ofer.elrom
Ofer Elrom

Entrepreneurial developer. Trying to picture the world through the Bitcoin lens and act by it.

Public Key

npub13qktwex55g7re2thlp2klcnhm8ry86gex90l6j7w8mz5thq7ywpsvlnw8c

NIP-05 Address

ofer@nostrplebs.com

NIP-57 Address

shineon@getalby.com

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsgst9hvn22y0pu49mls4t0ufman3jrayvnzhlaf08ra329ms0z8qcvs5s72

Author Public Key

npub13qktwex55g7re2thlp2klcnhm8ry86gex90l6j7w8mz5thq7ywpsvlnw8c

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Last Notes

2024-05-26 11:59:37

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I would like to build open Graph computing over Nostr.
Any help and suggestions are welcome
What
-------
This note describes a basic framework for graph computation over Nostr Network. Nostr graph computation can find/calculate social data from the Nostr network. It may be able to find sub-communities, fields of interest, popular posts, etc
Why
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Graph computation is the base layer that allows the mining of social data from social networks.
Nostr is a protocol that enables social network applications.
Some of the more advanced and useful applications of social networks rely on computed social data. For example, a matching service based on a social network would use the ability to identify subgroups of connected entities or the ability to query for entities in a group who match some criteria.
Currently, every such app built on Nostr needs to compute its own social data. This is a complicated and costly process that narrows and centralizes the space of more complex and potentially highly useful applications.
Open-source social data mining utilities can lead to an open and distributed Nostr social data computation market, hopefully distributed between actors.
A framework and to some level, a protocol for computing Nostr social data can help achieve this goal.
How
-------
Big graph data computation requires a lot of processing, a lot of storage, and relatively complex software to manage it. These requirements tend to make Big graphs computation be done by gig centralized companies with enough resources to pull it.
This framework attempts to solve this by:
- Make use of relays as the data layer (storage) for graph computation and make the computation process as
- Define a low-level and hopefully simple protocol that allows disjointed actors to cooperate in the computation process and keep it distributed between different actors.
- Be an open-source software that can manage the synchronization between computation suppliers and allows other software developers to extend it to do more specific graph computation.

2024-05-23 06:57:54

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We differ on those points, but it's too complex (at least for me now) to prove them right or wrong, so I think we will leave this at that.
Thank you for the advice and for telling me about Neo4j Database.

2024-05-23 06:45:19

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The linked article describes Jack Dorsey's donation of ~250K$ to Nostr projects.
250k$ can buy approximately 1 year of work of 2 experienced developers. That's not very much and is practically nothing compared to the work required to build all the "Nostr software" live today.
Nostr was built mainly on belief, and I personally like the result.

2024-05-23 06:34:24

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If we only used immediate fundable projects as a guide for what to build, there would be no Nostr.

2024-05-23 06:24:51

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@npub19wd…lx5z,
As many other Nostr projects. It's not funded at the first stage.
I think if built correctly, the framework allows for a marketplace between social data consumers (Customer facing Apps that monetize social data), computational resource suppliers that supply social data and relays that store social data.
This marketplace can fund the evolution of such a protocol and framework while strengthening the base layers of Nostr.

2024-05-23 05:48:56

I would like to build Graph computing over Nostr.
Any help and suggestions are welcome
What
-------
This note describes a basic framework for graph computation over Nostr Network.
Why
-------
Graph computation is the base layer that allows the mining of social data from social networks.
Nostr is a protocol that enables social network applications.
Some of the more advanced and useful applications of social networks rely on computed social data. For example, a matching service based on a social network would use the ability to identify subgroups of connected entities or the ability to query for entities in a group who match some criteria.
Currently, every such app built on Nostr needs to compute its own social data. This is a complicated and costly process that narrows and centralizes the space of more complex and potentially highly useful applications.
Open-source social data mining utilities can lead to an open and distributed Nostr social data computation market, hopefully distributed between actors.
A framework and to some level, a protocol for computing Nostr social data can help achieve this goal.
How
-------
Big graph data computation requires a lot of processing, a lot of storage, and relatively complex software to manage it. These requirements tend to make Big graphs computation be done by gig centralized companies with enough resources to pull it.
This framework attempts to solve this by:
- Make use of relays as the data layer (storage) for graph computation and make the computation process as
- Define a low-level and hopefully simple protocol that allows disjointed actors to cooperate in the computation process and keep it distributed between different actors.
- Be an open-source software that can manage the synchronization between computation suppliers and allows other software developers to extend it to do more specific graph computation.

