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@ DEG Mods
2025-01-02 23:44:03DEG Mods is using a new piece of technology, specifically a new communications protocol that's censorship-resistant called NOSTR, and as such, it uses a non-traditional means of creating an account, as well as how you sign into sites that uses such new tech, like DEG Mods.
Since this is new to most people, it can be somewhat daunting, scary, suspicious, as with anything new, especially something where the individual holds sole responsibility of what they created, as there would be nobody to help them, in the case of creating an account, retrieve their account if it gets lost or if it gets compromised.
We'll skip on explaining in proper detail what NOSTR is specifically, and go straight ahead and explain the direct process of how to create an account, and how to sign in.
How to create an account on DEG Mods
Creating a DEG Mods account is creating a NOSTR account, and that can be done in multiple ways, from using a browser extension, to using a mobile app, to generating it directly on the site.
For the purposes of this current guide, and for the current version of DEG Mods, we'll only be guiding you on how to create a DEG Mods/NOSTR account using a browser extension. With that said, there are currently multiple ones that has been developed for this specific purpose. Some with more features than others, or some with a better UI/UX. For now, we'll be recommending you to install one called Nostr Connect (Chrome / FireFox)
Once you have installed that extension on your preferred browser, make sure that you have the extension pinned on your browser (for easy access and use). To do that, you'd have to open the quick extension preview window on your browser (for example, on Chrome or Brave, that'd be the puzzle-piece icon) and then click the pin icon next to the extension you want to pin. In this case, that'd be the Nostr Connect extension.
Now, click on the Nostr Connect extension icon and then click the gear icon, which will open a new tab/page to start the account creation process.
It's pretty straight forward from there. Just click on the "Generate" button then the save button. This will generate for you a pair of keys/addresses. The shown one is your private key (think of it as your password) that starts with 'nsec', which you should keep safe somewhere (like on a password manager), because if you lose it then you won't be able to access your account, or if it gets leaked then everyone would be able to access your account, and we won't be able to help you retrieve your private key/address or reset it to something else. You are the sole responsible person for your account's security.
Once you're done, close that page then click on the extension icon again. It will now show you your public key/address (think of this as your user ID).
How to sign into DEG Mods
Once you have the DEG Mods site open, click the 'Login' button at the top right. A popup will appear with an option to login with an extension. Click that and another popup will appear (this is your extension being triggered) asking you to authorize the login. Tick the box to remember this action if you'd like (for convenience) and click authorize.
Done. You've now created an account and logged into the site. Now you can publish game mods, comment on posts/pages, react, and more.
Video guide
If you don't feel like reading, or rather, if you're more comfortable watching a video guide on how to do all of this, then here's that video.
Questions and answers
Is this safe?
As we did not create these browser extensions or mobile apps, we can't necessarily guarantee anything, however, until proven otherwise, the browser extensions or mobile apps we recommended here are safe. If you're a programmer, you can check their code directly to see if there's anything suspicious, as they are open source.
Why do you have such a complicated way to make an account?
We understand that this may seem complicated, but it isn't if you think about it.
What did you actually do? You installed a browser extension, generated an account (a key pair), and signed in with a click of a single button. Install, generate, login.
It seems complicated because its something you haven't done before and outside of what you're used it, but in reality, it's actually a lot simpler than traditional methods, which involves creating an email address, then creating an account on each site you want to visit. With this, it's a one time event and you can log into DEG Mods, or any other site or app that's built ontop of NOSTR, with that same account, which holds all of your profile data and posts.
Why don't you have a normal way to make an account on DEG Mods?
Since DEG Mods is a truly censorship-resistant mods site, building the site on NOSTR was the ideal choice to make, which resulted in giving you, the user, the mod creator, and the mod enjoyer, the power of controlling your content, your posts, your profile, your account. We can't ban you because you have a NOSTR account, nor can we take down your posts/pages.
If we had made it so that you can use the normal way of making an account, where you have an email and password combo, then we can do all of those ban things. We would have the power to censor you. You'd have zero power, and we didn't want that outcome.
What do you mean you can't help me restore my account or reset my password?
The account you created was, because of the tech being used, created on your device, and not on any server that we control. As such, we don't see or save your account data (we don't know your private key/address, and we shouldn't). You also cannot change the private key/address of your account, as there is no way to do so / this is how the tech was developed.
Will you maintain and update this guide as time move forwards?
Yes. Since its in our interest to have more users on DEG Mods, we'll be updating this post so that it'll continue being useful to new users.
Can't you make a browser extension or app specifically for DEG Mods?
While it is possible, and we are interested in doing so, as to keep it always up to date and add more features, have the best UI/UX possible, etc, it would require us to receive funds and allocate it for this specific development. So the answer to this question is: If we're successful enough to have the funds to develop it.
Why can't I log into DEG Mods on my mobile phone?
You would need a NOSTR mobile signer for that, and we'll also need to implement such a feature to tell the site that you have that app. It'll come with time, and I'd say sooner rather than later.