Utopian.io: Rewarding Open Source Contributors with Steem!
The new Utopian Steemit client is one of the most innovative use cases of Steem yet it is not getting enough attention so we decided to put together this post to highlight it.
What is Utopian?
Utopian is a new Steem client. Unlike other the core clients like DTude and DSound however, Utopian posts its content to Steemit just like Busy.
Utopian is designed as a platform to reward GitHub contributors for their hardwork in contributing to Open Source software developments.
Users write about their GitHub contributions on Utopian and they get rewarded through upvotes just like posting to Steemit.
The review
On a scale of 1 - 100, we will put Utopian on 70, and that is because everything about it is perfect. There is no beta notice on the site so we can assume the site is final.
The mission
The mission of Utopian is very grand: to reward open source contributions. This is the very first time that any project has aimed to reward open source volunteer developers.
Utopian makes the process so simple - just by posting about your contribution and getting upvotes and tips from your supporters and readers.
There are no registrations, forms to fill, verification processes, contributions evaluation processes or formalities. Your readers simple directly reward you based on their appreciation of your work.
This initiative is more than great, as it will serve as a financial line for open source project developers, which will in effect encourage more developers to contribute to open source projects!
The only prerequisites which are obviously needed to show proof of work are:
- - Links to pull requests/branches/forks if you are contributing to the development.
- - Proof of social engagement if you have contributed by sharing on social media.
- - Any other verifiable proof of your contributions.
The most interesting thing about the site is that they have integrated a GitHub search directly on the posting page and homepages so you can search and link any GitHub activities directly on the site!
More than code
Even more interesting is that fact that users can contribute not just code but idea, social engagement, documentation and graphics.
The User interface
User interface is very important when it comes to accessibility for users and well as user appeal. Of all the Steem clients there are, none has a cleaner and more impressive user interface than Utopian.
Just look at the homepage
Look at the account page(after login)
Here is the posting page(after login)
Security
Steem connect login
Utopian uses the legendary Steem Connect remote login by @Busy.org. This means that you never enter your password, private key or posting key on the site.
Also, it uses the version 2 of the Steem Connect application, which is more secure than the version 1 still being used on some sites like SteemFollower.
No direct wallet access
Clicking on the wallet button on the profile page will send the user directly to the Steemit wallet page. This means that Utopian will NOT handle any direct wallet activities.
Features
Easy image uploading
One frustrating thing about the Steemit editor is the image upload function. If you want to directly upload the image to Steemit, then you have do it in the "Raw HTML" view, copy the URL generated and then switch back to the visual editor to paste it in.
On Utopian, it is as simple as click a button to open the file upload button and select the file to upload, just like on WordPress!
Direct GitHub search and linking
It is necessary for users to link their GitHub work so as a testify that they have made a contribution. Utopian makes this entire process easy be including a GitHub search feature right on the site.
Cool user follow option
In the right sidebar section, you see a list of recommended users to follow!
Comparison with other clients
Almost every Steem client seem to have found its specific use and this is very healthy for the Steem network.
- Chainbb is a forum
- Steemit is a blogging platform
- Busy is a blog
- Dtube is a video sharing site
- Dsound is an audio sharing site
- Utopian is an open source contribution reward site
It would be great of Steemit developers would team up to support Utopian to make it a platform just like Steemit, by making it possible to code apps(not just bots) on it.
Steem investors who have supported several Steem projects such as @MinnowSupport and also delegated Steem power to upvoting bots can also support this initiative which could become bigger than Steemit!
Developers are the future, and the future is open source. Utopian is the right solution to the right problem at the right time, and it deserves the support of every Steemian!
Do not forget, Utopian is built on Steem so the success of Utopian will mean the success of Steem. Utopian has the potential to draw lots of Open Source developers to Steem.
Team
The project is run by @elear - a Senior Software Architect - Javascript Full Stack Developer, focused on ES6, React.js, Redux, TypeScript, Node.js, and DevOps.
Resources
Read the official announcement
Visit Utopian.io
Despite the great potential of Utopian, it could struggle if the amount of money made by Steem posts continues to dwindle while users become more frugal in upvoting the posts of others for fear of draining down their own Steem power.
Check out our previous report which highlights how to make Steemit great again! >
Steem Media Tokens on Steemit: a very lucrative alternate implementation
What do you think?
@blockrush this is so unexpected and I am so glad that you wrote such as wonderful review! Utopian is still in its early days and many more features are yet to come. I don't know what to say, just..
THANK YOU!
thank you @elear
Awesome idea. I loved it.
I'm a little bit confused though. I tried to sign up to post a repo of mine and it's asking for my "owner, active key or master password." I'm not familiarized with steemconnect, but this doesn't seem safe at all.
yes @icaro, SteemConnect was created by the creators of Busy.org and it is the safest way to login in to any other Steem powered site.
It will not store your password or active key, instead it serves as a thirdparty login app that all Steemians use to login to other Steem powered sites.
Once you login to SteemConnect, you can use it to login to every other Steem powered sites without every giving your login to the other sites. So you only login to Steem connect and them use it to connect to other sites without every logging to those sites.
Steem connect is very powerful and is be used for delegations of Steem power as well as creating new Steem accounts.
it is run by @fabien - the creator of SteemJS API, @Busy and @Steemit so you can trust it. here is the initial official announcement post > https://steemit.com/steemconnect/@busy.org/steemconnect-beta-release-note
visit their homepage > https://SteemConnect.com
Hello @icaro SteemConnect is the safest way at the moment to login other Steem applications with your Steem credentials. Utopian does not store anywhere your credentials. Also SteemConnect is based on this repository, owned by Steem itself: https://github.com/steemit/sc2. You are totally safe. Get in touch with me for any doubt. I will help you write your first Contributor Report on Utopian.
This is great to see! Thank you for sharing!
I think most people don't realize how lucky we are to be a part of this as a community. Things of this magnitude are usually only available to the elite. If the power of the community could be harnessed the growth could be exponential.
Thanks for sharing ,
Upvoted !
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thanks @blockrush. all new steem project are welcome.
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Sounds great. What I still don't understand however is how utopian rewards contributors in a way that doesn't already happen when posting via steemit? Or is it just that it allows you to insert github links more easily? Either way, very much considering adding the #steemswitch project (already GPL3) by @dana-varahi and myself to github and utopian to try this out.