Community Spotlight — October 2018 Edition
October is a wrap! We at ARK are proud of our determined and bright community, and our monthly Community Spotlight newsletter will keep you apprised on some notable community activities. Let’s dive into just some of the ways the ARK community shined in October 2018.
FEATURED COMMITS
As they say, the best things happen with help. That’s why ARK runs monthly bounty programs for coders who contribute to our codebase on the ARK Ecosystem GitHub. Independent programmers can work side by side with our international team and make the ARK toolkit even more powerful and stable. Earn ARK tokens for ‘commits’ (completed tasks) and win larger monthly ARK prizes as well.
Here are some featured commits for October. Features may not be live until the next update:
- GitHub member ‘h1psterx’ implemented a much-anticipated feature in the mobile wallet, pull-to-refresh! Yes, soon you can get that satisfying rubber band effect and fresh, efficient data delivery. How cool is that?
- GitHub member ‘rodxavier’ implemented the ability to run the ARK Deployer within a Docker container. Docker is a computer program that performs operating-system-level virtualization, also known as “containerization.” Docker is pretty handy, so devs and community members were pleased to hear it!
- We saw GitHub members ‘dated,’ ‘paroxym,’ ‘nge6427,’ ‘alucqrd,’ ‘thomas-neuman,’ ‘geops22,’ ‘alessiodf,’ ‘ilgio,’ and ‘40n4ld’ completely dominate chores and tasks. You may not readily see the results of many of these as an end user, but they kept ARK products humming along in top shape this month, as well as gaining additional capabilities and powers. Not everything in coding is glamorous!
- GitHub member ‘brtastic’ implemented a language switcher tool, similar to the one on the ARK.io website for explorer. ‘Pedro-Souza’ updated translations, as well. As ARK is a global community enterprise, easy language support and tools are very important to us.
- Meanwhile, in the mobile wallet repository, member ‘kalgoop’ removed the vote/unvote option when viewing watch-only wallets, to resolve user confusion. ARK is extremely keen on a smooth user experience that breeds confidence among new crypto users.
- GitHub member ‘ItsANameToo’ developed the Swift Crypto package, which is an aspect of the ARK programming language integrations, which include well over a dozen programming languages, all retooled for the upcoming ARK v2 hardfork and production release.
- GitHub member ‘JeremiGendron’ wrote a complete and elegant guide on how to create an ARK Core plugin. As the new ARK v2 Core sports a modular plugin architecture, anyone can enhance the ARK core for their project quickly and easily, even share plugins with the ARK.io crew!
- GitHub member ‘n4ru’ submitted the 1.2.0 hard fork of the ARKv1 Mainnet, a collaborative effort on the behalf of some delegates and team members in response to a network event.
- GitHub member ‘ciband’ added Windows support for building the ARK C++ Client, making the ARK SDKs all the more versatile.
- GitHub member ‘wownmedia’ reported a vulnerability in the ARK Node due to a 3rd party dependency and was awarded a special security bounty.
Multiple coders are contributing to the ARK toolkit 24/7, and you can, too — it’s fun, rewarding, and you can earn and win ARK tokens, as well!
This guide will show you how to get started.
NOTABLE REDDIT POSTS
The Ark Ecosystem Subreddit is a great place to seek ARK knowledge, and you can always find new and engaging content there.
Here are some notable October posts:
- ‘kevinti’ queried the community to provide their “#1 reason to invest in ARK now.” See the response, keeping in mind that is the phrase used by kevinti, and there are community sourced answers there, not those of ARK.io.
- ‘DrawN-Down’ got a discussion going, asking the ARK subreddit for a brainstorm on energizing the ARK Subreddit. Different users chimed in with their own unique perspectives, including me, with ACC codename ‘Project LAUDE’ proposal viewable here (internal document).
- ‘Matthew_DC,’ ARK CSO, reported on a network event that occurred, alongside Delegate ‘Jarunik,’ who kept the community informed in realtime. The network event was resolved as team and delegates worked together, and ARK balances were never at risk. Special note was given to the upcoming Core v2 mainnet upgrade, which will eliminate the larger issues the network has been struggling with on the current mainnet.
- ‘gmar1289’ expressed their love for voting with the ARK wallet and receiving voting rewards. Voting is easy, it takes eight seconds, and you can earn ARK while the wallets are closed. Voting rewards are a voluntary function of the ARK delegates and delegate teams. Voting rewards are not a part of the ARK protocol, and ARK.io does not run the ARK network.
- ‘___AirWick___’ responded to criticism of ARK’s marketing strategy by sparking a discussion, in which several community members had much to say.
- ‘getrich_or_diemining’ asked the community if ARK is “developing too slowly.” Basically everyone said no, it’s fine.
- ‘JulyLin’ asked about the initial ARK distribution during the Token Exchange Campaign. The Golden Horde was quick to respond with the correct information, and received a tip from Delegate Cryptology’s ArkTippr Reddit Tip Bot.
- ‘RepoTactics1’ asked the ARK community about the most exciting catalysts for ARK in the next six months. Some unique perspectives were given.
- Delegate ‘Jarunik,’ acting on behalf of the subreddit moderators, and following a vote executed by the delegates, announced a change to the delegate posting policy on the main subreddit. This change loosens the rules delegates must follow when posting content onto the main ARK Ecosystem Subreddit. It was more a formality, outlining more clearly that delegates are allowed to promote their services more freely on the main subreddit.
- This post and discussion pertaining to the current delegate landscape occurred.
- ACC Member ‘Azure-Infinity’ authored quite an optimistic take on ARK, concisely citing a number of upcoming releases and improvements while simultaneously highlighting current events.
