Placemakr is a venture-backed startup on a mission to change the future of hospitality and home

Placemakr

placemakr

Introduction In this article, we take a look at the fun process of implementing location search by address in an iOS app. If you’re developing an app with maps or location-related functionality, this guide will help you get specific coordinates based on the address the user enters in the search bar. 1. Import into your file import CoreLocation import MapKit What is the difference between CoreLocation and MapKit? CoreLocation is the processing of location data. It uses all available device components, including cellular equipment, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, barometer, and magnetometer. MapKit is all about visual operations such as map rendering, route directions, address finding, and user-friendly operations. Anyway, who wants to type in latitude instead of a readable address? 2. Properties that will be needed private lazy var completer = MKLocalSearchCompleter() private lazy var searchResults: [(title: String?, subtitle: String?, coordinate: CLLocationCoordinate2D?)] = [] private var searchCompletion: (([(title: String?, subtitle: String?, coordinate: CLLocationCoordinate2D?)]) -> Void)? private var userRegionCoordinate: CLLocationCoordinate2D? 3. Problem with geocodeAddressString from CLGeocoder At the beginning of development, I decided to use the geocodeAddressString method from CLGeocoder in the searchAddressesForText method. However, I ran into a certain problem. This method always returned only one address with coordinates, not providing a complete list of addresses to choose from. For example, in some countries, there may be many streets with the same name. If I passed such a string to the method, I received only one CLPlacemark representing a street in a random city. This limitation was not suitable for my application, so I needed to find an alternative solution. func searchAddressesForText(_ text: String, completion: @escaping ([String]) -> Void) {
        let region = CLCircularRegion(center: userRegionCoordinate, radius: 30000, identifier: "SearchRegion")
        
        let geocoder = CLGeocoder()
        geocoder.geocodeAddressString(text, in: region, completionHandler: { (placemarks, error) in
            var addresses: [String] = []
            if let placemarks = placemarks {
                for placemark in placemarks {
                    if let thoroughfare = placemark.thoroughfare, let subThoroughfare = placemark.subThoroughfare {
                        let address = "\(thoroughfare), \(subThoroughfare)"
                        addresses.append(address)
                    } else if let thoroughfare = placemark.thoroughfare {
                        let address = "\(thoroughfare)"
                        addresses.append(address)
                    }
                }
            }
            completion(addresses)
        })
    }
} 4. Using MKLocalSearchCompleter I later discovered that MKLocalSearchCompleter could solve this problem. It provides multiple addresses by closest match, allowing the user to select the correct address from the list. However, this solution has the disadvantage that it does not provide coordinates for each address. Instead, the user must select one of the addresses and then call the searchCoordinatesForAddress method to get the coordinates of the selected address. func searchAddressesForText(_ text: String,
                            completion: @escaping ([(title: String?,
                                                     subtitle: String?,
                                                     coordinate: CLLocationCoordinate2D?)]) -> Void) {
    completer.delegate = self
    completer.queryFragment = text
    
    if let userRegionCoordinate = self.userRegionCoordinate {
        let region = MKCoordinateRegion(center: userRegionCoordinate, latitudinalMeters: 5000, longitudinalMeters: 5000)
        completer.region = region
    }
    
    searchCompletion = completion
} To use MKLocalSearchCompleter, I have created an instance of MKLocalSearchCompleter and set up its delegate. I then set the search text and region to get the appropriate results. After updating the search results, I retrieve the address list and pass it to the completion unit for further processing or display. 5. MKLocalSearchCompleterDelegate To overcome the limitation of no coordinates for addresses obtained with MKLocalSearchCompleter, I used MKLocalSearchCompleter to get a list of addresses and then used MKLocalSearch to get the coordinates of the selected address. extension SomeViewController: MKLocalSearchCompleterDelegate {
    public func completerDidUpdateResults(_ completer: MKLocalSearchCompleter) {
        searchResults = completer.results.compactMap { result in
            let street = result.title
            let subtitle = result.subtitle
            let searchRequest = MKLocalSearch.Request(completion: result)
            let coordinate = searchRequest.region.center

            //If you want to exclude any result
            let isRelevant = number != "find near me"
            guard isRelevant else {
                return nil
            }
            return (title: street, subtitle: number, coordinate: coordinate)
        }
        searchCompletion?(searchResults)
    }
    
    public func completer(_ completer: MKLocalSearchCompleter, didFailWithError error: Error) {
        searchResults = []
        searchCompletion?(searchResults)
    }
} 6. Getting coordinates The user is given a list of addresses obtained with MKLocalSearchCompleter and can select one of them. When the user selects an address, I pass it to the searchCoordinatesForAddress method to retrieve the corresponding coordinates using MKLocalSearch. In this way, I combine the advantages of both approaches and get the full functionality of location search by address. func searchCoordinatesForAddress(_ address: [(title: String?, subtitle: String?)],
                                 completion: @escaping ([(title: String?,
                                                          subtitle: String?,
                                                          coordinate: CLLocationCoordinate2D?)]?) -> Void) {
    let searchRequest = MKLocalSearch.Request()
    let entireAddress = address.title + " " + address.subtitle
    searchRequest.naturalLanguageQuery = entireAddress
    
    let search = MKLocalSearch(request: searchRequest)
    search.start { response, error in
        if let response = response,
            let firstPlacemark = response.mapItems.first?.placemark {
            let coordinate = firstPlacemark.coordinate
            completion(title: address.title, subtitle: address.subtitle, coordinate: coordinate)
        } else {
            completion(nil)
        }
    }
} 7. Cancel the search if it is no longer required For example, if the user has typed an address and decides to close the screen immediately. Or when entering each new character into searchBar in method: func searchBar(_ searchBar: UISearchBar, textDidChange searchText: String) You must cancel the search with this method. func cancelSearchAddresses() {
     if completer.isSearching {
         completer.cancel()
     }
} Conclusion In this article, we looked at the process of implementing location search functionality by address in an iOS application. We found a problem using the geocodeAddressString method from CLGeocoder, which returns only one address, and a solution to this problem using MKLocalSearchCompleter, which provides multiple addresses but no coordinates. We also looked at a combined approach which allows us to get both a list of addresses and the corresponding coordinates of the selected address. I hope this guide was useful for you and helped you solve the problem of finding a location by address in your iOS app. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask. Also published . here

