Lightning Network subforum proposal.

[pooya87]

There's not a lot of topics about it because nobody uses it because you have to look everywhere for information about it.

That's a very bold claim! Here are some LN stats for you taken from https://1ml.com/statistics
Number of LN nodes: 21,833
Number of Channels: 51,277
Network Capacity: 1,601.35 BTC = $54,385,766.81
Average Node Capacity: 0.131 BTC = $4,450.27
Average Channel Capacity: 0.031 BTC = $1,059.26

I wouldn't call this "nobody".

What if Elon musk tweets about the lighting network, we would have a ton of people googling it and getting directed towards their own space to discuss it

People who follow people like Musk are not interested in technology, they are interested in making money. I doubt if that many would bother looking into LN unless they think there is money to be made!

[d5000]

I would love a Lightning subforum, even if there currently aren't too many topics about it, mainly for two reasons:

1) It is a different and uncommon way to use Bitcoin. It requires often dedicated software solutions like Eclair and the way to transact is completely different, so in a dedicated forum specific problems could be addressed in depth, without fear that the threads will be buried fastly.

2) It is currently the main solution to make Bitcoin ready to use for smaller payments and enable mass adoption. It can be viewed as a strategic technology in the Bitcoin space and an important piece for the puzzle of Bitcoin's success.

Forums have the advantage to Twitter-style social networks that categorizing discussions by topic is straightforward, and discussions about topics then are easy to find (yes, social networks have hashtags, but the ordering by hashtags tends to be much more chaotic). I think for the reasons I mentioned above, Lightning is important enough as a topic for a subforum, and so Bitcointalk should use that feature of good ol' webforums to bundle LN discussions.

A dedicated subforum for Lightning would communicate: Bitcointalk is ready for Bitcoin's future!

[kxwhalexk]

In the Development & Technical Discussion, a legendary member:Pmalek https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5345664.0 created a summary about the Lightning Network, which is still being updated.

I took a brief look, and this year, there are nearly 50 topics about the Lightning Network.

My suggestion is to set the Lightning Network as a sub-section of Development & Technical Discussion.

thx Pmalek again.

[Pmalek]

In the Development & Technical Discussion, a legendary member:Pmalek https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5345664.0 created a summary about the Lightning Network, which is still being updated.

I was just about to write something about my thread as well. I have been working on it occasionally throughout Thursday and Friday trying to gather all important threads where the main topic of discussion is the Lightning Network. I didn't have a clue there were that many. I thought it would be something I could finish within a few hours. Wrong!

I have been arranging them by date and I have gotten to 2019. All the main discussion threads from 2021-2019 are there. I still have to order the threads in 2019 by date and take a look at 2018 as well. I don't think it's necessary to check before 2018.

Once the thread is finished, I think the admins can get a good look at the share amount of content there actually is about the LN. And, I haven't even added all of it. Threads with no or just a few replies weren't included.

[Cryptojurnalist]

Since a board exists for a few wallets, so I think Lightning Networks deserve aboard. Most forum users unaware about Lightning networks and how it works. So it would be easier to learn for them from a single board. If a thread creates for Lightning Networks, then it's going down after a few days. Lightning Networks is the most potential for Bitcoin adaption. So the idea isn't bad those are suggesting a board of Lightning Networks.

I never knew the important or mean of LN not after I came across this topic. Since LN play an ambiguous role to bitcoin adaptation, it will be a good idea to have a separate board for it. This way every member of the forum will see any latest update about the Lighting Network.

[FIFA worldcup]

Since a board exists for a few wallets, so I think Lightning Networks deserve aboard. Most forum users unaware about Lightning networks and how it works. So it would be easier to learn for them from a single board. If a thread creates for Lightning Networks, then it's going down after a few days. Lightning Networks is the most potential for Bitcoin adaption. So the idea isn't bad those are suggesting a board of Lightning Networks.

I never knew the important or mean of LN not after I came across this topic. Since LN play an ambiguous role to bitcoin adaptation, it will be a good idea to have a separate board for it. This way every member of the forum will see any latest update about the Lighting Network.

People can see the updates on Lighting Network without having a separate board. What's the use of Development & Technical Discussion if we need to develop a sub board for any major update on bitcoin. This would also mean that we should have a separate sub board in altcoin for Eth 2.0 update 

[ABCbits]

People can see the updates on Lighting Network without having a separate board. What's the use of Development & Technical Discussion if we need to develop a sub board for any major update on bitcoin.

