Have you tried DeSo?
DeSo stands for DEcentralized SOcial network.
Much like HIVE, it is a social blockchain based on the $DESO cryptocurrency, but unlike HIVE where the framework is more like Reddit, DeSo is more like Twitter or Instagram where there are lots of small conversations and images rather than long-form content and replies.
While DeSo got a lot of attention recently as the coin is doing well in value and their high profile addition to Coinbase, it was also the contrast with the super-high fees of competing chains:
What Happens on DeSo?
Members of DeSo post short (~500 character-long) posts, follow each other, hit 'like', repost and quote, etc.
There are the usual different feeds, such as:
Following - posts of members you follow.
Hot - popular posts regardless of if you follow them.
New - new to DeSo.
I was saddened to find on my first day that there were follow-unfollow schemes just like Instagram and Twitter, which is transparently sucky.
DeSo Rewards Scheme
Instead of upvotes providing value, DeSo members can give each other micro tips of 馃拵 diamonds. One Diamond is essentially $0.01 in value so it is not as exciting as getting a whale vote on Hive.
Where DeSo members make money is by either selling NFTs or having other people invest in their Creator Coin.
Kind of like Rally, the DeSo community provides each member with their own token that can be held and traded. This doesn't directly correlate to net worth, however, because the community is VERY against creators selling their own coins!
Your coin starts out as literally worth-less, as you would imagine. The value increases as you or someone else buys it, which means you should really be the first purchaser if you are wise otherwise you are buying in at an inflated price.
That said, you can earn $DESO via your "Founder Reward".
Your Founder Reward is a percentage rewarded to you whenever someone buys your Creator Coin. They get your token (eg. $MAKERHACKS) and you get a percentage of whatever they spent in $DESO.
Why someone would want your coin is down to how much of a return they think you are going to give them as you grow, and any value-add you create.
NFTs
Unlike HIVE/HiveEngine, where there is a little more involved process, on DeSo any post you create can be converted into an NFT with a few clicks.
The NFTs run the range of art through to services:
This is an intriguing idea that I have not explored as yet, but it has certainly spurred a lot of activity with lots of members holding several NFTs.
Front-Ends & Nodes
There are several user interfaces for DeSo, much the same as there are various ways to access HIVE.
The most popular web app seems to be Diamond, but it is not without bugs ...
My favourite app is the mobile app CloutFeed.
None of the front-ends as yet allow you to richly format your posts, no markdown or HTML, just test and an image/video etc much like Twitter. Some, however, do allow you to write past the character limit.
There are also tools for getting curated or filtered feeds, and communities (though fewer than there are on Hive). There is even an NSFW front-end and community.
Coding DeSo with the API
Of course, there is an API. For us Pythonistas, there is a nice Python package:
import deso
d = deso.Deso
print(d.getDeSoPrice(d))
Which is better, HIVE or DESO?
You might have gathered already, but I do not see them as either-or. On the surface, yes, they are competitors, but in a way I think they are very complimentary.
HIVE definitely has the edge in terms of variety of communities, diversity of topics, and with lots of valuable long-form content.
DeSo has the edge on ease of NFT creation and quantity and pace of communication. DeSo, at the time of writing, has the edge in $DESO being 20x the value of HIVE, partially due to it being traded on more exchanges such as Coinbase.
My conclusion is DeSo is one to watch. There are definitely some signs of newness, for example, I had a problem with my ETH vanishing and still have yet to get an answer on the support Discord