Enhance Discord Stamp: New Passport Verification

Hey guys! Let's talk about a cool update for the Discord Stamp discussion, specifically focusing on Passport verification. This update aims to enhance how we verify users' humanity scores by leveraging their Discord activity and engagement. This isn't just a small tweak; it's a significant step towards ensuring genuine participation and weeding out those pesky bots and Sybil accounts. So, buckle up as we dive deep into the user story, acceptance criteria, technical implementation, and key design decisions behind this exciting update.

User Story: Why Discord Verification Matters

At the heart of this update is the user story: As a Passport user, I want to verify my Discord account activity and engagement so that I can increase my humanity score using my Discord participation as proof of being human. This story underscores the core need for a reliable way to assess user authenticity. In today's digital landscape, where bots and fake accounts are rampant, proving your humanity is crucial. Discord, being a primary platform for many online communities, offers a wealth of data points that can help us distinguish real users from bots. By verifying Discord accounts, we can tap into this rich source of information and enhance the overall integrity of our Passport verification process. This is about making sure that the folks we interact with are genuine members of the community, contributing in meaningful ways.

To break it down further, imagine you're trying to build a vibrant, engaged community. You want people who are truly interested in participating, not just lurking or, worse, trying to game the system. By integrating Discord verification, we're adding a layer of security that helps ensure the community is filled with real people, each with a vested interest in being there. Think of it as adding an extra lock to your front door – it makes your home that much safer. Plus, for users, it's a fantastic way to showcase their commitment and engagement, boosting their credibility within the community. Everyone wins!

The benefits of this user-centric approach extend beyond just security. By focusing on user activity and engagement, we're also incentivizing positive behavior. Users who actively participate in Discord communities, who take the time to build connections and contribute meaningfully, will naturally see their humanity scores increase. This creates a virtuous cycle where genuine engagement is rewarded, and the community as a whole becomes more vibrant and resilient. It's about fostering a culture of authenticity and participation, where everyone feels valued and respected. So, yeah, this update is kind of a big deal.

Acceptance Criteria: Setting the Bar for Verification

Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty of what it takes to pass the Discord verification. We've established some key acceptance criteria to ensure a robust and reliable process. These criteria aren't arbitrary; they're carefully chosen to filter out bots and reward genuine engagement. Here’s a breakdown of the core requirements:

Core Requirements

• Discord account age > 365 days: This is a big one. A year-old account represents a significant time investment, something that Sybil attackers are less likely to commit to. Think about it: creating and maintaining numerous fake accounts for over a year? That's a lot of effort. This requirement acts as a strong deterrent, helping us weed out those who are just trying to game the system. It's like planting a tree – it takes time to grow and mature, just like a legitimate Discord account.
• Member of 10+ servers: Being a member of multiple servers indicates a broader engagement with the Discord community. It suggests that the user isn't just lurking in one or two places but is actively participating in various communities. This shows a diverse range of interests and connections, which is a hallmark of a real user. It's like having a diverse group of friends – it shows you're open to different experiences and perspectives.
• Has role assignments in 3+ servers (shows actual participation): This is where we get into the real meat of engagement. Simply being a member of a server isn't enough; we want to see active participation. Role assignments indicate that the user has taken specific actions within the server, whether it's participating in discussions, contributing to projects, or taking on leadership roles. This is a strong signal of genuine involvement. It's like being an active member of a club – you're not just on the mailing list; you're actually showing up and contributing.
• Has 2+ verified external connections (Twitter, GitHub, Steam, etc.): This adds another layer of verification by linking the Discord account to other platforms. Having verified connections on platforms like Twitter, GitHub, or Steam suggests a broader online presence and reduces the likelihood of the account being a bot. It's like having references on your resume – it adds credibility and shows you're a real person with a history of online activity.

These requirements, taken together, paint a comprehensive picture of a user's engagement and authenticity. They're designed to be challenging enough to deter bots while still being achievable for genuine users. It's a balancing act, but we believe these criteria strike the right chord.

