Phoenix blockchain integration completed

Two weeks ago Shift team made the important announcement that they have now completed the major milestone of integrating the Phoenix IPFS Cluster software with the Shift blockchain. This is an incredible achievement, as it represents the first instance in which IPFS infrastructure has been successfully combined with the automation and management functionalities enabled through blockchain, allowing them to debut a fully decentralized and censorship-resistant storage and hosting platform with the ability to render data immutable (While Shift version 7.0 will have the ability to render data immutable, the testnet environment will entail the network being intermittently reset and data cleared). Since making the announcement, the team has been receiving the support of a number of external developers, who have been performing a code audit. This audit included a thorough review of the code itself, and has now moved onto the stage in which the various components of the platform are tested by sending transactions in multiple scenarios, ensuring that they are correctly recorded on the blockchain and their contents implemented at the storage layer. The work on the audit is progressing well, with the functionality and stability of the network so far being corroborated through this extensive testing.

Client software development

In anticipation of completing this task and moving ahead with Shift testnet release, the team has created a demonstration page that will allow the community to experiment with the four new transaction types at the earliest possible opportunity. Through a browser-based interface, users will be able to broadcast the four new transaction types (LOCK/UNLOCK and PIN/UNPIN) directly to the testnet. This will render the platform functional and available for public testing while Shift completes their easy-to-use storage user interface accessed through the upcoming version of the client wallet, Shift Nano 2.0.

From Official Discord channel:

Ralf S (Shift President and Lead Developer) on February 1st, 2019:

“In response to the market downturn, we began minimizing team expenses a good deal of time ago. This is perhaps something that has been evident in our decision to focus on development rather than marketing. In light of that decision, we have been able to sustain progress on the Shift Project, and have the funds necessary to continue in this manner long term, if necessary.”

From Official Ryver chat:

Ralf S (Shift President and Lead Developer) on December 20th, 2018:

“Still making progress on the backend every day. But I admit it’s an awful lot of work. We’ve received various request in DM to show something to the public. But it’s mainly code work we’re doing now, no eye candy. But I guess I can share a bit of what we’re working on right now. I will paste some screens in our Discord channel.”