Onchain Frame Deployment

Problems

Centralized Services and Costs

Traditional hosting for interactive applications like Farcaster Frames often relies on centralized services such as Vercel. These platforms provide the necessary infrastructure to host and manage the web-based elements of Frames.

Tools like satori or resvg-js are used to convert HTML and CSS into PNG images, which are essential for the visual components of Frames. While these tools are effective, they also represent a point of centralization and potential cost.

Contradiction with Blockchain Principles

The core philosophy of blockchain technology emphasizes decentralization and independence from centralized control. Using centralized services for hosting contradicts this principle.

Blockchain applications are valued for their ability to operate perpetually without ongoing external inputs or costs. The traditional method of hosting Frames incurs continuous expenses, which is at odds with the concept of a self-sustaining blockchain application.

Maintainability Issues

Relying on centralized services means that the maintenance of the Frames is tied to the continued operation and support of these providers. The need for ongoing payments to service providers for hosting and data management represents a continuous financial burden for developers. This requirement for regular financial input to maintain Frame operations is unsustainable in the blockchain context where a developer can stop paying the cloud provider's bill if they do not receive sufficient returns. This causes users to be unable to play the game, losing progress and assets in the game.

Trust Issues

In a centralized server model, the user must trust that the server operators are managing their data fairly and accurately. Unlike blockchain, where each transaction and operation can be verified against the immutable ledger, traditional servers do not inherently provide this level of transparency.

Centralized systems typically do not provide users with visibility into their internal processes. Since the backend logic and data storage are hidden from the user, there is always a potential risk that the server could manipulate results or data without the user’s knowledge. This can be particularly concerning in environments like online gaming, financial services, or any application where equity and accuracy are paramount.

Solution

Development and Deployment on Blockchain

The proposed Onchain Frame Deployment system allows developers to create and deploy Farcaster Frames directly onto the blockchain. This method leverages a standardized framework specifically designed for this purpose.

By deploying Frames as smart contracts, they inherit the blockchain's properties of permanence and resistance to censorship. This method ensures that once deployed, the Frames can exist indefinitely without the need for external hosting services.

Moreover, this promotes transparency as we can verify that we got what the smart contract says. With the traditional approach, you need to trust the backend server to not cheat on you.

Domain Pointing and Accessiblity

A domain can be pointed to a Frame's smart contract, making the Frames accessible through traditional Farcaster clients and any browsers. This step is crucial for integrating the decentralized Frames into the existing web infrastructure.

Enhancing Sustainability and Integrity

The Onchain Frame Deployment system addresses the sustainability issues associated with traditional hosting by eliminating recurring costs. Once a Frame is deployed on the blockchain, it does not require additional expenditures for its continued operation.

This solution upholds the integrity of decentralized applications by ensuring that Frames are not subject to control or discontinuation by any central authority. It provides a robust framework for developers to create interactive and enduring blockchain-based applications.