The Future of Web Development: Self-Writing Apps on Blockchains
The Rise of Blockchain Technology
Today, hundreds of millions of people own bitcoin and other tokens hosted on blockchains worth trillions of dollars. However, blockchains are more than just a means of holding tokens. They can also host sophisticated web applications, which can be fully on-chain, just like tokens. These apps are implemented entirely from network-resident code, i.e., smart contract software and its evolutions.
The Potential of Self-Writing Apps
This has huge potential. By the end of 2025, more than 5 billion people will own internet-connected smartphones with web browsers. So, what might drive them to create and use fully on-chain web apps, which can sport seamless Web3 functionality?
The Emergence of "Vibe Coding" and Self-Writing Apps
I believe a new blockchain revolution is imminent, thanks to advancing AI and self-writing app technology. This relates to an important emerging trend called "vibe coding." Vibe coding involves software engineers using tools with integrated AI that can write and fix software code on their behalf, making them much more productive.
The Self-Writing Apps Paradigm
The self-writing apps paradigm takes this much further, by enabling non-technical users to create, own, and update apps simply by instructing AI over chat. For reasons I will explain, blockchain is in a unique position to help bring this revolutionary functionality to the world.
Creating, Owning, and Updating Apps
In the future, an individual will be able to create a personal branding website, or something like a custom wedding planning app for a family member getting married, just by talking to AI. An entrepreneur without technical staff or money will be able to create a new kind of e-commerce website, or build a sharing economy app with Web3 rails. And, an enterprise will be able to create sophisticated CRM functionality, for an infinitesimally small fraction of the investment in time and money that is currently required. All just by talking, without the need for software engineering or systems administration skills.
The Advantages of Self-Writing Apps
Apps living on blockchains have a number of valuable features. They are sovereign and censorship-resistant, because they live on a public network, they are tamper-proof, which means they are secure without depending on cybersecurity, incredibly resilient, and can seamlessly integrate powerful Web3 functionalities because they live on-chain.
Solving Major Problems
Blockchain technology solves major problems involved with having AI build solo on traditional IT. For example, the code that runs on traditional IT must be written carefully to avoid introducing security holes, and the whole platform is sensitive to security configurations, from cloud accounts, to operating systems running on cloud instances like Linux, to hosted platform software such as databases and web servers. This means traditional IT infrastructure must often be further protected by cybersecurity systems such as firewalls and anti-malware. Failover, and backup and restore, are another concern, and service providers must be trusted.
The Limitations of Traditional IT
Trusting AI to build solo on traditional IT is a stretch, because even a single mistake can lead to a cyberattack that results in data exfiltration, or ransomware encrypting data.
The Advantages of Blockchain
Blockchains make it far easier for AI to build solo in many different ways. For example, the network-resident code blockchains host is "serverless," greatly simplifying the coding tasks AI must perform, allowing code to be produced faster. On the Internet Computer network, code can also serve secure interactive web experiences directly to end users, and can store and process massive amounts of data efficiently, and even be used to build things such as a fully on-chain social network (e.g., oc.app) or an important enterprise application.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the future of web development is likely to be shaped by the emergence of self-writing apps on blockchains. With the ability to create, own, and update apps simply by talking to AI, the potential for democratization and decentralization is vast. As we move forward, it will be exciting to see how this technology evolves and shapes the future of the web.
FAQs
Q: What is the self-writing apps paradigm?
A: The self-writing apps paradigm involves enabling non-technical users to create, own, and update apps simply by instructing AI over chat.
Q: How does blockchain technology solve major problems involved with having AI build solo on traditional IT?
A: Blockchain technology solves major problems involved with having AI build solo on traditional IT by providing a "serverless" environment, simplifying coding tasks, and enabling secure and efficient data processing.
Q: What is the potential of self-writing apps on blockchains?
A: The potential of self-writing apps on blockchains is vast, with the ability to create, own, and update apps simply by talking to AI, and the potential for democratization and decentralization.
Q: How will self-writing apps shape the future of web development?
A: Self-writing apps will shape the future of web development by enabling non-technical users to create, own, and update apps simply by talking to AI, and by providing a new level of democratization and decentralization.
