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I think we should read about blockchains and understand it first. Then only we can actually decide whether it can actually be helpful for a particular problem.

I think we should read about blockchains and understand it first. Then only we can actually decide whether it can actually be helpful for a particular problem. A general rule of thumb is: Don't use blockchain if a database maintained by a single organization (person / company / government ) is sufficient. If multiple people interact, or multiple organizations interact and together want to maintain some data where they all collaborate and take decisions on how the data is changed then only we need blockchain. So when I think about it, wiki can definitely be helped by blockchains.

Tomte 7y ago
No. "Multiple entities interact" may be a necessary condition for using a blockchain, but it's certainly far from a sufficient condition.
- ghoshbishakh 7y ago
  Agreed. The sufficient condition is you cannot blindly trust all those entities.
  - Tomte 7y ago
    That's still far from sufficient. Existing businesses have coped with that for hundreds of years. You can have joint-ventures, where all participants send emissaries to, you can negotiate rights to view the books or other ways to create transparency. You can have contracts, backed by a legal system and state courts. You can do many things. Blockchains are only one of those possibilities. Most important question when somebody tries to sell you a blockchain: "What's the traditional way to do it?" Correct answer: "People usually do X, but our blockchain proposal has advantages Y and Z." Incorrect answer: "Nobody has ever solved that problem before!"
- twrx3 7y ago
  Yes, only when they cannot trust each other.
sweeneyrod 7y ago
Wikipedia does have a database that is in its sole control though. The fact that people outside the organisation interact with that database (as is the case in most uses of databases) is irrelevant; the interaction is controlled and mediated by Wikipedia.

Tomte 7y ago

No. "Multiple entities interact" may be a necessary condition for using a blockchain, but it's certainly far from a sufficient condition.

ghoshbishakh 7y ago
Agreed. The sufficient condition is you cannot blindly trust all those entities.
- Tomte 7y ago
  That's still far from sufficient. Existing businesses have coped with that for hundreds of years. You can have joint-ventures, where all participants send emissaries to, you can negotiate rights to view the books or other ways to create transparency. You can have contracts, backed by a legal system and state courts. You can do many things. Blockchains are only one of those possibilities. Most important question when somebody tries to sell you a blockchain: "What's the traditional way to do it?" Correct answer: "People usually do X, but our blockchain proposal has advantages Y and Z." Incorrect answer: "Nobody has ever solved that problem before!"
twrx3 7y ago
Yes, only when they cannot trust each other.

sweeneyrod 7y ago

Wikipedia does have a database that is in its sole control though. The fact that people outside the organisation interact with that database (as is the case in most uses of databases) is irrelevant; the interaction is controlled and mediated by Wikipedia.