Unveiling the tea Protocol's Incentivized Testnet: A Gateway to Rewards for Open-Source Developers

Are you an open-source software developer yearning for recognition and rewards? The tea Protocol has a solution for you! With its upcoming Incentivized Testnet, tea is set to revolutionize how open-source contributors are acknowledged and compensated for their valuable work.

What is tea?

Tea is more than just a refreshing beverage; it's a decentralized technology protocol designed to reward open-source developers for their software contributions. Using blockchain technology, tea ensures the automated and near-instant distribution of digital tokens, including the protocol-supported token known as TEA.
The tea Protocol stands out by integrating with major package managers such as Homebrew, npm, and pkgx. It employs the Proof of Contribution algorithm, quantifying the impact of an OSS project across various systems, assigning a dynamic score (teaRank), and distributing rewards accordingly.
Even those obscure open-source projects buried deep in the tech stack can receive TEA tokens, marking a significant innovation for often-overlooked software contributions.

How does the tea Protocol work?

The tea Protocol's operation is seamlessly integrated into all major package managers, making it accessible for developers. Its algorithm, Proof of Contribution, accomplishes crucial tasks:

1. Quantifies Impact: Measures the impact of an OSS project across the open-source ecosystem.
2. Assigns teaRank: Dynamically scores a project based on its orientation and utilization over time.
3. Distributes Rewards: Allocates rewards according to a project's teaRank.

Supporting Open Source with TEA Tokens

Anyone can support an open-source project integrated with the tea Protocol by staking TEA tokens to the project. This not only allows contributors to earn rewards but also enhances the security of the software supply chain.

Introducing the tea Incentivized Testnet

The tea Protocol is reaching a pivotal milestone with the launch of its Incentivized Testnet. This test network, mirroring nearly all functionality of the upcoming Mainnet, invites developers, software users, and stakeholders to actively engage with tea. The goal is to learn the ins and outs of the protocol, earn virtual points, and contribute to the battle-hardening of the system.

How to Participate in the Incentivized Testnet

1. Onboard to the tea Protocol: Use the web application to seamlessly register and create a tea-native digital wallet linked to your GitHub login.
2. Register a Software Project: Spend less than five minutes registering existing software repositories from supported package managers. Upload and sign a "constitution" file to your project's repository.
3. Start Receiving Points: Projects registered with the tea Protocol start earning points based on their teaRank, reflecting their impact.
4. Stake Rewards: Stake 25% of the daily teaRank rewards to ensure continued rewards and incentivize project maintenance.
5. Monitor Project Performance: Keep an eye on your project's teaRank and rewards, which may fluctuate over time.
6. Receive Additional Rewards: As your project's teaRank increases, so does its share of daily teaRank rewards.

Key Features to Test

During the Incentivized Testnet, users can explore key features such as:

• Protocol Onboarding: Test the seamless onboarding process.
• Adding and Removing Contributors: Experiment with managing project contributors.
• Registering Software Projects: Try registering existing software projects with the tea Protocol.
• Receiving Test Tokens: Experience claiming test tokens through the teaRank rewards system.
• Staking Tokens: Experiment with staking testnet TEA tokens to software projects.
• Monitoring teaRank: Pay attention to a project's teaRank and test the Proof-of-Contribution algorithm.
• Testing Project Forking: Explore the process of forking (duplicating) software projects.
• Project Offboarding: Experiment with removing software projects from the tea network.

Incentives and Rewards in the Incentivized Testnet

Participants in the tea Incentivized Testnet can earn virtual, non-transferable points by completing various tasks. The incentive structure mirrors what is planned for tea's Mainnet.

Ways to Earn Rewards

1. Onboarding Software Projects: Earn points for onboarding impactful open-source projects to tea.
2. Maintaining Software Projects: Gain points and daily test token rewards for maintaining software on tea.
3. Staking Test Tokens: Participants staking tokens to support registered projects receive consistent testnet TEA token rewards.
4. Bug Identification: Be rewarded for identifying and reporting software errors in both the tea Protocol and registered projects.

Adopting the Incentivized Testnet: Consider the Risks

While the tea Incentivized Testnet is a groundbreaking opportunity, participants should be aware of certain risks:

1. tea-Native Wallet: Participants will receive a software-based embedded digital wallet.
2. Configuration File Requirement: Developers must include a configuration file in their project repositories.
3. Testnet Points and TEA Tokens: Points and testnet TEA tokens have no redeemable value during the testing period.
4. Token Slashing: Failure to comply with protocol rules may result in the slashing of staked testnet TEA tokens.

To minimize risks, participants are encouraged to thoroughly read documentation and actively engage with the tea community through channels like Twitter, Discord, or Telegram.
Embark on the journey with the tea Incentivized Testnet, and be part of the future where open-source contributions are duly recognized and rewarded!