Integrating Address-Based Location Search in an IOS App: A Step-By-Step Guide

Surprisingly for myself, I realized that I have never implemented address autocompletion using only Apple technologies. Before, I had experience only with and even with the not-so-well-known European . I found it curious — to know how we can limit ourselves to using only SwiftUI and MapKit to solve a similar problem. Google Places SDK GeoDataHub MapKit Before starting let’s briefly describe MapKit — a powerful framework invented by Apple. : See documentation Display map or satellite imagery within your app, call out points of interest, and determine placemark information for map coordinates. The framework includes a bunch of useful things. I will list only what we are going to use: the Map itself ( for SwiftUI); — this model will allow showing a particular region on the map; — another model with coordinates and other data for showing on the map, and engine which we are going to use to get a list of completions from searchable address. To implement this we need to and where we can get results — possible addresses. MapView MKCoordinateRegion MKAnnotation MapMarker MKLocalSearch useMKLocalSearchCompleterDelegate MKLocalSearchCompleter Project Overview The completed task should look like this: We are not going to ask a user to get the current location of a device hence we will not touch configuration at all, I tried to simplify the project as much as possible. Let’s start with a couple of models. The goal is to see how many things we need to implement for this simple application. plist So the structure is the following, MVVM with two screens: Content and Map. Models Let’s start with a couple of models: and . Both should be conformed to protocol because we are going to use them in the collections. AddressResult Annotation Identifiable } struct AddressResult : Identifiable { let id = UUID () let title: String let subtitle: String }
} struct AnnotationItem : Identifiable { let id = UUID () let latitude: Double let longitude: Double var coordinate: CLLocationCoordinate2D { CLLocationCoordinate2D (latitude: latitude, longitude: longitude) model will be used in the list of results. collection we will set right in the Map component. But before dive in into this, let's set up our view models first. AddressResult AnnotationItem Content View Model Our iOS application is starting from because we are using SwiftUI, therefore, we need to prepare our first view model: . The will be observable because two things need to be published — the value from (searchable text) and results array of model. ContentView ContentViewModel ContentViewModel textfield AddressResult }() }
} class ContentViewModel : NSObject , ObservableObject { @Published private(set) var results: Array < AddressResult > = [] @Published var searchableText = "" private lazy var localSearchCompleter: MKLocalSearchCompleter = { let completer = MKLocalSearchCompleter () completer.delegate = self return completer func searchAddress ( _ searchableText : String ) { guard searchableText.isEmpty == false else { return } localSearchCompleter.queryFragment = searchableText Some of you can notice is not marked as . This is because this value is going to be bound. Also, as you can see, here is an . This completer will help to get results using . For that, we need to conform to the : searchableText private(set) initializedMKLocalSearchCompleter queryFragment MKLocalSearchCompleterDelegate }
        }
    } }
} extension ContentViewModel : MKLocalSearchCompleterDelegate { func completerDidUpdateResults ( _ completer : MKLocalSearchCompleter ) { Task { @MainActor in results = completer.results.map { AddressResult (title: $0 .title, subtitle: $0 .subtitle) func completer ( _ completer : MKLocalSearchCompleter , didFailWithError error : Error ) { print (error) We are not going to handle errors at this time, so let me skip this part, we can just print a message. The where results are set from the completer’s results. Since our results are published, so we need to the main thread to avoid this warning: methodcompleterDidUpdateResults [SwiftUI] Publishing changes from within view updates is not allowed, this will cause undefined behavior Map View Model The view models in this project are independent. We are going to observe them using . The is pretty simple: two published variables and one method: @StateObject MapViewModel )
                } }
        }
    }
} class MapViewModel : ObservableObject { @Published var region = MKCoordinateRegion () @Published private(set) var annotationItems: [ AnnotationItem ] = [] func getPlace ( from address : AddressResult ) { let request = MKLocalSearch . Request () let title = address.title let subTitle = address.subtitle request.naturalLanguageQuery = subTitle.contains(title) ? subTitle : title + ", " + subTitle Task { let response = try await MKLocalSearch (request: request).start() await MainActor .run { self .annotationItems = response.mapItems.map { AnnotationItem ( latitude: $0 .placemark.coordinate.latitude, longitude: $0 .placemark.coordinate.longitude self .region = response.boundingRegion Region value as will be bound with a view and collection will be used by the Map view itself. MKCoordinateRegion AnnotationItem The most interesting part is this method with the argument as . Briefly, this method converts our row address data into the coordinates using request! getPlace AddressResult MKLocalSearch Our address consists of a title and subtitle. In some cases, subtitle can contain the title, so we need to check first this part to prepare . Next, it is going to be a task with utility. From the response we need two things: collection and . From the first one, we will prepare collection. The second one will be a map region that encloses the returned search results. naturalLanguageQuery MKLocalSearch MapItem MKCoordinateRegion AnnotationItem Content View I really enjoy SwiftUI because you don’t need to spend so much time building user interfaces. It means you will spend really about 10 mins just to implement everything — 2 screens including a map. Our task is simple, we need to prepare just a with for query and a of results. Let’s take a look: NavigationView TextField List The first screen is when the app is just launched and the is immediately focused on appearing. Also, I couldn’t resist myself to add a clear button to the . So, let’s implement all these views. textfield TextField .padding()
                    .autocorrectionDisabled() .font(.title)
                    .onReceive( )
                    ) { } .overlay { .padding(.trailing) }
                    .onAppear { } .listRowBackground(backgroundColor)
                }
                .listStyle(.plain)
                .scrollContentBackground(.hidden)
            }
            .background(backgroundColor)
            .edgesIgnoringSafeArea(.bottom)
        }
    } } struct ContentView : View { @StateObject var viewModel: ContentViewModel @FocusState private var isFocusedTextField: Bool var body: some View { NavigationView { VStack (alignment: .leading, spacing: 0 ) { TextField ( "Type address" , text: $viewModel .searchableText) .focused( $isFocusedTextField ) viewModel. $searchableText .debounce( for: .seconds( 1 ), scheduler: DispatchQueue .main viewModel.searchAddress( $0 ) .background( Color . init (uiColor: .systemBackground)) ClearButton (text: $viewModel .searchableText) .padding(.top, 8 ) isFocusedTextField = true List ( self .viewModel.results) { address in AddressRow (address: address) var backgroundColor: Color = Color . init (uiColor: .systemGray6) I will not go through line by line because, in my opinion, this code is pretty simple. I just wanted to grab your attention on some parts. is used for focusing on appear. FocusState TextView On receiving value in , it’s needed to wait at least 1 second to get a searchable text except by querying each letter. TextView List view. I tested which works only in iOS16 — it helps to hide a content background. .scrollContentBackground(.hidden) Using in we can add our with bound searchable text (1. for checking if this text is not empty then the clear button will be rendered; 2. for clearing text from the component). overlay TextField ClearButton ClearButton } label: { }
                .foregroundColor(.secondary)
            } }
    }
} struct ClearButton : View { @Binding var text: String var body: some View { if text.isEmpty == false { HStack { Spacer () Button { text = "" Image (systemName: "multiply.circle.fill" ) .foregroundColor( Color (red: 0.7 , green: 0.7 , blue: 0.7 )) } else { EmptyView () The Address row is wrapped by with a destination in . NavigationLink MapView } label: { .font(.caption)
            }
        } }
} struct AddressRow : View { let address: AddressResult var body: some View { NavigationLink { MapView (address: address) VStack (alignment: .leading) { Text (address.title) Text (address.subtitle) .padding(.bottom, 2 ) Map View The second screen is a map itself and this view should show the correct location from the search result. It’s going to be only one view: Map View. As you remember method converts addresses into coordinates, so when the view appears we need to update the coordinates: region and annotation items. Eventually, in annotation content, we can prepare the . Map view configured with , , and arguments. When all data is ready in the view model, the Map view will be updated. As you can see argument applies a binding value. can be just identifiable with coordinate variable inside (latitude and longitude) — it’s used in item in closure. getPlace MapMarker coordinateRegion annotationItems annotationContent coordinateRegion annotationItems annotationContent } annotationItems: viewModel.annotationItems, }
        )
        .onAppear { }
        .edgesIgnoringSafeArea(.bottom)
    }
} struct MapView : View { @StateObject private var viewModel = MapViewModel () private let address: AddressResult init ( address : AddressResult ) { self .address = address var body: some View { Map ( coordinateRegion: $viewModel .region, annotationContent: { item in MapMarker (coordinate: item.coordinate) self .viewModel.getPlace(from: address) Btw, when you build the project you might see some SwiftUI warnings: which means you probably updated coordinates during view rendering. If you think that you did absolutely right, your states are updated from , so it can be an issue in Map inside. You can check about this issue by Donney Wals. Publishing changes from within view updates is not allowed…— onAppear this article Wrapping up Countless applications use Maps. But still few of them use a combination of SwiftUI and MapKit. I was curious to see what we can build if using only Apple technologies. How many lines of code are needed to implement this useful feature? Each year in WWDC you can notice that Apple engineers update MapKit rigorously adding new features especially if it comes to SwiftUI. I used only SwiftUI building Address with an autocompletion feature with Map because I truly believe that this framework is our closest future and UIKit soon will be secondary technology. Source Code GitHub: https://github.com/maxkalik/address-autocomplete-swiftui Don’t hesitate to follow me on . I appreciate any suggestions or comments regarding my research and articles. Want to Connect? Twitter Also Published Here

