Introduction
Project Name: SiaPeopleLearn (Phase II)
Name of the organization: Dapp Mentors Ltd.
Project Description:
First, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Grant Committee for approving the phase one of our grant, which has now been successfully completed with all its milestones. That support has been instrumental in advancing the SiaPeopleLearn project, enhancing educational content management and fostering a decentralized ecosystem. The project can be explored at our development website.
Demonstration :
To provide a snapshot of our progress, we’ve prepared a short video showcasing the system’s current functionality. Please review this demonstration of our application’s integration with the Sia Ecosystem.
Needed Features and Enhancements to be Implemented:
In the phase II of the SiaPeopleLearn project, our goal is to significantly improve the educational platform’s performance and user experience. Our focus is on the following features:
-
Customized Video Player for a Versatile Performance : Our goal is to develop a flexible video player capable of handling various video formats and qualities stored on Renterd. This will ensure a smooth user experience by accommodating diverse educational content and enhancing engagement.
-
Introducing a Dedicated Page for Educators and Content Creators : We’re introducing a creator page where educators and content creators can list their educational videos and documents stored on the Sia Network for sale (Such as the BuyMeACoffee Platform). This feature simplifies showcasing and selling educational content, offering a platform for direct interaction with potential students and customers. Additionally, we’ll integrate a feature to display creators’ wallets, where sales revenue and refunds are recorded.
-
Creator Files Downloads : Our goal is to simplify the process for creators to download their files from the Sia Network with a single click, reinforcing the principle of data ownership. We also plan to introduce an automatic file deletion feature to efficiently manage files after a specified period inactiveness.
-
Multi-Chunk File Uploader: We aim to introduce a multi-chunk file uploader, enhancing efficiency by allowing faster uploads, pausing, resuming, and canceling, making the process more user-friendly.
-
Backend Video Splicing and File Caching: To optimize video delivery and scalability, we’ll develop a backend feature for splicing videos into multiple qualities and implement a caching mechanism, improving response times and user experience.
-
Content Delivery Network (CDN): Our plan includes integrating a CDN to accelerate file and video delivery across regions, enhancing global reach and ensuring consistent high-quality streaming from the Sia Network to users.
Project Beneficiaries:
-
Educators: The SiaPeopleLearn project is designed to provide online instructors with a more flexible and cost-effective alternative to traditional course hosting platforms. For example, Educators and Creators will find our platform a flexible and cost-effective alternative, offering them full control and ownership over their content, a significant step towards decentralization.
-
Content Creators: The project is also beneficial for content creators, offering them a platform to host videos without relying on centralized video hosting services. This shift not only lowers costs but also provides full ownership rights to their content through our Sia-based platform.
-
Community Users: For members of the Sia network community, SiaPeopleLearn offers a decentralized platform that is user-owned, which is a significant advantage over traditional educational platforms. Additionally, the open-source nature of our project serves as a valuable learning resource for those interested in contributing to the Sia ecosystem.
-
Application Developers: Developers in the Sia ecosystem can find our project’s open-source code to be a valuable asset. It provides practical examples for integrating the Renterd to user applications, fostering innovation, and contributing to the growth of the Sia network.
How our project serve the Foundation’s mission of user-owned data:
Our SiaPeopleLearn project serves the Sia Foundation’s mission of user-owned data by creating a cost-effective, decentralized platform for educators and content creators to move away from centralized course hosting.
This not only enhances educational access but also provides a valuable resource for others seeking to integrate Sia Renterd into their projects, addressing a gap we faced in finding useful examples with our tech stacks (NextJs, Typescript, NodeJs).
By open-sourcing, documenting, and sharing our project, we are saving others from similar challenges, fostering innovation and growth in the Sia ecosystem.
Grant Specifics
Project Budget:
We are requesting $55,000 for a 5-month period, to be disbursed inline with the milestones outlined below. This budget will cover the following costs:
- Development and Team’s Full-Time Salary: $48,000
- Additional Cloud VPS and Hosting Costs: $2,000
- Additional pages, components designs, and Logo: $2,000
- Additional Software Supports (Domains, SC, etc.): $1,000
- Testing and Deployment Cost: $1,000
- Miscellaneous: $1,000
Project Milestones:
The first milestone shall be paid on approval to enable us to begin work. Here are the project’s milestones for a total of 5 months (April 25th to September 25th, 2024):
Milestone 1: Customized Video Player Development (1st 6 weeks)
- Design and translate the video player into a frontend code.
- Develop the customized player to stream videos from Renterd.
- Enhance the player to be compatible with various video formats and qualities.
Milestone 2: Multi-Chunk File Uploader, Backend Video Splicing and Caching (2nd 6 weeks)
- Develop a multi-chunk file uploader with pause, resumeability, and cancellation features.
- Enhance the backend with video splicing into multiple qualities.
- Implement a caching system for frequently accessed files.
- Implement the automatic file deletion feature to efficiently delete files after a specified period of inactiveness.
Milestone 3: Creator Page, File Download Implementation, and CDN (4th Month)
- Develop the creator page for listing digital products for sale.
- Implement a creator file download feature for zipping retrieved contents from Renterd.
- Implement the creators/user wallet to display sales revenues and refunds.
- Integrate a CDN to improve file and video delivery across all regions.
Milestone 4: Testing and Deployment (5th Month)
- Conduct thorough testing of all features and the platform as a whole.
- Deploy the enhanced application online.
These milestones are designed to ensure the successful development, enhancement, and deployment of the SiaPeopleLearn, contributing to the growth and success of the Sia ecosystem.
Potential risks of the project:
Two potential external risks we consider are:
-
Restrictions on Credit and Debit Card Usage for Crypto Transactions: There’s a risk of credit and debit card usage for cryptocurrency transactions being banned in certain countries, such as India (2018), China (2021), Nigeria (2021), and others. This could potentially hinder users from purchasing Sia Coins. However, it’s worth noting that this risk is relatively low nowadays, as an increasing number of countries are recognizing crypto assets as valuable commodities rather than threats.
-
Dependency on Stripe for Payment Processing: Another external risk is our reliance on Stripe for payment processing, which SiaPeopleLearn uses to facilitate learner subscriptions. Stripe is only available in 46 countries and could be susceptible to disruptions due to regulatory changes, especially in regions with evolving central bank regulations. Despite the risk of Stripe’s availability, we’re developing alternative payment methods in cryptocurrencies to ensure uninterrupted access and align with decentralized principles. Additionally, it’s important to note that the backend of SiaPeopleLearn can be utilized by community users and application developers independently of Stripe, further mitigating the potential impact of this risk.
Development Information
Will all of our project’s code be open-source?
Yes, all project code will be open-source and made available on GitHub.
A link to where our code will be accessible for review:
Do we agree to submit monthly progress reports?
Yes, we agree to submit monthly progress reports in the forum.
Contact info:
Email: contact@dappmentors.org
Any other preferred contact methods:
Forum: @DappMentors
Discord: Daltonic
LinkedIn
X-twitter
YouTube
Website
We kindly request your support for SiaPeopleLearn enhancement. We believe your approval will drive innovation, foster collaboration, and grow the Sia network ecosystem.
