# How to hire ECC

**URL:** <https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [August 3, 2019, 7:04am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379 "2019-08-03T07:04:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![joshs](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/joshs/32/13631_2.png) [@joshs](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/joshs)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 3:50am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/63 "2019-08-13T03:50:14Z")

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Nathan spoke to them at Zcon0 ([Zcash to 10 billion - Electric Coin Company](https://electriccoin.co/blog/zcash-to-10-billion/)) - predominately L1 scalability and cross chain interop. I also believe we need to spend time on consensus mechanisms (POS / Hybrid) and UX improvements to help drive z2z adoption.

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**Author:** ![tromer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/tromer/32/14860_2.png) [@tromer](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/tromer)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 6:22am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/64 "2019-08-13T06:22:32Z")

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@joshs, Nathan indeed spoke at length in the above Zcon1 presentation about scalably goals, and Daira subsequently spoke of possible approaches. That was an excellent initial discussion of ECC’s stance on scalability.

Where can the community find similarly detailed goals, data and plans about

> cross chain interop

and

> consensus mechanisms (POS / Hybrid)

and

> UX improvements to help drive z2z adoption

?

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**Author:** ![joshs](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/joshs/32/13631_2.png) [@joshs](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/joshs)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 12:56pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/65 "2019-08-13T12:56:54Z")

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Great question! We haven’t formally published much of that, we should, but perhaps only when we have something to recommend to the community. It’s one of the challenges of fine grained funding mechanisms. Some of this will take the space to research.

Some interop work is active in conjunction with other 3rd parties, ex. Flyclient/MMRs, BLAKE2. Getting our work and engagement documented on interop is in my backlog.

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**Author:** ![aristarchus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/aristarchus/32/13198_2.png) [@aristarchus](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/aristarchus)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 4:47pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/67 "2019-08-13T16:47:38Z")

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Please do publish this stuff! 🙂

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**Author:** ![tromer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/tromer/32/14860_2.png) [@tromer](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/tromer)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/68 "2019-08-13T17:05:46Z")

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> [@joshs](#):
>
> It’s one of the challenges of fine grained funding mechanisms

Hold on, no one here is looking for “fine grained” funding mechanisms, in the sense of, [as you put it](https://electriccoin.co/blog/electric-coin-company-statement-on-sustainability/):

> A fine-grained allocation of funds can be expressed as: “ _We will build x function for $y in z weeks_

Again, let’s take the aforementioned Scalability discussion by @nathan-at-least and @daira as the example. It made a case that Scalability is important and plausible. That’s very mucn on the “coarse grain” end of the spectrum, but it conveys deep thinking on the subject, and is appropriate for the phase we’re in.

In my opinion, ECC should convey _at least_ that much information to the community, about each of the main directions it intends to pursue using a Dev Fun.

In the case of complex goals like “UX improvements to help drive z2z adoption”, I would also expect this to be unpacked into the many technical + nontechnical components this entails.

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**Author:** ![joshs](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/joshs/32/13631_2.png) [@joshs](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/joshs)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 5:29pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/69 "2019-08-13T17:29:02Z")

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Thanks for the clarification. I intended to communicate is that some of these activities are directional but the future gets more blurry the farther out you try to see. From what I understand, more work has been been done on scaling research than on working through consensus mechanisms, for example. L1 scalability is the big ticket item (which actually may necessitate other things which may also require other R&D and market activities, as Daira highlighted iirc). If you have specific mandates like a roadmap or specific items, it’d be nice to have those as a condition within a proposal so that we can respond in one place.

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**Author:** ![tromer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/tromer/32/14860_2.png) [@tromer](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/tromer)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/70 "2019-08-13T17:39:19Z")

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@joshs, yes, community members _could_ create a detailed roadmap instructing ECC how to drive fully-shielded adoption. The community can also attempt to cook up [algorithmic incentives](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/55) to encourage ECC to follow such a roadmap in the absence of other accountability mechanisms. Still, ECC has spent a ton of effort thinking about this, and is so probably in the best position to draw a roadmap that’s effective, comprehensive and matches its expertise.

So it’a s shame that ECC has not shared such a roadmap to date, and I don’t think that ECC can meaningfully claim that it will use the Dev Fund to drive shieled adoption, until it does so.

