy994tatxd6sm7kmxaygkq4lertsfnacfm is working on a simple "build your own TollGate from scratch" workshop for onboarding students who are new to Bitcoin onto this approach to networking.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1mqa4auvfmalgs338999h22tf23upfs70uwyetneq0szquqamu7jqkhlfa7 and nostr:npub1vjqenty8jphj9039yghlhgr6xvp8thtvmwypmrfrg3je0z6djsws6z7z70 are among the first TollGate based internet service providers in Madeira. They operate TollGates at Cassa De Lavada and are ready to operate TollGates between their homes, thus enabling the first proof of concept that TollGates can cut costs by enabling hoseholds to share a gateway.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub12zpfs3yq7we83yvypgsrw5f88y2fv780c2kfs89ge5qk6q3sfm7spks880 is a valuable TollGate contributor. He created informative slides for conferences, developed a TollGate website, designed stickers and t-shirts, and helped produce content to improve public understanding of TollGate.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1gzmnhnczeqty3ezygc99seme972canu903ztdv9gxyul83jqtmyqqpz3um recently helped us to think through a nostr relay based approach to routing packets, such that authorities aren't required to organize IP addresses. If this is implemented and it works as expected, it would enable counterparties to send eachother HTTP requests in a synchronous manner through NATed networks as if they were using clear net IP addresses from IANA.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1sly6cl38xg2vl60frxgxc28afa4gypxc2rfh0h39y06fm7hvc5ws04gf38 introduced us to the [image-builder](https://github.com/imaginator/TollGateFirmware) and the [SDK](https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-developer/toolchain/using_the_sdk), enabling us to produce OpenWRT packages within minutes instead of waiting over an hour for a full OpenWRT build.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1ygjd597hdwu8larprmhj893d5p832j5mhejpx40ukezgudvayg9qeklajc helped to compile libsecp256k1 for OpenWRT targets at a time when TollGate needed a nostr signer, but we didn't know how to get suitable nostr clients to run on the router yet. More recently nostr:npub1ygjd597hdwu8larprmhj893d5p832j5mhejpx40ukezgudvayg9qeklajc made an e-cash frontend for x86 machines, which can be modified to automatically make small frequent granular data purchases from the TollGate on the users behalf.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub18vay956v7zs5qtgc65mvn54v96cuvqv6j9fmu4cgfjqkt5vjuvjsc47nzf is supporting TollGate by introducing contributors to the concept and by being the first to operate a TollGate in a co-working space, so that users are exposed to the idea.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1y3yqdp44vg62ys8anqnjpx6cfprl848ev4lsmx5h4mznyz3xft9sen050h is developing a beautiful mobile wallet app for making small, frequent purchases from TollGates. However, they face challenges related to permissions on mobile devices, particularly when automatically selecting a WiFi gateway from within the wallet.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1frdmtech5c3p6e8azwapy72tc289qeavr4mr9m55xl2nxae82r0sach4dd, nostr:npub10p5gc8ehreaey0v4x6xf9xxv5pkpas9gn65f02scr0tqpygjrl4q2900zw, nostr:npub1dergggklka99wwrs92yz8wdjs952h2ux2ha2ed598ngwu9w7a6fsh9xzpc, nostr:npub1l2vyh47mk2p0qlsku7hg0vn29faehy9hy34ygaclpn66ukqp3afqutajft and nostr:npub1s0veng2gvfwr62acrxhnqexq76sj6ldg3a5t935jy8e6w3shr5vsnwrmq5 were early TollGate supporters. They provided encouragement when there wasn't any demoable version of TollGate yet and they helped to boost the confidence of early contributors so that they could take the leap.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1gzuushllat7pet0ccv9yuhygvc8ldeyhrgxuwg744dn5khnpk3gs3ea5ds contributed to TollGate with ideas and by brainstorming on blockers. nostr:npub1gzuushllat7pet0ccv9yuhygvc8ldeyhrgxuwg744dn5khnpk3gs3ea5ds worked on a Tauri based mobile app that sends http requests with e-cash in them to the TollGate so that TollGates could buy internet from other TollGates.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1c03rad0r6q833vh57kyd3ndu2jry30nkr0wepqfpsm05vq7he25slryrnw was an early TollGate operator and he is a toxic TollGate maximalist. nostr:npub1c03rad0r6q833vh57kyd3ndu2jry30nkr0wepqfpsm05vq7he25slryrnw made rudimentary demos of what TollGate could do and harrassed people with the idea of TollGate till they helped him to improve on the existing implementation and/or make new iterations. nostr:npub1c03rad0r6q833vh57kyd3ndu2jry30nkr0wepqfpsm05vq7he25slryrnw is grateful for this first row seat to witness this new way of paying for infrastructure taking shape.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1hw6amg8p24ne08c9gdq8hhpqx0t0pwanpae9z25crn7m9uy7yarse465gr is also a critical component of TollGate's ecosystem. He built the first iteration of the TollGate mobile app, he built an installer for TollGate-OS, implemented an e-cash wallet for routers, and he made the workflows that build TollGate packages more efficient with the help of docker registries. He built go code for OpenWRT targets which enabled us to use existing nostr libraries in TollGate. Arjen also drove design discussions with @sandwich and @hzrd to refine the way we interact with TollGates based on nostr events and that are generated in a client that lives in the captive portal - this is how the first iteration of [TIP-01](https://github.com/OpenTollGate/tollgate/blob/main/protocol/01.md) started.

