# [Open Credit Network](https://opencredit.network) / Radical Devs Early 2020
[TOC]
## Intent
Set out in outline three propositions which OCN hopes will appeal to RD volunteers. Two of these were discussed at the call on 29 Jan, the third has been added since.
## 1: Integrate matrix to allow on-site messaging
### Context
On the OCN site, it is possible for members to click a button to initiate messaging with another member:
A form on the page allows composition of a message which is delivered by email. Any further exchange takes place off-site in email exchanges between members.
This is acceptable, but Mutual Credit is a money-analogue that builds the necessary credibility through building trust. It is thus considered crucial that members can have a secure messaging system within OCN.
### Proposition
The best option we can see is to use the [Matrix protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_(protocol)). This is an open protocol built from the outset as '*An open network for secure, decentralized communication*'. Rather than explain our selection here, have a look the [Matrix.org site](https://matrix.org/) and judge for yourself.
We're open to other suggestions tht meet our purpose. [Mastodon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastodon_(software)) might be another project to look at.
### Aim
To provide an OCN messaging service that works in a browser, as part of the OCN website. At minimum there is a public channel, to which all members are subscribed and can write, and private channels for members to use in negotiating trades.
Whatever is implemented should offer a sensible pathway to group chats, bots etc in the future.
Matrix has spawned a [wide range of client projects](https://matrix.org/clients/). Possibly the approach might be to adopt one of these ([Riot is the obvious choice](https://about.riot.im/))

## 2: Discover 'trading arcs and loops'
### Context
A key problem for Mutual Credit networks is credit redemption. essentially, when a buyer pays in MC units, they are being afforded credit by the network as a whole - they are making a promise to supply goods and services to other network members of an equivalent value at some point in the future.
That's nice in theory, but what if this buyer cannot find anyone to sell their offer to? They are unable to redeem the credit, and the economy (in their case at least) grinds to a halt.
This is a serious problem in small networks, where there is significantly reduced variety of businesses available to trade with. It is a significant and recurring problem in such networks - often one or two categories are in high demand, and build up large positive balances, but have difficulty finding things they need to buy inside the netwok, while others are needy, but sell little, and carry large negative balances.
This condition can destroy a network's dynamism, and is a particular problem, of course, at the outset, when membership is small.
MC networks try various things to address this issue - one of which is asking members to list 'wants' as well as 'offers' to increase discovery of possible trades by members.
This information offers a further possibility - the automated discovery of trade possibilities, and beyond that, trading arcs (chains of trades) and even trading loops (full credit issuance and redemption cycles).
The ability to take members 'wants' and 'offers' and discover these potential trade connections is considered to be of high importance in developing the OCN network - and of value to such networks the world over.
### Proposition
Access the MongoDB used by the existing OCN trade software to discover trade arcs and trade loops. Provide reporting tools for admin use.
### Aim
For OCN Admin Team to be able to :

1. Access lists of potential trades that can be suggested to members
2. Analyse the wants and offers of a new member to see what sort of a fit they are for the network
3. Cross reference between Member trade sector and atomic wants/offers to enable suggestion of new wants/offers
4. Analysis of the network as a whole to identify:
5. missing/desirable trade sector members
6. members with poor trading possibilities
7. members with mismatched buying or selling possibilities (ie one strong, the other weak)
8. Offer (eventually) of a tool to members to help them craft their wants and offers 'on the fly' for maximum trading benefit.
## 3: On-boarding form flow change implementation
### Context
OCN offers two services on the platform - a Directory and a trade/accounting system.
The Directory is open to any UK business, but the trading service is for members only.
This gives us a slightly complex on-boarding UX/UI problem.
On the one hand, we want lots of businesses to sign up to the directory from the website, without feeling they have to become full trading members - but equally we want to make it easy and natural for them to move straight on to the next stage.
On the other hand, when we directly recruit a business, we need them to sign up to the Directory as well as enter the additional data and confirmations required for trading member status.
For our alpha launch, we chose to implement two separate forms - one for Directory membership, and a further one for trading membership.
This appears to have been a bad decision. Businesses we have convinced to join over the 'phone are complaining about the two-stage process, or simply stopping after the first stage is complete.
The alpha software is a Go application with business logic and UI all in one, talking to a MongoDB database. The forms are built with the bootstrap framework.
### Proposition
Re-design the on-boarding forms so that they 'flow'. We think this can be done as a three page form, each of which moves a member one step forward. They can stop at the end of each page and still have achieved something.
### Aim
An onboarding form on three pages, with a natural 'flow', but a breakpoint at the end of each page.
1. Subscription: email only collected - user will receive email newsletter and occasional messages - GDPR check box. 'Next' button leads to:
2. Directory Membership: basic business info, plus 'wants' and 'offers' - 'Next' button leads to:
3. Trading Membership: more business details, confirmation of acceptance of Member Agreement.
th form process currently generates a number of emails to members and to admins. These will need to be reviewed and implemented.
## Links

[Open Credit Network site](https://opencredit.network/)
[OCN Alpha software repo](https://github.com/ic3network/mccs-alpha/blob/master/README.md)