Build a blog on blockchain and IPFS using xLog

Zero - Preface#
It's 2023, and I have given up on static blog generators like Hexo or dynamic blogs like WordPress and Typecho. The new blogging solution I found is xLog.

It is an application product based on the Crossbell blockchain. The underlying technology framework includes Ethereum, InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), and smart contracts specifically designed for social content creation.

One - Prepare a Wallet#
Most tutorials here use Metamask, and so do I. It has a browser plugin and a mobile app. We just need to download and install a browser plugin from its official website.

However, the official website can be 🪜, so you can go to the Microsoft Plugin Store to download it.

After installing this wallet management software, please follow the software instructions to create your first wallet. I won't elaborate on the process here; if you get confused during this process, it must be an issue with their software...

Two - Open xLog#
Open https://xlog.app/ and click connect.

Click the first MetaMask, select a wallet, and click next.

Three - Claim $CSB#
After logging in, you will see a "Insufficient balance" prompt in the upper right corner of the webpage.

Just as activities in real life require money, activities (transactions) on the blockchain require fees. The transaction fee on the Crossbell blockchain is $CSB. You might wonder why Web2 websites do not require fees for activities? The answer is that your "data privacy" has inadvertently been traded as an alternative fee.

A good piece of news is that $CSB can currently be claimed for free in small amounts. After clicking, we are redirected to the Faucet page. You can think of the faucet as "a foundation that helps users with insufficient balance." Currently, this faucet gives each new user 0.02 $CSB, which can be claimed again after it runs out.

We follow the instructions on the page, enter the address (you may need to send a tweet for verification), and claim $CSB.

Four - Create a Site#
Follow the program and fill in the next step mindlessly (it's very simple).

Five - Other Features#
Browse, interact with articles, follow authors, like, mint (turn articles into NFTs), comment, and follow authors.

Six - Data in Your Control#
Many "pseudo" decentralized applications still tightly control your data, but in the Crossbell ecosystem, your data is truly in your hands.

In the settings page, click on the Export data section, and you can export all user data with one click, including your blog posts, which can even be saved in Markdown format.

Seven - Conclusion#
Reference article: https://song.xlog.app/5m-zh Welcome everyone to join the big family of xLog and create together!

Eight - Beautification#
Fill in the custom CSS

@import url("https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/lxgw-wenkai-screen-webfont/1.7.0/lxgwwenkaiscreenr.css");

@font-face {
  font-family: 'Candyshop';
  src: url(https://ipfs.4everland.xyz/ipfs/bafkreiaztv4ex5zlllmz5jqkrc3uouggdwfy6rrenemtdf3erlbd6bmfwm);
  font-display: swap;
}

:root {
  --theme-color: #3a3836 !important;
  --font-fans: 'SF Compact Rounded', 'PingFang SC', 'Microsoft YaHei', Lato, sans-serif;
  --header-height: max(50vh, 450px);
  --grey-0: #fff;
  --grey-1: #fdfdfd;
  --grey-2: #f7f7f7;
  --grey-3: #eff2f3;
  --grey-4: #ccc;
  --grey-5: #999;
  --grey-6: #666;
  --grey-7: #333;
  --grey-8: #222;
  --grey-9: #000;
  --grey-1-a0: rgba(253, 253, 253, 0);
  --grey-1-a7: rgba(253, 253, 253, .7);
  --grey-1-a5: rgba(253, 253, 253, .5);
  --grey-1-a3: rgba(253, 253, 253, .3);
  --grey-9-a1: rgba(0, 0, 0, .1);
  --grey-9-a5: rgba(0, 0, 0, .5);
  --grey-2-a0: rgba(247, 247, 247, 0);
  --color-pink-light: #ffe6fa;
  --color-cyan-light: #e3fdf5;
  --color-red: #e9546b;
  --color-pink: #ed6ea0;
  --color-orange: #ec8c69;
  --color-yellow: #eab700;
  --color-green: #0a7426;
  --color-aqua: #3e999f;
  --color-blue: #38a1db;
  --color-purple: #9d5b8b;
  --color-grey: #869194;
  --color-red-a1: rgba(233, 84, 107, .1);
  --color-red-a3: rgba(233, 84, 107, .3);
  --color-pink-a3: rgba(237, 110, 160, .3);
  --color-pink-light-a3: rgba(255, 230, 250, .3);
  --color-pink-light-a5: rgba(255, 230, 250, .5);
  --color-pink-light-a7: rgba(255, 230, 250, .7);
  --body-bg-shadow: var(--grey-2);
  --box-bg-shadow: var(--grey-9-a1);
  --text-color: var(--grey-7);
  --header-text-color: var(--grey-0);
  cursor: url('https://img2.birdgg.me/iku-cursor.png') 0 0, auto;
}

