FirstBits.com - remember and share Bitcoin addresses

[saqwe]

Hi,
could you implement something like:
http://firstbits.com/1env4g

other than that great service, consider donating

[1714820503]

1714820503

[1714820503]

1714820503

[1714820503]

1714820503

[1714820503]

1714820503

[1714820503]

1714820503

[dserrano5]

Just created my vanity firstbits address and came here to ask for that feature. I saw that it's a popular demand, then went to try it and found that it works!

If it returned a text/plain result containing only the address (instead of a full featured HTML page), it wouldn't be that difficult to integrate with the bitcoin client. Just an HTTP request and there you go! (I couldn't do it tho, my second language isn't C++).

[TiagoTiago]

You're not storing the results anywhere, so using the same algorithm the exact same result for any given address could be obtained even with a machine that never went online and got the blockchain transfered via sneakernet? Awesome!


Though, is there the risk the order of very recent addresses will be rearranged as the whole network acknowledges things from different directions or does that order gets stable fast enough for that only be a concern with major blockchain forks?

[FreeMoney]

Hi,
could you implement something like:
http://firstbits.com/1env4g

other than that great service, consider donating

This is implemented.

http://firstbits.com/1kk5k

[FreeMoney]

You're not storing the results anywhere, so using the same algorithm the exact same result for any given address could be obtained even with a machine that never went online and got the blockchain transfered via sneakernet? Awesome!


Though, is there the risk the order of very recent addresses will be rearranged as the whole network acknowledges things from different directions or does that order gets stable fast enough for that only be a concern with major blockchain forks?

That's right.

A reorg could cause problems. Likely the problem would be a simple "not found" at worst, but if screwing up people's firstbits was the point of the attack someone could slip a different one in earlier. This is not protected against now. One way would be not counting an address as "in" the chain until 6 or 10 blocks or something and refusing to return an address until then, probably better is a simple warning that the address is near the tip of the chain. Or even less obtrusive would be to watch for a reorg and only warn when one recently happened.

[FreeMoney]

The api is up.

http://firstbits.com/api/?a=1kk5k

Can't promise it'll stay if it gets overused though, be gentle.

[dserrano5]

The api is up.

Somewhat longish, but better than nothing. Thanks!

[FreeMoney]

The api is up.

Somewhat longish, but better than nothing. Thanks!

Better than nothing, sheesh 

[dserrano5]

Nothing is what we had before (besides parsing HTML—ouch).

[FreeMoney]

Nothing is what we had before (besides parsing HTML—ouch).

Yeah, I was just feigning insult that you would consider it anywhere near "nothing". I guess you want firstbits.com/api/12345?

[dserrano5]

Feigned or not, I admit my statement wasn't very bright.

[FreeMoney]

Feigned or not, I admit my statement wasn't very bright.

Haha, no problem. I appreciate the link in your sig.

[FlipPro]

AWESOME SITE WOW ! 

I get so happy when I see devs making useful sites like this one.

Donated to you! Hope others do as well.

[FreeMoney]

AWESOME SITE WOW ! 

I get so happy when I see devs making useful sites like this one.

Donated to you! Hope others do as well.

Thanks! Glad you like it.

Making addresses shorter online is cool, but has anyone had a chance to use it in the real world? I've memorized a few of mine and now I'm just waiting for someone to offer me bitcoins on the street 

[dserrano5]

I'm in Spain and I guess it'll take some time for bitcoin to hit the streets, but I'm already prepared for that .

[TiagoTiago]

Is there an estimative of how long this idea will remain useful for people that aren't memory savants?

[andes]

One question, when you put an address that is too short (say 1k) why does not show all the addressed with that first characters? Should you get a warning when your address has the potential of being confused with another one?

[dserrano5]

One question, when you put an address that is too short (say 1k) why does not show all the addressed with that first characters? Should you get a warning when your address has the potential of being confused with another one?

The service isn't designed to do that. It returns the first address (as it appeared in the block chain) that starts with "1k", ignoring case.

[TiagoTiago]

1k points to the first instance of an address beginning with 1k in the blockchain, the first one is always only one, so there isn't others that can be confused.


Though, how would the system deal if two addresses sharing the same bunch of initial characters are seen for the first time in the same block? Are the order of addresses in blocks predictable, like they're sorted "alphabeticly" or somthing ?

[FreeMoney]

1k points to the first instance of an address beginning with 1k in the blockchain, the first one is always only one, so there isn't others that can be confused.


Though, how would the system deal if two addresses sharing the same bunch of initial characters are seen for the first time in the same block? Are the order of addresses in blocks predictable, like they're sorted "alphabeticly" or somthing ?

Ah, sorry, that should have been said. Ties in a block are by tx ID.