SAY HELLO TO THE BOS
WHAT IS THE NEAR BOS?
The BOS is a common layer for browsing and discovering web3 experiences that is compatible with any blockchain.
The idea behind the BOS is to create an abstraction among blockchains and their complexities, thereby bringing users onto one platform to enjoy functionalities not just on the NEAR Block, but also on other chains such as EVMs, Polygon, Polkadot, etc.
This means that functions can be called from an EVM machine to the BOS while taking advantage of the security and scalability of the NEAR Blockchain.
The BOS serves as both a middleware between chains and a development environment and social network where users can deploy and discover new applications.
PILLARS OF THE BOS
The BOS includes different components or layers that serve as the building blocks for creating open web experiences. The following are the layers of the BOS:
- Blockchains at the Bottom
- Components in the Middle
- Gateways at the Top
1. BlOCKCHAINS OF THE BOS
The BOS provides the ability for users to call any function from any chain, be it transactions, mining, discovery, etc., and have them carried out or executed without the need to move to the specific chain. This is effortless as it allows the user to maintain their identity throughout the chains.
Currently, there is support for EVM chains such as Polygon and zkSync. The source code for the apps is on NEAR.
2. COMPONENTS ON THE BOS:
- The BOS allows you to create a decentralized frontend by writing and composing small applications known as Components.
Components are small web 3 applications (e.g., Uniswap) that are stored entirely on-chain.
On the BOS, there are many built-in components where developers can fork these apps and compose them to create full web applications.
Here are some non-exhaustive Components of the BOS: - WIDGET: The minimum unit of a frontend, allows you to include an existing component into your code, enabling you to create complex applications by composing components.
- MARKDOWN: Renders markdown text.
- INTERPLANETARY FILE SYSTEM (IPFS) Uploader: A built-in component that enables users to directly upload an image to the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS).
- OVERLAY TRIGGER: Used to display a message or icon when the mouse is over a DOM element.
- INFINITE SCROLL: Infinitely loads a grid or list of items. This component allows you to create a simple, lightweight infinite scrolling page or element by supporting both window and scrollable elements.
- TYPEHEAD: Provides a type-ahead input field for selecting an option from a list of choices.
- FILES: A built-in component that enables input files with drag and drop support.
- TOOLTIP: This special component displays a message when the mouse hovers over a particular DOM item.
- RADIX UI: A complete set of Radix primitives to simplify UI development.
- STYLED: React’s styled components. It is a popular library for styling React components using CSS-in-JS. This tool has been imported into the near.social infrastructure for your use. You do not have to install or import anything; it is ready to use right away
3. GATEWAYS ON THE BOS
A gateway consists of a specially designed virtual machine that loads and runs frontends for protocols built on Ethereum, L2s, and other Layer 1s like NEAR. The code for these frontends is stored on the NEAR blockchain.
Gateways serve as decentralized front-ends available to the masses.
Examples of gateways include near.org, bos.gg, near.social, and Cantopia. In the words of Illia Polusukhin, CEO and Co-Founder of NEAR Protocol, “the BOS is not just a promise of web3—it is web3 delivered".
CONCLUSION
the BOS revolutionizes web3 experiences by providing a common layer for browsing and discovery across different blockchains. It simplifies complexity, enables seamless cross-chain functionality, and empowers developers and users alike. With the BOS, the promise of web3 becomes a reality.
REFERENCE
For more information follow us at:
- NEAR Social: https://social.near.page/u/near-nigeria.near
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/NearprotocoING?t=Rz6MxtJ_oG2xyMDuISqVBg&s=09
- Telegram: https://t.me/NPKGUILD
- Website: https://nearnigeria.org