Being a developer for the decentralized web sucks

For most of us, creating is challenging enough without dealing with the intricacies of new technology, apps, and APIs though perhaps you’re a famous developer and you’ll disagree.

The reason it bothers according to the developer

Because Web2 has been around for so long, everything has an API, and to make things even easier, numerous aggregation services are available. Apps and APIs are available for Web3, but since everything is decentralized, they are all, well, decentralized. Getting everything to function as one is a huge pain.

After talking to a ton of frustrated developers, five main problems stood up as the most annoying:

• Fragmented tooling and services:  The Web3 space is full of tools and services, each with its integration guidelines. Every time you integrate a new tool or service, you have to start over because there isn’t a single standard for various products and services.

• API key management overhead:  Additionally, since every extra key adds another possible point of failure or misuse, there is an increased danger of security breaches. Managing authentication across many platforms wastes time and resources that could better used on core development tasks, increasing the operational load.”

• Data inconsistencies: Inconsistent data between different services can lead to unpredictable application behavior, which can ruin the intended functionality and provide a bad user experience a deadly combination for a lot of aspiring firms.

• Service failures and downtime risks:  Few situations are more stressful than having a platform go down and having to sprint against time. Many services lack redundancy, which increases the risk of downtime because there is no backup if a service fails. The difficult part of this is having to design fallback mechanisms for each integrated service.

• Integration of advanced technologies:  It cannot be easy to integrate sophisticated technologies because doing so necessitates a thorough understanding of both the new technology and the current Web3 architecture. System and product changes are necessary to maintain competitiveness whenever a new technology enters the market, particularly for developing technologies like AI/ML.

What actions are necessary according to the developer?

 It is not the job of solo developers or compartmentalized companies to overcome these obstacles. It’s a team effort that needs a common understanding of what the decentralized web looks like. Three main points must covered.

• A coherent approach

 A one-stop shop for Web3 tooling that is similar to Firebase is what we need. This one platform might house all the different services and technologies needed for Web3 development. The main concept is to provide an integrated and simplified platform that tackles the current obstacles in Web3 development. In the Web3 arena, a platform like this would significantly reduce entry barriers, increase productivity, and accelerate innovation.

• Robust fallback mechanisms

 Maintaining a dependable user experience requires redundancy solutions to be in place that provide backup services to assure uninterrupted operation, even during service outages. Creating automatic fallback systems that can transition to different services or approaches in the event of an outage could reduce downtime and preserve the dependability of the application.

• support for advanced integrations

 For cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, plug-and-play integration solutions would reduce technical barriers and speed up the integration process, making it simpler to add sophisticated functionalities.

Challenges Faced by Developers in the Decentralized Web Ecosystem

Collaboration, standardization, and innovation are the keys to success. We can accomplish more than merely streamline the development process by proactively tackling these issues now. We can provide the groundwork for a decentralized, just, and dynamic digital environment where innovation is not only accepted but also honored.

At Blockchain Creators Firm, a renowned early-stage Web3 Venture Capital firm that invests in elite creators worldwide, Aly Madhavji serves as a managing partner. Aly Madhavji has advised institutions such as INSEAD and the United Nations on the use of cutting-edge technology to reduce poverty. He named one of the “Blockchain 100” Global Leaders and held the position of senior blockchain fellow at INSEAD. 

He graduated with honors from the University of Toronto with a bachelor’s degree in business, a master’s degree in global affairs as a Schwarzman Scholar from Tsinghua University, and an MBA from INSEAD (Singapore and France). The CEO and co-founder of Uniblock, a developer platform that combines QuickNode, Moralis, and other Web3 entities into a single toolkit, is Kevin Callahan. In addition to being an adjunct professor of product management at Toronto Metropolitan University and an EIR at Ivey Business School, he has held positions at Twitter and Coinbase in the past. He is also an angel investor and limited partner in several startups and funds.

This material is not meant, and should not interpreted as, investment or legal advice. It is meant only for general informational reasons. The author alone expresses the views, ideas, and opinions mentioned here, which may not reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.