Building tools was never a part of "the deal" for BitShares witnesses, there's much more to the role than that.

However, witnesses are the closest people we have to devs now, some are devs or like me have a strong enough tech background to create some tools.

I have always loved scripting languages, and I will get up to speed on python, count on it! But I can't be pushed, and there is so much going on it's hard for one guy to keep up with everything. Just bought 2 more dedicated servers, one for testnet. Plus I am ramping up on PeerPlays too, so my time to manage all these servers and upgrades (seems like all I've done since returning from Anarchapulco is buy & upgrade) is increasing.

I also here the frustration in your words @xeroc, it's difficult going it alone (so to speak). I have a feeling you'll be getting some help as more devs see how great the opportunities are here. Look, RoelandP is a recent addition, he is a great example of what I bet you'd like to see more of.

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I encourage witnesses  and candidates to run nodes and APIs also on testnet.

I asked for this months ago. Only 2 have made it.

I have also encouraged people to join efforts on witness tools. Besides me, only 3 are building public witness tools by now
I am pretty disappointed by the witnesses performance in general (except for block production). That is also the reason why I voted for a reduction of the number of witnesses .. to get rid of those that just setup the server and do nothing else. I understand that there are few that want to go further and build tools and I would love to encourage them, but I personally (today) prefer to go through a worker (many workers)
that pay those people to build those tools and APIs. Given that we now also have the tools to do USD denominated workers, I think this is the path forward - and not through a lot of money at all witnesses.
It also separates the jobs quite nicely.

An astonishingly amazing and awesome post sir, I symbolically bow to thee!

So many great things in there, and I can't take issue with any,  V E R Y  well said.

Isn't it the professional path to follow? For how long would you trust a blockchain without a serious software release protocol?

This is the essence of how seriously this community understands what we're doing and what's at stake. Since the majority of stake is held in eastern hands, and since those hands and the minds they're connected to have only a small number of people who participate in the forum and on the Friday mumble sessions (and perhaps on the Telegram channels as well), it is extremely important for those in the east that DO follow and stay informed such as @bitcrab, to emphasize the principles @rnglab so comprehensively articulated here to their eastern brethren. Failure to do so could lead to irrational decisions harmful to the robustness and longevity of this amazing ecosystem. This is not just the responsibility of one group but it is an important directive for us all. Educate, educate educate. Market, market, market.

The western and the eastern communities must learn to communicate better and manifest a unified perspective towards the value of work that must be done to maintain and grow this platform. Can we do it? It is a significant challenge due to cultural and language obstacles, but it is so very important to try.

Who knows, perhaps the people of these two groups can demonstrate the power that peer-to-peer cooperation can make in the world. A spirit of humanity springing forth from the grassroots, not dictated by a ruling class that cannot possibly make effective and appropriate decisions for individuals. If the well being of individuals is threatened it will ultimately threaten the collective. This is why gubermnt will always be at odds with the best interests of the people.

I have a genuine respect for the eastern view that considers the well being of society above the individual. It is quite different than the the view held in the west, at least historically who emphasize the importance of the individual. It illustrates the need for balance, as both views have value.

It's very interesting that the 2 cultures are evolving away from their past orientation and embracing the contrary; people in the west moving more towards a collective orientation (i.e. socialism) and the east moving more towards individualism. This is a generalization of course, and the speed of change is not fast or ubiquitous within those collective populations.

I know that individualism is still strong and dominant for the western participants in this project, but we are learning to balance that with the needs of the many who make up this entire ecosystem.

I am rambling here and have inadvertently steered the focus away from the nuts and bolts, practical concerns expressed by @rnglab. But please consider the import of what we have expressed and may that lead to a brighter future for us all.

I have remove my vote for witness jerryliu.

But I know bitcrab is very busy for help bitshares these days,
he had contact many new partner(include exchange, ico, bitCNY gateway) to join bitshares.
and attend some meetup in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu for Bitshares
he is the best  wealth for Bitshares,
I need our witness with a high quality
So I will vote for jerryliu again when he resovle the feed price problem.

@bitcrab, you truly help this community, and I am very grateful for that.

fortunatelly now in a whole the price feeding of witnesses work well so my absent do not lead to obvious worse consequence...

What would happen if other witnesses used this same excuse? It's not like you can't afford to hire someone to resolve the issue for you.

I won't keep hounding you about this but if others do I think it's deserved.

Perhaps you should consider giving up your witness slot so others who have the time and are able to perform according to the standards you yourself have described  have a chance to.

Please respect the Witness job and take steps to correct this as soon as possible.

I'm surprised that the mere mention of a certain individual makes people here discuss the question of dropping BTS for something about which very little is known at this time, basically that it will be called EOS and is some new idea of BM.

Quote from: Permie on May 13, 2017, 11:14:03 am

But if EOS is a system that completely undermines the wealth of BTS 2 shareholders, then what's to say that Dan won't find cryptonitesupercode language better suited to blockchains in 2 years time? And replaces EOS again?
...
I know you can't release certain information; but is 'Don't worry BTS 2 shareholders, we aren't going to fuck you over' that much to ask for?

IMO it's a safe bet that Dan will sooner or later leave EOS behind. He's got a history of doing that.
And you won't hear a "we aren't going to fuck you over", because I think that BM worries very little about the *people* here.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that EOS is going to be an amazing piece of technology, and I'm sure that BM does not intend to "fuck anyone over". But that doesn't mean you won't feel like having been fucked over, after he's left.

Well said @pc, well said. 

I think you miss my point regarding AA. He's definitely not a Bitcoin maximalist, however he is always reluctant to endorse specific altcoins. I think I heard him say once he prefers to be an independent observer and not tied to a specific alt. He is mostly focused on Bitcoin in his presentations as well as general news and activities in the cryptospace. I also see his perspective towards individual freedom and away from fiat as being very strong, and in that regard he would fit well with our ecosystem. That also paints a picture of his high level of integrity (to me at least) and thus not so easily swayed or influenced by money, so waving a bunch of it in his face to entice him won't be as effective you you seem to believe it might be.

But hey, for all I know you are his best friend, and if you believe the approach of using a celebrity to improve adoption is the way to go, just do it! I'll be the first to encourage you.

The price today is ALMOST the All Time High. $0.046529 according to coinmarketcap.com

The price has only ever been higher (in USD) than it is today for one night, August the 25th 2014

No, actually the record had to be near May 8th, where BitShares was #15 and Steem was #10. I caped a screenshot of CMC with price of BTS at $0.056 that day.

Nice work you 2. How are you taking auction bids?