Skynet Virtual Hackathon
Build a Free Internet
Last week the Sia team launched Skynet, a decentralized CDN and file sharing platform for application developers. Skynet enables high speed, low cost, and superior infrastructure to serve as the storage foundation for a free Internet.
Skynet provides an easy-to-use data storage and publishing mechanism on which developers can build decentralized applications. With a simple API and SDKs for popular programming languages, Skynet empowers developers to easily integrate decentralized storage into their applications. Importantly, end-users can directly access files on Skynet without needing to run full nodes or deal with cryptocurrencies.
Skynet is built on the Sia Network, Skynet delivers a 10x reduction in storage costs and a 100x reduction in bandwidth costs when compared to centralized providers, without sacrificing performance or reliability.
Hack for Freedom
When the Sia team was working on the release of Skynet we were so excited that we held an internal hackathon to start using this amazing tech! We had so much fun with it that we wanted to share it with the everyone as soon as we could!
The Sia team is partnering with Gitcoin to host a virtual hackathon so that we can share Skynet with as many people as possible. The hackathon will run from February 28th to March 15th. Check out the hackathon challenge below!
Challenge Description
Build an application which focuses on enhancing Skynet as its fundamental purpose. This application should add a useful feature or functionality to the Skynet ecosystem, making it easy or possible to do something that was previously not easy or possible to do.
Taking an existing open source Skynet application and extending it to support new functionality or otherwise significantly improving the user experience is welcome and encouraged.
Submission Requirements
- The project must be open source
- Skynet must be a fundamental element of the application
- The app must do something that is useful and interesting
- The app will score better if it has greater appeal to a wider audience
How involved or difficult the application is will not be considered. If a very useful and interesting app can be created with very little effort, this app will still qualify for the grand prize and all other prizes.
Example apps and ideas which would qualify for prizes:
- Pastebin but on Skynet: https://siasky.net/CAAVU14pB9GRIqCrejD7rlS27HltGGiiCLICzmrBV0wVtA
- Skynet video playlist creator: https://siasky.net/nAAJroJW0Z7cYcpev1VVjJXXGU1WF8YQ8eUs8dJHTDEXqQ
- Skynet audio playlist creator: https://siasky.net/IAC_-QuVMlNuwI11kMZOz7w5qeYTL8Bsh0FJfIyp_hcX0Q
- Skynet blogging tool: https://github.com/NebulousLabs/skynet-blogger
Other potential ideas:
- A tool to bookmark and share other Skynet applications and files
- A desktop app for browsing Skynet without using a centralized portal
- Migrating existing apps from https://awesome.ipfs.io/ to Skynet
Submission Deadline
March 15th Midnight EST
Judging Criteria
Submissions will be judged on the following:
- How applicable is the application and how likely is it to be used by others
- Potential positive impact on the Skynet ecosystem
- Works on mainnet
Winner Announcement Date
March 20th 12pm EST
Prize Bounty
Grand Prize 1,000,000 SC!! (est $2,700)
There will also be three runner-up **250,000 SC** prizes.
On top of all that, all entrants who produce a substantially interesting Skynet application or upgrade will win a consolation prize of **25,000 SC**.
Sign up for the hackathon now! https://gitcoin.co/hackathon/onboard/skynet/
