Derek Ross

derekross@grownostr.org

The purple pill helps the orange pill go down.

Developer Relations at Soapbox.

🪺 NostrNests.com šŸŽ™ļø YakBak.app šŸ–¼ļø Zappix.app šŸ—“ļø Plektos.app šŸŽ¶ ZapTrax.app šŸ“ˆ Zaplytics.app šŸŽ§ Podstr.org

Which AI Model Should I Use with Shakespeare?

Choosing the right AI model can transform your development experience in Shakespeare. With access to 40+ models across multiple providers, you have the flexibility to match the perfect AI to your project type.

Cover image for Which AI Model Should I Use with Shakespeare?

How to Configure AI Providers in Shakespeare

Shakespeare's flexible AI provider system gives you maximum flexibility to choose from dozens of AI providers. With support for 40+ models across cloud providers, local installations, and custom APIs, you're never locked into a single vendor.

Cover image for How to Configure AI Providers in Shakespeare

Three Years of Building And What Comes Next

After three years of building apps, running services, and growing the Nostr community, Derek is reflecting on the journey, and what comes next. From founding NostrPlebs and NostrNests to launching the Grow Nostr Initiative and bringing Nostr Booths to conferences worldwide, it's been a wild ride. Now, a major change is on the horizon. This article is a milestone grounded in gratitude and a belief that we have to build the future we want to live in.

Cover image for Three Years of Building And What Comes Next

Nostr Web App UX Testing Script

As Nostr adoption grows and more web applications integrate decentralized identity, payments, and social functionality, it's critical to ensure a seamless and reliable user experience across platforms, devices, and authentication methods. This UX testing script was created to validate core functionality, such as login via popular signing tools (Alby, nos2x, Amber, NAK), zapping on both mobile and desktop, and contact list management, while also ensuring consistency across browsers and operating systems. The goal is to catch usability issues early, maintain trust in decentralized apps, and support a smoother on-boarding experience for new and existing Nostr users.

Cover image for Nostr Web App UX Testing Script

Launch Lancaster 2025 Post Mortem

At the recent Launch Music Festival, a volunteer initiative successfully introduced over 120 musicians to Bitcoin, Nostr, and Value-for-Value (V4V), resulting in participating artists earning almost 1M sats over three days. Musicians enthusiastically embraced these decentralized technologies, recognizing them as a solution to the failings of the current digital music industry. However, the on-boarding process highlighted significant usability issues with our apps of choice. Resolving these app issues is essential for effective on-boarding, with an ideal future event involving sponsors providing vouchers to all attendees to encourage hands-on Bitcoin transactions and demonstrate V4V, especially as the Launch conference plans to integrate V4V more broadly, presenting a large opportunity for further adoption.

Cover image for Launch Lancaster 2025 Post Mortem

Nostr: Fixing the Deplatforming of a Nation

Centralized platforms are vulnerable to government bans and censorship, as seen with the deplatforming of TikTok in the U.S., leaving millions disconnected. Nostr, as a decentralized protocol, cannot be banned or controlled by any single authority, giving users the freedom of choice and the ability to not have their voices taken away with the stroke of a pen.

Cover image for Nostr: Fixing the Deplatforming of a Nation

Unlocking Nostr’s Potential with Notedeck

Notedeck is not just another Nostr app—it’s a transformative Nostr browser that functions like an operating system, complete with micro-apps for unparalleled customizations and ecosystem wide integrations.

Cover image for Unlocking Nostr’s Potential with Notedeck

Making Waves in 2025 with Nostr

The ultimate goal with Nostr isn’t just to make ripples—I want to create waves. Waves that transform social media for the better. Waves that expand outward and help change the world. With more tools than ever at our fingertips, it’s time to ride the wave and make it count. 🌊

Cover image for Making Waves in 2025 with Nostr

Nostr 2025 Predictions

All of my predictions for 2023 came to fruition, and half of my 2024 predictions hit the mark. Now, it’s time to look ahead and see how I’ll fare for 2025. The bullishness never stops—let’s keep the momentum going! šŸš€

Cover image for Nostr 2025 Predictions

Empowering Openness: Top Nostr Apps for Android

This article dives into the growing selection of powerful Nostr apps for Android—Amber, Citrine, Pokey, and zap.store—that are reshaping the landscape of self sovereign mobile technology. Each app provides a unique function in the Nostr ecosystem, from secure key management to real-time notifications, relays, and app discovery. Together, they highlight the openness and flexibility of Android as a platform, offering users enhanced security, control, and community-driven features in the world of Nostr.

Cover image for Empowering Openness: Top Nostr Apps for Android

Nostr Nests 2.0: Your Decentralized Audio Space Takes Flight

Nostr Nests 2.0 launches in beta with a brand custom built application that's fully integrated with Nostr, a redesigned user interface, and a host of powerful new and sought after features enabling communities, creators, and individuals to be more social than ever before.

Cover image for Nostr Nests 2.0: Your Decentralized Audio Space Takes Flight