Holochain - The Most Scalable Distributed Ledger

Holochain is being touted as a distributed ledger technology (DLT) protocol that promises to make blockchains obsolete. It is a huge claim, so let us find out more about what this project is.

What Is Holochain?

Holochain is an open-source project that facilitates peer-to-peer networking. In simple terms, this protocol lets you build amazing applications based on distributed philosophy. It might sound like what blockchain is all about, though the inner workings may differ. To understand this protocol, you need to know how blockchains work. The current generation of blockchain solutions relies heavily on energy, since most protocols are based on the Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism.

PoW requires miners to validate blocks, which involves a lot of computational power, to solve cryptographic puzzles. Unfortunately, the energy that has been put to use has not been very environmentally friendly, though this is changing with time. Holochain technology uses the Go programming language to address this issue where its apps can be written in Lisp or JavaScript. This makes the protocol an energy-efficient ledger system that is agent-centric; each agent can have a copy of the secure ledger and act independently. The protocol can also interact with other network devices to provide a fully scalable distributed ledger solution.

How to Use Holochain?

This protocol can be used to develop a diverse array of distributed apps. The applications can have a wide range of usability such as collaborative apps, platform-related apps, social media apps, relationship management apps, supply chain-oriented apps, resource management apps, reputation systems, etc. The wide use cases make Holochain technology a valid alternative to Ethereum, one of the most popular blockchain networks in the market for dapps.

What is the Difference Between Holochain and Blockchain Protocols?

Even though all of them are peer-to-peer networks, the difference lies in how they are used. On the one hand, blockchain protocols are ideal for systems requiring global consensus, while Holochain technology is suitable for systems that can work without consensus. This presents many benefits for the protocol, such as easier scalability, adaptability, efficiency, and extendibility.

The Holochain name came from the fact that the protocol is composed of different technology and makes up for a whole experience. It offers a structurally holographic platform and also empowers holistic patterns. Three key cryptographic technologies used to make up this protocol include hashchains, cryptographic signing, and distributed hash table (DHT).

Holochain Features:

#what are the features of holochain?

Some standout features that make this protocol unique from other decentralized networks include energy efficiency. Energy issues on certain blockchain networks are no secret, and it stands to reason that a platform that is good for the environment is more welcome. Also, the protocol presents a better model than some blockchain protocols for data transfer and storage. This allows it to be used even by smartphones, making them part of the network. This approach gives the network the ability to be highly scalable since it can incorporate more devices.

Holochain apps are also ideal since they are based on an open-source framework that is unique and tries to bridge the gap between public and private networks. These apps are distributed solutions that benefit heavily from the best of both worlds. This means that each dapp created on the chain has its customizable interoperable network.

Additionally, the protocol is uniquely configurable since it aims to provide each app with its network. Therefore, each network can be configured according to the desired requirements. The unique approach means that each app can have its standards, protocols, and choice of the consensus algorithm. Also, each app can alter network performance, including scalability, latency, and throughput. Other key aspects that can be configured include resilience, governance, and privacy. This ability makes Holochain a unique decentralized protocol different from Ethereum, NEO, and other closely related networks.

Surprisingly, the protocol is uniquely connectable despite allowing each app to have its own unique distributed ledger. To stay connected, different apps can bridge among themselves with the help of the native application programming interface (API), which provides a secure and profoundly integrated ecosystem. This unique connectivity also means that the apps can work offline or when they are partitioned.