Holochain can also be defined as a kind of software platform. At the same time, the Holochain platform is open source. Thanks to Holochain, individuals and communities can develop and easily use decentralized, scalable, and reliable applications.
What Is Holochain's Philosophy?
At its most basic, Holochain has a core philosophy. This philosophy is that, unlike blockchain technology, each user can control and verify their data and information. The applications and programs developed on Holochain use a structure where each user uses and runs their nodes. Within this structure of the Holochain platform, data is stored on each node. As a result, each user can manage their data and information completely independently. At the same time, users can also share this data and information independently.
The Holochain platform works and is executed without being connected to a central server. In other words, users store all their data on their devices and hardware. It provides the Holochain platform with better scalability and data privacy protection. At the same time, each decentralized application and program developed on the Holochain platform has its own unique set of rules. These applications and programs also have their data models and data structures. With such features, the Holochain platform provides a flexible space for developers.
The Holochain platform also performs some operations to make these decentralized applications and programs run faster. One of these enhancements is the ability to split data into smaller chunks and perform parallel processing. In this way, decentralized applications and programs developed on the Holochain platform can be used faster. In addition to increasing performance with technical improvements, it becomes possible to work at larger scales.
What Is Holochain Aiming for?
The Holochain platform states that its main goal is the development of user-centric, secure, and scalable decentralized applications that can be used in the best possible way. The Holochain platform can also be used to develop distributed organizations, social networks, marketplaces, and much more to replace central authorities.
When Was Holochain Developed?
Arthur Brock and Eric Harris-Braun, contract coders, laid the foundations of the Holochain project in December 2016. The Holochain project was originally launched as part of a project called MetaCurrency, a tool and technology producer developed to benefit P2P (Peer to Peer) economies. Holochain is modeled after a previous project by Arthur Brock and Eric Harris-Braun, Ceptr, which was intended to be a collaborative P2P framework for DApps.
Arthur Brock, who has experience in coding alternative currencies as the founder of Geek Gene, a company that works on building community and crowd-building tools, is also one of the co-founders of Emerging Leader Labs, a social enterprise incubator. The other co-founder of the project is Eric Harris-Braun.
Eric Harris-Braun started coding in 1988. He is the founder of Glass Bead Software, which develops peer-to-peer communication software. In 2003, Eric Harris-Braun developed Harris-Braun Enterprises, a freelance software development and consulting company. He has also served on the advisory board of the Schumacher Center for the New Economy.
Holochain was created by Arthur Brock and Eric Harris-Braun. The Holochain platform, also known by its acronym HOT, held its first ICO (Initial Coin Offering) 2018 between April and May 2018. After May 2018, HOT, the cryptocurrency of the Holochain platform, started to be listed and sold on different cryptocurrency trading platforms.
How Does Holochain Work?
The Holochain platform acts as a kind of bridge between the distributed Holochain applications and the centralized internet. Each user has their blockchain structure on the Holochain platform. Thanks to this special structure, all Holochain platform users can make transactions with Holochain applications without being dependent on a centralized structure. At the same time, users can control their identities with their data. This feature is the most important difference of the Holochain platform. In addition, the Holochain platform is scalable, fast, and energy efficient. The Holochain project aims to be a new-generation project that is cheaper than other blockchain projects.
What Are the Advantages of Holochain?
Here are some of the advantages of the Holochain platform for its users:
- Decentralization and Data Control
- Scalability
- Performance
- Flexibility
- Low Energy Consumption
- Community and User Focused
Decentralization and Data Control
Holochain provides a structure where each user controls and verifies their data. Users keep their data on their own devices without having to rely on a central server. This gives users data control and privacy.
Scalability
Holochain splits data into small chunks and enables applications to run faster by parallel processing. This provides scalability for a larger user base or more complex applications.
Performance
Holochain uses a structure where each user works on their node and data is distributed. This allows applications to run faster and more efficiently. Storing data locally reduces network traffic and latency.
Flexibility
Different applications and programs developed on Holochain have their own rule sets and data models. This gives developers the flexibility to customize their applications according to their needs and goals.
Low Energy Consumption
Since Holochain does not use a centralized consensus mechanism, energy consumption is lower. This offers a more environmentally sustainable approach.
Community and User Focused
Holochain encourages users and developers to take a community-centered approach. There is a community supporting the project, and contributors are rewarded. This encourages collaboration and aims to create a broader ecosystem.
These advantages of the Holochain platform provide a more flexible, scalable, and secure environment for the development of decentralized applications.
What Are the Disadvantages of Holochain?
Apart from the advantages of the Holochain platform, there are also some disadvantages. To give examples of these disadvantages, the following can be said:
- Being a New and Emerging Technology
- Match Problems
- Limited Ecosystem and User Base
- Incompatibility with Traditional Blockchain Networks
- Insufficient Developer and User Resources
Being a New and Emerging Technology
Holochain is a new and emerging technology. Therefore, there is a possibility of encountering some issues such as incomplete features, potential bugs, or performance problems. As the development process is ongoing, users may face some shortcomings or instability.
Match Problems
The distributed nature of Holochain may require extra effort to ensure consistency across different nodes and solve data mapping issues. Challenges such as data synchronization, managing conflicts, and maintaining a consistent view may await users.
Limited Ecosystem and User Base
The Holochain platform does not yet have a large user base or an extensive ecosystem.
Incompatibility with Traditional Blockchain Networks
The Holochain platform adopts a different philosophy and may be incompatible with traditional blockchain technology and networks. Accordingly, direct integration of Holochain platform-based applications with other blockchain network projects may be difficult.
Insufficient Developer and User Resources
The number of developers and users on the Holochain platform can be relatively small compared to other major platforms. It can make it difficult for developers to find support and resources for their projects and can delay the formation of a large community.
Despite its disadvantages, the potential advantages of the Holochain platform and its innovative approach may be attractive to users and communities and have the potential to become a successful platform in the future. However, as with any technology, it should be evaluated and appropriately chosen based on the use case and needs.