- ‘RepoTactics1’ launched a discussion pertaining to a recommendation for ARK to look into 3rd party auditing firms who review code. ARK Crewmember ‘Boldninja’ chimed in under his Reddit username ‘Vippero.’
You can browse more content and contribute your own voice to the ARK Subreddit- who knows, you may even receive an ARK tip from a community member using Delegate Cryptology’s intuitive ArkTippr Reddit tipbot.
OCTOBER 2018 PODCASTS
COMMUNITY SERVICE SPOTLIGHT
Some members mentioned in the community newsletter are ARK delegates, who secure the ARK network and provide community services. Their inclusion in the newsletter is in no way an endorsement from ARK.io to vote for specific delegates, and you should always do your own research and consider all the options when choosing a delegate for whom to vote. ARK.io does not run the ARK network.
Here’s the October 2018 Community Service Spotlight:
- October 2018 ACD Articles by Delegate ‘The Golden Horde’:
ARK Community Digest Ep. 08 : Cameron ‘Cam’
ARK Community Digest Ep. 09 : CJ ‘Azek’
ARK Community Digest Ep. 10 : Glenn ‘Skeuo’ - Delegate ‘Rising_Sun’ released bounty winners for October. Any community member can earn and win ARK for their creative expressions each month. Here’s how it works. They also generously agreed to provide some ARK each month to the ARK Community Committee for various project maintenance.
- ‘Msdhere’ updated ARK Trend Statistics for October.
- Delegate ‘Jarunik’ continued his ARK recap video series, subscribe here.
- Delegate ‘The Golden Horde’ released details and winners of October’s Reddit Engagement Program along with some additional details. Top ARK Subreddit users win elusive TGH art pieces.
- ArkArtGallery.com was updated.
- Delegate ‘Cam’s Yellow Jacket’ began forging ARK as a new delegate in October, with plans to release professional-grade ARK video content regularly (with some side funding). CYJ also released a new works design on ArkLogoWorks.com.
- ACC and Community Member ‘dvdptr’ completed and released an ARK Q4 Infographic, and gave everyone on the Internet permission to use it wherever they like.
- Delegate ‘The Golden Horde’ launched what they call the “ARK Social Initiative Program.” This includes wall art pieces that can be used and offered as prizes to invigorate ARK community activity, and delegates can weave the program into their services, as well. They also released Arkvatar, an avatar generator for ARK wallet addresses. Arkvatars are permutations of monsters with QR codes that represent a specific ARK address. TGH also released some very cool Telegram Stickers for use in the ARK community Telegram channel.
- In the spirit of Halloween, ‘The Golden Horde’ also unveiled a global event called The Arkening, a series of puzzles, tales, and riddles (with prizes of course) all hosted by fictitious gravedigger ‘Reynauld.’ The ARK Slack was abuzz with collaboration to solve Reynauld’s mysteries!
- ‘The Golden Horde’ also opened up a community ARK and ETH design contest, and provided a September update here. TGH decided to extend the contest to November 30th, allowing anyone to compete by creating ARK or ETH visual assets. The contest sports an impressive $4000 USD equivalent prize pool sponsored by multiple sources, including ARK.io, GhostfaceUK, and the ArkCommunity.Fund.
- Delegate ‘ArkLand,’ after a hiatus, released this information on the ArkLand snapshot system. ARKv2 compatibility and usage is in the works as well for this snapshot system, according to ArkLand. ArkLand also released an additional service, ArkLand Self-Service Calculator.
- Delegate ‘Cam’s Yellow Jacket’ partnered with ‘The Golden Horde’ to host a silent auction for an exclusive wall art release. The winning bid will be donated to the ARK Community Fund for giving incentives to community-based initiatives and ideas.
ARK COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
October saw the completion and deployment of the ACC resource ArkTimeline.com, which acts as an interactive and complete account of all ARK’s accomplishments and achievements since its inception in late 2016 and mainnet launch in early 2017. ArkTimeline.com is so useful because all the events are searchable, filterable, and tagged, for an easy bird’s eye perspective on the entire project over time. Here’s the launch article.
I’m giving a special thanks to all the participants, who earned ARK for their efforts on this project. I manage projects, but I don’t keep any ARK for myself.
- ArkTimeline Task Team
@Saltas#5914, @robek.world#0001, @funkit#8035, @TheHu#9688, @dated#4339, @BroadcastJunkie#1356 - ArkTimeline Dev Team
@MisterH#4641, @Moe B#5512, @itsrayecho#7199 - ArkTimeline Host
Delegate ‘Deadlock’ - ArkTimeline Maintenance Team
@Patrick#4631, @AeonC88#8302
Moving forward into November, we are likely to proceed with codename Project ‘LAUDE’, and also work on a database that will act as jump point for at the very least two large projects, aiming to benefit all of crypto and lead outsiders to our growing ARK community. There’s also codename Project ‘MINERVA’ cooking, but it’s a very ambitious project and may need more consideration and strategy first.
To join the ACC, locate me on Discord.ARK.io which by the way, just increased its powers significantly with new bots, features, and feeds, courtesy of CMO Travis Walker’s oversight. ACC Projects are anonymously funded after the fact and pay is not guaranteed (fun is, though).
ARK COMMUNITY FUND
If you have an idea for an ARK project, small or large, and you are looking for funding, consider submitting a proposal to the ARK Community Fund for review. The ARK Community Fund started as a community initiative, and the elected board reviews ideas and projects that enhance ARK. Their website is ArkCommunity.Fund.