2024-05-18 10:31:10

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Very nice!

2024-01-25 07:20:29

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Perhaps this is relevant to you:
To make a significant impact on the world, bitcoin needs to move from a store of value to a medium of exchange, allowing its 'hard money' properties to touch lives, change social orders, and stabilize its usage as world money.
A way to push this transition is a bitcoin crowdfunding platform for bitcoin ventures that repay investment in bitcoin.
Such a platform can encourage investors to convert their fiat currency to bitcoin for investment purposes. This would promote the growth of bitcoin businesses that focus on building for bitcoin use cases, earning bitcoin, and paying back to investors in bitcoin. Ultimately, this would lead to the development of a cross-border circular economy
Femi Longe, thank you for sparking this for me.

2024-01-08 13:02:05

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I think both geyser and tallycoin are more like charity funds where people donate to a project rather then invest fund for future revenue.
IMO this makes the difference between a form of charity that is limited in its ability to grow and capitalism which allows limitless cooperation for the benefit of all participants.

2024-01-07 20:31:50

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In the spirit of connecting Bitcoin hubs, what do you think of a semi-distributed Bitcoin Crowd Fund built on Fedimint and Nostr?
The essence of it is:
"A platform for people to invest in entrepreneurs aiming to solve real-world needs using Bitcoin"
Here is a link to my thoughts about it so far in a Google doc - https://docs.google.com/document/d/110x1mZ6GNeFqU2EWdlIoAhvyoPtoEcgXbID95gGC9CU/edit?usp=sharing
Would love your opinion.

2023-12-31 13:13:08

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Now I understand. Thanks.

2023-12-31 11:54:58

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What is the use case?
If you have to trust someone to fulfill the promise of the IOU he owes you, why do you need a semi-trustless decentralized protocol to manage these IOUs?

2023-12-31 09:08:27

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Do you mean just IOU - only denominated in Bitcoin but not holding any direct tie to any UTXO as opposed to what the Lightning network does?

2023-12-25 07:05:31

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Thank you for the reminder

2023-12-18 12:02:19

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I believe decentralization is the key to humanity's flourishing.
The problem is centralization is much more efficient in the short run, and humanity needs capital investment and patience to harvest the fruits of decentralization.
Those who suffer enough from the current centralization to invest in decentralization may be the bringers of change to all of us.

2023-12-15 09:15:31

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To truly help the world, bitcoin needs to move from a store of value to a medium of exchange, allowing its 'hard money' properties to touch lives, change social orders, and stabilize its usage as world money.
A way to push this transition is a bitcoin crowdfunding platform for bitcoin ventures that repay investment in bitcoin.
Such a platform can push a worldwide circular economy of investors converting fiat to bitcoin investment, pushing bitcoin businesses focused on building for bitcoin use cases, earning bitcoin, and paying back to investors in bitcoin.
Femi Longe, thank you for the spark.

2023-12-15 09:14:20

2023-12-06 13:52:45

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Thank you @npub1s05…eyhe.
This is wonderful to hear.
How is Bitcoin helping them?
Are there actual use cases benefiting them right now?
Can you identify use cases that need to be created and will benefit them?

2023-11-27 14:26:06

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I, for one, am not overthinking but entirely not understanding what this graph means.
Can you explain?

