Web 3.0: What's Next in the World of Web Development?

‍

Image Source: Unsplash

‍

The internet is changing faster than ever before. The rate of adoption for new technologies has increased, and the lines between different types of media have begun to blur. With this accelerated rate of change, many are looking towards a new wave of technology as the next big thing in web development: Web 3.0. With the rapid rise in adoption of mobile devices and apps along with the growth of social media and online networking sites, users are creating their own content at an unprecedented rate. This shift has paved the way for new technologies that make it easier for users to create and share content online without needing to rely on traditional centralized services like websites or applications. These decentralized technologies have been coined “Web 3.0” – a phrase that encompasses all of these newer advancements in decentralized technology that are changing how we use the internet every day.

What is Web 3.0?

A common misconception about the term “Web 3.0” is that it refers to the third version of the “World Wide Web”, also known as “Web 2.0”. Although the technologies behind these terms are related, they are actually distinct definitions. Web 2.0 is a term used to describe a shift in internet usage that occurred around 2005 when websites began to shift their focus from publishing content to user-generated content. This was made possible by the advent of blogging, social networking, and user rating systems. These innovations were later adopted by major websites like Wikipedia and Craigslist, and they were subsequently referred to as “Web 2.0”.

What Does Web 3.0 Mean in Practice?

There is no universally agreed upon definition of what Web 3.0 actually is. However, there are some key themes that are often associated with the term. Web 3.0 is generally used to refer to the shift to decentralized technologies that are outside of the control of centralized organizations. Web 3.0 is all about self-ownership: making the internet accessible to everyone, building the decentralized internet we’ve always wanted, supporting privacy, and giving users control over their data. You can do this with a blockchain-based app, where you have full control over your data, or with an app that lets you put your data in control.

Merging the World of Proprietary Software and Open Source

In the past, the lines were clear between open source and proprietary software. Open source was typically used by software engineers to create decentralized, collaborative platforms like the internet itself while proprietary software was often used to create expensive, centralized tools like Microsoft Word. However, we’ve begun to see a new trend emerge in which open source platforms are increasingly being used to create proprietary software. Indeed, many of the tools and services that enable Web 3.0 are open source tools that enable developers to build powerful software while still maintaining decentralization. For example, Ethereum is an open source blockchain platform that enables developers to build decentralized applications. In addition to providing the core functionality needed to run applications on the blockchain, Ethereum also allows developers to use their own custom tokens. These tokens allow developers to issue their own cryptocurrencies within their applications. By leveraging Ethereum’s open source platform, developers can create their own blockchain-based applications without needing to go through a centralized organization.

HapPhi and Decentralized Storage

One of the most promising aspects of Web 3.0 is the new decentralized storage platforms that are being developed. The most well-known example of this is HapPhi, a decentralized storage network that makes use of peer-to-peer file sharing similar to torrents. HapPhi will allow users to share their hard drives and computer memory with other users across a decentralized network, allowing them to create a decentralized cloud storage platform. This will be achieved by leveraging blockchain technology to ensure that all files are decentralized and immune to being taken down by a single centralized organization. In addition to creating a highly scalable and cost-effective decentralized storage platform, HapPhi also plans to use a portion of their revenues to fund nonprofits. This is another example of the self-ownership aspect of Web 3.0: By creating a decentralized storage network, HapPhi will be giving users control over where their data is stored while also making it possible to support organizations that they care about.

Conclusion

Web 3.0 is all about self-ownership: making the internet accessible to everyone, building the decentralized internet we’ve always wanted, supporting privacy, and giving users control over their data. You can do this with a blockchain-based app, where you have full control over your data, or with an app that lets you put your data in control. With the shift to decentralized technologies, there will be no centralized organizations controlling the internet. This will allow users to have greater control over their data, make the internet more accessible to people worldwide, and make it easier for people to create their own content without relying on websites. Web 3.0 will also allow developers to create powerful decentralized applications that are immune to being taken down by a single organization.

‍