Address Autocompletion Using SwiftUI and MapKit

https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/2000/1*bhonbY4jHhFNGXzBkodmbw.png In my I talked about how you can quickly create a Siri Shortcut using NSUserActivity. NSUserActivity is great for scenarios where you want to open your app through . In more advanced scenario, where you want finer control over the Shortcuts experience it is recommended that you use . last post Shortcuts Intents In this post I will show you how you can get started with Intents and how you can setup intents definition file which serves as the blueprint for your Siri Shortcuts. What are Intents? Intents allows you to have finer control over Shortcuts. This means instead of Siri saying “ ” Your coffee has been ordered and it will arrive at a location Siri can say something more meaningful like “ ” Your cappuccino has been ordered and it will arrive at your office in 10 minutes Intents can also be used to create custom responses and even a custom user interface which will allow users to place their order without even opening the app. Don’t worry too much about custom user interface for intents for now, I will cover that in the next post. Defining your Intents: Intents are defined in an Intents definition file. Add a new file to your project and search for “intents” in the search bar. Select the “ ” as shown below: SiriKit Intent Definition File By default the Intents file is empty. Click on the “+” sign in the bottom which adds a new intent. Rename the intent to “ ” from its default name. OrderCoffee Intents definition file is divided into multiple sections. Let’s start with “ ” section at the top. This is where you define the name of your intent, description, category and the default image. Custom Intent Since, our app is responsible for ordering coffee that is why we selected the category as “ ”. The Confirmation checkmark is checked indicating that user confirmation is required in order to execute this intent. Order Next, we will setup the parameters for your intent. Parameters is the additional data you can pass to the intents. Parameters are also used by Siri when used with Siri Voice Shortcuts. We are using two parameters and . One important thing to notice is that the deliveryLocation is of type Location and not String. This means we can even use it to calculate the estimated time of arrival. coffeeName deliveryLocation You can also use your custom classes as Parameters. In those cases the Parameter type will be custom. Finally, we will set “ ”. Shortcut Types allows Siri to learn more about your Shortcut behaviors. Shortcut Types really depends on the app and should be defined in a way which makes sense. In our app we are defining two shortcut types so Siri can learn the behavior when coffee and location is available and also when the location is not available. Shortcut Types Go ahead and build your application. Behind the scenes Xcode will look at the Intents file and create a corresponding Swift class “ ”. In the next section we will learn how to donate our intents. OrderCoffeeIntent Donating Intents Finally, the time has come to donate our intents. We start by creating a placemark instance which represents, where the coffee needs to be delivered. This can be done by using the CLLocation and CLPlacemark classes as shown below: Next, we will create an instance of class, which was automatically generated by the Intents Definition File. OrderCoffeeIntent Finally, we will donate our intent using the INInteraction instance as shown below: That’s it! Next run the app and donate your intent. After you have donated the shortcut you should be able to see your donations under “ ” as shown below. Siri App Suggestions Nice! In the next post we will take our app to the next level by implementing a custom user interface for your shortcut. This will allow us to place an order for coffee without even opening the app. Mastering Siri Shortcuts for iOS If you have enjoyed this post and want to learn more about Siri Shortcuts then check out my 3+ hour Udemy course “ ”. The course goes into much more detail in how to create Siri Shortcuts using NSUserActivity, Intents, Custom Responses, Custom User Interface and much more. Mastering Siri Shortcuts in iOS _Streamline the things you do often with shortcuts_www.udemy.com Mastering Siri Shortcuts in iOS | Udemy

Getting Started with Siri Shortcuts in iOS 12 Using Intents

What Does It Take to Get a Medical Device to Market?

