GBKS
Christoph Ono

https://www.germanysbestkeptsecret.com/

Designer & developer. Helping improve bitcoin design with many others at http://bitcoin.design. I write a weekly update at http://gbks.substack.com. ✌️

Public Key

npub1kuc70777tsvj67fl75s2dmy376t97hv05xmyuyshzzy6vhj5q5jstv0eyw

NIP-05 Address

gbks@nosta.me

NIP-57 Address

gbks@getalby.com

Profile Code

nprofile1qqstwv08l009cxfd0yll2g9xajgld9jltk86rdjwzgt3pzdxte2q2fgpzpmhxue69uhkztnwdaejumr0dshszrnhwden5te0dehhxtnvdakz72e3d3x

Publishing to

a.nos.lol

nos.lol

bitcoiner.social

Author Public Key

npub1kuc70777tsvj67fl75s2dmy376t97hv05xmyuyshzzy6vhj5q5jstv0eyw

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Last Notes

2024-08-01 10:42:17

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It can block video ads, too?

2024-08-01 10:26:23

The YouTube user experience in 2024:
- Consider ad-exposure to content value trade-off
- 50% chance of bailing
- Mute device
- Click link
- Do something else for ~3 minutes
- Come back
- 50% chance of giving up since ad is still running
- Unmute and watch for ~5 minutes
- Ad comes on, mute and do something else
- Repeat...
My default is now to not watch videos unless I am really sure ahead of time that they are worthwhile. The ad/content ratio is not reasonable. This used to be very different 1-2 years ago.

2024-07-31 15:15:32

Bitcoin drink from the future (byproduct of Saving Satoshi brainstorming).
https://m.primal.net/JkRB.jpg

2024-07-31 07:42:09

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I am not sure about iOS, but a system notification is how the new Bitcoin Core App stays alive in the background.
But is Calle even asking about notifications? His question is about persistence in progressive web apps, which might be more local storage and background service workers.

2024-07-31 07:39:30

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Great idea. Let me speak to the person running the project to make that happen and get back to you.

2024-07-25 08:59:49

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Usually not, but it really depends on the use case and visual style. For this Penpot plugin I messed around with, I generated a base illustration (pixels) and then converted it to vector to have more control over the colors directly via JS/CSS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KYLuvunSsE
How about you?

2024-07-25 05:34:57

AI tools are now thoroughly entangled in my workflows and it's a huge power-up. Github Copilot in VS Code, Midjourney for illustrations (bits of Photoshop Generative Fill also), Claude/ChatGPT for text. Nothing for UI yet.

2024-07-23 07:16:45

Finally finished reading this. I find it a helpful framework for some of the dynamics around bitcoin and crypto. https://m.primal.net/JbEx.jpg

2024-06-11 06:35:07

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The first one is mysterious. Wonder what that’s supposed to be used for.

2024-05-17 11:11:31

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I am not a pro on Qt development, but you might get a lot of this for free if you use the built-in UI elements. The new Bitcoin Core App will also be built in Qt (QML though), so there might be an opportunity to collaborate. https://bitcoincore.app/
Did you check out the docs? https://doc.qt.io/qt-6/accessible-qwidget.html
As for testing, it depends on your OS. MacOS has a great screen reader built-in, not sure about the others. We have some info and resources in the Bitcoin Design Guide. https://bitcoin.design/guide/designing-products/accessibility/

2024-05-17 04:53:12

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Yes it is. Front-end devs deal with all kinds of complexity, adding aria-label="Send" to a button, or using a button tag instead of an image tag is dead simple. There are even linters that tell you what the problems are and how to fix them.

2024-05-16 15:03:03

For accessibility awareness day, I tested several apps and it's not good.
Amethyst Android - Grade B+
eNuts iOS - Grade D
Mutiny iOS - Grade D
Snort Android & Web - Grade E
Damus iOS - Grade E
Primal iOS & Web - Grade F
You're pretty much left out in the cold as a blind user.
I know some of these are super new, done by small teams, open-source contributions, etc. But there just seems to be a general disinterest in properly marking up UI elements. This stuff is easy to fix, just needs a few motivated hands.
https://m.primal.net/IHRL.png

2024-05-16 09:41:57

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Yep, that's me. What's up?

