LoreChain Project Plan

I am not a developer. I'm a newbie with rusty programming skills. But I know enough to be dangerous with some AI assistance.

This project plan was drafted by ChatGPT for me to follow to achieve my goal of building a platform where I can create worlds, other people can write stories and create art for them, and we can all be rewarded for it.

Bootstrapping the whole way, I have no budget, but I'll seek grants/retrogrants in the coming months as I make more progress to continue funding development of this.

**LoreChain Project Plan

Phase 1: Setup & Foundation

Objective: Establish the basic infrastructure for development and communication with potential users.
Current Progress:
- ✅ Development Environment Setup:
  - You’ve got your dev environment set up (VS Code, GitHub Desktop, npm, Hardhat, etc.).
  - Testnet ETH is incoming (Base Sepolia testnet via Alchemy).
  - You're set up with Rainbow wallet.
- ✅ Placeholder Website:
  - You have a static "coming soon" page in progress to deploy via Netlify.
  - Styling is underway using basic HTML/CSS with room for visual improvement.
- Next Steps:
  - Finalize and deploy the static webpage on Netlify.
  - Include key messaging about LoreChain: what it is, who you are, and the solo “Learning in Public” journey.

Phase 2: Frontend Development

Objective: Build the foundation of the LoreChain frontend.
Milestones:
- Initial Setup:
  - Establish a basic frontend framework (using React or vanilla JavaScript).
  - Install and configure any essential libraries or tools (e.g., ethers.js for wallet integration, API handling).
  - Ensure that the frontend is connected to the Base Sepolia testnet.
- User Authentication:
  - Integrate wallet connection (both MetaMask and Rainbow, as discussed) using ethers.js.
  - Allow basic wallet login/logout functionality.
- Simple UI Mockup:
  - Create a clean, minimal design reflecting the project’s vision.
  - Present users with a basic overview of what they’ll eventually interact with on LoreChain (learning, token exchange, on-chain data, etc.).
- Next Steps:
  - Plan user flow for wallet interaction, ensuring easy onboarding.
  - Design wireframes (if needed) or develop a basic skeleton of the web app.

Phase 3: Smart Contract Integration

Objective: Create and deploy smart contracts for LoreChain’s core functionality.
Milestones:
- Smart Contract Basics:
  - Develop and test basic smart contracts on the Base Sepolia testnet (e.g., token minting, data storage, or staking).
  - Use Hardhat and Alchemy to deploy contracts.
- Test Interactions:
  - Write scripts to interact with the deployed contracts (read/write functions via ethers.js).
  - Confirm that the frontend can communicate with the smart contracts (wallet reads contract data).
- Expand Smart Contract Functionality:
  - Implement more sophisticated logic based on the vision for LoreChain (e.g., creating NFTs, lore/data storage, tokenomics).
- Next Steps:
  - Sketch out core smart contract logic.
  - Create a roadmap for any additional smart contract features (token minting, staking, etc.).

Phase 4: Content & Community

Objective: Build interest, explain the project’s vision, and onboard early adopters.
Milestones:
- Community Building:
  - Share your "Learning in Public" journey regularly via Farcaster, Twitter, GitHub, etc.
  - Start a blog or vlog to explain the technical process behind LoreChain.
- Content Creation:
  - Write detailed blog posts explaining the concept of LoreChain (target audience: crypto, web3, and creators).
  - Publish project updates regularly, showing your dev progress.
- Project Website Update:
  - Replace the static "coming soon" page with a more interactive homepage.
  - Showcase LoreChain’s purpose and features.
  - Add a roadmap and mailing list signup for users to stay informed.
- Next Steps:
  - Post frequent project updates on social media.
  - Consider launching a simple community forum or Discord for early feedback.

Phase 5: Testing, Iteration, & Expansion

Objective: Test the system thoroughly and expand features based on feedback.
Milestones:
- Testing:
  - Conduct thorough tests on smart contracts, frontend, and wallet integration.
  - Get testnet users to try out the system, ensuring proper functionality across multiple wallets.
- Feedback Loop:
  - Iterate based on feedback from community testers and initial users.
  - Add any additional features to smooth out user experience and functionality.
- Scale Up:
  - Once the core system is working, expand on LoreChain’s features (potential integrations with other platforms, more blockchain functions, etc.).
- Next Steps:
  - Set up a list of features to implement post-launch based on user feedback.
  - Continue community engagement with updates, polls, and content.

General Timeline

October:
- Finish Phase 1 (website deployment and frontend setup).
- Begin Phase 2 with basic frontend and wallet integration.
November:
- Continue frontend dev, finish wallet auth, and launch smart contract testing.
- Begin smart contract integration and testing (Base Sepolia).
December:
- Iterate based on community feedback and prepare for feature expansion.

Additional Notes

Tools to Explore:
- Alchemy: Already in use for Base Sepolia connection.
- Netlify: For ongoing deployments of the website (it can auto-deploy from GitHub).
- VS Code: You’re using this already for everything. Leverage extensions for React, Hardhat, and ethers.js.
- Social/Marketing: Keep the “Learning in Public” aspect central to engagement.
Focus for the Next Few Days:
- Finalize the "coming soon" webpage and get it live on Netlify.
- Plan the wireframe and structure for the actual LoreChain website.
- Get comfortable with ethers.js, and start playing with the connection to Base Sepolia testnet once the ETH arrives.

Feel free to adjust this plan as the project evolves. Does this look like it aligns with your vision? Let’s lock in the next few steps so you can keep the momentum going!