Hello everyone, today we are going to share a tutorial on how to build a blog that is permanently free, secure, and unrestricted! If you're in a hurry, please scroll down to the second half and follow the instructions. For novice users, let's first understand a few things!
Why build your own blog
Many friends may ask, why build your own blog? Aren't there many platforms where you can easily register an account and post videos and articles?
Well, only creators who have experienced it themselves understand. After all, when you're under someone else's roof, you have to follow their rules. If they say you violated the rules, you did. If they say they'll ban your account, there's nothing you can do. Your data is held hostage by these centralized platforms, and you have no choice but to obey.
Moreover, on closed internet platforms, only users of specific platforms can see your content. So if you don't want to put up with this or if you want to have a backup just in case, it's necessary to create a blog.
Common free building methods
Now let's talk about the more common free building methods. You can build for free using GitHub Pages, but that's a bit complicated for beginners.
We have also shared before how to build a website using Notion, which can be deployed with the help of free and open-source projects like Replit. There are also many idiot-proof Notion website building projects, but they are only suitable for light users. Because they still use traditional methods. Traffic, domain names, databases, servers, whatever it is, they all cost money when used in large quantities!
Modern building methods
And today, we have found a more modern way for you. If you are familiar with blockchain, web3, IPFS, and other things, then you will find this method very easy to use. If you are not familiar with them, it doesn't matter, you can still easily build it by following the instructions.
First, we need to use a project called xlog, which claims to be the first blockchain blog community. The code is already publicly available on GitHub, and it is much more reliable than those pseudo-applications that claim to be blockchain-based but still store data on centralized platforms.
Professional terms
To understand its characteristics, let's briefly explain a few professional terms mentioned above.
IPFS can be understood as a more advanced transmission protocol than BitTorrent or magnet links. Taking our common HTTP as an example, it is a centralized product. For example, when I upload a resource to a central server of a certain search engine, everyone needs to download it from the central server through a shared link. Due to time, speed, and traffic limitations, this protocol is facing the reality of slow speed and low efficiency. Of course, that search engine is an exception to being slow. On the other hand, IPFS is distributed and decentralized. For example, if 100 people in your community have a copy of a resource, there is no need to go through a central server. These 100 people can directly send it to you through their own computers. It's like using the same bandwidth and time to obtain a part of the resource from multiple channels and then combining them together, greatly improving efficiency.
Web3 is more like a concept. In comparison, Web1 was the era of portal websites, where you had to go to a few giant websites to get various information and listen to what they said. Web2 is like the various online platforms we have now, where everyone can create and interact. However, users' data is still in the hands of these centralized companies. Whether you are a creator or a viewer, you are still a user, and your data is their asset. So instead of waiting for them to open up the data, it's more reliable to wait for them to send you a red envelope. Web3 is more like turning us from users into partners. We can set platform rules, plan platform development, participate in platform dividends, and most importantly, control our own data.
Blockchain is something that everyone has at least heard of if they haven't used it. It can make data tamper-proof and traceable. It also has features such as decentralization, anonymity, universality, and openness. If you're interested, you can search for more information on your own.
xlog features
In short, xlog is built on the aforementioned technologies. So your blog data will be permanently and securely stored on the blockchain, and no one can change it except for you. You don't have to worry about the various attacks that regular websites often encounter.
Through IPFS and various caching mechanisms, your blog on the blockchain can run smoothly just like any other website.
It also supports importing and exporting markdown, so if you have previously built a website using Notion like me, you just need to export the markdown files and import them here to complete the website migration.
You can freely set the domain name, navigation bar, style, etc. in the way you like, and all these things are stored on the blockchain.
Its openness also allows it to seamlessly integrate with many other open protocols and applications. Its rich ecosystem makes it very enjoyable. As a long-lasting blog site for your future, you can have fun with it.
Now let's talk about the method. Simply put, you just need to install a plugin and link it to the website. In more detail, it involves many new things, and I will include explanatory articles for you to read. But let's just go ahead and do it.
Building method
Installation of MetaMask
First, you need a wallet. We choose MetaMask and install its plugin directly from the official website onto the browser. You can think of it as an identity credential or account. Your actions such as publishing articles and changing domain names on the blog will consume the CSB in this wallet. Don't worry about what it is for now.
Connecting to MetaMask from xlog
Then open the xLog official website and click on the connection in the upper right corner. We choose the first option, MetaMask. The first time you use it, there will be a registration-like process where it will generate an address starting with 0x for you. You don't need to remember it, just keep clicking next. But when you encounter the mnemonic phrase, take a screenshot and save it because you will need it for future logins.
Get CSB from the faucet website
At this point, our account is empty. You can get CSB for free from a website. You can think of it as a website that provides assistance to users with insufficient balance. Each person can receive 0.002 CSB per day. Don't think it's too little, you probably won't even use it all. I have published three articles and changed the domain name once, and I still have 0.1769 CSB left. It's enough for you to post many articles in a day. And as long as you have less than 0.002 CSB, you can claim it every day. So you can think of it as completely free!
We just need to select the second option starting with 0x in the upper right corner of xlog, click on it to automatically copy it, and then paste it into the faucet website to claim it.
Creating a blog on xlog
After that, we can go back to xlog and create a blog by setting a website name, domain name, and website description.
Finally, select the first option in the upper right corner of xlog, which is the dashboard, to freely set and publish articles in the system backend. At the end of the article, you can clearly see the hash, IPFS link, and other Web3 information. Now you are truly creating content on the blockchain.
Here are the URLs needed in this article:
Xlog project address
https://github.com/Crossbell-Box/xLog
Xlog official website address
https://xlog.app/
MetaMask official website
https://metamask.io/
CSB faucet website
https://faucet.crossbell.io/