2023-11-22 11:41:05

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Boom. I got that one too.
https://m.primal.net/HQwm.png

2023-11-20 15:32:46

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Started nose breathing and taping my mouse at night to force it.
This stopped my sleep apnea overnight. Stopped my nightmares and nightly tooth grinding
.
Cold plunges 3 to 6 Celsius degrees twice to three times a week.
It seems to be responsible for taking down my blood pressure back to healthy levels.

2023-10-29 10:35:17

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Fighting bad is sometimes a must and usually serves immediate impulses.
We must beware of drowning in fighting bad and we must remember to find and do good.

2023-10-23 19:07:29

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When fear and despair are at their pick, take small steps.
One step at a time.
It helps on the way back to hope and bigger steps.

2023-10-22 07:48:18

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I think 3 is best for us humans in the long run, but I root for it with a trembling heart.
We are experiencing the chaos that comes with it in Israel and it is far harder to whish for a chaotic change when you get a taste of the chaos to go through.
We all need to realize and be prepared for the pain that may be involved in this transition.

2023-10-20 06:43:52

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Missing real use cases that serve needs strong enough for people to pay sats.

2023-10-08 06:33:19

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I think (as many said) we are in a power shift from a single centralized force running the world to multiple centralized forces running it.
And this translates into a fight over hegemony where previously there was no question about who is the hegemony and hence less need to fight.
The new fight percolates through our world.
Perhaps if somehow the power shift was from centralized power ruling into decentralized power world control structure, things could truly be different.
My hope and deep reason for bitcoin is that it can bring such a change in the world control structure. A distributed control structure that naturally gravitates toward benefitting all the "simple" people without the need to rely on centralized powers to protect us by fighting a never ending zero some game that brings waves of cruelty and misery.
I truly whish, hope and pray we can get there. The alternative is unbearable.

2023-10-07 22:01:57

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Sometimes things are just terrible. This wheel just keeps on turning with no end in sight.
We have so many dreams theories on how the world can be better and then reality hits.

2023-08-24 13:05:54

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Boom. I bought it.
I have been waiting for this for so long...
Will it be on kindle too?

2023-07-27 08:13:43

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I would always like an audio version to accompany a printed version. Whenever I read/hear a "serious" book I try to get both versions and move between them

2023-05-31 07:28:25

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Do you mean an easy to setup online shop that allows customers to pay with bitcoin and allows shop owners to get the payment in bitcoin or USD as they desire?

2023-05-30 05:41:11

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Thank you for this. Maya.
I do not understand what you mean by "Maybe shops." Is this referring to shops that may need wallets of the type you described?
If so, do you know such shop owners I can talk to?

2023-05-29 13:17:08

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Is there a specific need you know of that is worth solving?

2023-03-31 06:29:06

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The idea behind Replit looks excellent, and so does the implementation.
Regarding the purchase, it may be more an indication of how much google is to the wall regarding AI than of how much Replit is a valid savior.

2023-03-21 10:33:10

A heart and mind-felt podcast.
Thank you, #[0] , for exemplifying how immense it is to operate from love and humility.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiSsxVM0B-U

2023-03-19 06:53:57

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The above NIP relies on POS service suppliers and defines three new events that compose Trade support.
## Building blocks
The following 4 building blocks enable trading products over Nostr.
### POS Service Supplier
A web service that allows setting up a single product sell page. Preferably with lightning, as it integrates well with Nostr.
A POS supplier url can be part of a Product event allowing redirecting users to a buy page of the product supplied by the POS service.
### Product Event
A new special event of kind xx that describes a purchasable product.
### Product Purchase Event
A new special event of kind xx+1 describes how to purchase a product. This event links a POS service supplier to the product.
Keeping the method of purchasing separated from the product allows changing POS suppliers with no effect on product data, rating, and reputation.
### Rating Event
A new special event of kind xx+2 that describes ratings assigned by a Nostr user to a product.

