🌐 Seeking Your Feedback to Improve the ThreeFold Grid ✨

#1

:globe_with_meridians: Seeking Your Feedback to Improve the ThreeFold Grid

:sparkles: Hi farmers and users of the ThreeFold Grid! :sparkles:

:mega: We need your feedback!

Your experience and insights are crucial to making the grid as good as possible. We want to hear from both users and farmers to understand how we can improve your interaction, farming, and deployment experience on the grid.

The goal is to collect this valuable input and ensure that all blocking issues are resolved in upcoming grid releases. Your feedback will directly influence our development priorities.

:mag: We want to hear about:

  • :no_entry_sign: Current limitations or frustrations you’re experiencing with the grid - we want to fix anything “blocking” in terms of UX/UI for both farmers and users
  • :chart_with_upwards_trend: Growth suggestions - farmers, what would help new people join the grid, or what would encourage you to expand your own farm?
  • :desktop_computer: User experience improvements - users, what would make your ThreeFold experience better and more intuitive?

:moneybag: Grants Program

We can offer grants for various projects that improve and expand the ThreeFold ecosystem. One example we’re particularly interested in is gateway expansion - we’ll be offering grants to set up gateway nodes, and will document the process to make it as straightforward as possible.

If you have other ideas for grant-worthy projects that could benefit the grid, please share those too!

:speech_balloon: Share Your Thoughts

Please speak your mind freely in the comments. We’re committed to listening and responding to your feedback - we can also organize community calls to discuss these topics in more depth.

Your input will directly help the ThreeFold team prioritize bug fixes, feature development, and resources allocation.

:pray: Thank you for reading and please share your thoughts!

3 Likes
GEP: TF Grid Mainnet release 3.16
#2

Nice to see this topic open.

Here is my suggestions/feedback :

:no_entry_sign: Current limitations or frustrations
As a farmer :

  • a clear way to see income from usage, monthly POC rewards etc… maybe a dashboard with graphs or something.
  • Apart that, the unboarding process to become provider and deploy nodes is really easy, this is really a strengh from TF + Farmerbot to ensure power efficiency is also amazing!

As a user :

  • Delete the need to login on the Dashboard to see prebuild Applications and all other tabs
  • Use a KYC provider that is at least open-source to avoid trust issue and third-party in the trust process (users coming to use Open-source cloud usually want open-source for all the parts of the stack)
  • Delete the need of KYC to deploy on our own nodes
  • Find a way to delete steps between credit card/stablecoin payment and effective deployment
  • Build a dashboard to display in real time clear datas about usage, number of nodes, daily/monthly TFT spend and all other data available to ensure everybody can verify in the easiest way (see Akash stats and dashboard, i think this is a great example)

:chart_with_upwards_trend: Growth suggestions

I think profitability / sustainability is the key words here :

from the beginning of my farmer journey, my plan is to scale up gradualy as usage/income increase, and put all profit in deploying new nodes, until i reach my infrastructure limitation, then if usage/income follows up, renting dedicated room/ DataCenter racks to grow more etc…
For new farmers, be able to at least break-even on costs is one of the only ways to attract them imo, ideology is a thing but economic reality is another.

Would also add that if trust and transparency is maintained, it’s easier to let farm online even if profitability is not here or really low because we can see and follow what is going on on the backscene.

:desktop_computer: User experience improvements

Frictionless onboarding, abstraction of multiple chains/bridges/explorer/tokens etc… Of course all that is needed in the backscene, but for a random user wanting to deploy a Wordpress or VM on the grid, all of that doesn’t matter, they want to load account with credit card/stablecoin, and deploy, straightforward.

I know all that is not easy to build etc… but here’s my thoughts for now, i will maybe add some points later if i got something relevant in mind.

Appreciate the movement initiated here, let’s look forward !

1 Like
#3

Nice. I really dig that UX flow. It would be a major improvement indeed, in many aspects.

Thanks!

