1. First Encounter and Thoughts#
Initially, I learned about an invitation code called Follow through a mass message. I didn't pay much attention to what it was. Last month, while browsing a certain forum, I came across this keyword again and found out that it is an online reading software for RSS. Since I had been involved in this area before, I registered for a Follow account to take a look. Then I read some articles on Follow and learned that it is a product of DIYGod (I had previously interacted with his RSSHub and RSS3), and discovered that another product of his is this Xlog. Perhaps due to the good experience with Follow (which can aggregate content from many platforms, including some foreign social media and video sites), and the introduction of blockchain and tokens, I also registered for Xlog to try it out.
From my personal understanding of Xlog, it is essentially a blog from a functional perspective. Its characteristic is that it can write the publication records of content onto the blockchain (indicating that the publisher of this article is the wallet address owner), while the storage of files is achieved through some decentralized storage mechanism (InterPlanetary File System IPFS). I specifically sought to understand what special significance this characteristic holds. I roughly know that applications in this form are a product of the development of blockchain technology (Blockchain 1.0 is represented by Bitcoin as a blockchain cryptocurrency; Blockchain 2.0 includes Ethereum, smart contracts, and tokens; Blockchain 3.0 refers to decentralized applications). Such products, based on blockchain technology, can write certain information onto the blockchain to prove ownership and the immutability of content.
Then there is the understanding of earning. The publication of articles and rewards are ways to earn tokens. Once these tokens are recognized by the market, they can be exchanged for actual profits. Early developers and investors can gain significant returns after the token is listed on the main board. Currently, publishing articles on Xlog incurs almost no costs. However, free services can also be the most expensive. You never know when they might disappear or become unavailable. Compared to the closed, centralized ecosystem of WeChat public accounts, this open-source, decentralized approach feels quite appealing to me. Although there were many bugs when I first started using it, and even registration had issues, I still hope this platform can succeed. I also know that cultivating user habits is not easy, and various countries' content review restrictions may hinder the platform's growth... (I suddenly thought it might be somewhat similar to the development of X, even the name has some implications. The big players are really impressive, being able to integrate the latest blockchain technology with information aggregation and publishing; they are truly talented and promising.)
2. Content of Records#
I actually don't have a habit of publishing notes, including previous registrations on QQ Space, blogs, WeChat public accounts, and my self-built blog website... However, I have made quite a few notes and diaries, both on paper and in various electronic forms. Since last year, I gradually found that I couldn't recall the things I had recorded. It was as if I had never recorded anything at all. So what is the meaning of my recording? To review when I get old? I worked hard to organize many notes, only to find that many are of no use to my current self, let alone in the future. I think if I just read and study aimlessly, then take notes without forming my own ideas, such learning is merely a futile effort. However, organizing and publishing my reading and study notes, showcasing the results, can turn the learning outcomes into tangible results. It requires me to express myself in smooth language, logically, and form my own understanding. Therefore, the important thing is to enhance my comprehension through output, gaining a deeper impression. The moment of recording and organizing is more crucial, while future reviews are relatively secondary (though they can also provide references for my future self).
I used to be unaccustomed to publishing any content because I felt my writing was poor and I couldn't express my thoughts well; the content I published felt embarrassing. I was hesitant and unwilling to show it to others. Since I was only writing for myself, my notes were casually recorded without proper organization of thoughts, reflecting a wrong attitude. Whether it's actual audiences or the imagined audience and judges in my mind, they seemed to impose higher demands on me. This burden made me ponder repeatedly while writing, spending a lot of time. However, this pondering is beneficial to some extent. Facing these challenges bravely and the process of organizing materials is also a process of further reviewing and changing my understanding. So, I treat it as if there is an imagined audience, and I strive to organize my thoughts and the content I want to express, without worrying about the actual audience. Therefore, writing it down is necessary, even if it takes a lot of time.
What will I record? Notes from reading and studying, various daily logs, and so on. I will first edit and publish them in my knowledge base before considering migrating them to Xlog. As for why I chose this place, one reason is that it is free and open-source, and currently has no ads; another is that I need a better website to read my own library content. As for the audience, I will leave it to fate; if my content can bring feedback, that would be even better. Sharing my content and providing inspiration to those who are destined to find it is also a form of help. More importantly, I need to strive to produce good content and improve my understanding.