Document: WM-063 P. Webb
Category: Life 2024.12.31
Year in Review
Abstract
Where did the time go?!
Body
For the past several years I haven’t felt like doing one of these but
this year seems especially fitting to recap. High‑level, I largely
exited crypto, tended more to my personal spaces (webb.page and
blog.webb.page), lost my grandmother, and more. So it feels weird to
say that in this moment I am happy and hopeful for the future.
1. Handshake
Since late 2019 I’ve been working in the Handshake blockchain
space. It actually fulfills a lifelong dream[1] so I was
incredibly excited and incentivized to build the infrastructure
for the future I want. I learned a LOT. Like how to write a DNS
server! The heavy‑lifting was via a Node.js DNS packet module I
ported to Deno/TypeScript[2]. Unfortunately, I never figured out
how to handle cert files so I used PowerDNS for my authoritative
server instead.
I presented my work‑in‑progress at HandyCon[3], continued creating
mini modules to support features like NIC pages[4], and even got
my first customers! One of them immediately used their domains[5]
and this was easily a top 5 highlight of my year. Next, I started
work on a CDN[6]. What’s interesting about creating your own
versions of infrastructure we depend on daily is that you realize
how complicated (or not) things are. And, how weird it is that
modern literature on such things is absent.
Four years working in this space…and I decided to quit[7]. The
TL;DR? Grifters and opportunists seek to subvert the blockchain
that was designed for the many, to financially benefit the few. I
cannot and will not support bad faith proposals or persons
supporting them.
The thought of leaving all this work behind hurt a lot and I found
myself wondering what I’d work on next. That’s where Socii
comes in.
2. Socii
I was working on Socii[8], my social network concept, for about a
year when I discovered Handshake. It only made sense to return to
(re)developing it. When I was dusting off the codebase and trying
to make sense of it, the U.S. election concluded and I was in a
state of shock about the outcome. The fact that the entirety of
crypto and Big Business was celebrating the win[9] blindsided me.
I was (and still am)Â disgusted.
In a self‑serving world of sychophants and apathy, it seems we’ve
gotta make what we want to see/use/buy in the world. I’m under no
illusions that I’ll get explosive growth and a billion users on my
platform and quite frankly, I don’t want that. I want customers
who are willing to pay for a social network that empowers them to
do more with their online presence whilst providing a curated
private space for them and the people they care to connect with.
Building a sustainable business is actually not that
complicated…it’s just the opposite of what’s celebrated in the
market today and quite frankly…fuck the market.
Since the election, hordes of people have fled Twitter[10] and I
believe a subset of them would be delighted to use the spiritual
successor[11] to Myspace. We’ll see!
3. Professional Life
I’ve utilized side projects my entire career as a way to better
my skills and have fun at the same time. The main reason is
because I have way too many ideas and I’m hella impatient. Why
wait for someone to build what I envision when I can do it myself
(and to my specifications)? Another benefit is simply keeping your
skills sharp because technology advances regularly, even if the
tools you use at work are in stasis.
How many times have you run npm install at work and seen a bunch
of messages in Terminal warning you of deprecated modules?
Certain parts of the company I work for are using parts of the
tech stack I use in my personal life, like Svelte/SvelteKit. I’m
stuck using Handlebars and old build systems. Navigating corporate
hierarchy to get onto other teams is an exercise in frustration.
I’ve gotten either no response or laugh reactions to my questions
about such in the company Slack (only for said reactor to rescind
when confronted). Strange how being part of a trillion dollar
company is lonelier than being part of a startup.
Aligning my values with what I work on is extremely important to
me. I certainly have the skills to find work with a company that
fits, if not launch my own! To that end, it is my hope that 2025
will see me working for myself and/or likeminded
individuals/companies. To some extent, this is a privileged
viewpoint and I pride myself on building up to this point. Our
purpose in life is to be in service to others. I have these
skills…why hoard them for myself?
4. Family
It’s wild how death brings people together. My grandmother passed
recently[12] and I flew to Ohio for her memorial. Prior to this
trip I had been estranged (or pretty close to being estranged)
from my immediate family aside from my youngest sister (who,
unfortunately, couldn’t make the trip). My only focus was honoring
my grandmother’s memory. What I learned is that my experience was
not unique. A cousin mentioned feeling frustrated about being kept
away from grandma but was glad to have connected with her the last
time they had a conversation with her. Another cousin regretted
missing a graduation that occured a week prior to her passing. Yet
another cousin expressed the unconditional love she gave despite
his life choices that others judged him for.
My mom pulled me aside to recount the last conversation she had
with grandma and how they were able to finally move forward. I
told her grandma told me to forgive my mother and talk to her.
These two events happening the same week before her passing is
nuts…very TV‑like. Anyhoo, I enjoyed myself despite the initial
trepidation and sadness. Remembering our grandma with my cousins
was fun. Her love of fur coats and fashion and willingness to
always help someone in need were much talked about topics.
One of my cousins is a music producer now and he credits me for
inspiring him, which was bewildering to me. Apparently, my
beat‑making and raps and how I designed my bedroom as a teen was
enough to influence his career path. I largely stopped making
music because it just didn’t fit with having a family at the time
and the internet wasn’t as democratized for music as it is now.
I’m excited to build with him, we’ve got some things cooking.
At my grandma’s memorial, the pastor said we shouldn’t use
funerals as the only time to link up with family. Communicating
with family is something that should be done all the time, on a
regular basis. My problem is when people send weird energy my way.
I don’t like that. Don’t be weird or sideways with me. Say things
with your chest.
5. My Spaces
In 2022 and 2023, I wrote approximatly ONE post for the entire
year. Why? I’ve been using Twitter as my (micro‑)blogging platform
of choice. When I got banned[13] it was a slap in the face. 15
years on a platform that kicked me off almost as soon as ownership
changed hands. I eventually regained access[14] (ha, our bad, our
spam filters are too powerful) but after almost two years of using
other services, why the hell would I go back? In fact, why am I
posting all my good stuff on platforms I don’t own/control?
I’ve been talking about my personalOS concept[15] for many years
now and have longed for my homepage to represent that. I’ve
recognized that my default of "things have to be perfect before
launching" is stupid so I decided to go ahead and relaunch
webb.page and update things manually vs via an API. It’s lacking
features but who cares? YOU don’t know what they are and even if
you can figure them out…who cares?! Perfection is something
corporations should strive for, not regular degular folks
like myself.
My homepage is my canvas. My blog is my notepad. webb.page
is my space.
6. 2026
My grandma’s last words to me were about forgiveness. Thinking
about her life, she was fearless. If she had a goal, she made a
plan and met it. She had a dual business (barbershop/beauty salon)
and bought a house. No degree necessary, just hard work and
dedication. I want to live my life the same way. I’m a self‑taught
designer/developer and have built neat things thus far. But, while
I am generally fearless, I am still held back but a few things:
driving and swimming. I’m going to get my license next year and
possibly learn how to swim.
Eveything else is easy‑peasy. Success is merely a matter of time.
🕸️