Roadmap

Some rough ideas about the future of Offset

Protocol

  • Allow payment using a single out of band file exchange (invoice file), instead of two files exchange (invoice + commit).

  • Allow removing currency after it was added. Might require a zero balance.

  • Currently the buyer pays fees. Maybe this is a wrong model and the seller should pay fees instead? Check incentives and safety issues around this.

  • Extend/rethink index server protocol.

    • Add cyclic routes search for rebalancing?

    • Strategy for unfriending: creating a zero balance with a friend by rebalancing.

  • Rethink numbering of token channel messages and increments during inconsistencies. Can this mechanism be cheated?

  • Log money gained through commisions? Might be required for tax reports? How to do this elegantly and securely?

  • Allow payment without an invoice, like a donation?

Economics

  • Decide on the single currency vs multiple currency debate

  • Dealing with regulations: KYC (Know Your Customer), AML (Anti Money Laundering) and filing taxes?

Offset core

  • Update compiler and dependencies

  • Implement bidirectional connection attempt between nodes, along relays. Currently only one node attempts to connect to the other node, according to the order of public keys.

  • Solve relay/index server stall bug? Seems to be solved when servers are restarted.

  • Serialization: Should we change capnp communication serialization to something else? Possibly protobuf?

  • Solve issue of running stcompact on very old android devices (FiatJaf + Blackhole bug)

  • Implement better searching algorithm for index servers. [Related issue]

  • Allow seeing relays connectivity status (Online/Offline). Currently only possible for index servers.

  • Implement Offset application permissions.

  • Encrypt private key on disk: stnode + stcompact

  • Use a better database [Issue]

    • for node’s database

    • For stcompact (Mobile app database)

    • Possibly use sqlite3?

  • Transactions interface

    • Should different node’s applications know about each other’s transactions?

    • Should there be an option to list all pending incoming/outgoing transactions? If so, how to do this efficiently?

  • Safe erasure of secret data [Issue]

  • Exponential backoff for all retrying connectors [Issue]

  • Enhance signature security

    • Should add textual constant prefix to all signatures?

    • Is the signature malleable? Is this an issue? What can be done to solve?

  • Replace ring cryptographic library with something else, due to testing issues. [Issue] Closed by [PR 300]

  • Add automatic tool to check security issues with Rust dependencies (cargo-audit) [Issue], Closed by [PR 301].

Offset mobile app

  • Update compiler and dependencies

  • Better colors for the Offset mobile app (Should be consistent with website)

  • Choose better defaults

    • Card should be enabled when created?

    • Friend should be open when created?

    • Currency should be open when created?

  • Allow sending Offset data as text? (Currently can send as files or QR codes)

  • Merge incoming/outgoing transactions into one screen (Requested by awpcrypto)

  • Keep purchase history (Incoming/Outgoing) forever.

  • Add transaction time and date (stcompact)

  • Password for locking/unlocking the Offset app.

  • Support Importing/Exporting

    • Nodes (Private key + database)

    • Transactions history?

  • Make it easier to add friends, while still keeping it safe?

  • Implement bill splitting using Offset? [Issue]

  • Include different assets for different architectures during build in an elegant way (Currently done using a bash script).

  • Add mobile app to F-Droid store [Issue]

Documentation

  • High quality video tutorials

  • Document multi-currency feature.

  • Document security considerations: What makes Offset secure?

  • Add FAQ page

Community

  • Add a discussion group / bulletin board for the project.

  • Create a dummy website to check payments with a dummy currency.