Free domain for GitHub users

[handshake-enthusiast]

Problem

While "the Handshake protocol undoubtedly remains the best shot at an open naming layer for the internet" it's learning curve is still steep for newcomers. Even for experienced developers there is no clear path on how to be onboarded. You may hear about Handshake, like the idea, but still be confused with this new world of decentralised domains. Technology-wise there is "Bitcoin stuff and DNS stuff all mixed up". Thankfully, now we have Bob wallet, Namebase, Varo, HNS.ID and many more (including projects granted by Handshake Micro Grants like dir.ectory and Wordpress hosting for Handshake). These tools are extremely helpful, but you learn about them and how everything works after gaining knowledge about Handshake world. At the beginning it's not clear how to start.

What will you be building? Why is that a valuable open source contribution to Handshake?

I recall a "learn by doing" approach which I liked a lot when CodeSchool was a thing. Courses like Try Ruby or Try Git brought a lot of enjoyment many years ago at the beginning of my software engineering career. This could be Try Handshake. Though likely it would be better to market it as something close to the issue title.

To jumpstart your Handshake journey ideally you need to acquire a domain name (either TLD or SLD) and host a website somewhere. For me it brings a similar fulfilling feeling like hosting my first website and seeing it works!

My proposal is to enable new Handshake users to host their own website in a couple clicks under several seconds. To do so a Github user have to visit a website and click "Sign in with Github". After they sign in they will have their own website powered by the GitHub Pages free hosting and a Handshake free domain like http://handshake-enthusiast.githubpage. Additionally they will be given instructions how to access their website (related: #7), how to use GitHub Pages and how to start their journey on Handshake by using their own TLD.

What have you built previously?

https://github.com/handshake-enthusiast/handshake-enthusiast#readme

What are completion criteria?

• 100% open source.
• Under a permissive MIT license.

The web app flow should work for the following types of users:

• A Github user who doesn't have a Github Pages powered website.
• A Github user who already has a Github Pages powered website hosted on a login.github.io domain.
• A Github user who already has a Github Pages powered website hosted on a custom domain.

Users can access their websites on the following TLDs to choose which one they like the most:

• .github-page
• .github-pages
• .githubpage

When will this be completed (max 4 weeks)?

Approximately 2 weeks after the grant is awarded.

What is your contact information?

Email: turbine_verbose0s@icloud.com

Notes

1. My http://share.nb from The most powerful Handshake seed node #5 (comment) is hosted using GitHub Pages. You can see how simple it is to start with: https://github.com/handshake-enthusiast/handshake-enthusiast.github.io.
2. This is a Proof of Concept. The next step is to launch a "marketing" campaign on Hacker News with community support (not under the scope of this proposal).