Verification Flow: How It Works

So, how does this verification process actually work? Let's walk through the verification flow:

1. GIVEN a user wants to verify their Discord account
2. WHEN they initiate Discord verification
3. THEN the system should:
   1. Authenticate via Discord OAuth2
   2. Retrieve user profile and guild data
   3. Check all 4 requirements are met
   4. Award points based on engagement level

This flow is straightforward and user-friendly, ensuring a seamless experience for those seeking to verify their accounts. The system uses Discord's OAuth2 for authentication, which is a secure and widely adopted standard. Once authenticated, the system retrieves the user's profile and guild data, which is then used to check against the core requirements we discussed earlier. If all criteria are met, the user is awarded points based on their engagement level. It's a simple yet effective process that ensures only genuine users are recognized.

Technical Implementation: Behind the Scenes

Now, let's peek behind the curtain and explore the technical implementation of this update. For those of you who are technically inclined, this is where it gets really interesting. We've leveraged some powerful tools and techniques to make this verification process robust and efficient. The full implementation details, OAuth flow, and integration guide can be found at https://github.com/lebraat/discord-credential-checker. Seriously, check it out – it's a treasure trove of information.

Key Components

The repository includes several key components:

• Complete OAuth2 implementation: We've implemented the OAuth2 flow to ensure secure authentication with Discord. This means users can grant access to their Discord data without sharing their passwords, which is a crucial security measure.
• Discord API integration: We've integrated with the Discord API to retrieve user profile and guild data. This allows us to access the information needed to verify the core requirements, such as account age, server membership, and role assignments.
• Guild and role verification logic: This is where the magic happens. We've implemented the logic to verify guild membership and role assignments, ensuring that users meet the criteria for active participation.
• External connections validation: We've added validation for external connections, such as Twitter, GitHub, and Steam, to provide an additional layer of verification.
• Rate limiting and error handling: We've implemented rate limiting and error handling to ensure the system remains stable and responsive, even under heavy load. This is crucial for maintaining a smooth user experience.

This technical architecture is designed to be scalable and maintainable, ensuring that the verification process remains reliable and efficient as the community grows. It's built on industry best practices and leverages modern technologies to deliver a seamless experience for users.

Key Design Decisions: The Why Behind the What

Let's dive into the key design decisions that shaped this update. It's not just about what we're doing; it's about why we're doing it. Understanding the rationale behind these decisions is crucial for appreciating the value and impact of this update.

Why These Requirements?

We've already touched on the rationale behind the core requirements, but let's reiterate why they're so important:

• Account age: As mentioned earlier, the costly time investment for Sybils is a significant deterrent. A year-old account represents a commitment that most bad actors are unwilling to make.
• 10+ servers: This shows genuine community participation. It's not just about being in a few servers; it's about actively engaging in a diverse range of communities.
• Role assignments: This indicates active engagement, not just lurking. Role assignments show that the user is contributing and participating in meaningful ways.
• External connections: Cross-platform verification adds legitimacy. Linking Discord to other platforms provides additional evidence of the user's authenticity.

These requirements are designed to create a comprehensive picture of a user's engagement and authenticity. They're not perfect, but they represent a significant improvement over existing methods.

Priority, Effort, and Impact

We've carefully considered the priority, effort, and impact of this update:

• Priority: HIGH – This is a significant improvement over the current stamp. Enhancing Discord verification is a top priority for us, given the platform's importance in the web3 community.
• Effort: LOW – The implementation is already built, which means we can roll out this update relatively quickly and efficiently. This is a huge win for us.
• Impact: HIGH – Discord is the primary web3 community platform, so this update has the potential to impact a large number of users and significantly improve the integrity of our verification process.

These factors, combined, make this update a no-brainer. It's a high-impact, low-effort initiative that aligns perfectly with our goals.

Conclusion: A Step Forward for Community Verification

In conclusion, this update to the Discord Stamp discussion, focusing on Passport verification, is a significant step forward for community verification. By leveraging Discord activity and engagement, we can enhance the accuracy and reliability of our humanity scores. The core requirements, verification flow, technical implementation, and key design decisions have all been carefully considered to ensure a robust and user-friendly process. This is about building a community of genuine participants, where everyone feels valued and respected. So, let's embrace this update and continue to strive for a more authentic and engaged online community!