2024-05-13 07:43:49

Good read.
https://m.primal.net/IGJp.jpg

2024-05-02 06:55:51

"Import XPUB" or "Link key"? Some explorations around multi-key wallet setup for the Bitcoin Core App. What's good terminology for this stuff? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIb3EYGnNsU

2024-04-11 09:02:53

Another lovely update to the design docs, this one is a first draft for the snapshot (assumeUTXO) feature UX. https://bitcoincore.app/snapshot/

2024-04-09 13:08:30

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Thanks. I very intentionally designed it the way it is, in order to run several Nostr concepts past users, while never pressuring them into actually acting on them. So they at least have it in the back of their heads for the future.
If you look at the onboarding of something like iOS (https://static.lukew.com/ipad_start2014.png), you also go through tons of screens. Each one is focused on a single thing, and afterwards you're really well set up for your future use and don't really have to putz around with basic settings that much anymore.
I totally understand the desire to just cut everything and drop people directly into some UI, but I don't think we're always well served by that. All the social-media focused Nostr apps already do that. And then you have the problem of having to bring the basic concepts back up with users later, sometimes to their surprise.
With Nosta, my idea was to be upfront. Obviously debatable whether that's the best approach or not, and maybe the ideal is somewhere in the middle, but that was my thinking.
Also, I really need to find way more time to work on it (also, it's open-source, so contributions are welcome). So much to do there to make it better. Thanks your your comments, I will note them down and think about them more.

2024-03-13 16:51:53

I'd love to see more designers help mentor in the Summer of Bitcoin program. Happy to answer questions if this sounds remotely interesting.

2024-03-13 14:04:08

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Huge thanks. I am at a conference the rest of the week but will take a very close look. The design is months ahead of development for most things related to the wallet. So we have room for refinement. It's also a reason why I am working on the web prototype, so we can get a more realistic feel for the experience will be. Also agree with your last point. We'll give it our best shot and expect iteration via feedback and testing.

2024-03-13 08:13:02

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It is linked directly from the top of that link above. There's also a link to a web prototype that is a decent rendition of what is being built. And you can download the first version of the app that only has the node functiontionality (desktop & Android). Everything is in motion. https://www.figma.com/file/ek8w3n3upbluw5UL2lGhRx/Bitcoin-Core-App-Design?node-id=616%3A0

2024-03-13 06:01:51

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Working on it. Wanna help? https://bitcoincore.app/

2024-02-27 07:27:08

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Yes, it takes a while to find your groove. I really dislike Tailwind. I understand the intent of attaching style on a component-level directly in the markup and how that can be helpful for larger teams/projects. But it is just so ugly and hard to read. Just feels like it's an abstraction layer for people who either dislike CSS or don't want to properly learn it. And why not use CSS directly instead of a slightly different vocabulary for it that is much harder to read? A nice separation between structure, style, and function is so clean, and frameworks like Vue also provide nice encapsulation.
/End of rant and for anyone who loves Tailwind, that's great for you.

2024-02-23 09:34:43

People always complain about CSS, but I find it an elegant system. But, it takes a really long time to learn to use it well.

2024-02-08 13:56:56

The future of bitcoin UX once the AIs replace designers.
https://i.nostr.build/nl6a.jpg

2024-01-31 13:31:14

We refreshed the website of the Bitcoin Design Foundation (we only had a placeholder previously). Let me know what you think. https://bitcoindesignfoundation.org

2024-01-19 16:09:24

My latest weekly update with design stuff I worked on this week. https://gbks.substack.com/p/85-treeception

2024-01-08 11:41:24

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Is this basically inscriptions on Nostr?

