Decent Newsroom
Sign In

Derek Ross

derekross@grownostr.org

The purple pill helps the orange pill go down.

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

derekross.me
Editorial Articles Media Highlights
by Derek Ross

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
by Derek Ross Ā· Edited

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
by Derek Ross Ā· Edited

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
by Derek Ross Ā· Edited

Unlocking Nostrā€™s Potential with Notedeck

Notedeck is not just another Nostr appā€”itā€™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 Nostrā€™s Potential with Notedeck
by Derek Ross Ā· Edited

Making Waves in 2025 with Nostr

The ultimate goal with Nostr isnā€™t just to make ripplesā€”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, itā€™s time to ride the wave and make it count. šŸŒŠ

Cover image for Making Waves in 2025 with Nostr
by Derek Ross Ā· Edited

Nostr 2025 Predictions

All of my predictions for 2023 came to fruition, and half of my 2024 predictions hit the mark. Now, itā€™s time to look ahead and see how Iā€™ll fare for 2025. The bullishness never stopsā€”letā€™s keep the momentum going! šŸš€

Cover image for Nostr 2025 Predictions
by Derek Ross Ā· Edited

Empowering Openness: Top Nostr Apps for Android

This article dives into the growing selection of powerful Nostr apps for Androidā€”Amber, Citrine, Pokey, and zap.storeā€”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
by Derek Ross

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
by Derek Ross

The Nostr Effect: One Year of Decentralized Growth and Engagement

The past year has been marked by significant growth and development, fueled by the invaluable love and support from the Nostr community. Numerous individuals, encountered online and at conferences, have become trusted friends and colleagues. These connections, building these true relationships, have enriched my personal life and solidified my commitment to Nostr as a protocol for innovation and freedom. Nostr may have opened up new professional doors and fostered professional growth for me, but if Iā€™m being honest, the people and the community are more important to me. Itā€™s the meaningful relationships and friendships that I truly hold dear. I eagerly await future opportunities to connect and I cannot wait until the next time when weā€™re all together again.

Cover image for The Nostr Effect: One Year of Decentralized Growth and Engagement
by Derek Ross Ā· Edited

My open heart surgery journey

This is the journey of my open heart surgery, from finding out I had an issue, through the surgery, and entire recovery process. I had documented all of this on Twitter, but I do not want it to go away when Elon decides that non-paying users are second class citizens and nukes their content. It will live on via Nostr.