It has been observed that many current applications have a decentralized appearance on the horizon, yet in effect hire centralized data processing in the backend. This trend remains hidden from the user and, in fact, in many cases, from the developers themselves, and it forms a major risk in such systems. Centralized dependencies in systems result in a single point of failure and make decentralization pointless in this regard.
Data services with centralization provide convenience, speed, and familiarity, making them attractive in early development phases. However, with convenience comes the loss of control. When data for an application is stored or indexed in centralized services, in effect, belief in third-party availability, integrity, and continuity is involved. Should these third parties change their policies, experience downtimes, or opt to terminate the services, applications will still break, even with highly decentralized execution logic.
It also leads to long-term vulnerabilities. When apps rely on the data layers structured in a centralized manner, they depend upon the lifecycle of such services and do not get to define the destiny of their own lifecycles. Slowly, technological debts get added in terms of workarounds in place if there are any constraints or inabilities in migrating or supporting.
To address this challenge, the @Walrus 🦭/acc introduces an alternative data layer that is specifically geared towards the decentralized world. Rather than delegating core data values, Walrus provides applications with the opportunity to ground their data in a layer that values verifiability, continuity, and independency. This approach lessens the risk of being controlled by external factors while maintaining application control of their own data.
Another massive effect that comes along with centralized dependencies is that of a depletion in trust values. One thing about users, they may not actually know how data is handled, but they definitely feel that impact if things go south. Walrus allows this same sort of value to be derived in a system that uses a decentralized platform, as it gives a capacity to verify references to data.
Developers also benefit from simplifying operational complexity. Usually, the typical management of data services by a centralized model involves continuous monitoring, billing, and management of dependence. $WAL makes it less complex by providing a uniform model for handling data that is consistent with a decentralized model.
Another aspect which has been given lesser importance is interoperation. With the dependencies on centralized data, applications form data silos, making them not so easily composable. This means when data gets tied to a proprietary interface, it becomes hard to refer to them in other applications. Walrus enables the concept of shared data structures which can be accessed throughout the applications.
From a strategy point of view, the elimination of centralized dependencies enhances resilience. Applications running on top of #walrus are more resilient in the face of market changes, infrastructure, or changes in user expectations. The applications are not bound by the strategy or decisions of third-party services.
It also promotes good governance. Having data controlled by the application itself, as opposed to a third party, makes governance more transparent yet accountable. It is possible for communities to check if everything is in order, as they do not depend on intermediates. The aim of decentralization in general is for empowerment, not abstraction.
As decentralized applications progress from being R&D endeavors, the price of hidden interdependencies grows harder and harder to disregard. A pragmatic and short-term, although potentially highly risky, path could be challenged by an improper underlying foundation with regard to data. The Walrus opens up an opportunity for alternative thinking with respect to the way in which applications address data.
Through the mitigation of the unseen cost of centralized data dependencies, Walrus enables a decentralization system that coordinates infrastructure and intent. Such applications, therefore, achieve robustness, integrity, and autonomy, thus creating a domain where innovation does not appear limited by unseen challenges. It therefore enhances a viable decentralization development environment.
