Weekly Developer Update #32

Login Access: Upgraded

Commanders, this week’s WDU is about the tech that welcomes new Explorers into Cosmicrafts and possibly other dApps on the Internet Computer.

We’re expanding our login options to offer familiar onboarding choices while retaining support for established ICP native wallets.

Let’s dive into the hows and whys…

Web2 Logins — Expanding our Onboarding

We understand that for existing ICP users, the convenience of Web2 login methods may not be the biggest selling point. However, as a project committed to growth, we firmly believe in making Cosmicrafts accessible to a wider audience.

Here’s the lowdown on our new login options, making it easier than ever.

Google One-Click

• Got a Google account? That’s the fastest way to jump into Cosmicrafts. One click, and you’re ready to start playing and interacting with the Internet Computer.

Team Microsoft, Apple, or Github?

Auth0 is the system behind this, letting us safely offer you multiple ways to jump into the game, also with an email address and password option, something NFID already has if you prefer that method.

We’ll be deprecating Auth0 in the future, to make our own Web3 API, just want to point out that, is not that we love Facebook too much, but we’re talking about its 3 Billion users database.

Let’s keep in mind that this is what Web2 is used to:

The Bigger Picture

We’re not abandoning our Web3 roots. These login options offer an “on-ramp” for mainstream adoption, while established ICP wallets remain fully supported.

Seamless Onboarding with MetaMask, Phantom, and the Internet Computer

Users of Solana and EVM wallets like MetaMask and Phantom can now easily experience the Internet Computer (IC). This integration doesn’t require them to use their Solana/EVM wallets directly on the IC; instead, a new ICP wallet is created and controlled through their existing wallet.

How it works:

• Frictionless Onboarding: With a simple cryptographic signature, users generate or recover a unique ICP wallet.
• Enhanced Security: Established security measures on Solana and EVM chains protect the original wallet.

This process eliminates transaction fees, and makes exploring the Internet Computer incredibly accessible for seasoned blockchain users.

Next: Local Login Methods

We’ve recently improved our random/anon login, which previously generated wallets that were lost after closing the game. This is great for new users who want to jump right in without creating an account.

Platforms like CrazyGames let you play without even needing a username. If you decide to stick around, you can easily transition to features like account creation for persistence.

This anon/random login trend is growing, especially in browser games.

That’s why we continue developing this random login method. Since we’re on Web3, we prioritize security and account recovery. This brings us to our next step:

BIP39 seed phrase generation and keys for the ICP.

While this might seem overly technical for someone who just wants to play, we’re handling the complex stuff in the backend to ensure account recovery.

Users don’t need to understand the cryptography behind BIP39 and ed25519 keys — we’re taking care of that for them.

This is still experimental, and we don’t have a polished solution yet. However, we have a way for you to test it! This also opens up exciting possibilities for creating standalone ICP wallets outside the browser — similar to how Plug and AstroX.me brought wallets to mobile, but now for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Security: Empowering Users, Protecting Data

Our priority is offering users familiar and secure ways to engage with the Internet Computer. We believe in meeting users where they are, instead of forcing them to adapt entirely to Web3 norms that might still feel unfamiliar to many.

Behind the scenes, we work to ensure safety. When users opt for logins with Google, Auth0, MetaMask, or Phantom, we generate unique keys just for them.

Crucially, we never store these keys or any personal user information.

The interaction is directly between the chosen login method and our API, maximizing privacy.

Security is an ongoing process, and we’ll continue adding layers of protection to minimize the risk of malicious attacks.

Get Ready to Try It Out!

A new version of the game is on the way, where you can experience these seamless login methods firsthand.

Thanks again for joining us on this WDU journey.

Stay safe, stay cosmic!