Dan Romero on Farcaster

Dan Romero pfp

As previously discussed, we're considering renaming the Warpcast app to Farcaster. Why? - Top priority is grow users on the protocol - The name split is extremely confusing for new users - So, we want to simplify How we're thinking about it - Rename Warpcast mobile app - warpcast.com to farcaster.xyz for web app - Open source both apps - No change protocol name, i.e. similar to Uniswap with app / protocol What we’re doing - Seeking input and want to make sure we understand concerns  - Ultimately Varun and I will make a decision; it won’t be a vote. - Expect a decision in the next week or so; if yes, we will give plenty of notice and will take time to do this correctly / cleanly. How you can provide input - Developers: please reply here or feel free to reach out to me via direct message whether you agree or disagree. - Everyone else: you're free to offer input, but we will be weighting developer input a bit more since it has a bigger near-term impact on what they are building

190 replies

92 recasts

540 reactions

Dan Romero pfp

Additional context 1. We originally launched the Farcaster beta as a desktop app called Farcaster in 2021 2. In February 2023 we rebranded the app to Warpcast and deprecated desktop / moved to mobile + web app 3. The original rationale was we felt like having our client (Warpcast) have a different name from the protocol (Farcaster) would make it easier for other developers to build clients that would grow the number of users on the protocol 4. Ultimately, that didn't really play out (for a variety of reasons) and Warpcast has been how most active users 1) created an account 2) use the protocol today 5. Recently, we've been spending a lot of time onboarding new users to Farcaster (with varying degrees of knowledge about crypto). Nearly everyone says they were confused between what is Farcaster and Warpcast. This is especially confusing when the core Farcaster team (i.e. Merkle employees) talk about Farcaster more than Warpcast yet we are building Warpcast. (continued)

10 replies

12 recasts

161 reactions

꙲ pfp

Will the new app logo be the arch?

1 reply

0 recast

21 reactions

Stephan pfp

1. The only parties it would potentially disadvantage in the future is pure fc client plays (of which there are very few serious ones right now) 2. Coinbase wallet doesn’t really count because it’s a wallet first and already has lots of distribution 3. Obviously anything that makes things less confusing for users is a positive for mini app devs 4. If you proceed with this please consider separate marketing channels for devs and users. They’re two distinct audiences with different problems and I bet trying to appeal to both through the same channel was a significant source of confusion

3 replies

2 recasts

11 reactions

InsideTheSim 🎩🍪 pfp

InsideTheSim 🎩🍪

@insidethesim.eth

Selfishly would love to see the app open-sourced just so myself and other devs can see how you built such a good “native” app. 💜

1 reply

0 recast

7 reactions

Purpleman.base.eth 🎩 pfp

Purpleman.base.eth 🎩

There was recently a ponder, not sure if you saw it but the vote was overwhelmingly “yes” to the change.

1 reply

0 recast

4 reactions

pentacle pfp

yet I still remain distinctly unemployable

1 reply

0 recast

2 reactions

jd 🌺 pfp

https://warpcast.com/jdl/0x4c7be220

1 reply

0 recast

2 reactions

Ifewasabi pfp

Unpopular opinion here but why change the name? Why not just leave it as it is?

1 reply

0 recast

2 reactions

Benido pfp

DWR: we have a marketing problem. Also DWR: developers opinion is most important one. I understand the idea (FC grows when apps are published that attract more users, developers are best case product guys and product = marketing) but I also think you should talk to the best marketers out there and on FC, even if they don’t develop anything in the ecosystem.

1 reply

0 recast

0 reaction

Breck Yunits pfp

Can you acquire cast.com?

1 reply

0 recast

0 reaction

Jesse Pollak pfp

@jesse.base.eth

hell yes - really excited about this!

0 reply

1 recast

20 reactions

tldr (tim reilly) pfp

tldr (tim reilly)

/bracket strong agrees with one name. It meaningfully reduces friction when onboarding: "Bracket is an app on Farcaster - a crypto version of twitter. Here's an invite link!" vs. "Bracket is an app on the Farcaster - a crypto version of twitter. Here's an invite link. You'll notice the invite is actually for an app called Warpcast – that's the primary app, made by the creators of Farcaster. Bracket is an app within this app. When you get to Warpcast some people will call it Farcaster, some Warpcast, but don't worry about that. You can do either."

1 reply

0 recast

9 reactions

cody pfp

manifesting it.

0 reply

0 recast

7 reactions

mark mollé pfp

Short-term: Unify. Call it all Farcaster. One face. Clarity first. Focus on growth. The split between Warpcast and Farcaster was always confusing. As someone who’s named scores of products snd organizations in crypto and beyond, I’ll say it plainly: names are narrative frames. You name influences the stories told in and about your world. They reveal who you are, where you’ve come from, and where you’re going. Long-term: Take the unified name face off and let the decentralized narrative frame of an app layer and a protocol layer bloom. • Designate the app layer the Caster layer. Your app remains Farcaster, but -caster becomes the suggested client suffix and naming convention. Basecaster, Beracaster, Polycaster, etc. • The protocol layer then leverages mythology and nicholas cage movie history by taking the face off the the centralized unified name and becoming the Pollux layer. The celestial twin. Eternal and immutable.

0 reply

1 recast

4 reactions

Steve 🤙 offline in Hawaii pfp

Steve 🤙 offline in Hawaii

https://warpcast.com/ted/0x6d84e3ce

0 reply

1 recast

4 reactions

Jonny Mack pfp

dont think it matters. change it, or dont, the only thing devs care about is growth. if you believe name change #2 will increase growth, great do it, else not worth the trouble

1 reply

0 recast

3 reactions

Colin Johnson 💭 pfp

Colin Johnson 💭

I’m on team rename. The scarce resource is new users and the current structure deters them. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to explain the Warpcast/Farcaster distinction to people who then just opt to not download the app. The easiest way to show that your house is in order is to have a simple name and a simple description for what you do. Unify the concept.

0 reply

0 recast

3 reactions

androidsixteen pfp

@androidsixteen.eth

100% the right move :shipit: Warpcast has historically felt in the shadow of the FC brand, and consolidating under one name will make it easier for non FC-natives to understand Only concern is that when talking about the protocol, we should explicitly call it "Farcaster Protocol" or "FCP" or something to avoid confusion

0 reply

0 recast

3 reactions

Pichi pfp

The dual names are confusing. Rip off the bandaid. Change the name. We will adjust. It will be easier for new people to onboard. It will be harder to talk about spam labels and how they are Warpcast only but it is what it is.

0 reply

0 recast

2 reactions