• thesmokingman@programming.dev
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    2 days ago

    What exactly are some of the use cases for an infinitely growing, append-only database built primarily so its largest users can rewrite history at will?

    • FRYD@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      Why does a blockchain have to be one big omni ledger? Why do users need more than one token in it? Blockchain could be used for login tokens for a website or for proof of ownership of software licenses.

      Yeah it’s currently flawed and used beyond the scale it’s capable of for things it’s not really good for, that was my entire point. Now the tech is tainted and reviled because of the grift and no one wants to touch it and explore what it could be useful for.

    • migo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 days ago

      Anything where a trustless system is important. The “largest users can rewrite history at will” is a critique to specific implementations, not Blockchain.

      • thesmokingman@programming.dev
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        2 days ago

        I don’t know that it is, though. Can you show me form of blockchain in the real world where this doesn’t apply? Saying large actors can’t affect a specific piece of internet technology, so far, is rather like teaching physics without friction. It’s nice and fun and easy to understand but completely ignores the reality of any implementation.

    • BJW@lemmus.org
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      2 days ago

      Is it rewritable, or is it append only? You only wrote one sentence yet still managed to contradict yourself so I suspect you have a very meager comprehension of the technology.

      • ferric_carcinization@lemmy.ml
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        2 days ago

        As I understand, it’s normally append-only. But, with some implementations, if a malicious entity controls most of the block production, they can undo recent transactions at will.

      • thesmokingman@programming.dev
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        2 days ago

        Go ahead and prove me wrong. Show me blockchain implementations that are immutable post append. On my end, we can talk about Bitcoin forks. We can also talk about the current state of consensus mechanisms, each of which has the explicit ability for large actors to rewrite history in their favor. Even Monero is susceptible because this is fundamental to the blockchain in any form. It’s been a huge reason why I make sure I get paid up front for any consulting I do in this space.

        • BJW@lemmus.org
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          2 days ago

          Only the last few blocks are “rewritable,” which is why a certain number of confirmations are a necessity. Going any further back than that, would be a completely different chain - a fork. The last of of those occurring on Bitcoin was thirteen years ago when it was still encountering growing pains due to an uptake in usage. Forks of more than a couple transactions are not a frequent, regular occurrence by any exaggeration, so for all intents and purposes of modern crypto usage, it is immutable, not rewritable.