Hi stackers! I’m excited to share with you a new project I’ve started, LNboard, a tool designed to track your satoshis across different Lightning Network platforms. While I’ve been diving into the world of coding, I must admit that my GitHub skills are still growing. Every day I’m learning, and I’m sure there are many talented developers who could help improve the code and make the project even better.
LNboard is built for the community, and I’d love to see fellow stackers like you contribute. Whether it’s improving the backend or suggesting new features, your input is invaluable. Together, we can build something amazing! Join the project, contribute, or simply check out the code. Your expertise can make a real difference in shaping LNboard into the best tool for Lightning users.
What is LNboard?
The app uses public APIs from these platforms to fetch balance data, meaning users don’t need to sign any transactions or directly connect their wallets. All they need is their username (or Lightning address) for the platforms they want to track.
The app is aimed at Bitcoin enthusiasts, content creators, and Lightning Network users who want a centralized way to track their balances across multiple platforms. This is especially useful for users participating in the Lightning Network ecosystem, whether they're receiving tips, payments, or micropayments from users of services like Stacker.news or Fountain.fm.
Features
-
Multi-Platform Integration: Ability to aggregate balances from different Lightning-enabled platforms. These platforms are integrated via their public APIs, allowing users to keep track of funds without needing to manually check each platform individually.
-
User-Friendly Interface: The app features a minimalistic interface designed for easy navigation. With a simple dashboard, users can view their Lightning balances across multiple platforms at a glance. There are no complicated configurations required—users only need to input their usernames (or Lightning addresses) for each platform.
-
Real-Time Balance Updates: Balances are fetched in real-time, and users can track changes in their balances as they receive payments. This feature is crucial for those who depend on receiving frequent tips or payments on the Lightning Network.
-
Security and Privacy: The app ensures that no sensitive data is collected or stored, as it relies on public APIs for each platform. Users do not need to connect their wallets or sign transactions, making it a secure and privacy-friendly way to track balances.
Planning
The idea for LNboard emerged from the growing need among Bitcoin users to have a simple, unified platform to track their balances from various services. As a Bitcoin enthusiast, I recognized the inconvenience of manually checking each platform to see how much Bitcoin was accumulated in Lightning payments. I wanted to create a tool that would save time and effort while offering an intuitive user experience.
The planning phase involved:
- Researching which platforms would be most beneficial to include in the app.
- Understanding how public APIs work for each platform.
- Determining how the app could pull balance data without requiring user authentication or wallet connections.
Architecture
LNboard is composed of two primary components:
-
Backend: Written in Python, the backend is responsible for interacting with the various platform APIs and gathering balance data. I chose Flask for its simplicity and ease of use in developing a RESTful API to expose the balance data.
-
Frontend: The frontend is a minimalistic, responsive web interface built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The frontend communicates with the backend to fetch balance data and display it to users in a clear and organized way.
Technologies
- Python for the backend (Flask framework).
- JavaScript, HTML, and CSS for the frontend.
- Public APIs from platforms like stacker.news, fountain.fm and zbd.gg
- GitHub for version control and project management.
- Docker (optional, for containerizing the application).
APIs
One of the most significant challenges in building LNboard is integrating with the different public APIs of the platforms. Each platform had its own way of exposing user balance data, and I had to ensure that the app could communicate with all of them seamlessly.
Why LNboard?
-
Simplifying User Experience: The main benefit of LNboard to the Lightning Network community is that it simplifies the experience of tracking Lightning payments. Users no longer need to manually check each platform to see how much Bitcoin they have accumulated. With LNboard, users can view all their balances in one place.
-
Promoting Lightning Adoption: By supporting multiple platforms, the app helps promote the adoption of the Lightning Network. Users who are already familiar with Lightning-powered platforms like Stacker.news or Fountain.fm can now easily see the benefits of using the Lightning Network for micropayments. As users receive tips or payments on these platforms, they can track their earnings in real time.
-
Empowering Content Creators: For content creators who rely on tips and donations through the Lightning Network, the app provides an efficient way to manage their earnings across multiple platforms. This feature is especially useful for podcasters, writers, and other content creators who use services like Fountain.fm and Stacker.news to monetize their work.
User Experience
-
User Interface and Interaction: Users interact with LNboard through a clean, intuitive dashboard. Upon logging into the app, they are prompted to enter their username or Lightning address for each of the supported platforms. The app then fetches and displays their balances, allowing them to easily track their accumulated funds in real time.
-
No Need for Wallet Connections: Unlike many other apps that require users to connect their Lightning wallets or sign transactions.
LNboard only requires the user’s username for the supported platforms. This makes it easier for users to track their balances without compromising their security or privacy.
Conclusion
The creation of LNboard is an exciting and challenging project. By simplifying the process of tracking Lightning balances, the app provides a valuable tool to the Bitcoin and Lightning Network communities. With its easy integration of public APIs from various platforms, the app offers a seamless experience for users who want to monitor their balances in real-time. This project highlights the potential for building user-friendly applications on the Lightning Network, empowering both users and content creators to track and manage their Lightning balances more efficiently.
Jump in, contribute, or just share your feedback. I’m all ears, stackers. Thanks for reading! 🚀