Criteria that make an application a good option for the blockchain technology

Blockchain technology is not for all applications and use-cases. The following questions will help in deciding whether blockchain technology is the right technology for your application or not.

1. Will your application require the use of a database?

Blockchain technology primarily deals with database like data storage and recording. When an application requires transparent and chronological data storage blockchain will work very well.

2. Does the data need to be kept private from all other users of the application?

Blockchain is a transparent data storage system. The data stored on blocks is accessible and visible to everyone (although identity may be kept secret). If data in your application needs to be kept private. Don’t use blockchain.

3. Is the chronological ordering of the data important?

Blockchain keeps an ordered ledger of all chain activity. If the data recorded in your application does not need to be in chronological order, there may be a better solution for your project than blockchain technology.

4. Will your application require removing past data after it is written?

Blockchain technology is mainly an immutable data recording device. If users of your application will want/need to change previously recorded information, blockchain may not be the best fit for your application.

5. Will there be multiple parties involved in generating/sharing data?

If transactions occur between two or more users of your application, or data is shared between users of your application, blockchain may be able to support your application and give it the peer-to-peer capabilities it needs.

6. Will different users trust each other inherently?

If users trust each other inherently then there is little need for trust/consensus protocols and blockchain technology would be of no use to your application. A database in this case would do the trick.

7. Would users trust a centralized database to record and secure data?

Blockchain provides mostly trust less interaction between users. If a centralized database cannot fix the issue of trust, then blockchain may be the answer.

8. Can a trusted third party be brought in to resolve the issue of trust?

If users of your application would not inherently trust each other and they will not trust a central third party, then blockchain may be a good basis for your application.

Conclusion

In conclusion, whether blockchain technology is the right fit for your business depends on a variety of factors. Blockchain is primarily suited for applications that require transparent, chronological data storage. If data privacy is a concern or if data does not need to be recorded in chronological order, there may be better solutions available. Blockchain’s immutable nature and trust/consensus protocols make it well-suited for applications that involve peer-to-peer transactions or data sharing between untrusting parties. However, if users inherently trust each other or a central third party, a traditional database may be more appropriate. Ultimately, it is important to carefully evaluate the needs of your business and the capabilities of blockchain technology to determine whether it is the right fit for your application.