This tutorial will walk you through the process of creating a decentralized website, from purchasing a domain to using an IPFS service. It will also cover some of the concepts related to Web 3.0.
The Purpose of a Decentralized Web?
Many people started to dream about using blockchain technology for more use cases when Bitcoin was first created in the market. Ethereum made this dream come true by allowing developers to create decentralized apps.
The rise of blockchain technology has created endless possibilities for developers. Many of them are now creating decentralized web applications that are designed to be more open and transparent. These applications are referred to as Web 3.0 or decentralized web.
Web 3.0 aims to make the web more censorship-resistant and decentralized. One of the most popular ways to do this is by allowing people to own a domain name in the blockchain using a non-fungible token. Another way to do this is by using IPFS, which allows users to store their websites in a peer-to-peer network.
1. Purchase a Domain
Before you start creating a decentralized website, it’s important to know if there are any available domains for your company or brand. Unstoppable Domains is the leading company when it comes to blockchain domain registrations. They currently have 8 extensions for the blockchain, including .blockchain, .coin and .wallet. In addition, they’re working on launching more extensions.
Like other domain registration companies, Unstoppable Domains’ ordering process is very similar to that of a typical website. Once you find the domain that you’re looking for, just add it to your cart and proceed with the purchase.
Most of the extensions that are offered by Unstoppable Domains are on the Ethereum blockchain. The only one that’s on Zilliqa’s blockchain is .zil. Non-fungible tokens are different from fungible ones in that they represent unique assets. For instance, a unique domain name can be purchased using a non-fungible token.
After you’ve purchased a domain, you need to “claim” it using the NFT. This process will add it to the blockchain, and as long as you have the NFT, you’re the owner of the domain. This eliminates the need for renewal fees.
Unstoppable Domains is currently working on implementing the L2 feature, which will allow users to claim their domains in the blockchain. Until then, you’ll have to pay a fee called the Gas fee. This fee will fluctuate depending on the price of gas.
2. Build Your Website
Unstoppable Domains has a variety of simple and flexible template options that can be used to create a decentralized website. However, they’re not planning on launching a drag and drop website builder. If you don’t have the necessary skills to create a website, you can usually order it from a web developer or a web agency. They’ll create a well-designed and mobile-friendly site for you.
While most web developers and agencies can create a website for you, it’s always a good idea to hire a specialized company to handle all of your needs. Ubuntu Productions is a WordPress-based company that specializes in creating websites that are simple and modern. Its subsidiary, Blockchain Webs, is a web design firm that specializes in creating decentralized websites.
3. Find Hosting and Launch the Site
You already have a domain name and a static website, and all you need to do is upload it to your hosting account. However, decentralized websites don’t rely on a central server to deliver their content to the world.
An interplanetary file system, also known as IPFS, is a decentralized network that uses content-addressing instead of storing information on a central server. Pinata.cloud is a free service that Unstoppable Domains suggests for storing your website. It has a plan that allows users to store up to 1 GB of data. While this is enough for a static website, it’s not ideal for decentralized websites.
If you’re planning on having a large number of visitors, it’s a good idea to upload it to your professional account so that Unstoppable Domains can provide you with the necessary resources for your site.
After you’ve uploaded the website to Pinata, it’s just a matter of filling in the necessary fields on Unstoppable Domains’ domain administration panel. Once the transaction has been confirmed on the blockchain, your decentralized website will be live and ready to receive visitors.