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**Author:** ![joshs](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/joshs/32/13631_2.png) [@joshs](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/joshs)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/71 "2019-08-13T17:59:35Z")

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Zooko went through the roadmap here: [State of Electric Coin Company - Zooko Wilcox - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrcA4vh_uxM&list=PL40dyJ0UYTLLjPZaKjdhMoCNanb77_Ztj&index=33&t=1042s)

Does this help?

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/original/2X/e/e9aab0c4e0968f6abd2bdb74abb4d94c3af7375c.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tromer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/tromer/32/14860_2.png) [@tromer](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/tromer)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/72 "2019-08-13T18:34:55Z")

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That’s a nice motivational slide. It was perfect for Zooko’s brief, high-level Zcon1 talk. It’s not even close to a meaningful roadmap that people can reason about to justify a many-millions-of-dollars Dev Fund.

In particular, shielded adoption is a huge goal that will take many person-years and collaborations to pursue. That slide had **10 words** about this:

> Wallet Research and Adoption

> Global 3rd Party Awareness and Adoption

Where does a programmatic SDK, and a commitment to make that a supported product, fit into those 10 words?

Where is the plan for a robust, supported lightwalletd discussed?

Where is the mention of research on privacy-preserving note detection for improved lightwallet privacy?

Where’s the discussion of engineering work on shielded hardware wallets?

Is there a commitment to supporting Windows? Mac? iOS? Supported packaged binaries for platforms other than Debian?

And I could go on and on.

ECC’s top-notch motivational PR should bolster, not substitute for, a hard-nosed, substantial and transparent goal-setting-and-planning effort.

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**Author:** ![Anton1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Anton1](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/Anton1)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 1:34am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/73 "2019-08-14T01:34:23Z")

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Thank you for describing everything as it is, here everyone is tired of explaining that what ECC does is not everyone wants it, while shifting adoption work to the community is not an option at all, then apparently, if the community wants to develop a coin and improve the code, it should do it yourself 🙂

It is because of this approach, for example, it seems to me that if funding is supported, nothing will change, the next 4 years will be spent on scaling development, and the current promotion work is not needed because there will be a new code and new adoption work, because compatibility with it won’t be old and the agreements also need to be re-formed, but it only seems to me, I don’t know for everyone.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tromer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/tromer/32/14860_2.png) [@tromer](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/tromer)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 2:11am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/74 "2019-08-14T02:11:30Z")

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> [@Anton1](#):
>
> the next 4 years will be spent on scaling development, and the current promotion work is not needed because there will be a new code and new adoption work, because compatibility with it won’t be

@Anton1, this is a valid concern, but personaly I am not very worried about this aspect of scalability. It’s true that any scalability solution will probably require a network upgrade with major changes. But I think everybody intends this transition to maintain ZEC as a single coin. And everybody wants the transition to happen in a very careful way, to minimize the disruption to the ecosystem. This is in the ethos of ECC. For example, look at how the Sapling upgrade maintained compatibility with Sprout. Also, the [network upgrade pipeline](https://electriccoin.co/blog/the-zcash-network-upgrade-pipeline/) is meant to give everyone time to adapt.

The main hurdle to adoption has been to convince people to run the Zcash software and to use the Zcash-specific interface (RPC, SDK, etc.). I hope that it will be possible to update this software to use a new and improved consensus protocol internally, without changing the external interfaces, and thus minimize the disruption to existing users and integrators.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zancas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/zancas/32/42011_2.png) [@zancas](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/zancas)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/75 "2019-08-14T17:47:14Z")

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Per this question:

“Is there a commitment to supporting Windows? Mac? iOS? Supported packaged binaries for platforms other than Debian?”

This effort should include a careful analysis of the costs-and-benefits introduced by ubiquitous (desktop) containerization.

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**Author:** ![ChileBob](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/chilebob/32/26546_2.png) [@ChileBob](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/ChileBob)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/76 "2019-08-14T18:09:13Z")

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I see Linux, Windows & Mac on ZecWallet… is that what you meant?

There’s also wallets & companion apps for mobile - many more & much better than last year.

> **[Releases · ZcashFoundation/zecwallet](https://github.com/ZcashFoundation/zecwallet/releases)**
>
> A z-address first full node and UI wallet for zcash - ZcashFoundation/zecwallet

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tromer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/tromer/32/14860_2.png) [@tromer](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/tromer)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/77 "2019-08-14T18:32:42Z")

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> [@ChileBob](#):
>
> I see Linux, Windows & Mac on ZecWallet

Yes! Unfortunately, the current Windows and Mac ports are (AFAIK) rely on patches that are not yet in upstream `zcashd` as maintained by ECC. Testing on these platforms is not part of ECC’s continuous integration system, and there are no official binary packages published by ECC.

