Re: Announcement: New DID Method Specification: did:object

I appreciate your point of view but gently, if one is creating a platform that is focused on *application* level objects, it doesn't make sense to name a method after a VDR. The objects don't live on a VDR ...they are only registered there for a) verifiability purposes and b) register the object class's Agent (aka the object class's serviceEndpoint) ...and possibly a few other things.

To me, did:stratis only makes sense if you're trying to create an abstraction for blockchain transactions, deployed smart contracts, etc for a very specific VDR technology platform (e.g. the Stratus Platform). That's the furthest thing from what did:object is all about.

Here's a visual taxonomy I completed a few days ago to highlight this idea of DIDs for business and application level objects on the Trusted Digital Web. I offer it without any explanation. Email me if you have questions. Maybe it warrants a webcast.

did:stratis, if it existed, would belong in the green Technology/Infrastructure layer. See below.

Michael Herman
Founder
Trusted Digital Web[Image]

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________________________________
From: Markus Sabadello <markus@danubetech.com>
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2021 2:22:43 PM
To: public-credentials@w3.org <public-credentials@w3.org>
Subject: Re: Announcement: New DID Method Specification: did:object


> the ideal method namespace for the Fully Decentralized Object

I don't think I fully understand what is meant by "Fully Decentralized Object", but this thread and the method name remind me of a discussion that happened in the DID WG a few times.

Can a DID using this DID method identify ANYTHING including people or organizations, or is it limited to certain types of resources, such as digital or physical objects?

The DID Core specification says this:

"A DID refers to any subject (e.g., a person, organization, thing, data model, abstract entity, etc.) as determined by the controller of the DID."

At some point there were discussions about DID methods that could be specifically designed for certain types of resources, e.g. see:
https://github.com/w3c/did-core/issues/233

So for exampe, if somebody defined a DID method called did:animal: that can only identify animals, would that be a "legitimate" DID method?

Originally, I think DID methods were expected to define only how they work, not limit what they can identify.

In this particular case, maybe did:stratis: would be a more appropriate name than did:object:?

But I don't think there is definitive answer to these questions, and I don't have a strong opinion, just wanted to share some thoughts.

Overall this looks like interesting work, thanks for sharing!

Markus

On 20.12.21 03:14, Michael Herman (Trusted Digital Web) wrote:
RE: define a different DID:object Method that is meant to run in other contexts?

There is one and only one did:object Method ...period ...as defined by its specification.

..there can however exist more than one implementation of the d:d:object DID Method specification ... different o/s platforms, different implementation languages,  different VDRs, ...all supporting the same compliant abstract interfaces and expected behaviors. ...the same way there are multiple diverse implementations of DNS and multiple diverse ways of configuring a particular parent domain. Reference: https://hyperonomy.com/2019/01/02/dns-domain-name-service-a-detailed-high-level-overview/

A DID Method specification is really a DID API *specification*/object model *specification* for Developers to program against DID Identifiers and the associated DID Document. This is the core of the GitHub issue I referenced earlier.

The fact that this isn't clear in the DID-CORE and DID Registries specifications is serious enough to not have the W3C accept/ratify these specifications.

DID-CORE in my opinion needs to be rolled back into the WG. In its current state, I believe it is a waste of resources to pursue the Formal Objections process at this time.

Lastly, while I'm on the soapbox, I don't know the origins or approval processes for the content of this Objections FAQ, but it doesn't include my input as one of the first responders to Tanker's email. I don't see how it can be positioned as the perspective of the CCG community. I, for one, am not about to use any of the TDW DID Methods as bargaining chips.

Michael Herman
Founder
Trusted Digital Web

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________________________________
From: Steven Rowat <steven_rowat@sunshine.net><mailto:steven_rowat@sunshine.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2021 2:41:09 PM
To: Michael Herman (Trusted Digital Web) <mwherman@parallelspace.net><mailto:mwherman@parallelspace.net>; Brian Richter <brian@aviary.tech><mailto:brian@aviary.tech>
Cc: W3C Credentials CG (Public List) <public-credentials@w3.org><mailto:public-credentials@w3.org>
Subject: Re: Announcement: New DID Method Specification: did:object

On 2021-12-19 12:50 pm, Michael Herman (Trusted Digital Web) wrote:


Only the reference implementation, i.e. the Trusted Digital Web platform, is implemented using the Microsoft tool set. …perhaps, I should have left this Appendix out of the specification all together. I was simply being transparent.

