I might take a little liberty here, after running across this:
(from https://blockstream.com/team/greg-maxwell )
I am going to submit that the idea to start introducing Bitcoin addresses that contain both the number 1 and lowercase l together, the majority of the time (71% by my calculation), is broken from a UX perspective. It is as fashionable as tomato soup on a dress shirt. At the risk of sounding redundant, this is a regression from Satoshi that will be observable to the majority of users who ever make use of a bitcoin address.
If I ever propose any sort of amendment to BIP 173, it will be to formally suggest the usage of the letter "b" in place of "l", either before this spec gets serious traction for Bitcoin. I would further specify that if not implemented in Bitcoin, it remains a proposed recommendation for alt coin implementers to enjoy a free gimme gift to help differentiate their coin as a superior UX experience that will be salient to even the most casual users.
Presumably, B could be said to look like an 8, and that's the only reason I can imagine that "b" is on the list of exclusions. But since the spec strongly encourages the usage of lowercase except where technical constraints dictate otherwise, it would seem like allowing "b" is a far better choice for a spec that clearly spells out visual dissimilarity as a valued attribute in the chosen character selection.
What does it take for me to formally propose fixing this and put my OCD-like energy to work improving this here?
(from https://blockstream.com/team/greg-maxwell )
Quote
For many in the Bitcoin community, Greg is likely the person telling you that your protocol is broken and why, but he usually feels pretty bad about it.
I am going to submit that the idea to start introducing Bitcoin addresses that contain both the number 1 and lowercase l together, the majority of the time (71% by my calculation), is broken from a UX perspective. It is as fashionable as tomato soup on a dress shirt. At the risk of sounding redundant, this is a regression from Satoshi that will be observable to the majority of users who ever make use of a bitcoin address.
If I ever propose any sort of amendment to BIP 173, it will be to formally suggest the usage of the letter "b" in place of "l", either before this spec gets serious traction for Bitcoin. I would further specify that if not implemented in Bitcoin, it remains a proposed recommendation for alt coin implementers to enjoy a free gimme gift to help differentiate their coin as a superior UX experience that will be salient to even the most casual users.
Presumably, B could be said to look like an 8, and that's the only reason I can imagine that "b" is on the list of exclusions. But since the spec strongly encourages the usage of lowercase except where technical constraints dictate otherwise, it would seem like allowing "b" is a far better choice for a spec that clearly spells out visual dissimilarity as a valued attribute in the chosen character selection.
What does it take for me to formally propose fixing this and put my OCD-like energy to work improving this here?