We use blockchain tech and you don't even see it

Hey IH! I wanted to share how we're building Orbiter, a different kind of static site hosting platform that is trying to make the web fun and open again. While there are many hosting platforms out there, most of them end up becoming walled gardens where users get locked into their ecosystem. We wanted to change that.

The Tech Stack That Makes It Possible

We've built Orbiter on two key technologies that enable true user ownership:

IPFS (InterPlanetary File System): This distributed network allows us to host content in a decentralized way. When you upload a file, it gets a unique Content Identifier (CID) that serves as both its fingerprint and its location on the network. This makes content immutable and perfect for CDN-style distribution.
Blockchain (specifically Base): To solve the challenge of updating immutable IPFS content, we created smart contracts called IPCM (InterPlanetary CID Mapping). Each website gets its own contract that stores and updates the latest CID, with built-in version history and authentication.

The User Experience

Despite the complex tech stack, we've abstracted everything away. Users simply upload their sites and get a domain - no crypto knowledge required. But here's the key difference: you're never locked in.
For example, our marketing site's current IPFS content identifier is:

bafybeiclome6td5reg2udnzwebzgy35dozrf4cw4vp2qdeq75e3h5hhcfe

Anyone can access this content through any IPFS gateway, like:

https://bafybeiclome6td5reg2udnzwebzgy35dozrf4cw4vp2qdeq75e3h5hhcfe.ipfs.dweb.link

Why This Matters for Site Owners

IPFS and blockchain provide the perfect system for version history. Every site owner gets their own personal wayback machine.

Second, people can migrate their content anywhere without needing our permission.

We believe this open garden approach is the future of web hosting. While most platforms lock you in, we're building tools that give you true ownership of your content.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this approach and if you've faced similar challenges with traditional hosting platforms!