Aha, I see I didn't understand that DID:object can be used without it being part of the "Trusted Digital Web" platform. That was just part of your 'Background' for a reference implementation...then?

Oh, but wait, I now see in the DID:object Method spec itself, you say that it's for the "Trusted Digital Web":

"The primary audience for this DID Method specification is Implementors of apps, agents, and services on the Trusted Digital Web;"

And in fact "Trusted Digital Web" is in the title, and used 23 times in the spec.

And so I got confused?

And I'm still confused.

To try to clarify:

Does this mean that your DID:object spec is only applicable for "Trusted Digital Web", but that other people can, if they like, define a different DID:object Method that is meant to run in other contexts?

And that you're not saying anything about how those DID:object Methods would be constructed?

?

Steven Rowat





Developers will be able to use any tools and technologies they would like to build apps, agents, and services that run on the Trusted Digital Web.  All will remain open source licensed under the MIT license (as it is now).



In the end, I’m going through the DID Method Registry application process as a bit of a test as well as a courtesy.  There are no requirements for any Developer to register any DID Method but I decided to go through the process anyway.  Today, I submitted 2 more DID Method Specifications that are core to the Trusted Digital Web: did:bizdoc and did:bizproc.  Some background here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuEew7rH5gw&list=PLU-rWqHm5p45dzXF2LJZjuNVJrOUR6DaD&index=3 (4.5 minutes).



To the best of my knowledge, I have publicly documented, in detail, more about the Trusted Digital Web than I’ve seen for any other decentralized platform on the planet.  I’ve been a core influencer when it came to making sure that all types of objects (not just people and organizations) are represented as first-class objects in virtually all of the standards related to decentralized technology …and very openly advocated for their broad use.



Steve, if you don’t like the Microsoft developer platform, tools, and/or technologies, I don’t think your sentiments belong on this mailing list IMO.



I *really* don’t like JavaScript, JSON_LD, etc. and I tolerate JSON but you don’t see me complaining about it, do you?



I’m interested to see where all of this “openness” leads to …seriously.



Michael Herman

Founder

Trusted Digital Web



p.s. There is at least one other large commercial decentralized platform built with .NET technologies for fear that you might attack them too.



From: Steven Rowat <steven_rowat@sunshine.net><mailto:steven_rowat@sunshine.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2021 11:00 AM
To: Michael Herman (Trusted Digital Web) <mwherman@parallelspace.net><mailto:mwherman@parallelspace.net>; Brian Richter <brian@aviary.tech><mailto:brian@aviary.tech>
Cc: W3C Credentials CG (Public List) <public-credentials@w3.org><mailto:public-credentials@w3.org>
Subject: Re: Announcement: New DID Method Specification: did:object



On 2021-12-17 8:44 pm, Michael Herman (Trusted Digital Web) wrote:

The #didobject #DID #Method is approved for acceptance into the @w3c #DID #Method #Registry. 4/4.

Thank you reviewers and everyone who has put up with all my questions over the past 4 years. This is a big deal/day for me.

https://github.com/mwherman2000/TrustedDigitalWeb/blob/master/specifications/did-methods/did-object-1-5-0.md#appendix-b-background

This link specifies that developing with the "DID:object" Method will require several Microsoft programming tools: "Microsoft Visual Basic", the ".NET Core Framework", and "Microsoft Common Language Runtime".

And that DID:object is a core part of the "Trusted Digital Web" which "is envisioned to be the next generation, decentralized, trusted replacement for the World Wide Web."

And that creating DID:object was part of "a 4-year quest to create a platform to Tokenize Every Little Thing (ELT)".

Wow..."replacement for the World Wide Web".

Michael, perhaps I'm misunderstanding something, but how can you describe this as a 'decentralized' system, if Microsoft tools are required to run it?

Isn't it just as fair to say that you're appropriating the word "object" and ensuring that only people who pay Microsoft can use it as a DID Method?

"Object" was such a nice word, too. When you first announced it, I was hopeful about being able to use "did:object"; because it does seem the most appropriate word for publishing all kinds of "digital objects". (Good catch there!)

