Bitcoin Forum

From Google:

"Official site offering documentation, forums and the open source client software which permits to send and receive bitcoins." (http://www.google.com/search?q=bitcoin&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8)

I thought Bitcoin was decentralized with no official leader or company? Shouldn't this be fixed?

"the open source client software"

Why do they imply they are the only development team?

Cause they are :)

You can still contribute to the project, by submitting pull requests though...

The only 'place' i saw fully decentralized distributed developpment, with no central server, was with the freenet project (hosting repositories within the network works, in-net discussion forums exists and so on), but .. you still have to bootstrap the thing, getting your first client from somewhere ... thus the pseudo-centralized thing :(

I don't think so.

Wikipedia says, "Mining and node implementations include core software such as Bitcoind/Bitcoin-Qt, libbitcoin, cbitcoin and BitCoinJ." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin#Bitcoin_mining)

It is becoming decentralized but bitcoin.org doesn't represent that.

They develop it, but they are not controlling your coins.

Let's hope their official status doesn't allow them to through a protocol change.

The site also has a tab toward the top called "Clients", so I think they are being balanced in trying to communicate that there is 1 bitcoin system, but many client implementations.

Technically there isn't just one Bitcoin either.  Since it is open source, namecoin, i0coin, etc. have also popped up and some are doing decently, though none on par with the BTC as far as I know.  It is decentralized in the fact that you can have a wallet, which no one knows is yours, and it is not backed by the government or anything.  As far as I can tell there is some network "centralization" a la things like blockexplorer and bitcoin.org and the like, and a network has to be launched somehow (as celkaris said) so the origin tends to be "center"-like.  The more force bitcoin garners though, the more decentralized it will become.  Fiat currencies are heavily centralized by things like the Federal Reserve (in the US), and the like for other nations as well, but there is little like that in bitcoin, other than maintaining the client software and managing the implementation of bitcoin itself in a open environment, thus "decentralizing" it.

bitcoin.org is where most of the original implementation information and the design for bitcoin are developed, but in an open manner.  Giving it that "wait this seems like the centralization bureau" effect.

Correct me if I'm wrong though, I am fairly new to the Bitcoin myself.

Hello, Atlas.

greyhawk has eagle eyes!

It is because they are!

They develop A Bitcoin client, not THE Bitcoin client.

I don't think it's very healthy for the decentralized, free, independent, and open reputation of Bitcoin to present Bitcoin-Qt as "THE" client (or even "the standard client"). The protocol is what's standard, not some particular client implementation (regardless if was the first around, or has the most users).

Also, bitcoin.org is just one of many random websites related to Bitcoin. Not "the official Bitcoin site".

In a way, each client is essentially an API for accessing the Bitcoin network. Technically Bitcoin.org has the "official" client, but many people choose to use different clients, with other functionality, developed by other dev teams. Anyone can create a Bitcoin client, as long as it's compatible with the Bitcoin Blockchain. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't several things used to be on bitcoin.org?

• These forums
• The original client developed by Satoshi Nakamoto

Probably more.

If I'm wrong, I apologize. I'm far from the most experienced, and I'm relatively new (mid '11, right before the bubble burst)

I think Bitcoin-Qt is "the" & "standard" client TBH because if you read bitcoin somewhere, you first go to bitcoin.org unless your directly linked elsewhere.
Then Bitcoin-Qt will be the first thing you install, later on something like armory when you learn about it. I'm not familiar with all the clients, but armory needs Bitcoin-Qt to operate the fact they choose to use Bitcoin-Qt as their host, points to the direction Bitcoin-Qt is the standard app.

The first site I found was WeUseCoins actually. Then I found Mt. Gox, then Bitcoin.org. Then after that I found blockchain.info, and it was kind of dominoes from then on out. (Damn, now I want Pizza. Papa John's, Domino's sucks around me :P [Free pizza's will be graciously received])

Well I guess its not the same for everyone, but if you mention bitcoin to someone the first thing they're going to do is go to their search engine and put in bitcoin, bitcoin.org is the first thing to come up.

It says "The original site offering documentation and open-source Bitcoin software" for me.

Never had weed before :P Even though I've perused SR before :P Maybe because I never browse it when I have money ;D

That is the main website  ??? i think thats why.

I don't understand the question.

There is no "the main website".

Besides, whose website would that be, anyway? Bitcoin is a protocol. Not a person, or organization, or company, or authority, or server, or institute, or any entity whatsoever that would represent themselves on the internet.

Well, on a completely unrelated thread, today's the first day I've left my bed since the weekend. (Thank you flu) Back on topic, yes it is a protocol, not a program.