nOS is a virtual operating system that introduces a new, decentralized internet. On this new internet user data is safe, and it only goes where the user wants it to go. nOS solves key issues surrounding dApp development, deployment, discovery, and interaction, allowing for true adoption of decentralized applications and blockchain technology. Because applications can choose to make their back-ends fully open-source and transparent, this new implementation of the World Wide Web is defined as the Open Internet. On nOS, applications and websites can be deployed in a completely open and decentralized manner by integrating smart contracts, client-side code, and public-key cryptography. Unlike server-side backend code, smart contracts can be open for all to read, allowing users to review how their data will be transmitted before any final commitments to action. Client-side code and other frontend materials can be distributed via nOS Filesystem, a decentralized file sharing protocol that allows for secure and transparent distribution of static files. By serving both backend logic and frontend material in an open-source, decentralized manner, true transparency between user and application can be achieved. dApps that are deployed to nOS can be accessed through nOS Client, a software solution for desktop and mobile that (among other features) introduces nOS Browser. nOS Browser functions as a web browser, with the added benefit that it integrates with the nOS Protocol, a blockchain-powered web protocol that facilitates secure and open accessibility of nOS dApps. The nOS Protocol resolves domain names that exist on nOS Name Service, a blockchain-powered decentralized implementation of a Domain Name Service, and allows for dApps to register domain names which are discoverable on nOS (e.g. mydapp.neo or my-dapp.eth). The dApp Gateway is a user-friendly dApp discovery platform (or “App Store”) where rankings are decided in a completely decentralized manner via Decentralized Authority. In order to achieve the features such as the ones described above, nOS is powered by the nOS Utility Token. The nOS Utility Token employs various staking and reward utilities which are intended for developers who wish to deploy and maintain dApps on nOS, and for end-users who wish to practice governance by Decentralized Authority. nOS eliminates the need for end-users to manually exchange crypto-currencies in order to make use of various dApps. By integrating crypto-currency exchange APIs, nOS Client automatically converts primary blockchain platform currencies (e.g. NEO/GAS for NEO, ETH for Ethereum) into the required amount of application tokens that are needed to make specific transactions or invocations.
Stratis is a powerful and flexible Blockchain Development Platform designed for the needs of the real world financial services businesses and other organisations that want to develop, test and deploy apps on the blockchain. Stratis significantly simplifies the development process for creating Blockchain applications and accelerates the lifecycle for Blockchain development projects. Stratis private chain allows businesses to deploy their own customise blockchain without the costs of running their own blockchain network infrastructure. The vision of the Stratis platform is to become a one-stop shop for all blockchain things, mostly becoming a blockchain-as-a-service (BAAS) platform. Technology-wise, it is a clone of Bitcoin’s core code, with a few enhanced features and written in C# language instead of C++. The team is based in the United Kingdom but has a decentralized structure with members spreading across the world. Several people on their management team are well-versed in enterprise software development using .NET and C# – a positive sign considering those are the project’s two primary languages. Chris Trew, the founder and CEO, has over 10 years of experience in enterprise IT and was a volunteer developer for the Blitz project. Stratis is competing against other BaaS projects in an increasingly saturated but gigantic space. Lisk may be the largest direct competitor in offering sidechains for businesses. However, Lisk is written in Javascript (not C#) and has sidechains that are more publicly available. The decreased privacy may be a turnoff to corporations looking to keep their code proprietary. The company held an ICO in June 2016 and manage to raised 915 Bitcoin.