Road to HandyCon 2026 Ep.01 with Nathan Woodburn

Sky Include Podcast Episode Summary

Introduction and Context

• The podcast begins with Nathan Woodburn joining the hosts in Chiang Mai, where they plan to have dinner at a private club.

• The atmosphere is described as pleasant, contrasting with the heat outside in Chiang Mai.

Updates on Handshake

• Acknowledgment of Ann's contributions to organizing updates about Handshake, which is approaching its sixth birthday on February 3rd, 2026.

• Discussion about the recent happenings in the Handshake community, including significant wallet drops and domain name acquisitions.

Market Insights

• Addressing concerns from skeptics who believe they missed out on good domain names; the hosts argue that valuable names are still available at reasonable prices.

• Mention of high interest in HNS despite fluctuations in price; people continue to invest significantly in domains.

Personal Experiences with Domain Acquisitions

• Nathan shares his experience acquiring a flamingo-themed domain while expressing disappointment over missing out on another desired name.

• Discussion about potential auctions for usernames and premium domains like "pink flamingo."

Development and AI Tools

• Nathan discusses his transition into full-time development work since July, indicating a significant portion of his day is now dedicated to coding.

• Conversation shifts to using various AI tools for coding assistance; Nathan mentions favoring Gemini for its search capabilities over ChatGPT.

Product Updates and Community Tools

• Brief mention of products developed by their group, including HSN Best and HNS.2; some tools face maintenance issues while others remain functional.

• Discussion about finding short TLD names and subdomain usage within projects; emphasis on creativity when selecting domain names.

Discussion on Handshake and Community Tools

Current Issues with Debug Tool and Resolver

• The debug tool mentioned is still malfunctioning, but the resolver appears to be functioning well for most users.

• Feedback is requested from the community regarding various services; there's a desire to feature more sites on the homepage manually.

New Developments in Handshake Projects

• A new product related to Easy Domains has been developed, with Skylude being a buyer of it.

• Announcement of maintaining E.e by Include was made, marking it as a first reveal in this discussion.

Challenges with Name Servers

• There are ongoing issues with name servers not handshaking properly, causing complications when registering domains like pork bun.

• Development of an SLD management system on easydommains.io is underway to simplify domain management.

Hosting Solutions and Complaints

• A hosting solution at host.limo is partially operational but faces challenges in pointing to HNS names correctly.

• Frequent complaints arise about broken links or services due to complex DNS configurations that require constant monitoring.

Excitement Around Decentralization and Future Projects

• Discussion includes building a Flamingo Handshake app and potential auction methods for domain names at Handycon.

• The speaker expresses optimism about the decentralized nature of Handshake compared to other web3 communities that may not be genuinely decentralized.

Upcoming Events: Handycon

• Handycon is scheduled for early March, specifically the 3rd through 5th, avoiding time zone changes that could complicate attendance.

• The event aims to promote censorship-resistant domains amidst current political climates that may increase demand for such solutions.

Handycon Updates and Community Insights

Time Zone Challenges

• The discussion begins with frustrations regarding time zone changes, highlighting the confusion caused by daylight saving adjustments across different regions.

• Participants express a reliance on technology (like smartphones) to automatically adjust for time changes, indicating a shared struggle with manual updates.

Handycon Developments

• Excitement builds around Handycon XYZ, with mentions of new speakers, protocols, projects, and developers contributing to the event.

• A sense of urgency is noted as participants feel motivated by deadlines to complete their projects in time for the conference.

Community Engagement and Sponsorship

• The community's enthusiasm is acknowledged despite some complaints; sponsors like Easy Domains and Irwin are recognized for their support.

• There’s an ongoing conversation about Namebase's recent acquisition announcement without revealing the buyer, leading to speculation within the community.

Concerns About Ownership and Future Directions

• Questions arise regarding the implications of ownership changes for Namebase and its subsidiaries, including hns.id D.

• One participant expresses optimism that new owners will care more about the platform than previous ones who may have prioritized profit over community interests.

Upcoming Speakers at Handycon

• A lineup of notable guests is mentioned, including Andrew Lee and others involved in decentralized internet initiatives.

• An invitation is extended to developers working on Handshake-related projects to showcase their work at Handycon, emphasizing inclusivity even for anonymous contributors.

Special Highlights and Closing Thoughts

• Johnny Woo's participation is highlighted as he auctions off a unique domain related to Handshake; this adds excitement to the event.

• The conversation wraps up with gratitude expressed towards participants before transitioning into dinner plans.