html.dark {
  --grey-0: #222;
  --grey-1: #21252b;
  --grey-2: #363636;
  --grey-3: #444;
  --grey-4: #666;
  --grey-5: #aaa;
  --grey-6: #ccc;
  --grey-7: #ddd;
  --grey-8: #eee;
  --grey-9: #f7f7f7;
  --grey-1-a7: rgba(34, 34, 34, .7);
  --grey-1-a5: rgba(34, 34, 34, .5);
  --grey-1-a3: rgba(34, 34, 34, .3);
  --grey-1-a0: rgba(34, 34, 34, 0);
  --grey-9-a1: rgba(51, 51, 51, .1);
  --grey-2-a0: rgba(54, 54, 54, 0);
  --color-pink-light: #322d31;
  --color-cyan-light: #2d3230;
  --color-red: rgba(237, 118, 137, .9);
  --color-pink: rgba(241, 139, 179, .8);
  --color-orange: rgba(240, 163, 135, .8);
  --color-yellow: #ffe175;
  --color-green: #86c59d;
  --color-aqua: #97d3d6;
  --color-blue: #9cd0ed;
  --color-purple: #cfacc5;
  --color-grey: #c3c8ca;
  --body-bg-shadow: #000;
  --box-bg-shadow: #000;
  --text-color: var(--grey-5);
  --header-text-color: var(--grey-9);
}

.xlog-page {
  background: linear-gradient(to top, var(--body-bg-shadow) 0, var(--grey-1) 20%) no-repeat bottom;
}

.xlog-page .max-w-screen-md {
  max-width: 1000px;
}

.xlog-header {
  position: sticky;
  height: 400px;
  top: -360px;
  z-index: 1;
  border: none;
  background-color: var(--grey-1)
}

.xlog-header .flex.py-12.w-full {
  width: 80%;
  justify-content: center;
}

.xlog-header .xlog-banner {
  height: calc(100% - 40px)
}

.xlog-header .xlog-banner img[alt=banner] {
  width: 100%;
  max-width: unset;
  filter: blur(5px) brightness(75%)
}

@media (width > 1024px) {
  .xlog-page-index .xlog-header {
    height: 100vh;
    top: calc(40px - 100vh);
  }
}

.xlog-site-name {
  color: var(--theme-color);
  font-family: Candyshop;
  text-shadow: -1px -1px 0 #fff, 1px -1px 0 #fff, -1px 1px 0 #fff, 1px 1px 0 #fff, -1.414px 0 0 #fff, 1.414px 0 0 #fff, 0 -1.414px 0 #fff, 0 1.414px 0 #fff;
  font-size: 35px;
}

.xlog-page-index,
.xlog-page-post {
  font-family: "LXGW WenKai Screen R", sans-serif;
}

main {
  max-width: 1000px !important;
  background: linear-gradient(to top, var(--grey-0) 0, var(--grey-1) 20%) no-repeat top;
  box-shadow: 0 1.25rem 1rem 0.3125rem var(--body-bg-shadow);
  padding-bottom: 2rem;
}

.xlog-posts {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  justify-content: center;
  align-items: center;
}

.xlog-post:nth-child(odd) {
  flex-direction: row-reverse;
}

.xlog-posts>.xlog-post:nth-child(even) .xlog-post-cover {
  margin-right: auto;
  margin-left: 1.5rem;
  -webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0%, 100% 0%, 100% 100%, 8% 100%);
  clip-path: polygon(0 0%, 100% 0%, 100% 100%, 8% 100%);
  border-radius: 0 0.625rem 0.625rem 0;
}

.xlog-post {
  display: flex;
  width: calc(100% - 2rem);
  min-width: calc(100% - 2rem);
  border-radius: 0.5rem;
  box-shadow: 0 0.625rem 1.875rem -0.9375rem var(--box-bg-shadow);
  transition: all .2s ease-in-out 0s;
  height: 14rem;
  margin: 1rem;
  margin-top: 1rem !important;
  padding: 0;
  background-color: transparent;
}

.xlog-post:hover {
  box-shadow: 0 0 2rem var(--box-bg-shadow);
  background-color: transparent;
}

.xlog-post .xlog-post-cover {
  width: 50%;
  height: 100%;
  margin: 0;
  clip-path: polygon(0 0, 92% 0%, 100% 100%, 0% 100%);
}

.xlog-posts .xlog-post>.xlog-post-cover>span img {
  width: 100%;
  height: 14rem;
  transition: all .5s;
}

.xlog-post .xlog-post-cover img:hover {
  transform: scale(1.1) rotate(2deg)
}

.xlog-post>div:nth-of-type(1) {
  position: relative;
  width: 50%;
  height:100%;
  padding: 1rem;
  perspective: 62.5rem;
  justify-content: space-around;
}

.xlog-header .text-gray-500 {
  color: white !important;
  text-shadow: 0 0.2rem 0.3rem rgba(0, 0, 0, .5);
}