Chaos in Code: AI Assistants Clash in a Battle for Digital Supremacy

Scientific American, Volume XXXVI., No. 8, February 24, 1877 by Various, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . Something to Do. here Something to Do. It is an old trick of despots, and a good one, to employ their subjects. Why? To keep them out of mischief, Employed men are most contented. There is no conspiracy. Men do not sit down and coolly proceed to concoct iniquity so long as there is plenty of pleasant and profitable employment for body and mind. Work drives off discontent, provided there is compensation in proportion to the amount of labor performed. There must be a stimulant. God never intended a man should sweat without eating of the fruits of his labor—reaping a reward—more than he intended the idle man should revel in plenty and grow gouty on luxuries. Industry is a great peacemaker—a mind-your-own-business citizen. Something to do renders the despairing good-natured and hopeful—stops the cry of the hungry, and promotes all virtue. The best men are the most industrious; the most wealthy work the hardest. They always find something to do. Do you ever wonder that men of wealth do not "retire" and enjoy their substance? We know some young men look forward with anticipation to the time of "retiring." It is doubtful if a man should ever retire from business as long as he lives. We think we know men who, were they to abandon business, would be ruined, not pecuniarily, but mentally—their lives would be shortened. God never intended man's mind should become dormant. It is governed by fixed laws. Those laws are imperative in their exactions. Something to do! "Oh, if I had something to do!" There are young men who sigh for it, yet one thing they can do—that is, seek for a job. Once found, provided it is an honest one, do not hesitate to perform it, even if it does not pay as well as you expected. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Various (2006). Scientific American, Volume XXXVI., No. 8, February 24, 1877. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/19406/pg19406-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

Something to Do

CYNTHIA AT BAY.

Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . DOMESTIC DIPLOMACY. here CHAPTER XXXVI. DOMESTIC DIPLOMACY. The evening of the day on which Mr. Gibson had been to see the Squire, the three women were alone in the drawing-room, for Mr. Gibson had had a long round and was not as yet come in. They had had to wait dinner for him; and for some time after his return there was nothing done or said but what related to the necessary business of eating. Mr. Gibson was, perhaps, as well satisfied with his day's work as any of the four; for this visit to the Squire had been weighing on his mind ever since he had heard of the state of things between Roger and Cynthia. He did not like the having to go and tell of a love-affair so soon after he had declared his belief that no such thing existed; it was a confession of fallibility which is distasteful to most men. If the Squire had not been of so unsuspicious and simple a nature, he might have drawn his own conclusions from the apparent concealment of facts, and felt doubtful of Mr. Gibson's perfect honesty in the business; but being what he was, there was no danger of such unjust misapprehension. Still Mr. Gibson knew the hot hasty temper he had to deal with, and had expected more violence of language than he really encountered; and the last arrangement by which Cynthia, her mother, and Molly—who, as Mr. Gibson thought to himself, and smiled at the thought, was sure to be a peacemaker, and a sweetener of intercourse—were to go to the Hall and make acquaintance with the Squire, appeared like a great success to Mr. Gibson, for achieving which he took not a little credit to himself. Altogether, he was more cheerful and bland than he had been for many days; and when he came up into the drawing-room for a few minutes after dinner, before going out again to see his town patients, he whistled a little under his breath, as he stood with his back to the fire, looking at Cynthia, and thinking that he had not done her justice when describing her to the Squire. Now this soft, almost tuneless whistling, was to Mr. Gibson what purring is to a cat. He could no more have done it with an anxious case on his mind, or when he was annoyed by human folly, or when he was hungry, than he could have flown through the air. Molly knew all this by instinct, and was happy without being aware of it, as soon as she heard the low whistle which was no music after all. But Mrs. Gibson did not like this trick of her husband's; it was not refined she thought, not even "artistic;" if she could have called it by this fine word it would have compensated her for the want of refinement. To-night it was particularly irritating to her nerves; but since her conversation with Mr. Gibson about Cynthia's engagement, she had not felt herself in a sufficiently good position to complain. Mr. Gibson began,—"Well, Cynthia; I've seen the Squire to-day, and made a clean breast of it." Cynthia looked up quickly, questioning with her eyes; Molly stopped her netting to listen; no one spoke. "You're all to go there on Thursday to lunch; he asked you all, and I promised for you." Still no reply; natural, perhaps, but very flat. "You'll be glad of that, Cynthia, shan't you?" asked Mr. Gibson. "It may be a little formidable, but I hope it will be the beginning of a good understanding between you." "Thank you!" said she, with an effort. "But—but won't it make it public? I do so wish not to have it known, or talked about, not till he comes back or close upon the marriage." "I don't see how it should make it public," said Mr. Gibson. "My wife goes to lunch with my friend, and takes her daughters with her—there's nothing in that, is there?" "I am not sure that I shall go," put in Mrs. Gibson. She did not know why she said it, for she fully intended to go all the time; but having said it, she was bound to stick to it for a little while; and, with such a husband as hers, the hard necessity was sure to fall upon her of having to find a reason for her saying. Then it came, quick and sharp. "Why not?" said he, turning round upon her. "Oh, because—because I think he ought to have called on Cynthia first; I've that sort of sensitiveness I can't bear to think of her being slighted because she is poor." "Nonsense!" said Mr. Gibson. "I do assure you, no slight whatever was intended. He does not wish to speak about the engagement to any one—not even to Osborne—that's your wish, too, isn't it, Cynthia? Nor does he intend to mention it to any of you when you go there; but, naturally enough, he wants to make acquaintance with his future daughter-in-law. If he deviated so much from his usual course as to come calling here—" "I am sure I don't want him to come calling here," said Mrs. Gibson, interrupting. "He was not so very agreeable the only time he did come. But I am that sort of a character that I cannot put up with any neglect of persons I love, just because they are not smiled upon by fortune." She sighed a little ostentatiously as she ended her sentence. "Well, then, you won't go!" said Mr. Gibson, provoked, but not wishing to have a long discussion, especially as he felt his temper going. "Do you wish it, Cynthia?" said Mrs. Gibson, anxious for an excuse to yield. But her daughter was quite aware of this motive for the question, and replied quietly,—"Not particularly, mamma. I am quite willing to refuse the invitation." "It is already accepted," said Mr. Gibson, almost ready to vow that he would never again meddle in any affair in which women were concerned, which would effectually shut him out from all love-affairs for the future. He had been touched by the Squire's relenting, pleased with what he had thought would give others pleasure, and this was the end of it! "Oh, do go, Cynthia!" said Molly, pleading with her eyes as well as her words. "Do; I am sure you will like the Squire; and it is such a pretty place, and he'll be so much disappointed." "I should not like to give up my dignity," said Cynthia, demurely. "And you heard what mamma said!" It was very malicious of her. She fully intended to go, and was equally sure that her mother was already planning her dress for the occasion in her own mind. Mr. Gibson, however, who, surgeon though he was, had never learnt to anatomize a woman's heart, took it all literally, and was excessively angry both with Cynthia and her mother; so angry that he did not dare to trust himself to speak. He went quickly to the door, intending to leave the room; but his wife's voice arrested him; she said,— "My dear, do you wish me to go? if you do, I will put my own feelings on one side." "Of course I do!" he said, short and stern, and left the room. "Then I'll go!" said she, in the voice of a victim—those words were meant for him, but he hardly heard them. "And we'll have a fly from the 'George,' and get a livery-coat for Thomas, which I've long been wanting, only dear Mr. Gibson did not like it, but on an occasion like this I'm sure he won't mind; and Thomas shall go on the box, and—" "But, mamma, I've my feelings too," said Cynthia. "Nonsense, child! when all is so nicely arranged too." So they went on the day appointed. Mr. Gibson was aware of the change of plans, and that they were going after all; but he was so much annoyed by the manner in which his wife had received an invitation that appeared to him so much kinder than he had expected from his previous knowledge of the Squire, and his wishes on the subject of his sons' marriage, that Mrs. Gibson heard neither interest nor curiosity expressed by her husband as to the visit itself, or the reception they met with. Cynthia's indifference as to whether the invitation was accepted or not had displeased Mr. Gibson. He was not up to her ways with her mother, and did not understand how much of this said indifference had been assumed in order to countervent Mrs. Gibson's affectation and false sentiment. But for all his annoyance on the subject, he was, in fact, very curious to know how the visit had gone off, and took the first opportunity of being alone with Molly to question her about the lunch of the day before at Hamley Hall. "And so you went to Hamley yesterday after all?" "Yes; I thought you would have come. The Squire seemed quite to expect you." "I thought of going there at first; but I changed my mind like other people. I don't see why women are to have a monopoly of changeableness. Well! how did it go off? Pleasantly, I suppose, for both your mother and Cynthia were in high spirits last night." "Yes. The dear old Squire was in his best dress and on his best behaviour, and was so prettily attentive to Cynthia, and she looked so lovely, walking about with him, and listening to all his talk about the garden and farm. Mamma was tired, and stopped in-doors, so they got on very well, and saw a great deal of each other." "And my little girl trotted behind?" "Oh, yes. You know I was almost at home, and besides—of course—" Molly went very red, and left the sentence unfinished. "Do you think she's worthy of him?" asked her father, just as if she had completed her speech. "Of Roger, papa? oh, who is? But she is very sweet, and very, very charming." "Very charming if you will, but somehow I don't quite understand her. Why does she want all this secrecy? Why was she not more eager to go and pay her duty to Roger's father? She took it as coolly as if I'd asked her to go to church!" "I don't think she did take it coolly; I believe I don't quite understand her either, but I love her dearly all the same." "Umph; I like to understand people thoroughly, but I know it's not necessary to women. D'ye really think she's worthy of him?" "Oh, papa—" said Molly, and then she stopped; she wanted to speak in favour of Cynthia, but somehow she could form no reply that pleased her to this repeated inquiry. He did not seem much to care whether he got an answer or not, for he went on with his own thoughts, and the result was that he asked Molly if Cynthia had heard from Roger. "Yes; on Wednesday morning." "Did she show it to you? But of course not. Besides, I read the Squire's letter, which told all about him." Now Cynthia, rather to Molly's surprise, had told her that she might read the letter if she liked, and Molly had shrunk from availing herself of the permission, for Roger's sake. She thought that he would probably have poured out his heart to the one sole person, and that it was not fair to listen, as it were, to his confidences. "Was Osborne at home?" asked Mr. Gibson. "The Squire said he did not think he would have come back; but the young fellow is so uncertain—" "No, he was still from home." Then Molly blushed all over crimson, for it suddenly struck her that Osborne was probably with his wife—that mysterious wife, of whose existence she was cognizant, but of whom she knew so little, and of whom her father knew nothing. Mr. Gibson noticed the blush with anxiety. What did it mean? It was troublesome enough to find that one of the Squire's precious sons had fallen in love within the prohibited ranks; and what would not have to be said and done if anything fresh were to come out between Osborne and Molly? He spoke out at once to relieve himself of this new apprehension. "Molly, I was taken by surprise by this affair between Cynthia and Roger Hamley—if there's anything more on the tapis let me know at once, honestly and openly. I know it's an awkward question for you to reply to; but I wouldn't ask it unless I had good reasons." He took her hand as he spoke. She looked up at him with clear, truthful eyes, which filled with tears as she spoke. She did not know why the tears came; perhaps it was because she was not so strong as formerly. "If you mean that you're afraid that Osborne thinks of me as Roger thinks of Cynthia, papa, you are quite mistaken. Osborne and I are friends and nothing more, and never can be anything more. That's all I can tell you." "It's quite enough, little one. It's a great relief. I don't want to have my Molly carried off by any young man just yet; I should miss her sadly." He could not help saying this in the fulness of his heart just then, but he was surprised at the effect these few tender words produced. Molly threw her arms round his neck, and began to sob bitterly, her head lying on his shoulder. "There, there!" said he, patting her on the back, and leading her to the sofa, "that will do. I get quite enough of tears in the day, shed for real causes, not to want them at home, where, I hope, they are shed for no cause at all. There's nothing really the matter, is there, my dear?" he continued, holding her a little away from him that he might look in her face. She smiled at him through her tears; and he did not see the look of sadness which returned to her face after he had left her. "Nothing, dear, dear papa—nothing now. It is such a comfort to have you all to myself—it makes me happy." Mr. Gibson knew all implied in these words, and felt that there was no effectual help for the state of things which had arisen from his own act. It was better for them both that they should not speak out more fully. So he kissed her, and said,— "That's right, dear! I can leave you in comfort now, and indeed I've stayed too long already gossiping. Go out and have a walk—take Cynthia with you, if you like. I must be off. Good-by, little one." His commonplace words acted like an astringent on Molly's relaxed feelings. He intended that they should do so; it was the truest kindness to her; but he walked away from her with a sharp pang at his heart, which he stunned into numbness as soon as he could by throwing himself violently into the affairs and cares of others. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell (2003). Wives and Daughters. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/4274/pg4274-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