2023-03-19 06:49:41

Open Protocol level support in Trade that is resistant to centralization and lockin leads to service suppliers competing over supplying the best value to sellers and buyers instead of figuring out the best way to trap them.
I created this NIP draft for such Protocol level support. I would be happy for you to read and remark.
https://github.com/ofer-elrom/nips/blob/master/66.md

2023-03-12 07:30:44

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As technology progresses the cost of production and transporting goes down. In the long run, it seems recipes will (information on how to create) would matter more than the cost of creation or transferring.

2023-03-12 07:27:19

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I think in these cases, time becomes the scarce commodity that is being traded.
Meaning the market is based on trading the earliest access to the most relevant data.

2023-03-10 16:52:07

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Thank you #[2] . An excellent podcast that sparked this thought for me:
.
Nostr allows for distributed entrepreneurship.
Big tech companies have no incentive to invest in locking a user base in a distributed value-sharing protocol since the users can seamlessly migrate with their data to the next value supplier.
This allows many micro-entrepreneurs to cater to the audience previously crowded out by said big tech. The network rapidly judges these many small products by their value to and interconnection with the entire network of users and other products. This distributed entrepreneurship process increases value for all at an ever-increasing rate.

2023-03-10 16:49:50

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The excellent chapter of #[2] talking with #[3] brought me to the thought posted above.
Find the podcast here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1zt7EbphaNwxbBpUbdl80n?si=EdulCIXkSx28SJ4pgK8SUQ

2023-03-10 16:46:21

Nostr allows for distributed entrepreneurship.
Big tech companies have no incentive to invest in locking a user base in a distributed value-sharing protocol since the users can seamlessly migrate with their data to the next value supplier.
This allows many micro-entrepreneurs to cater to the audience previously crowded out by said big tech. The network rapidly judges these many small products by their value to and interconnection with the entire network of users and other products. This distributed entrepreneurship process increases value for all at an ever-increasing rate.

2023-03-01 13:44:27

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I think Trade support at the Nostr protocol level is the next big step to take.
For anyone reading this and want to build:
Clients can facilitate the connection between Point Of Sale service suppliers and users acting as sellers and get part of the payment for that facilitation.
To do that client can supply the UI to let users create Product events (see below) connected to a POS supplier.
Clients creating product events incentivize all to cooperate around the decentralized protocol with no one centralizing control. It provides Clients with a revenue stream sustained by the real need of their users.
Trade support can be composed of the following:
`product event` containing data of product offered and URL to POS supplier.
`Skills And Products` tags added to set_metadata event of users acting as sellers.
`Rating event`
Consider, for example, cooperating with Breeze as a POS supplier on Lightning.
I am writing a NIP for this that I hope can help.

2023-02-25 18:57:30

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Link to Breeze: https://breez.technology/

2023-02-25 18:56:05

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I think the way forward is Trade support at the Nostr protocol level.
Then the client will facilitate the connection between the Point Of Sale service suppliers and the user acting as seller and get some part of the payment for that facilitation.
The client can supply the UI to let users create Product events (see below) connected to a POS supplier.
This supplies an incentive for all to cooperate around the decentralized protocol with no one centralizing control, and it provides Clients with a revenue stream sustained by the real need of their users.
Trade support can be composed of the following:
- product event containing data of product offered and URL to POS supplier.
- Rating event
- Skills And Products tags added to set_metadata event of users acting as sellers.
See more in this note @#[3].
Consider cooperating with Breeze as a POS supplier on Lightning.
Jeff Booth invested in Breeze, so maybe he can help connect to them #[2]

2023-02-23 23:19:17

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Thank you. I understand the negotiation part now.
I have to go to sleep (Israel time) and will not be online in the next couple of days, but I would love to continue discussing this.