I disagree,
1. While LN mainly developed to solve Bitcoin scalability, it can be used by other cryptocurrency (such as LTC and DOGE).
2. Unlike other changes (such as SegWit), miner/node don't need to upgrade their software because LN isn't part of Bitcoin, but only only utilize Bitcoin.
3. Possible topic regarding LN is far bigger compared with other change. There are far more thread about LN compared with P2SH or Taproot.

This would also mean that we should have a separate sub board in altcoin for Eth 2.0 update 

Irrelevant, this is Bitcoin forum. ETH 2.0 update still belong to altcoin board.

[ndalliard]

 i agree with most what has been said here, what would be a concrete next step to get a subforum - or is this not even in our power?

i am a little bit biased, i fell down the bitcoin rabbit hole some years ago and my lightning journey started some days ago. that means i am mostly here for the lightning network (or the topics around it). there is good effort with the faq and the table with all posts in one place. but i feel spererate questions or discussion are lost in big thread nobody is reading. i am a minimalist by heart and would prefer a lot of small discussions taking place than one big book i have to read

the argument that only big topics get a subforum is definitely wrong (see for example some wallets) and also wrong is the presumption that not a lot of people use lightning (see mentioned staticits from 1ml.com - which already change - up)

i will close with what i've started: what would be the next step to get a subforum for the lightning network?

[OgNasty]

what would be the next step to get a subforum for the lightning network?

Convince theymos to add a Lightning Network subforum.  There's really nothing else to it.  I am a bit surprised this hasn't already happened considering all of the drama that went around censoring the blocksize debate.  If this is the scaling solution that our Bitcoin leaders have laid out for us (not a good one btw), you'd think there would be a place to learn about it.  Maybe some sticky threads about how to setup a node or what software/hardware options are available.  Even if I was interested in developing on the Lightning Network, there is very little help available here.

My question is, if there is no place here to discuss development on the Lightning Network, where is the place to discuss it?

[ndalliard]

My question is, if there is no place here to discuss development on the Lightning Network, where is the place to discuss it?

Rath told me, that someone else told him, that a subforum (second layer) is on its way - so lets see if it will happen soon...

[BlackHatCoiner]

Rath told me, that someone else told him, that a subforum (second layer) is on its way - so lets see if it will happen soon...

Indeed, I saw it on Discord. Cyrus seems to agree on the subforum addition. The mods have acknowledged that LN topics are more than they seem and they deserve to be gathered into a lightning board. I'm happy to read that, but who will moderate it? It'll probably be under Dev & Tech, so I guess gmaxwell and achow101.

Pmalek gathered them into one thread and fortunately, that probably made them realize the high volume regarding it.

[ndalliard]

Pmalek gathered them into one thread and fortunately, that probably made them realize the high volume regarding it.

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thanks for bringing this up, i am not on discord and just had the word from rath. although it looks like achow101 is against it

[n0nce]

Chiming in to vote for a dedicated LN sub as well! There are so many different topics to talk about and one or a bunch of general LN threads aren't enough / not enough separation of topics imho.

And if it won't be made, where to put LN topics? Bitcoin Development? General Bitcoin? It's technically a wholly different project, built on top of Bitcoin, but since we have Altcoin sections we also should have a Lightning section.
Just my 2 sats

[pooya87]

And if it won't be made, where to put LN topics? Bitcoin Development? General Bitcoin?

Until we get a dedicated board it depends on what the topic is about.
- If it is about technical aspects of Lightning Network then Development & Technical Discussion board should be used.
- If it is general information about LN such as LN stats, adoption by some company, any general news, etc. then Bitcoin Discussion board is suitable.
- If it is a problem with an LN client such as problems with installation, connecting to network, opening/closing channels, etc. then Bitcoin Technical Support or if it is a specific client like Electrum that has a dedicated board they should be used.
- If it is some sort of guide on LN such as how it works, how to use, what client to use, etc. then Beginners & Help board is the appropriate place.
- If it is a new project that either you made or know is being worked on such as a new LN client available on github and it doesn't already have a topic then Project Development is the board to use.
- Last but not least to complain about lack of LN board use Meta