A new model for building massively scalable and profitable applications is emerging. Bitcoin paved the way with its cryptographically stored ledger, scarce-asset model, and peer-to-peer technology. These features provide a starting point for building a new type of software called decentralized applications, or dapps.
Dapp must contain the four following characteristics;
- The application has to be open-source, operate autonomously, and can not be controlled by any one entity.
- All data and record must be cryptographically stored in a public, decentralized blockchain.
- The app must use a cryptographic token, also referred to as an App Coin, to access the application.
- Tokens must be generated in order to prove the value nodes that contribute to the application.
Bitcoin contains these four characteristics since it’s an open-source token that uses the blockchain. Bitcoin also generates it’s own tokens and all changes must be approved by the majority of users.
Johnston classifies “Dapps based on whether they have their own block chain or they use the blockchain of another Dapp.” Based on this criteria, Johnston states that there are three types of dapps.
- Type I decentralized applications have their own block chain, such as Bitcoin.
- Type II decentralized applications use the blockchain of a type I decentralized application but are “protocols and have tokens that are necessary for their function” like the Omni Protocol.
- Type III decentralized applications use the protocol of a type II decentralized application and “are protocols and have tokens that are necessary for their function,” such as the SAFE Network that uses the Omni Protocol to issue ‘safecoins.”
Think of Dapps as an operating system like Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, iOS as a Type I classification. The programs on these systems, such as a word processor or Dropbox, would be Type II. A Type III example would then be a blogging platform that integrates Dropbox.
Johnston states that there “are two common mechanism by which Dapps can establish consensus: the proof-of-work, POW, mechanism and the proof of stake, POS, mechanism.”
With POW “decisions about changes in a Dapp are made based on the amount of work that each stakeholder contributes to the operation of the Dapp.” Mining is the mechanism for establishing consensus in regards to POW.
With POS, “decisions about changes in the Dapp are made based on the percent ownership that various stakeholders have over the application.” This would mean that a stakeholder owning 10% of the token carries 10% of the weight.
Both mechanisms can run parallel in order to prevent 51% attacks. Peercoin is an example of running both mechanisms.
When distributing tokens, there are three common mechanisms;
- Mining is where “tokens are distributed to those who contribute most work to the operation of a Dapp.”
- Fundraising occurs when “tokens are distributed to those who fund the initial development of the DApp.”
- The development mechanism is where “tokens are generated using a predefined mechanism and are only available for the development of the DA” In summary, according to Johnston;
“Tokens of a Dapp that establishes consensus through proof-of-work are distributed by mining, by people buying directly from miners and by trading for goods and services; that is the case with Bitcoin. Tokens of a Dapp that establishes consensus through proof-of-stake are distributed based on the contribution of stakeholders during a fundraiser, by people collaborating on the development of the Dapp and by trading for goods and services; that is the case with the Omni Protocol.”
Dapps are important because they have value. In fact, according to another white paper written by Johnston, app coins are valuable because they can replace an untrustworthy centralized consensus, have functions that bitcoin is not capable of, and having the ability to operate exclusively with a specific network’s coin.
Besides coin value, Dapps are important because they have the power to disrupt a number of industries. Tom Ding, founder and CEO of crowdsale platform Koinify, told CoinDesk “The more commoditised (ie: an incremental rather than revolutionary model change) an industry is, the more likely it can be disrupted totally with the DApp model.”
He believes that retail banking, insurance, financial exchange, marketplaces, and content platforms will be most impacted.
We’re already witnessing that with the growth of Ethereum. This contract validating and enforcement system allows applications to be developed onto it. This means, according to Wired, that this could potentially “create self-validating contracts and autonomous systems that operate directly on the blockchain.”
Ultimately, this would create self-enforcing smart contracts that could be used for joint savings accounts, financial exchange markets, and trust funds.
As Dapps continue to rapidly they’ll also become more consumer-visible. Fatcom, for example, uses the blockchain to power applications like “audit systems, medical records, supply chain management, voting systems, property titles, legal applications, and financial systems.”
As Johnston Law says, “Everything that can be decentralized, will be decentralized”.
If you’re interested in developing your own Dapp to tap into its potential, follow these steps;
- Release a white paper that describes its features, goals, mechanism for establishing consensus, and plans for tokenization.
- Gain feedback from your community to make revisions.
- Have a date for when your community can contribute to crowd-sale.
- Distribute the tokens. This will vary depending on the mechanism that you use. Mining will require reference software; fundraising needs a digital wallet for stakeholders; and development uses a bounty system for suggestions.
- Start executing your idea while still developing your plans.
Imagine a DApp becoming the computer operating system (OSX or Windows), the programs used on the system (Photoshop, Dropbox), or specialized software that uses the programs, such as a blog that integrates Dropbox. Bitcoin is only the tip of the iceberg of what is possible with this new type of application.
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Ethereum introduces a dedicated blockchain capable of supporting a “turing complete” programming language. Ethereum allows developers to create their own decentralized applications that “live” on the Ethereum blockchain. The first developer release of Ethereum is available so people have started working on applications for this platform.
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MaidSafe provides a “proof of resource” mechanism and decentralized data structure for storing files privately or publicly in the cloud. This system cryptographically stores file that are distributed throughout the network for on-demand retrieval by the file owners.
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BURST is a system that uses the “proof-of-capacity” mechanism, a hard drive based mining solution for network security. BURST has also incorporated “automated transactions” into the capabilities of the network.
cryptographically stored ledger, scarce-asset model, and peer-to-peer technology.