Apple’s first CEO, Steve Jobs, in 1983 talked about a concept that is now known as AppStore. Back then people in a record store got a free song sample in the radio, so they knew what there were buying. In the applications scene they had to pay for an application without having an ability to try them beforehand. Steve criticized this and 25 years later Apple App Store was launched.
Launching AppStore was a revolution but it didn’t stop - apps have changed and evolved many times. Matthew Panzarino described 3 stages. There is also one he didn’t mention - the fourth stage. Decentralized Applications, known as “dApps” became popular because of Ethereum platform.
dApps work just like normal apps but they are not centralized. What does it mean? They rely on Ethereum network, not on any central server meaning there is central point of failure. This makes them unable to hack or censorship.
Augur is a popular dApp - it communicates directly with Ethereum network, without the need to go through intermediate servers.
Another examples are Mist wallet and MetaMask. Mist wallet is used for interacting with a user’s wallet. It requires users to download Ethereum Blockchain, though. On the contrary, MetaMask gives its users an extension that allows them to turn a web browser into an Ethereum browser.
Is there anything between Apps and dApps?
There are some semi-decentralized apps that gained popularity by using the word “decentralized” while not being completely decentralized. It will take years for a complete apps decentralization. Until then, apps may get overloaded with coins, tokens and another in-app purchases.
Monopoly is never good and companies such as Apple or Google are harming both users and developers economically, not to mention the lack of transparency when it comes to app store approval or users having almost no control over their data.
To fight it, one of the most popular app stores has created a new protocol for apps to help them decentralize and remove the power from companies like Google or Apple.
Process of decentralization
The system gives apps and app stores an opportunity to be more efficient for both users and developers. The truth is apps and app stores will never be fully decentralized but this path may create a common ground and foundation for a decentralized app economy.