Announcing Webshake and How to Use its Alpha Version

We are thrilled to announce that Webshake is live! Webshake is a service that shortens any URLs into custom links using Handshake.

We’ve packed a lot of functionality into the alpha release. This article will guide you through how to use Webshake and explain the benefits of the tool along the way.

We won’t dive deep into Handshake protocol itself in this post. Simply put, Handshake is a new type of domain name structure on the blockchain.

STEP 1 : Convert/Shorten URLs to Handshake domain

• Type any URLs that you want to convert to Handshake domain with a short name or preferable name.
• Select your favorite Handshake domain. Users are able to add, select, and share any domain that they own.

*You’ll see how to add new handshake name in the next section
*Single character domains such as .w will be available soon

• Get your short URL

STEP 2 : Access the Handshake domain

• If you have never used Handshake domain, you need to set up an environment. But it’s not difficult, a non-technical person can start it. Please use NextDNS, and also see Namebase.
• If you have never used a Handshake domain, you will need to set up an environment. Setting up an environment is easy enough that even a non-technical person can set it up. We recommend you use NextDNS. You can also see Namebase.
• In the future, we expect that any web browsers will adapt and you will natively be able to access any Handshake domain.
• After you set it up, you will be able to access Handshake domain site and Webshake URLs. In addition to traditional domains such as .com or .org, you can access .shake or even .🍜 domain! Here are examples that you can try:

http://web.shake/twitter
http://hand.shake/top
http://tokyo.🍜/wiki

This is the shortest guide for Webshake. Please give Webshake a try and share your feedback! …But this is not the end of the post. If you already have Webshake name, you can proceed to the next step to add and use your handshake domain.

STEP 3 (Optional and Advanced) : Register your own Handshake name and make an original URL

• If you have your own Handshake name, you can register it on Webshake and use it. You also have the option to make your name available for public or private use.
• This guide is for people who already have Handshake names on Namebase.

*Note: this feature is experimental. For production purposes, we recommend hosting your own nameservers.

1. Click “Domain”
2. Click “Register Your Handshake Domain Name”

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3. Type your subdomain and your Handshake domain.
(e.g, web.shake, hand.shake, shake.shake, you name it!)
Then click “Registration”.
* You need to type a subdomain currently

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4. Copy TXT record and CNAME record from Webshake.

5. Go to Namebase and paste those records into ”Namebase nameserver DNS records”, and click “SAVE”

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6. Reload the page(otherwise an error occurs) and set up “Blockchain DNS records”. If you don’t reload the page prior to setting up the “Blockchain DNS records” an error may occur.

To use Namebase’s nameservers, create an NS record in the blockchain section with a “Name” of “ns1” and a “Value” of “44.231.6.183”.

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When you click “SAVE”, it shows “syncing” and your setting start processing.

Completed the DNS setting

This process can take between 10–60 minutes; depending on Handshake Blockchain status. So, please have a few sips of your coffee and wait a bit ☕

7. Go back to Webshake and click the Action section of your domain.

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8. Click “Validate”

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9. If your settings are correct, you will receive a “Success!” message. When you click “Publish”, anyone can use your domain to shorten/redirect URLs, which has never happened in Internet history.

User Benefit

Users on Webshake are able to use the shortest URLs using Handshake. We will add more features to improve the system so that users can leverage Handshake benefits such as

• An improved UX
• readable domains
• unstoppable hosting
• more robust security

and others.

In addition, we are currently developing additional analytics features. If your Handshake name has a high click-through-rate, or highly frequently used, that can be are increasing in popularity and can be sold on Namebase Marketplace(or other forms of trading)!

Additionally, users who provide their name on Webshake Alpha version(register and publish) may benefit in the future Beta version. We’ll announce that once it’s ready, so let’s shake your name.

If you have any questions, feedback, or ideas, reach us out on Twitter.