The barrier to creating new Windows/Mac GUI wallets (or other products) would be lower, and the result more robust, if the requisite `zcashd` component was provided by ECC.

Anyway this was just an example of a _question_. ECC can decide whether or not it offers to put this on the roadmap. It’s just that currently we _don’t know_ whether and when to expect it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![str4d](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/str4d/32/64_2.png) [@str4d](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/str4d)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 8:02pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/78 "2019-08-14T20:02:37Z")

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> [@tromer](#):
>
> Unfortunately, the current Windows and Mac ports are (AFAIK) rely on patches that are not yet in upstream `zcashd` as maintained by ECC.

To my knowledge, `zcashd` compiles natively on MacOS, and cross-compiles for Windows. It was certainly working a year ago when I wrote the [MacOS](https://github.com/zcash/zcash/pull/2820) and [Windows](https://github.com/zcash/zcash/pull/3172) build PRs that both pulled in the community patches, and fixed underlying problems that some of the patches were papering over.

> [@tromer](#):
>
> Testing on these platforms is not part of ECC’s continuous integration system

We had MacOS CI testing for a long time, but had to take it down recently due to dev-infra changes, and we haven’t had the resources to set it back up. Meanwhile Windows CI has caused us no end of problems.

> [@tromer](#):
>
> there are no official binary packages published by ECC.

I agree these should exist, but they won’t until we have both reliable CI, and reproducible builds in Gitian. And also the resources to set all this up, in addition to everything else we are doing.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tromer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/tromer/32/14860_2.png) [@tromer](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/tromer)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/79 "2019-08-15T01:08:53Z")

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@str4d, thanks for the clarification! Great to hear (or be reminded?) that those patches are in. If I understand correctly, native Windows build is still an open problem.

More to the point of the current discussion: it’s clear that additional work and resources are needed, as you’ve described. **Inquiring minds want to know whether and where this is on the list of tasks that ECC will use the Dev Fund for.**

(And of course this was just one example.)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joshs](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/joshs/32/13631_2.png) [@joshs](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/joshs)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 2:24am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/80 "2019-08-27T02:24:16Z")

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Hi.

> [@dontbeevil](#):
>
> Is it possible for ECC to become non-profit in 2019/2020?

Likely not in 2019

We’re not sure about 2020. It would require a fair bit of time and effort to figure out how to make the transition. We’re not opposed to exploring the option if that’s what the community decides is necessary.

> [@dontbeevil](#):
>
> Is it possible to just hire ECC for 100% shielded address adoption without scaling effort? Can ECC deliver t-address deprecation, z2z only transactions in 2020 or 2021?

It’s possible for the community to mandate scope. It may be technically feasible. If it’s a mandate in the proposal, we’ll explore it together and respond on whether we could agree to work on that, assuming the rest of the proposal is something we could support.

//Aside  
Personally (not a company position), I believe near-term forced taddr deprecation is not a good idea and would hinder the mission. Secondly, if Zcash is encumbered by Bitcoin-scale limitations, it won’t be used as a MoE. If it’s not used as a MoE, what’s the point?

I hope that answers your questions.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dontbeevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@dontbeevil](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/dontbeevil)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 7:39am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/81 "2019-08-27T07:39:26Z")

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Can i get ECC position on timeline for t-addr deprecation? or disabling transactions to t-address

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea5d25/32.png) [@mika](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/mika)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 9:53am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/82 "2019-08-27T09:53:48Z")

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> [@joshs](#):
>
> Personally (not a company position), I believe near-term forced taddr deprecation is not a good idea and would hinder the mission

Why exactly?  
20 chars

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![somedude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@somedude](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/somedude)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 10:05am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/how-to-hire-ecc/34379/83 "2019-08-27T10:05:14Z")

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t-addr deprecation is gravely wrong idea for near future. exchanges, other fiat on-ramps and their respected regulations ar against full privacy now. anyone wants to lose majority of existing fiat gateways? brilliant. actually, the whole z+t idea is one of main advantages of zcash. seamless experience, reliable, polished and low-tech-end mass user adopted products is a current challenge, imo.

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