Anyone can add something on top of this? Or propose a different view?
Let’s go :smiley:

1 Like
#4

Launch Inca.
Launch V4.
Increase worldwide liquidity so its possible to fund these (this one is harder)

1 Like
#5
  1. Create Farming Pool – make sure it’s optional for farmers;
  2. Easy back-up/redundancy/recovery methods;
  3. Make QSFS available for less-techs (the only way to get small and medium business to participate)
  4. Pay/receive services/products in INCA in various ways incl webshop
  5. Running a copy of the Dashbaord/Grid by vendors/validators and reimburse them for running costs;
  6. Allow those copied dashboards apps to be able to add contracts for the owners to earn INCA by sending people to that dashboard and create howto tutorials

Interested in grants for more gateways spread over more DC’s

1 Like
#6

I think that advertisement on Facebook or X is a good idea. I see many advertisements on FB with cheap VM providers, web hosting and etc. Maybe we should also make some posts that we looking for produkt manager and others for our crypto projekt. maybe we should consider writing sponsored articles on industry websites, e.g. in Poland bithub.pl. that would definitely create more publicity about us.

1 Like
#7

What I hear from experts, is that this project is nicely done (clever!), but too exciting for even experts/consultants/developers. I think this is because many developers and engineers are spoiled and get used to famous big-tech cloud platforms. Many of them have never seen real computers/servers, because it is all abstracted in the interfaces of the big cloudplatforms. So, in my opinion this project should more radiate the sound of existing “luxury” cloud platform solutions, in order to connect with a larger target group. I think about:

  • decent conditions/ SLA, backups included
  • paying with FIAT and traditional contractdata
  • more easy to deploy and use of ZeroDB/QSFS
  • use case descriptions. When do you need QSFS, when not?

As a potential farmer, I would like that my workstation with GPU can be automatically switched in suspend/sleep mode, because of energy use and low workload expectations in the beginning. Furthermore, give instructions for changing router settings, very carefully for newbees, because changing this crucial hardware settings is a barrier. So 3Router is a good idea, to make this very easy and secure.

I like to think and build on TF grid, focusing on a data and application layer for the physical living environment, like a digital twin for the neighborhood. Like the metaverse, but far more useful, artful and social. Focussing on real things: f2f meetings, interesting places, material and energy flows, assetmanagement, collaborative design with augmented reality and music making. For neighborhoods and communities.

2 Likes
#8

Threefold technology has the potential to offer great cyber resilience, has it? I do not read about this on the homepage. If cyber resilience is great, this technology should also get more attention from governments and institutions from one side and “bottom-up” societies/communities from the other side. If this technology is really new and innovative, the statements should be researched (and tested), for example with university schools in order to get more serious attention.

1 Like
#9

ThreeFold Community Feedback Synthesis

Thank you to everyone who contributed their valuable feedback about the ThreeFold Grid. We’ve carefully reviewed all comments and suggestions throughout the different ThreeFold platforms.

In the first section, we have synthesized the feedback into key themes that will guide our future development and improvements. In the second section, we have translated these insights into actionable items.

Disclaimer: ThreeFold has always been built around community and community feedback. Over the years, we’ve implemented numerous suggestions from our community as new features, and we continue to do so. The ThreeFold Grid exists because of you - dear farmers and users who believe in building a new internet together. So thanks again, notably for reading this disclaimer… and let’s jump in!

:key: Key Themes Identified

This section provides an overview of the key themes identified from community feedback, focusing on the user and farmer experience.

1. Usability & Accessibility

  • Simplified Onboarding: The KYC process and initial setup were consistently identified as barriers to entry

  • User Interface Improvements: Requests for better dashboards, visualization of data, and more intuitive navigation

  • Frictionless Experience: Reducing steps between payment and deployment, and abstracting technical complexity

2. Economic Sustainability

  • Farmer Profitability: Concerns about the economic viability of farming, with many operating at a loss

  • Token Liquidity: Limited exchange availability creating a challenging cycle of low usage → low value → difficulty maintaining farms

  • Transparent Rewards: Need for clearer visibility into income from usage and farming rewards