DOMESTIC DIPLOMACY.

The Basics of Developer Hierarchy First, let's delve into such a convoluted narrative. What sets a Junior apart from a Mid and a Senior developer? You need to understand that in the real world, there isn't a clear-cut demarcation because it varies significantly based on the company's perception. In one place, , while with the same set of skills, you could be considered a Mid elsewhere. And in a third setting, you might even qualify as a Senior. So, the best definition I've come across goes something like this: you might be a Junior 👶: A Junior is essentially a beginner in the field of development who can handle basic tasks. However, they often need assistance to complete a task entirely because they lack the experience. Juniors tend to tackle tasks to the best of their abilities but may not excel in optimization. Junior Developer 🧑‍🚀: A Mid-level developer is more independent and experienced. They can tackle tasks on their own, understanding the project's specificities, system architecture, and overall project structure. While not perfect, they can complete assigned tasks without external help. Mid-level Developer 👴: A Senior developer is the one with the most experience. They can start from scratch and execute a project to perfection. They grasp the project's specificities, choose the optimal technologies, manage team interactions effectively, and understand how to achieve the project's goals efficiently. It's the highest level of technical expertise. Senior Developer Here's an amusing definition as well: A Junior developer is one who has acquired basic knowledge and now feels invincible, believing they can implement anything. Then, as you gain a bit more experience to the Middle level, you realize there are things you don't understand. You lose that invincibility feeling. But, Seniors are in a constant state of realizing just how much they don't know, yet they don't fret because they have the experience to quickly figure things out. The distinctions between Junior, Mid, and Senior developers can be somewhat blurry and are subject to variation. It's essential to understand that these labels are relative and depend on the context and expectations of the company you work for. 🎯💼 Dealing with the Real World Let's get down to the nitty-gritty. In the developer's universe, there's more to it than just coding. Conflict Resolution & Communication🤝 In the real world, you're going to face conflict. It's unavoidable because developers, like any other humans, have different values, interests, and perceptions. But, as a Mid, it's your duty to learn how to navigate those rocky waters. You've got to be the peacemaker when conflicts arise, all while keeping the development ship sailing smoothly. Communication is another crucial skill in this game. Even if you're an introverted code wizard, you need to communicate effectively. If a problem crops up, don't keep mum – speak up and discuss it. Timely discussions prevent issues from blowing up later on. So, whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, communication is your ticket to success. More Essential Skills📚 For Mids, the path to success isn't all about coding. You need to start understanding business requirements and what the clients want. This helps you find more efficient solutions to problems. Being an independent thinker and a self-learner is also a must. You've got to keep up with new technologies, methodologies, and approaches. – knowing how to assess the time it takes to complete a task is crucial. You can't be a Mid without mastering this skill. Sharing knowledge with your team is vital, too. If you can explain complex concepts in a way a newbie developer can understand, you're golden. It's all about making the learning process smoother.📖 Mid-level developers should also hone their estimating skills The Mid's Transition🚀 As a Mid, you'll likely transition into more managerial roles. You'll be responsible for project management, delegating tasks effectively, and making sure your team communicates seamlessly. It's all about leveling up and passing on your wisdom to the newbies. In summary, being a Mid-level developer is like balancing on a tightrope. You've got to keep your technical skills sharp while diving into the world of business requirements, communication, and self-improvement. But remember, the more you learn, the more valuable you become to potential employers. So there you have it, the lowdown on the developer hierarchy. Whether you're just starting your coding journey or climbing the ladder, there's always something new to learn and always a new challenge around the corner. Embrace the journey, and keep coding!

Discover the Nuances of Junior, Mid, and Senior Developers in the Tech Industry

THE SWISS PEASANT.