2023-12-18 08:52:50

https://i.nostr.build/R6zq.jpg
Happy HODL day. 10 years ago today, a drunk forum user unintentionally coined this abbreviation in this post: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=375643.0

2023-12-12 15:19:16

Listen to Jonas, @npub1shh…56zk and I talk about @npub1vy6…27hr
and @npub1fun…gs0p for an intense 54 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4EA3auDtII

2023-12-08 09:40:34

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Yeah, half of Figma design system features are off-limits these days because there are no reasonable pricing options. I built some handy tools for myself with the UI Kit plugin. Maybe what you're looking for can also be easily hand-coded?

2023-12-08 09:32:56

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Which feature?

2023-12-07 12:07:31

Just submitted a talk proposal for FOSDEM about open-source design and sustainability in @npub13s5…l03e. Proposals are due tomorrow if you'd also like to present something. https://opensourcedesign.net/2023/11/14/fosdem-cfp-2024

2023-12-05 14:14:03

My wife started a podcast where she chats with her 2 sisters about moving to the US from Japan as kids, now living on different continents, and lots of other things. Big part of the motivation for doing this is to capture stories to leave behind for the kids eventually. We're naturally also testing out Value4Value, so you can find the show on @npub1v5u…n0v5 if you'd like to peek in. https://fountain.fm/show/sFWdFizgfYi4yXdeQr1m

2023-11-22 12:10:02

We've had over 400 calls in the Bitcoin Design Community since the inception mid-2020. About 250 those are recorded and on YouTube & BitcoinTV. Creating covers for the videos is always a fun little exercise, making something that looks interesting somehow without much meaning to it. Here are some from mostly recent design guide jam session.
https://i.nostr.build/P8X0.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/c/BitcoinDesign
https://bitcointv.com/a/bitcoin_design/video-channels

2023-11-21 12:36:59

How can the Bitcoin UI Kit be improved? I am currently gathering ideas for a 2024 roadmap. https://www.bitcoinuikit.com

2023-11-16 07:13:23

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What did not work in Phoenix?

2023-11-03 15:06:47

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Sounds more complicated, TBH. So a user signs up with email & pass and can use Nosta to set up their profile. Then they want to use Snort, how do they log in?
I am not sure it is easier to explain this stuff further down the road to users. My guess is they will just stick with email & pass if it's convenient.

2023-11-03 14:29:33

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Yep, here you go: https://github.com/gbks/nosta-me
How come you prefer email & pass for this?

2023-11-03 14:18:43

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Good point. Although I think that works best for clients where people can directly get active. Nosta is about setting up your basic profile and then using other clients to fill that profile up further. So the user needs to have the key to sign in elsewhere.
TBH, I have not quite figured out how to make that really smooth. Installing a browser extension during profile setup seems like a good step forward. It's in a way more complex to set up, but at least the private keys follow along to other clients and users just need to confirm pop-ups. Maybe Nosta needs a minimal browser extension companion for key handling?

2023-11-03 10:48:57

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Sorry, just seeing your message. I agree, the Nosta onboarding flow needs to become less linear and work better with key managers, Nostr connect, etc. My question is just how would you let people worry about their keys later and still have 99.99% chance that the keys don't get lost somehow?

2023-09-26 12:24:38

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Do devs agree?

2023-08-09 15:04:16

Code dependencies are just the worst. There are two projects I'd currently like to locally build for testing, but I can't due to some cryptic issues related to Ruby and paths. This has been an issue for me for many, many projects (not just Ruby/paths) and prevents me from participating more in the development and testing process. Hours of StackOverflow and AI consultation typically just end in frustration with no progress because one issue just leads to another, and never to actually understanding what's going on. Big thanks to all the devs who have helped me over the years in these situations, even though it often didn't go anywhere. I'd like to end this rant with an appeal to providing automated builds for testing wherever possible to allow for broad participation. I know it can be a lot of extra effort, but it really removes insurmountable barriers for many.

2023-06-26 13:36:55

If you look really closely, this is what you see when sats stream into your wallet. Pure and raw magic internet money flowing through the veins of hyperspace.
https://nostr.build/p/nb11616.jpg

2023-02-14 11:43:55

The info page of the Bitcoin UI Kit was just updated with a workshop video and references to a few projects which used the kit for their whole design. What else would be helpful there? https://www.bitcoinuikit.com/info