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Q: Speaking of the Proof of Concept, what lays ahead? What changes do you plan to introduce?
The current version of the Proof of Concept is a Meteor application that users need to download to their computer and run to test. At this stage of development, it takes a user with some technical know-how to do that. However, in the next iteration of the Proof of Concept, which is scheduled to be released by the end of the year, that paradigm will be changed.
We’re already designing sitemaps, wireframes and user flows for the Hive Project platform and it is likely that we will provide that in the form of a mock-up application that allows our design & development teams to enter a rapid prototyping cycle. This Hive Project Platform application will become an integral component in the roadmap for both of those teams and will give the Hive Project community an insight into our day-to-day work.
In order to demo both sides of the platform, users will be able to register and choose whether they would like to take on the role of invoice buyer or invoice seller. We expect some users will in fact use the platform in both roles, and so we need to give them the ability to test all the functionalities on both.
Q: What are the biggest technical challenges Hive Project has to master?
The biggest challenge that Hive Project has to overcome is the performance of the public blockchain. The current delay on the public blockchain is at least 17 seconds, which is the time required to create a new block. This is not acceptable from a user perspective and this is one of the reasons why we are looking at technologies such as Tindermint or Hyperledger to tackle this.
Q: How many people are involved with Hive Project Platform development at this point & what are your plans for scaling?
Currently we have a team of 5 resources as part of our delivery team, focusing on areas such as project management, UX designer, developers and QA. Currently I am planning to keep the team small and agile, but there is potential in the future to add more development resources for additional products and DAPPs, such as, for example, a mobile investors app.
Q: You spend most of your waking hours building the Hive Project Platform. If you had to single out its most important feature, what would it be?
The first thing that comes to mind is that it needs to be an amazing user experience. It must be incredibly easy to engage with, not only for the SMEs seeking financing but also for the invoice buyers during the peer-to-peer lending phase. The Hive Project Team will deliver a high-tech product that is complemented by great design. And if the experience — from uploading the invoice to the Hive Project Platform to invoice settlement — is straightforward and runs smoothly, then the users of the platform are much more likely to return again and again.