As time goes on, we may see a whole new type of application appear in the form of Warpcast mini-programs - applications that were not possible in the past.
Author: Chris Carella
Translation: DeepTechFlow
This morning, I saw a post from Eric Rhodes on Paragraph in the Warpcast feed. Unlike in the past where I would be directed to Safari, this time I could read directly within the app - this is where Paragraph's mini-program comes into play. This seamless experience impressed me and demonstrated the potential of mini-programs on the Warpcast platform. Compared to the usual way of switching between different apps, mini-programs allow me to interact with content directly on the platform without leaving the dynamic page.
What are mini-programs?
Mini-programs are lightweight applications that run within larger "super apps," a concept popularized by Asian platforms such as WeChat and Alipay. These mini-programs allow users to complete various tasks such as shopping, ordering food, making payments, and accessing services without leaving the main app. Super apps integrate these mini-programs to provide users with an ecosystem of diverse services.
In Asia, the flourishing of mini-programs can be attributed to several main reasons:
User Convenience: By offering multiple services within one app, mini-programs reduce the hassle of users having to install multiple apps. This seamless integration enhances user experience and retention rates.
Convenience for Developers: Developers can create mini-programs without the need to develop and promote standalone applications. Super apps come with a large user base, significantly lowering the barrier to entry into the market.
Data and Profitability: Super apps, through the integration of multiple services, can obtain more detailed user data. This enables personalized marketing, precise ad targeting, and more opportunities for profitability.
WeChat's mini-program ecosystem, in particular, is robust, with thousands of mini-programs covering various fields from e-commerce to gaming.
Why haven't mini-programs become popular in the West?
Despite efforts by companies such as Facebook's Messenger, Snapchat's Snap Minis, and Instagram's shopping feature to establish similar ecosystems, mini-programs have not achieved the same level of success in the West as in Asia. For example, Facebook's Messenger bots, introduced in 2016 with the hope that businesses could directly provide services within Messenger, failed to attract users due to limited functionality and poor user experience. Similarly, Snapchat's Snap Minis, launched in 2020 to allow users to experience mini-games or tools within the app, still cannot compare in engagement and ecosystem scale to WeChat or Alipay. While Instagram's in-app shopping feature is more comprehensive, it primarily serves as an integrated service rather than an open platform for developers to create mini-programs.
The differences in success may be attributed to various factors such as cultural preferences, platform fragmentation, privacy concerns, and different market dynamics. Western users are accustomed to switching between multiple apps, hence the concept of relying on a single app to provide multiple services has not been widely accepted. Additionally, in the Western market, Apple, Google, and Facebook each control different ecosystems, making it difficult for any single platform to create a super app like WeChat.
Why Warpcast is suitable for mini-programs
I believe Warpcast is an ideal platform for mini-programs because it combines the flexibility of cryptographic protocols, Farcaster's building blocks, and a decentralized social network. The composability of cryptographic technology means that smart contracts - i.e., blockchain-based automated functions - can be called from anywhere, making the protocol more scalable and interoperable. This flexibility allows mini-programs on Warpcast to directly interact with on-chain functions, such as minting NFTs, collecting tokens, transferring assets, exchanging cryptocurrencies, and executing smart contracts - all within Farcaster's social environment. Warpcast's mini-programs can become the alternative front-end we have always anticipated.
Warpcast can also access users' social networks and associated wallet information. This means that mini-programs can easily connect to users' social circles and wallets, enabling personalized actions such as playing games, social DeFi, or minting NFTs directly within the information feed. Imagine being able to follow a creator and instantly mint NFTs or participate in token exchanges directly from their posts. Similarly, social finance mini-programs can allow users to stake tokens, track transactions, or purchase fan tokens, while governance mini-programs can enable members to brainstorm, collaborate, initiate votes, and participate in voting, all without leaving Warpcast. Prediction markets can also take place on the same platform where users discuss news.
Future prospects of Warpcast mini-programs
I am looking forward to seeing what kind of applications people will develop. I speculate that we may first see many of our favorite Frames return in the form of mini-programs. Mini-programs from the Moxie and Degen communities will also emerge, making games like Scout Game in Warpcast very interesting. Initially, any project built around Farcaster is an ideal choice for mini-programs. As time goes on, we may see a whole new type of application appear in the form of Warpcast mini-programs - applications that were not possible in the past.
Conclusion
I can confidently say that the Paragraph experience as a mini-program is much better. Compared to reading in a Frame or switching to other apps, this method is much smoother. I like being able to click, read an article, close it, and then discuss it directly within the information feed without leaving the app. This seamless experience highlights the huge potential of future mini-programs and decentralized interactions - whether it's gaming or governance - may become the core elements of the Warpcast social experience.
免责声明：本文章仅代表作者个人观点，不代表本平台的立场和观点。本文章仅供信息分享，不构成对任何人的任何投资建议。用户与作者之间的任何争议，与本平台无关。如网页中刊载的文章或图片涉及侵权，请提供相关的权利证明和身份证明发送邮件到support@aicoin.com，本平台相关工作人员将会进行核查。