Fanaticism nor devoured by the desire of vengeance

A DREAD PROPHECY

The Story Girl by L. M. Montgomery, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book here . THE MYSTERY OF GOLDEN MILESTONE CHAPTER VI. THE MYSTERY OF GOLDEN MILESTONE Paddy was smeared with medicated lard the next day, all of us assisting at the rite, although the Story Girl was high priestess. Then, out of regard for mats and cushions, he was kept in durance vile in the granary until he had licked his fur clean. This treatment being repeated every day for a week, Pat recovered his usual health and spirits, and our minds were set at rest to enjoy the next excitement—collecting for a school library fund. Our teacher thought it would be an excellent thing to have a library in connection with the school; and he suggested that each of the pupils should try to see how much money he or she could raise for the project during the month of June. We might earn it by honest toil, or gather it in by contributions levied on our friends. The result was a determined rivalry as to which pupil should collect the largest sum; and this rivalry was especially intense in our home coterie. Our relatives started us with a quarter apiece. For the rest, we knew we must depend on our own exertions. Peter was handicapped at the beginning by the fact that he had no family friend to finance him. “If my Aunt Jane’d been living she’d have given me something,” he remarked. “And if my father hadn’t run away he might have given me something too. But I’m going to do the best I can anyhow. Your Aunt Olivia says I can have the job of gathering the eggs, and I’m to have one egg out of every dozen to sell for myself.” Felicity made a similar bargain with her mother. The Story Girl and Cecily were each to be paid ten cents a week for washing dishes in their respective homes. Felix and Dan contracted to keep the gardens free from weeds. I caught brook trout in the westering valley of spruces and sold them for a cent apiece. Sara Ray was the only unhappy one among us. She could do nothing. She had no relatives in Carlisle except her mother, and her mother did not approve of the school library project, and would not give Sara a cent, or put her in any way of earning one. To Sara, this was humiliation indescribable. She felt herself an outcast and an alien to our busy little circle, where each member counted every day, with miserly delight, his slowly increasing hoard of small cash. “I’m just going to pray to God to send me some money,” she announced desperately at last. “I don’t believe that will do any good,” said Dan. “He gives lots of things, but he doesn’t give money, because people can earn that for themselves.” “I can’t,” said Sara, with passionate defiance. “I think He ought to take that into account.” “Don’t worry, dear,” said Cecily, who always poured balm. “If you can’t collect any money everybody will know it isn’t your fault.” “I won’t ever feel like reading a single book in the library if I can’t give something to it,” mourned Sara. Dan and the girls and I were sitting in a row on Aunt Olivia’s garden fence, watching Felix weed. Felix worked well, although he did not like weeding—“fat boys never do,” Felicity informed him. Felix pretended not to hear her, but I knew he did, because his ears grew red. Felix’s face never blushed, but his ears always gave him away. As for Felicity, she did not say things like that out of malice prepense. It never occurred to her that Felix did not like to be called fat. “I always feel so sorry for the poor weeds,” said the Story Girl dreamily. “It must be very hard to be rooted up.” “They shouldn’t grow in the wrong place,” said Felicity mercilessly. “When weeds go to heaven I suppose they will be flowers,” continued the Story Girl. “You do think such queer things,” said Felicity. “A rich man in Toronto has a floral clock in his garden,” I said. “It looks just like the face of a clock, and there are flowers in it that open at every hour, so that you can always tell the time.” “Oh, I wish we had one here,” exclaimed Cecily. “What would be the use of it?” asked the Story Girl a little disdainfully. “Nobody ever wants to know the time in a garden.” I slipped away at this point, suddenly remembering that it was time to take a dose of magic seed. I had bought it from Billy Robinson three days before in school. Billy had assured me that it would make me grow fast. I was beginning to feel secretly worried because I did not grow. I had overheard Aunt Janet say I was going to be short, like Uncle Alec. Now, I loved Uncle Alec, but I wanted to be taller than he was. So when Billy confided to me, under solemn promise of secrecy, that he had some “magic seed,” which would make boys grow, and would sell me a box of it for ten cents, I jumped at the offer. Billy was taller than any boy of his age in Carlisle, and he assured me it all came from taking magic seed. “I was a regular runt before I begun,” he said, “and look at me now. I got it from Peg Bowen. She’s a witch, you know. I wouldn’t go near her again for a bushel of magic seed. It was an awful experience. I haven’t much left, but I guess I’ve enough to do me till I’m as tall as I want to be. You must take a pinch of the seed every three hours, walking backward, and you must never tell a soul you’re taking it, or it won’t work. I wouldn’t spare any of it to any one but you.” I felt deeply grateful to Billy, and sorry that I had not liked him better. Somehow, nobody did like Billy Robinson over and above. But I vowed I WOULD like him in future. I paid him the ten cents cheerfully and took the magic seed as directed, measuring myself carefully every day by a mark on the hall door. I could not see any advance in growth yet, but then I had been taking it only three days. One day the Story Girl had an inspiration. “Let us go and ask the Awkward Man and Mr. Campbell for a contribution to the library fund,” she said. “I am sure no one else has asked them, because nobody in Carlisle is related to them. Let us all go, and if they give us anything we’ll divide it equally among us.” It was a daring proposition, for both Mr. Campbell and the Awkward Man were regarded as eccentric personages; and Mr. Campbell was supposed to detest children. But where the Story Girl led we would follow to the death. The next day being Saturday, we started out in the afternoon. We took a short cut to Golden Milestone, over a long, green, dewy land full of placid meadows, where sunshine had fallen asleep. At first all was not harmonious. Felicity was in an ill humour; she had wanted to wear her second best dress, but Aunt Janet had decreed that her school clothes were good enough to go “traipsing about in the dust.” Then the Story Girl arrived, arrayed not in any second best but in her very best dress and hat, which her father had sent her from Paris—a dress of soft, crimson silk, and a white leghorn hat encircled by flame-red poppies. Neither Felicity nor Cecily could have worn it; but it became the Story Girl perfectly. In it she was a thing of fire and laughter and glow, as if the singular charm of her temperament were visible and tangible in its vivid colouring and silken texture. “I shouldn’t think you’d put on your best clothes to go begging for the library in,” said Felicity cuttingly. “Aunt Olivia says that when you are going to have an important interview with a man you ought to look your very best,” said the Story Girl, giving her skirt a lustrous swirl and enjoying the effect. “Aunt Olivia spoils you,” said Felicity. “She doesn’t either, Felicity