3. Technical Enhancements

  • Energy Efficiency: Strong support for Farmerbot and power management solutions

  • Hardware Flexibility: Requests for Raspberry Pi support and better integration with various hardware types

  • Backup & Recovery: Need for easier backup/redundancy methods for deployed solutions

4. Growth & Adoption Strategies

  • Marketing & Visibility: Suggestions for increased promotion through social media, sponsored content, and better positioning

  • Exchange Listings: Strong desire for more accessible ways to buy/sell TFT on exchanges

  • Gateway Expansion: Better documentation for expanding gateway nodes across the grid

5. Feature Requests

  • Mobile App Enhancements: Adding swap functionality, transaction history, and F-Droid availability

  • Dashboard Improvements: Better workload management, integrated Farmerbot controls, and node monitoring

  • Marketplace Development: Creating an auction board for matching user needs with farmer resources

6. Community and Trust Building

  • Transparency and Communication: Need for better communication between the team and community

  • Trust Building: Addressing concerns about project direction and decision-making

  • Community Engagement: Ideas for better involving and supporting the community

:computer: Actionable Items

This section provides detailed actionable items to address the key themes identified above.

Note: This list outlines potential actionable items to guide development priorities—implementation is not guaranteed for every item.

1. Usability & Accessibility Actionable Items

KYC Process Improvements:

  • Implement an open-source KYC solution to align with community values

  • Create a tiered KYC system where personal node deployments require minimal verification

  • Develop a clear, simple explanation of KYC requirements with privacy guarantees

  • Reduce or eliminate the minimum TFT requirement for KYC verification

Dashboard and Interface Enhancements:

  • Redesign dashboard to allow public viewing of prebuild applications and other sections without login

  • Create a unified “My Deployments” view that consolidates all deployment types

  • Implement one-click storage expansion for VMs and applications

  • Develop a comprehensive ThreeFold resource directory (link tree) with clear user/farmer sections

  • Build real-time analytics dashboard showing grid usage, node count, and TFT metrics

Deployment Pipeline Optimization:

  • Create direct payment-to-deployment flow with minimal intermediate steps

  • Abstract blockchain complexity from end users through simplified interfaces

  • Implement direct credit card and stablecoin payment options

2. Economic Sustainability Actionable Items

Farmer Profitability Enhancements:

  • Implement tiered reward structures based on hardware quality and uptime

  • Create incentive programs for high-demand resource types

  • Create optional farming pools with transparent distribution mechanisms

Token Liquidity Improvements:

  • Prioritize listing on accessible exchanges

  • Implement direct fiat on-ramps within ThreeFold ecosystem

  • Develop automated market makers for TFT/stablecoin pairs

  • Create liquidity mining programs to incentivize exchange participation

  • Accelerate INCA token launch and V4 rollout to improve market dynamics

Reward Transparency Tools:

  • Build a comprehensive farmer dashboard with key metrics visualization

    • Implement real-time reward tracking with historical analytics

    • Integrate energy consumption monitoring to track operational costs vs. rewards

    • Develop a break-even calculator for farmers to estimate ROI based on hardware specs and cost, as well as capacity and utilization rewards

3. Technical Enhancements Actionable Items

Energy Management System Improvements:

  • Integrate Farmerbot directly into the dashboard with simple toggle controls

  • Energy consumption management

    • Develop Home Assistant integration for energy monitoring and management

    • Create remote power management capabilities for farmers

  • Modify uptime metrics to show “availability” instead of just uptime (for Farmerbot use)

Hardware Support Expansion:

  • Prioritize Raspberry Pi support (especially Pi 4/5) with optimized ZOS build

  • Create hardware-specific deployment profiles for different device types in advanced docs

  • Implement KVM-over-IP functionality in the dashboard for node monitoring

  • Develop a tablet/mobile dashboard for farm monitoring with real-time stats

  • Create hardware certification program for verified configurations

Data Resilience Solutions:

