We often discuss the idea of Hive as a network-state. Many are already calling this home and spending a great deal of time on here. That is a positive.
This is a process which is in the very early days. It not only applies to Hive but the entire system. Network-states as a model are only starting to get some attention. We have a lot of innovating and experimenting to do.
That said, we can see some tangible steps which must be taken. We are at a point where the infrastructure is in place to build some things. If we want to evolve this idea, it is crucial we have the proper mindset.
A New Town
An analogy that seems to work well is that of a new town.
When dealing with an uninhabited area, a lot of work is required. To go from that state to fully function town is enormous. Diverse skills are needed to ensure we end up with the fruition of what we are building.
Obviously the first step is to clear the land. After this, it is crucial to get infrastructure in place. Without this, we are not going to be a modern town. Utilities much be run so services such as electricity, water, and sewer are available.
After all, what is a town without these things?
Under the network-state concept, since this is starting in the digital, we too require infrastructure. Part of that is building enough to handle an increased number of people. A town being constructed to handle 500 people is in trouble if there are 2,500. Many cities are facing this issue today.
Hive is addressing the scaling issue. Work is still required but that is a focus. The infrastructure being designed have that characteristic as a central tenet. When we look at some of the other network-states, we see issues.
Hopefully the analogy is starting to make sense.
DApp Developers
The next leg of our town's evolution is to get buildings in place. Again, what is a town without buildings? A tent city.
This is not what we are after. On Hive, we want a thriving global metropolis with appeal to people from all walks of life. Therefore, buildings are necessary.
Here is where the DApp developers step in. If we are looking at scale, we are lagging. Hive is lacking in developers, a situation that we simply have to deal with for a moment. However, with more infrastructure additions, especially smart contracts, our network-state might get a huge influx of construction companies.
For the time being, those who are here are literally building. They are adding more to their applications and games. Nails are driven in, paint added, and more square footage added. The same people are often starting new buildings. There is plenty of work for them.
We are no longer simply an empty field. At present, our little town has main section. It is akin to the old prairie days as opposed to a thriving city. Nevertheless, some basics are going in.
Businesses
Business are the next leg.
It is great to have buildings yet if there is nothing in them, what do you have? Sure, some are used for residential yet, without commerce (and finance), the town's economy will not exist.
We need is a saloon, general store, blacksmith, and hotel. Each of these requires a proprietor.
Here is where the community steps in. People have to step up and be builders for our network-state to flourish. This is obvious when dealing with a physical town. Now, it should be clear for Hive.
Many associate building with DApps. That is true as we see since they are the construction entities. However, towns need a lot more than just physical structures. They need businesses offer goods and services to the population of the town.
We see the same with the network-state. DApps are essential yet we also require business built incorporating them.
Laborers
The final piece to the puzzle is laborers.
In the olden days, these were people who traveled from area-to-area looking for work. They would tend to follow the booms, bringing labor to those places which were thriving.
Loyalty and roots were not really part of the equation. Even if a few did settle in one location, their input was simply physical.
Make no mistake, laborers are a crucial part of the equation. Without those people, expansion is severely hindered. That said, they are not the sole focus.
On Hive, we discuss the idea of more laborers needed. The focus is on how to get more users. People want the network-state to grow. Sadly, few ask some simple questions.
Let us go through them here.
State of Hive's Network-State
Can we handle the growth?
This is a sensible question with an unclear answer. At the base layer, we are okay. The blockchain itself will scale. There are some questions about the API nodes and if enough are running. Here is where building out more infrastructure is required.
We also see some issues with a few of the DApps. This could be tied to the problem. If we have a 10x in the user base, can our town handle it.
Do we have enough construction companies?
As mentioned, the DApp builders are still scarce. Much of this, in my view is tied to the smart contract hole that is glaring at us. I would expect this situation resolved by the Spring.
Are businesses forming within the network-state?
Here is where we have an obvious lag. It appears there are very few people forming businesses.
In our town, a business is an entity that is started by an individual (or a group) that is housed in one of the buildings, utilizing the infrastructure. How many of these do you see on Hive?
It is something that really stands out considering this is a permission-less system. Anyone can simply get going. This is what separates a decentralized network-state like Hive from something like Facebook, which also could be considered a network-state of sorts.
In Conclusion
It is clear that we will always need more laborers. However, they are of little use if we do not have a place to house them or something for them to do. What happens is we end up pushing them onto the next town.
Laborers are not going to stick around in a town that is dead. Their transitory nature means they will simply move on.
We have seen that with our network-state. Few set roots down here when all have the opportunities to do so. The solution is not necessarily more leaders but, rather, more business people. We need a community full of people who are entrepreneurs and are willing to get involved in the businesses that add to the network-state.
This is what will attract the laborers. They will join in and participate. However, a town needs goods and services provided.
It is the onus that every member of Hive has upon them.
Building is not just for developers and DApp builders.