Ever wonder why some of the most anticipated games in the Web3 space (@illuviumio, @PlayEmberSword, @UndeadBlocks) and large corporations (@GameStopNFT, @Marvel) chose @Immutable as their scaling solution?
I read the Whitepaper, let me give you some insight!
A 🧵...
To really understand the value that Immutable X provides we need to start with some of the shortcomings that currently exist with Ethereum:
-Low Scalability 📊
-Poor User Experience 😢
-Slow Developer Experience 🐌
Lets start with Scalability!
To preserve security and decentralization, Ethereum maintains a low throughput when compared to traditional databases.
Due to the rapid increase in users, network congestion and slow transaction times have become the norm.
Additionally, many have been priced out of mints simply due to high gas prices alone.
Scalability is a huge problem and there is no one right answer.
Take a look at Ethereum's website for a multitude of different solutions: ethereum.org/en/developers/docs/scaling/
The next major issue is UX...
Debatably the biggest issue with Ethereum is the UX.
Tx's can take minutes (and, in extreme circumstances, hours), and often fail entirely.
While other Blockchains can improve these times, it is often at the cost of compromising asset security or network decentralization.
Additionally, onboarding new users who are non crypto-native is overwhelming and very confusing.
Building a better UX is paramount for the success of Web3.
Speaking of builders, the final issue as cited by Immutable X is Slow Developer Experience...
There is a massive barrier to entry for developers looking to engage in the Web3 space.
In order for Developers (Hi Mom!) to create interesting new applications, a lot of time has to be spent learning new languages, toolings, and paradigms.
Many of the nice-to-haves of Web2 are not readily available: Simple API’s, Platform-Specific SDK’s, and Pre-Built Infrastructure.
Immutable X was designed specifically to solve these problems.
Problem 1: Low Scalability.
Solution: ZK-Rollup Scaling Engine.
ImmutableX leverages @StarkWareLtd's rollup technology to supercharge its NFT trading. Rollups allow for scalability without losing security:
ethereum.org/en/developers/docs/scaling/zk-rollups/#:~:text=Zero%2Dknowledge%20rollups%20(ZK%2D,minimal%20summary%20data%20to%20Mainnet)
This also plays a role in User Experience...
Problem 2: Poor User Experience.
Solution: NFT-Enabled Wallets.
Immutable X allows users to utilize any Ethereum wallet they are comfortable with without changing networks through an intermediary "Link".
In addition to comfort, this Link opens the doors for third-party marketplaces to flourish.
Users do not have to worry about the security or validity of the marketplace because the Link handles the verification 🤝
Problem 3: Slow Developer Experience.
Solution: API Abstraction and Platform SDK's.
This is the part that gets me hyped as a dev!
Immutable X wraps its scaling engine in a set of REST APIs (A structure any Web2 Dev is familiar with).
This. Is. So. Good.
Every interaction from minting to trading to transferring is reduced to an API call!
The result?
Immutable X has created a straightforward onramp for traditional gaming companies by converting complex asynchronous blockchain interactions into synchronous REST API calls. 🤓
This is going to provide a MASSIVE benefit to traditional companies looking to enter the Web3 gaming space by reducing the barrier of entry for their devs.
And if that wasn't cool enough, they also provide Platform SDK's!
Immutable X provides a Typescript SDK (Software Development Kit) allowing for its protocol to be easily integrated into websites and web applications.
In addition to Typescript, future SDK’s will become available such as Android/IOS and Unreal!
ImmutableX has created a Web3 gaming ecosystem that I believe has a lot of potential!
If you got this far thanks for reading!
Feel free to retweet the thread 😃 I plan on releasing more Blockchain Gaming / Dev content through my Twitter!
-Darce ❤️
Darce256
@Darce256
Writing about Web3 from an Engineers perspective. Senior Software Engineer @YoungWorldXYZ Gaming Enthusiast @developer_dao member | AMA about Web3!