King! Aunt Olivia is just sweet. She kisses me good-night every night, and your mother NEVER kisses you.” “My mother doesn’t make kisses so common,” retorted Felicity. “But she gives us pie for dinner every day.” “So does Aunt Olivia.” “Yes, but look at the difference in the size of the pieces! And Aunt Olivia only gives you skim milk. My mother gives us cream.” “Aunt Olivia’s skim milk is as good as your mother’s cream,” cried the Story Girl hotly. “Oh, girls, don’t fight,” said Cecily, the peacemaker. “It’s such a nice day, and we’ll have a nice time if you don’t spoil it by fighting.” “We’re NOT fighting,” said Felicity. “And I like Aunt Olivia. But my mother is just as good as Aunt Olivia, there now!” “Of course she is. Aunt Janet is splendid,” agreed the Story Girl. They smiled at each other amicably. Felicity and the Story Girl were really quite fond of each other, under the queer surface friction that commonly resulted from their intercourse. “You said once you knew a story about the Awkward Man,” said Felix. “You might tell it to us.” “All right,” agreed the Story Girl. “The only trouble is, I don’t know the whole story. But I’ll tell you all I do know. I call it ‘The Mystery of the Golden Milestone.’” “Oh, I don’t believe that story is true,” said Felicity. “I believe Mrs. Griggs was just romancing. She DOES romance, mother says.” “Yes; but I don’t believe she could ever have thought of such a thing as this herself, so I believe it must be true,” said the Story Girl. “Anyway, this is the story, boys. You know the Awkward Man has lived alone ever since his mother died, ten years ago. Abel Griggs is his hired man, and he and his wife live in a little house down the Awkward Man’s lane. Mrs. Griggs makes his bread for him, and she cleans up his house now and then. She says he keeps it very neat. But till last fall there was one room she never saw. It was always locked—the west one, looking out over his garden. One day last fall the Awkward Man went to Summerside, and Mrs. Griggs scrubbed his kitchen. Then she went over the whole house and she tried the door of the west room. Mrs. Griggs is a VERY curious woman. Uncle Roger says all women have as much curiosity as is good for them, but Mrs. Griggs has more. She expected to find the door locked as usual. It was NOT locked. She opened it and went in. What do you suppose she found?” “Something like—like Bluebeard’s chamber?” suggested Felix in a scared tone. “Oh, no, NO! Nothing like THAT could happen in Prince Edward Island. But if there HAD been beautiful wives hanging up by their hair all round the walls I don’t believe Mrs. Griggs could have been much more astonished. The room had never been furnished in his mother’s time, but now it was ELEGANTLY furnished, though Mrs. Griggs says SHE doesn’t know when or how that furniture was brought there. She says she never saw a room like it in a country farmhouse. It was like a bed-room and sitting-room combined. The floor was covered with a carpet like green velvet. There were fine lace curtains at the windows and beautiful pictures on the walls. There was a little white bed, and a dressing-table, a bookcase full of books, a stand with a work basket on it, and a rocking-chair. There was a woman’s picture above the bookcase. Mrs. Griggs says she thinks it was a coloured photograph, but she didn’t know who it was. Anyway, it was a very pretty girl. But the most amazing thing of all was that A WOMAN’S DRESS was hanging over a chair by the table. Mrs. Griggs says it NEVER belonged to Jasper Dale’s mother, for she thought it a sin to wear anything but print and drugget; and this dress was of PALE BLUE silk. Besides that, there was a pair of blue satin slippers on the floor beside it—HIGH-HEELED slippers. And on the fly-leaves of the books the name ‘Alice’ was written. Now, there never was an Alice in the Dale connection and nobody ever heard of the Awkward Man having a sweetheart. There, isn’t that a lovely mystery?” “It’s a pretty queer yarn,” said Felix. “I wonder if it is true—and what it means.” “I intend to find out what it means,” said the Story Girl. “I am going to get acquainted with the Awkward Man sometime, and then I’ll find out his Alice-secret.” “I don’t see how you’ll ever get acquainted with him,” said Felicity. “He never goes anywhere except to church. He just stays home and reads books when he isn’t working. Mother says he is a perfect hermit.” “I’ll manage it somehow,” said the Story Girl—and we had no doubt that she would. “But I must wait until I’m a little older, for he wouldn’t tell the secret of the west room to a little girl. And I mustn’t wait till I’m TOO old, for he is frightened of grown-up girls, because he thinks they laugh at his awkwardness. I know I will like him. He has such a nice face, even if he is awkward. He looks like a man you could tell things to.” “Well, I’d like a man who could move around without falling over his own feet,” said Felicity. “And then the look of him! Uncle Roger says he is long, lank, lean, narrow, and contracted.” “Things always sound worse than they are when Uncle Roger says them,” said the Story Girl. “Uncle Edward says Jasper Dale is a very clever man and it’s a great pity he wasn’t able to finish his college course. He went to college two years, you know. Then his father died, and he stayed home with his mother because she was very delicate. I call him a hero. I wonder if it is true that he writes poetry. Mrs. Griggs says it is. She says she has seen him writing it in a brown book. She said she couldn’t get near enough to read it, but she knew it was poetry by the shape of it.” “Very likely. If that blue silk dress story is true, I’d believe ANYTHING of him,” said Felicity. We were near Golden Milestone now. The house was a big, weather-gray structure, overgrown with vines and climbing roses. Something about the three square windows in the second story gave it an appearance of winking at us in a friendly fashion through its vines—at least, so the Story Girl said; and, indeed, we could see it for ourselves after she had once pointed it out to us. We did not get into the house, however. We met the Awkward man in his yard, and he gave us a quarter apiece for our library. He did not seem awkward or shy; but then we were only children, and his foot was on his native heath. He was a tall, slender man, who did not look his forty years, so unwrinkled was his high, white forehead, so clear and lustrous his large, dark-blue eyes, so free from silver threads his rather long black hair. He had large hands and feet, and walked with a slight stoop. I am afraid we stared at him rather rudely while the Story Girl talked to him. But was not an Awkward Man, who was also a hermit and kept blue silk dresses in a locked room, and possibly wrote poetry, a legitimate object of curiosity? I leave it to you. When we got away we compared notes, and found that we all liked him—and this, although he had said little and had appeared somewhat glad to get rid of us. “He gave us the money like a gentleman,” said the Story Girl. “I felt he didn’t grudge it. And now for Mr. Campbell. It was on HIS account I put on my red silk. I don’t suppose the Awkward Man noticed it at all, but Mr. Campbell will, or I’m much mistaken.” About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. L. M. Montgomery (2004). The Story Girl. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/5342/pg5342-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org , located at https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html .

