Resources I Use
Used and recommend by your’s truly!
This is a work in progress, as I add more tools and resources I will better organize this page.
Please note that some of these links are affiliate links and if you use them I will make a small commission, also note that these are all services or products that I use, or have used in the past and believe them to be of high quality and therefore am recommending them. All of them are easily found just by typing the name in a search engine if you prefer to check them out without using the affiliate link. But I appreciate whenever anyone does use them.
IPFS – IPFS is the apparent front-runner of the decentralized internet or Web3 as it is also coming to be known by. It is possible to host individual files or even a complete website on IPFS either on your own node or by pinning to a third-party node, or both.
You can find this website on IPFS at: ipfs://QmNcCA1YJg3ZDqkjd4Nbifyu55ERVMKyZk2Jdtru6k75Cx/
or by using the more user friendly lemsmyth.crypto . The address lemsmyth.crypto is an Unstoppable Domains and is a way to have a memorable url for your website hosted on IPFS find out more about Unstoppable Domains below.
Unstoppable Domains – Own for life a .crypto domain that you can use to build a censorship-resistant website and use as an easy to remember address for your crypto wallets. Place your website on IPFS and use your .crypto domain name to point people to it similar to a IPNS except on the blockchain and more human readable. Use my referral link to get $10 off your first purchase of $40 at Unstoppable Domains. You can use an Unstoppable Domains as both an easily to remember/use cryptocurrency address for many cryptocurrencies, as well as your IPFS or web3 domain name (similar to a URL).
OpenAlias – Somewhat similar to Unstoppable Domains but uses a traditional domain extension such as .com, .net, .org, etc. It is simple to setup in your DNS records with your domain registrar. It is just a TXT record but it requires a FQDN and DNSSEC must also be enabled.
It was created by the Monero (XMR) team but is cryptocurrency agnostic meaning it can work with any cryptocurrency. But the drawback currently in regards to using OpenAlias with cryptocurrencies other than Monero (which has adopted it in pretty much all the “Official” wallets) is that it needs to be implemented in more wallets. Unstoppable Domains has really pushed the envelope with the number of wallets that can resolve UDs hopefully more wallets will also implement OpenAlias for a wider range of cryptocurrencies. Check it out if you have a domain already as it is fairly easy to setup, even if you just set it up for Bitcoin and Monero.
Browsers
Brave – a web browser with built-in ad blocker that pays you in BAT crypto-currency) for the ads that are shown if you chose to view them (there is a setting to completely turn off the ads).
Opera – Another browser that has native support for IPFS, Opera was one of the first with support for IPFS and continues to be in the forefront of the decentralized web.
Browser extentions for IPFS:
IPFS Companion – helps to resolve the IPFS URI’s so that browsers can load them. A must have extention while surfing the decentralized internet.
Unstoppable Extention – A browser extention that will get your browser to resolve the newer domain names (.crypto will still resolve with Brave or Opera), The browsers are having a diffficult time keeping up with thw fast pace of IPFS and web3 in general. This extention currently is needed to fill the gap.
If you don’t have a LBRY account be sure to signup because there is links to resources on LBRY below. Signup with my link and get some LBC.
LBRY is a YouTube alternative but more decentralized and the metadata is stored on the Blockchain which gives it some resilience to just being disappeared forever, if you have the resource locator you can find the media that you are looking for as long as someone is hosting it. With the desktop application you can share videos and other files you have in a way that is similar to torrents and IPFS. More than just videos can be posted to the LBRY Blockchain, PDF’s and even text or markdown could be posted.
For writing and development:
Atom text editor, an open source text editor. My current daily driver!. Sadly Atom has become another of the casualties of Microsoft, I really liked this code editor and used it for a long time. We will just have to see if someone forks it.
VS Codium – I have switched to using VS Codium, which is a FLOSS version of VSCode basically it is VSCode with all the telemetry removed so that it is not always phoning home to Microsoft. This allows the use of one of the best code editors and all the extensions that have been developed for it but without giving up more of your personal data.
MAMP a bundled PHP and MySQL server (primarily for Macintosh but I think they also have a Windows version) that will create a localhost server for building websites without a hosting company.
If you don’t want to, or can’t use MAMP then there is also XAMPP which I am currently using after switching permanently to Linux operating systems it is another fine choice albeit somewhat quirky.
For Graphic Design:
Inkscape – A free open source SVG creation tool. Free both as in no cost and as in freedom.
The GIMP – A free graphics program and photo editor. Free both as in no cost and as in freedom.
Krita – is a digital painting and animation suite of tools. I have not had as much experience with Krita but have enjoyed whenever I have used this program. Free and open source.
Hosting and Domain Registrars:
Bluehost – They were a good hosting provider for me, while I was getting started, no complaints other than limited on the software you can install, it was possible to get ssh access after talking with customer service. Good place to get started especially if using WordPress.
Vultr – I have switched to a VPS and the hosting company I am using is Vultr. I still recommend Bluehost as a hosting company for new comers to having a website, there is just so much going on during the beginning phases of having a website to try and maintain a server also. But if you have experience with Linux or are aware of what it takes to keep a server going then I do recommend Vultr, they accept the usual forms of payment and in addition they accept cryptocurrency which is one of the reasons that I went with them.
NameCheap – My domain registrar, I have no complaints with them either. When I first started I had my domain names registered with GoDaddy, but now I do not recommend using GoDaddy at all. It is a bit of a hassle to get them moved but it can be done, I consider it time and money well spent to get them moved.
VPNs:
I have used PIA (Private Internet Access) for quite a while. Sign up using my link and we both will get 30 days of free PIA VPN service. I also have used TorGuard for my VPN, both are very reliable. I use VPN services as a security layer anytime I need to use public WIFI, but also while in foreign countries to get around firewalls. I consider a VPN as a must have tool.
Some resources about the decentralized internet: ↓
Publish0x.com is a publishing platform that earns you crypto by being tipped from readers. You can publish articles or blog posts and be tipped by readers, the tips come from a pool and are not directly paid from the readers. In fact the reader also earns crypto.
Coinbase – Sign up for a Coinbase account and we will each get $10 worth of Bitcoin after you fund your account with $100.
Gemini – Sign up for a Gemini Exchange account using this referral link, I receive $10 in BTC if you fund and trade $100 within 30 days of account opening. I like KuCoin or Coinbase better, or use a decentralized exchange if possible.
KuCoin – An Exchange that is useful for holders of smaller amounts in crypto as the trading fees are lower than most exchanges. Also if you are on Publish0x and use KuCoin as your withdrawal to address there are some advantages, such as a lower minimum payout amount and weekly withdrawals available. Another bonus with Kucoin is that there is currently no KYC required for trading smaller amounts of crypto. My Kucoin referral code: rJ82N23
Vultr – I have moved my websites from Bluehost to a VPS and the reason that I went with Vultr is that in addition to taking standard payment methods they also accept Bitcoin which is a nice feature. Blazing fast hosting and I recommend to anyone that is ready to switch from a shared hosting plan. I don’t however recommend it for a beginner, there is just too much involved in maintaining a server to make it wort the bother. But if you are a Linux user or have experience with server administration then I recommend you have a look at Vultr. Use this referral link will get you $100 credit to use for the first month (more than you will need probably and it doesn’t carry over to next month so actually more like first month free, lol).