/* post */
.prose :not(pre)>code {
  color: var(--theme-color);
    border-radius: 0.3rem;
    border: 0.0625rem solid rgba(0,0,0,.1);
    background-color: var(--grey-0);
    padding: 0.2rem 0.3rem;
    overflow-wrap: break-word;
    word-wrap: break-word;
}
.prose blockquote {
  border-radius: 0.1875rem;
  padding: .625rem 1.25rem;
  border-left: 0.25rem solid var(--theme-color);
  font-size: 90%;
  background-color: var(--grey-2);
  margin: 1.25rem 0;
}

.prose ol {
  counter-reset: counter;
}

.prose li {
  list-style: none;
  position: relative;
}

.prose ol li:before {
  counter-increment: counter;
  content: counter(counter);
  position: absolute;
  width: 1.4em;
  height: 1.4em;
  border-radius: 50%;
  text-align: center;
  font-size: .8em;
  line-height: 1.4;
  top: 0.5em;
  left: -1.8em;
  background: var(--theme-color);
  color: rgba(var(--tw-colors-i-gray-100), 1);
  cursor: pointer;
}

.prose ul li:before {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  width: 0.4em;
  height: 0.4em;
  background: var(--theme-color);
  border-radius: 50%;
  top: 0.85em;
  left: -1em;
}

.prose .table-wrapper {
  border: none !important;
  border-radius: 0 !important;
}

.prose table {
  border-collapse: collapse;
  border-spacing: 0;
  font-size: .875em;
  margin: 0 0 1.25rem;
  width: 100%;
  overflow: auto;
}

.prose table tbody tr:nth-child(2n-1) {
  background: none !important;
}

.prose table th,
td {
  border: 0.0625rem solid var(--border-color);
  border-bottom: 0.1875rem solid var(--border-color);
  padding: 0.5rem;
  padding-bottom: 0.625rem;
  text-align: left;
  vertical-align: middle;
}

.prose table th {
  font-weight: 700;
  text-align: center;
}

.prose table td {
  border-bottom-width: 0.0625rem;
}

.spoiler {
  filter: blur(8px);
  transition: filter .5s;
}

.spoiler:hover {
  filter: blur(0px);
}

.dark .info {
  --note-border: rgba(85, 98, 132, 0.8);
  --note-bg: rgba(48, 49, 50, 0.8);
  --note-text: rgba(109, 164, 219, 0.8);
  --note-hover: rgba(39, 127, 214, 0.8);
}

.info {
  --note-border: #8fa4dc;
  --note-bg: #f1f9ff;
  --note-text: #1d4974;
  --note-hover: #1d5fa0;
}

.note {
  background: var(--note-bg, var(--grey-2));
  color: var(--grey-6);
  border-left: 0.25rem solid var(--note-border, var(--grey-4));
  font-size: .875em;
  --primary-color: var(--note-text);
  border-radius: 0.1875rem;
  margin: 1rem 0;
  padding: 1rem;
  position: relative;
  padding-left: 1rem;
}

.dark .error {
  --note-border: rgba(146, 107, 115, 0.8);
  --note-bg: rgba(50, 48, 48, 0.8);
  --note-text: rgba(239, 38, 79, 0.8);
  --note-hover: rgba(168, 49, 72, 0.8);
}

.error {
  --note-border: #f4b3c1;
  --note-bg: #fff2f5;
  --note-text: #cc0f35;
  --note-hover: #f14668;
}

.dark .success {
  --note-border: rgba(97, 116, 88, 0.8);
  --note-bg: rgba(50, 50, 48, 0.8);
  --note-text: rgba(128, 200, 129, 0.8);
  --note-hover: rgba(41, 95, 42, 0.8);
}

.success {
  --note-border: #a3c293;
  --note-bg: #fcfff5;
  --note-text: #2c662d;
  --note-hover: #3b883c;
}

/* phone */

@media (max-width: 767px) {
  .xlog-post {
    flex-direction: column-reverse !important;
    height: -webkit-fit-content;
    height: -moz-fit-content;
    height: fit-content;
    max-height: -webkit-fit-content;
    max-height: -moz-fit-content;
    max-height: fit-content;
  }

  .xlog-post .xlog-post-cover {
    width: 100%;
    height: 14rem;
    margin: auto;
    -webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 100% 0, 100% 92%, 0 100%);
    clip-path: polygon(0 0, 100% 0, 100% 92%, 0 100%);
    border-radius: 0.625rem 0.625rem 0 0;
  }

  .xlog-posts>.xlog-post:nth-child(even) .xlog-post-cover {
    width: 100%;
    margin: auto;
    -webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 100% 0, 100% 100%, 0 92%);
    clip-path: polygon(0 0, 100% 0, 100% 100%, 0 92%);
    border-radius: 0.625rem 0.625rem 0 0;
  }

  .xlog-post>div:nth-of-type(1) {
    width: 100%;
    padding: 10px;
  }

  main {
    max-width: 500px;
  }
}