2023-02-23 23:01:38

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Thank you for the elaborate explanation. I don't understand the need for the negotiation process, but I will read deeper later.
IMO, finding a way to have as much of the logic reside in the Nostr protocol in the form of a data scheme laid over events and profiles is vital.
This will allow the use case you described and many other use cases to run over the data and strengthen each other, like what is happening with the current social media use cases of the Nostr protocol.
These are roughly the changes I think are required at the protocol level to enable this:
In short:
Adding a Product type Nostr event that describes a tradable product.
Adding skills as a possible property list of a user profile.
Adding Rating type Nostr event that rates a product or a skill.
In longer form:
Products
========
Product Event
- High-level type of product - Good, Service, ...
- [categorie1, categorie2, categorie3, ...] categories the products fits into. For an apple, this may be ['food', 'fruit', 'ready to eat food', ...]
- ID: Unique Pubkey Id of this product
- Description in text
- Description media - image or video
- Price value
- Unit of account that the price quotes - Bitcoin, Dollar, ....
- Purchasing process URL. Calling this with the product ID redirects to a purchasing page.
Social rating
==========
Rating event
- Rating value
- Rating range [min max]
- [Skill: skill that is being rated, Profile ID: Profile to which this rating applies]
- Item id: the item that is being rated.
- Rater ID. The ID of the user who gives the rate
- Commen
Division of labor
=============
Add the to set_metadata event. Note that this is only for a user who is a seller of goods or products.
- [skill2, skill2, ] skills that the user proclaims. Skill may be in the service category (marketer, developer) or in the product supplier category (cloths store, electronic device store,... ). Profile skills may be rated by other users who will send rate events
- [product1, product2, produ3] - Ids of products supplied by the use

2023-02-23 20:07:38

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Making synchronization of code versions and developer interactions censorship-resistant and keeping developers' real identities hidden can solve this. @jack bountied a project for this.
To whoever is going to build this, please consider using the following as part of the solution:
Wrap monetary support in coders with a Fedimint community to prevent following the money trail to them.
Have Nostr-authenticated developers use a Nostr-compatible git client to push to and pull from Nostr-authenticated git suppliers using Nostr relays as a communication layer.
For a more elaborate explanation, please see and remark in this google document:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z96XpTtrUvrFZYPjMzlT5JuE41HF6X5vI99lvImVCvU/

2023-02-23 13:11:26

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I think "Trade" support at the protocol level of Nostr is a significant step toward being a base layer for human cooperation.
I was thinking about the NIPs required to support something close that is more focused on a gig marketplace. I would be happy to define a set of NIPs that supports both and to try and cooperate in creating some proof of concept on that.

2023-02-23 13:10:56

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2023-02-21 06:43:50

Nostr supplies a low-risk sandbox to find the benefits of a decentralized self-forming system for human cooperation.
Newcomers get the easy-to-pick fruits and, by picking them, send a signal to builders.
Builders can then dig deeper into how the system forms and reform it according to that signal.
All with rapid reiterations and short feedback loops.

2023-02-19 12:41:04

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Thanks.

2023-02-19 11:41:54

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In Nostr, that central administrator does not exist, so no one can pay for bypassing the social power structure.

2023-02-19 11:38:10

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I think that as long as you need to distribute money between influencers to get exposure and these influencers are bound to have integrity towards their crowd, or they lose that crowd, then such network promotion may strengthen the clear signal of value in a community and follow the "natural" formation of a social structure.
The problem starts when you pay a central platform administration to overexpose a message by breaking what the self-forming social structure dictates.

2023-02-19 10:13:22

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Is it possible to connect an existing Nostr pubkey with the App?
I couldn't figure out how.

2023-02-17 21:57:55

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The winning apps on this protocol will be the ones that optimize how people on them cooperate with other people to achieve a common goal.
As long as the apps depend on people for their "computation," centralized power will be in check, and the good of the community of participants will be aimed for.
Just as is currently happening with Nostr social clients.

2023-02-17 21:56:19

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2023-02-17 21:48:52

Nostr, as a base layer software protocol for communication between people, incentivizes applications that discover the most rewarding human cooperation. And then enhance.

2023-02-17 21:20:19

#[0]

2023-02-17 21:19:00

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Internet protocol connects machines and leads to the unprecedented continuous optimization of what computers can do together. Nostr protocol connects people and can lead to the unprecedented continuous optimization of what humans can do together.
Imagine what this incentivizes.

2023-02-17 16:27:41

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