  • Simplify QSFS implementation with user-friendly interfaces

  • Create one-click backup and restore functionality for all deployments

  • Develop clear use case documentation on the various storage options

  • Implement automated redundancy options for critical workloads

  • Create storage migration tools between nodes

4. Growth & Adoption Actionable Items

Marketing Infrastructure:

  • Develop targeted ad campaigns for Facebook/X focusing on VM/hosting comparisons

  • Create sponsored content program for industry websites

  • Highlight cyber resilience capabilities prominently for governments and institutions

  • Position ThreeFold alongside enterprise cloud platforms with SLA guarantees

  • Highlight technologies and innovations prominently for research-focused audience

  • Create university research partnerships to validate technology claims

Token Accessibility Improvements:

  • Integrate swap functionality directly into TF Connect app

  • Add transaction history and portfolio tracking to TF Connect app

  • Submit mobile apps to F-Droid store to align with open-source values

  • Implement seamless token payment options for services and products

  • Create webshop functionality for ThreeFold ecosystem

Infrastructure Expansion Program:

  • Create detailed documentation for farmers and users concerning gateway node

    • How to setup and operate gateway nodes

    • How to use gateway nodes

  • Implement rewards for running dashboard/grid instances

  • Create step-by-step router configuration guides for various hardware

    • e.g. set different LAN, anything more complex than DHCP

5. Feature Requests Actionable Items

Mobile Application Enhancements:

  • Add cryptocurrency swap functionality to TF Connect

  • Implement transaction history and reporting features

  • Submit apps to F-Droid repository with appropriate metadata

  • Create unified wallet experience across platforms

Management Tool Development:

  • Integrate Farmerbot controls directly into dashboard

  • Modify node metrics to show availability rather than just uptime

  • Develop farm management HUD for tablet/mobile viewing

  • Deploy Nextcloud instance on the Grid for internal team use

  • Add N8N and Appsmith to the Labs prebuild applications

  • Add possibility to add HDD disk to VM and apps

  • Create standalone N8N deployment option

Resource Marketplace Creation:

  • Develop auction/bidding system for node resources

    • Create time-based resource reservation system
    • Implement bulk deployment options for enterprise users

  • Build matching algorithm for user requirements to available nodes

  • Implement workload specification templates for common use cases

6. Community and Trust Building Actionable Items

Transparency Mechanisms:

  • Implement public development roadmap with progress tracking

  • Create regular technical update schedule with consistent delivery

  • Develop public metrics dashboard for all grid statistics

  • Establish clear feedback loops for community input on technical decisions

  • Document decision-making processes with rationales

Trust Enhancement Systems:

  • Prioritize open-source components for internal and community interactions

  • Create clear privacy documentation for all data collection

  • Implement transparent node certification process

  • Develop community voting mechanisms for key decisions

  • Enhance verifiable uptime and performance metrics

Community Infrastructure:

  • Develop tools for neighborhood/community digital twins

  • Create documentation for community-focused use cases

  • Create documentation for research-focused audiences

  • Highlight cyber resilience capabilities in marketing materials

  • Implement affiliate/referral system for grid operators

  • Create tutorial creation platform for community contributors

:arrows_counterclockwise: Next Steps

This feedback will be shared with all relevant teams within ThreeFold (Business, Communications, Marketing, Development, Operations, and Product) as input to inspire and guide our ongoing discussions and planning.

Also note that many of the suggestions outlined in this document have already been taken into consideration, and upcoming Grid releases will address many of these feedback points directly. We’re committed to continuous improvement based on your input.

Regular updates on our progress will be shared with the community, notably via the grid release notes.

:arrows_counterclockwise: Continuous Improvement

Did we miss something? Let us know and we can update the content above!

:pray: Thank You

We deeply appreciate everyone who took the time to share their thoughts and suggestions. Your input is invaluable in shaping the future of ThreeFold as we work together to build the blueprint for a new internet.

We invite all farmers and users to continue interacting with one another and with our team. The strength of ThreeFold lies in our collective wisdom and collaborative spirit. Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping us build the new internet, together.

7 Likes
#10

Nice recap ! looking forward for the next steps :fire:

2 Likes