Introducing BTCnames

[0x]

Hello,

would love to post this in another forum than the newbie forum, but anyway.

I would like to present you a new helpful service for every bitcoin user: btcnames.org.
Its main purpose is not only to help commerical users of bitcoin to simplify integration in advertising and shop processing, but also for every user to simplify daily usage of bitcoin.

It offers a GET-API to integrate in other applications. Read the FAQ for more info.

The core service is already up and running but additional features are still under developing. Also the site layout is really really bad at the moment.
Within the next days, I will open source the page at github. If anybody got interest in joining, especially webdesigners: you are welcome!



Thanks.

0x

[0x]

Within the next hours, the API will be open sourced.

[0x]

http://github.com/0x10/BTCnames

[Kyle Bball Boy]

Cool, I'll have to check this out later when I have time.

[lordbuggie]

sounds like a potentially promising notion.

i'll keep an eye here

[0x]

Well did some frontend styling fixes and made it more verbose. But still looks crappy. Hopefully it will change soon.

[Nasakioto]

I've seen a similar service but I can't recall the name right now. Still, we need more services like these. Thanks for the effort!

[0x]

I've seen a similar service but I can't recall the name right now. Still, we need more services like these. Thanks for the effort!

Would love to hear from them. Thanks, i'll to my best and hope to get some more feedback the more the service matures.

[SgtSpike]

What would stop me from stealing someone else's name, thus directing their bitcoins to myself?

[BitcoinPorn]

I had an idea in my head with a bunch of the letters falling from the matrix transitioning into a "Hello My Name is" name.  Something along the lines of 'go from this to this'.   But I think my mind floated to just overall design rather than specific logo.    Great service here, if none of the graphic designers jump on this by like midnight tonight, PM me, I like your service and I like how quickly you were to put the code out there

[0x]

What would stop me from stealing someone else's name, thus directing their bitcoins to myself?

How would you steal it? If you register a name of somebody else before he does, is as registering a domain which somebody wanted before he does. Nobody prevents this and I'm not sure the service should take this into account, as this could not be prevented.
If somebody registered a name, you want to steal, at the moment the only way to redirect to your wallet is to change the bitcoin hash within the database. And this should be prevented by the system of the service (general security algos, encrypted db, etc).
And deleting the name of somebody else, is not possible if you dont know his password. And if you know it, its like you know the password of his truecrypt wallet container. Weak password protection. But even this, the service can't take into account. Within the service the password is atm "secure", in a way what up to date hashing/encrypting systems offer. And if you find a leak within the code. Feel free to send a patch or just hint it.

If you have another way in mind, please tell me. I really want that kind of feedback.

[SgtSpike]

Maybe I don't understand how the service works.  But the way I understand it is, I type in the name of someone I wish to make a deposit to (i.e., 0x), then it gives me a bitcoin address to send the BTC to.  I send the BTC, and away I go.

But what would stop me from registering as 0x, and potentially mooching off of people wishing to send BTC to you?  Or Ox, to grab typos?

[0x]

Maybe I don't understand how the service works.  But the way I understand it is, I type in the name of someone I wish to make a deposit to (i.e., 0x), then it gives me a bitcoin address to send the BTC to.  I send the BTC, and away I go.

But what would stop me from registering as 0x, and potentially mooching off of people wishing to send BTC to you?  Or Ox, to grab typos?

You understand how the service works.

I thought about the problem. And i'm not sure that a service should/can handle it. You a problem which occur with domain names as well as with other product names. Its about trust, reliabilty and integrity.

There are several techniques to implement,  which can reduce this problem, like certificates or ID proofs, but they all risk the anonymity of bitcoin.
And the problem you describe is also a problem with the btc adresses. For example somebody advertises with his btc adress. Now i come to their potential customers and tell them i come from him and give them my btc adress to let them pay their bills. I tell them a nice story and they believe me. Same problem, isnt it?

In my opinion, the service can't handle that problem, as it doesnt occur first, with its existence.

If you have an idea, of how it could be handled, please share it. I wont stop thinking about it, but atm I dont have a good idea.

[SgtSpike]

Ok, fair enough, thanks for the explanation.