If source won't be released, I would put focus on the whitepaper release.
The proof of stake algorithm is perhaps the most important part of the coin, as ultimately it defines how secure the network can be, and yet we know almost nothing about how it works technically. The Nxt algorithm, at least it its present incomplete form, has been studied in detail, and this gives investors some confidence in what they are buying.
If Qora doesn't have time to write a whitepaper, then we could schedule a Q&A session where we get technical details on the implementation, and describe it ourselves. If timing was right I'd be happy to join that - anyone else in?
On July 13 I asked qora if he read "On Stake" by "Vitalik Buterin" (
https://blog.ethereum.org/2014/07/05/stake/) and about "Qora New Proof-of-Stake algorithm".
you can read the discussions here:
http://coinia.net/qora/chat/logs/2014/07/13.html[19:13:55] <peled1986> @qora did you read vitalik pos paper?
[19:14:18] <
Qora> @peled1986: Partially not completely
[19:15:13] <peled1986> @Qora what do you think about "there is nothing at stake" problem?
[19:22:52] <
Qora> @peled1986: Yes it is indeed possible to generate blocks on different altchains simultaneously. However I feel that as long as a certain percentage of the generators is honest this shouldn't be a problem.
[19:24:58] <peled1986> @Qora: can you give us a bit of info about "Qora New Proof-of-Stake algorithm" ?
[19:25:52] <dzarmush> @peled just wanted to ask the same ) something that doesn't reveal any secrets
[19:27:47] <
Qora> @peled1986: If you look at the blog post currently Qora uses the "naive" pos.
[19:28:05] <dzarmush> what blog?
[19:28:51] <peled1986>
https://blog.ethereum.org/2014/07/05/stake/[19:29:11] <peled1986> @Qora thank you, I will read it again now.
[19:29:40] <
Qora> @peled1986: If you look at the long-range attacks Qora solved this problem in a simple decentralized way.
[19:31:01] <
Qora> Because of this we also solve the problem of needing decentralized checkpoints.
[19:31:26] <
Qora> Basicly the solution lies in the differential block times.
[19:32:36] <dzarmush> now we need someone to rephrase it so everybody could understand, for example me )
[19:32:36] <
Qora> When the total generating balance in the network becomes higher the time per block becomes lower.
[19:33:05] <
Qora> This means that the chain with the highest generating balance will have the most blocks.
[19:34:36] <peled1986> @qora: "When the total generating balance in the network becomes higher the time per block becomes lower" - really?
[19:35:30] <Qora> Yes. This also helps preventing unnecessary blocks when the network activity lower.
[19:35:32] <peled1986> "1-5 minute block time depending on the network activity" = is effected by total generating balance in the network?
[19:36:04] <
Qora> Yes because if there are more transactions more people will try and generate the blocks for the fees.
[19:36:22] <
Qora> So more transactions should result in a bigger total generating balance.
[19:42:41] <dzarmush> @qora, could you write in one or two sentences why Qora POS algo is better/safer/faster/else then other algos?
[19:43:48] <dzarmush> there are some people working on a new press release which will be sent to different resources, it would be great to include this info
[19:44:21] <
Qora> Currently the differential block times is what makes us different from other systems. Just know that the current algorithm is not final it can always be modified.
[19:45:04] <
Qora> Also the fact that you can generate after only 10 confirmations is something not offered by other POS
[19:45:49] <peled1986> and the fact that you can split your holdings to different addresses in your wallet
[19:46:45] <dzarmush> what is the min block time possible if there's lots of activity in the network and huge forging amount?
[19:47:15] <
Qora> 1 minute at 10Billion generating balance
[19:47:51] <dzarmush> sometimes it's 1 min with much less
[19:48:24] <
Qora> That is part of the randomness.
[19:48:54] <dzarmush> sometimes it's even less than 1 min
[19:50:48] <spaw> @Qora: how does transaction boosting it in to all this?
[19:51:31] <
Qora> @spaw: Well when generating a block you know exactly at which timestamp your generated block will become valid.
[19:52:28] <
Qora> Explained very simply. That timestamp could be broadcasted in the network. This will allow the nodes to know which node will probably generate the next block.
[19:52:46] <
Qora> So in that way they could send their transactions directly to that node without having to go through the network.
[19:53:23] <dzarmush> And in result there is what? )
[19:53:45] <
Qora> less network load
[19:54:32] <
Qora> In theory it is simple but making it work properly isn't.
[19:54:47] <dzarmush> which is good why? faster block generating?
[19:57:23] <
Qora> This is for when the network would be very big and transactions volume high. To make the nodes require less resources to run.
