DOGE Plans to Rebuild SSA Codebase in Months - eviltoast
  • dreadbeef@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    edit-2
    5 days ago

    Damn why doesn’t git just use sql instead of Merkle trees I guess that’s just stupid tell Linus to get to using SQLite asap!!!

    But no, you’re wrong. Cryptographically verifiable merkle trees are a valuable way to store changing data. Unlike your recommendations, they don’t satisfy the needs of verification, which is literally a great use-case for ssns. Now I’ll admit that the SSN db doesn’t need to be distributed, which is the only thing a blockchain adds to that equation. But you are just flat out wrong for suggesting a sql db 😂

    • enumerator4829@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      4 days ago

      Or you know, trusted timestamps and cryptographic signatures via normal PKI. A Merkle tree isn’t worth shit legally if you can’t verify it against a trust outside of the tree.

      All of the blockchain bullshit miss that part - you can create a cryptographic representation of money or contracts, but you can’t actually enforce, verify or trust anything in the real world without intermediaries. On the other hand, I can trust a certificate from a CA because there are verifiable actual real-world consequences for someone if that CA breaks legal agreements.

      I’ll use a folder of actual papers, signed using a pen. Have some witnesses, make sure they have a legal stake and consequences, and you are golden.

    • tyler@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      3 days ago

      Blockchain is three things, not just a merkle tree.

      1. Distributed
      2. Cryptographically signed
      3. Distrust of all others on the chain.

      Git isn’t a blockchain. Blockchain requires mistrust, else it’s just previous technology that existed decades before.