Arjen also contributed to TollGate with knowledge about github actions, best practices in nostr best practices when programming. He event contributed by presenting TollGate at conferences and drawing in new contributors who had a significant impact on the project.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1x5u4j86p9mj6w6k2yttj0625yr59jmpdp5jj0k6sf5sm2w0xeagqwtw4h9 is a core driver of TollGate's ecosystem. nostr:npub1x5u4j86p9mj6w6k2yttj0625yr59jmpdp5jj0k6sf5sm2w0xeagqwtw4h9 initially suggested building TollGate on e-cash and captive portals because e-cash is a bearer asset that can be used for payments even without an internet connection, and captive portals can manage firewall rules effectively. He helped us add new OpenWRT targets to our workflow and suggested using redeem.cashu.me for redeeming e-cash during TollGate's early stages. nostr:npub1x5u4j86p9mj6w6k2yttj0625yr59jmpdp5jj0k6sf5sm2w0xeagqwtw4h9 continues to contribute valuable R&D involving SIM cards, the GSM stack, and multi-WAN, driving significant progress.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1nc0ynppqh37rtulr57xjqpzmfjp58xrd4ey8896ehn9j5flg33fszrz5pa made a simple [raspberry pi based TollGate](https://gist.github.com/elsirion/58d1af3f770bb683e30b7999306b77a3) completely from scratch by manipulating the firewall rules rather than relying on an existing captive portal.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub14xz8l0zxkmqsjug3ahhpyddyy8ahp99rm30degnyzrc7qntmnu7srwd3w5 contributed by starting a [rust implementation](https://github.com/OpenTollGate/tollgate-merchant-rs) of TollGate's merchant module and he researched creating a version of TollGate that could run on a raspberry pi (armhf).

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1ye5ptcxfyyxl5vjvdjar2ua3f0hynkjzpx552mu5snj3qmx5pzjscpknpr helped us to find simple solutions around implementing TollGate. He pointed out that we could build on Sandwich's [TollBooth](https://github.com/OpenTollGate/tollbooth) concept, by getting a simple nostr client that runs client side in a captive portal to send HTTP requests to an open port on the router, which then processes the e-cash. nostr:npub1ye5ptcxfyyxl5vjvdjar2ua3f0hynkjzpx552mu5snj3qmx5pzjscpknpr also made [wifistr](https://github.com/hzrd149/wifistr), which will help TollGate operators to find free gateways that they can sell access to without needing to KYC.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1uac67zc9er54ln0kl6e4qp2y6ta3enfcg7ywnayshvlw9r5w6ehsqq99rx was always a valuable supporter to TollGate. He has a deep knowledge of technology and helps us to navigate problems around TollGate. nostr:npub1uac67zc9er54ln0kl6e4qp2y6ta3enfcg7ywnayshvlw9r5w6ehsqq99rx started [TollBooth](https://github.com/OpenTollGate/tollgate-gui) to help us make a simpler captive portal that runs client side and he works on the user's device. nostr:npub1uac67zc9er54ln0kl6e4qp2y6ta3enfcg7ywnayshvlw9r5w6ehsqq99rx and nostr:npub1gzuushllat7pet0ccv9yuhygvc8ldeyhrgxuwg744dn5khnpk3gs3ea5ds are also working on totem, the nostr version of [Tamagotchi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamagotchi), which could have its own TollGate installed in future.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1ce7d8cdg8k49dnl3da34mvhah8kevxfsq2vdguq6trngapqfsdzsnv3d7m contributed by creating an [endpoint](https://github.com/OpenTollGate/tollgate-outdated-build-environment/blob/main/files/cgi-bin/redeem_boardwalk.sh) for redeeming e-cash, similar to redeem.cashu.me. This provided TollGate operators with additional options for receiving e-cash, which was crucial when we lacked the knowledge to create custom wallets for OpenWRT targets using existing Cashu libraries.

#ThanksForBuildingTollGate

nostr:npub1elta7cneng3w8p9y4dw633qzdjr4kyvaparuyuttyrx6e8xp7xnq32cume was one of the first contributors to TollGate. He helped figure out how to modify [nodogsplash](https://github.com/OpenTollGate/tollgate-initial/tree/main) to allow longer input strings in the captive portal, preventing truncation of received e-cash notes. This involved learning to compile OpenWRT packages for specific targets.

📢📢 We have a new release of our tollgate implementation

Still plenty of work to be done, but please do try it out if your a brave and #reckless soul who wants to bridge the past and the future.

Your issues, your pull requests and your code review are most welcome!

For installing tollgate package on routers:

https://github.com/OpenTollGate/tollgate-module-basic-go/releases/tag/v0.0.3

OpenWRT image containing TollGate in-case you want to start from a clean slate. Any e-cash that's still stored on your router's filesystem gets deleted when installing the image:

https://github.com/OpenTollGate/tollgate-os/releases/tag/v0.0.3