But alas, now I can't. Unless I go along with 'One ring to rule them all...and in the darkness bind them' (Tolkien).

I'm not an expert in this, but I'm going to suggest that the next version of the DID Method Registry should disallow this use of "object" because it's centralized, that is, controlled by one corporation who can require payment or set other rules to develop with it.

Then, maybe someone else can make another DID:object, one without a 'pay-to-play' component, register it, and the two DID:objects can then compete in the real (digital) world.

Oh what fun. [sarcasm alert]



Steven Rowat













Michael Herman

Founder

Trusted Digital Web



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________________________________

From: Michael Herman (Trusted Digital Web) <mwherman@parallelspace.net><mailto:mwherman@parallelspace.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2021 11:43:49 AM
To: Brian Richter <brian@aviary.tech><mailto:brian@aviary.tech>
Cc: W3C Credentials CG (Public List) <public-credentials@w3.org><mailto:public-credentials@w3.org>
Subject: Re: Announcement: New DID Method Specification: did:object



The Trusted Digital Web platform is capable of supporting and processing any class of Fully Decentralized Object from identity through to any type of business document or personal credential through to any type of NFT (e.g. photo, calf or kiss, etc.). If you're fairly technical, I recommend watching https<https://youtu.be/J6n9TvxA93I>://youtu.be/<https://youtu.be/J6n9TvxA93I>J6n9TvxA93I<https://youtu.be/J6n9TvxA93I> <https://youtu.be/J6n9TvxA93I> . If you're less technical, watch https<https://youtu.be/IuEew7rH5gw>://youtu.be/<https://youtu.be/IuEew7rH5gw>IuEew7rH5gw<https://youtu.be/IuEew7rH5gw>



The following 2 videos also provide a lot of insight into the use of VCs (aka the Structured Credential model) on the Trusted Digital Web:

- https<https://youtu.be/9RLYS7Xvabc>://youtu.be/9RLYS7Xvabc<https://youtu.be/9RLYS7Xvabc>

- https<https://youtu.be/kM30pd3w8qE>://youtu.be/<https://youtu.be/kM30pd3w8qE>kM30pd3w8qE<https://youtu.be/kM30pd3w8qE>

did:object is, in fact, the ideal method namespace for the Fully Decentralized Object model as realized by the Trusted Digital Web.

Thank you for the question Brian.

Best regards,

Michael Herman

Founder

Trusted Digital Web

p.s. Here is a copy of the TDW ARM that illustrates the various VDRs supported by the Stratis Platform blockchain ...to answer your question more directly Brian.

Reference:

https://hyperonomy.com/2021/06/28/trusted-digital-web-8-layer-architecture-reference-model-tdw-arm/

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________________________________

From: Brian Richter <brian@aviary.tech><mailto:brian@aviary.tech>
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2021 10:54:13 AM
To: Michael Herman (Trusted Digital Web) <mwherman@parallelspace.net><mailto:mwherman@parallelspace.net>
Cc: W3C Credentials CG (Public List) <public-credentials@w3.org><mailto:public-credentials@w3.org>
Subject: Re: Announcement: New DID Method Specification: did:object



Hi Michael,



Interesting work. Is there a reason you decided on the "object" method name? I don't see anything in here that makes this method any more "object" oriented than all other did methods as a did is essentially an object for all intents and purposes.



The CRUD operations describe implementation details of how to interact with the method (I assume through a library you've also published) but it doesn't go into technical specifics that I could see.. I'm interested in knowing how the method works on a technical level. Is it as simple as these objects are written to the Stratis blockchain (which I have no experience with). Are the signatures handled by the blockchain?



Thanks,

Brian



On Tue, Dec 14, 2021 at 3:00 AM Michael Herman(TDW) <mwherman@parallelspace.net<mailto:mwherman@parallelspace.net>> wrote:

Checkout https://github.com/mwherman2000/TrustedDigitalWeb/blob/master/specifications/did-methods/did-object.md



The publication of this DID Method specification realizes, in large part, a 4-year quest (or should I say personal mission) to create a platform to Tokenize Every Little Thing (ELT).



Best regard,

Michael Herman

Founder

Trusted Digital Web