THE MYSTERY OF GOLDEN MILESTONE

A Tempest in the School Teapot

Regulators are increasingly recognizing the need for urgent control of cryptocurrencies in light of events, such as , the bankruptcy of , or the notorious . These incidents serve as reminders of the risks and vulnerabilities inherent in the crypto industry, prompting authorities to reassess their approach and consider implementing stricter measures to safeguard both investors and the financial system. It appears that the EU is now trying to take a giant step to unify global crypto regulations. the collapse of the crypto exchange FTX Celsius Terra Luna crisis Need for Regulation Regulatory bodies worldwide are turning their attention towards cryptocurrency, which emerged as a spontaneous and unregulated alternative to national currencies. While many countries have already implemented operational requirements for crypto markets, significant changes are still on the horizon. These forthcoming changes reflect the ongoing efforts to strike a balance between the innovative potential of cryptocurrencies and the need for a robust regulatory framework. The clear need for more effective regulations is apparent, but the challenge lies in controlling an asset that attracts individuals because of its ability to operate beyond the reach of governments. Finding the golden mean between regulation and preserving the appeal of decentralized control presents a significant dilemma for those in charge. The blockchain regulatory environment presents challenges globally, with contrasting events occurring in different regions. China enforces strict limitations, while El Salvador recognizes Bitcoin, and the Biden administration's SEC seeks to impose significant regulations. In contrast, the European Union is taking proactive steps to establish a balanced framework for the crypto market. This creates a complex and uncertain landscape for crypto and blockchain enthusiasts worldwide. Let’s figure out what is going on with the new blockchain rules from the EU. EU'S MiCA as the First Step Europe has boldly embraced cryptocurrency regulation by introducing the game-changing rules known as [Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markets_in_Crypto-Assets#:~:text=Markets%20in%20Crypto%2DAssets%20(MiCA,will%20become%20law%20in%202024.). This legislative milestone gained resounding support from lawmakers in the European Parliament in April. With the phased rollout starting in July 2024, Europe demonstrates its unwavering commitment to establishing a resilient regulatory framework for crypto assets. The future holds a more structured and secure landscape for the crypto industry on the continent. The recent adoption of MiCA rules in Europe represents a distinctive approach, as it establishes a unified set of strict regulations for companies operating with crypto assets throughout the bloc. Once implemented, digital asset service providers, including cryptocurrencies, will be required to comply with these rules. By adopting best practices from financial market regulations, MiCA aims to create clear rules for crypto-asset service providers and token issuers. These include custodial wallets, exchanges facilitating crypto-to-crypto or crypto-to-fiat transactions, crypto-trading platforms, as well as crypto-asset advisory firms and crypto-portfolio managers. MiCA encompasses three asset types: asset-referenced tokens (such as stablecoins backed by commodities or currencies), e-money tokens (backed by a single fiat currency), and other tokens, including utility tokens. NFTs will fall under MiCA's scope only if they share characteristics with the assets explicitly covered by the legislation. For instance, if an NFT resembles a utility token or a financial instrument, MiCA rules might apply. The law introduces a unified authorization system across the EU, enabling crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) authorized in their home country to offer services around the European Union. Unlike traditional national licenses, which restrict operations to specific countries, this legislation empowers regional Web3 businesses to operate in larger markets with fewer licenses. As per MiCA, it requires CASPs to meet new obligations, including having an EU office and resident director, implementing AML and data security measures, adhering to marketing regulations, preventing market abuse, handling complaints properly, acting professionally, as well as disclosing pricing and environmental impact information. In order to provide crypto asset services, including exchange-based services, a CASP must have a registered office in an EU member state and obtain authorization from the relevant local authority. Issuers of crypto assets, including stablecoins, are required to fulfill the white paper requirement, which involves submitting a document outlining the product characteristics and blockchain operations to EU regulators. Additionally, stablecoin issuers need to obtain a license before conducting their activities. What is the Potential MiCA? MiCA is set to usher in a new era of legal certainty for a wide range of crypto assets that currently lack comprehensive regulation under EU financial services law. Alongside its market integrity measures, this regulatory clarity is anticipated to create favorable conditions for developers, service providers, and investors, fostering a more secure and thriving crypto ecosystem. While the SEC in the U.S. is still scratching its head over crypto regulation and the U.K. tries to equate crypto with gambling, the European Union has decided to play peacemaker and establish a set of rules for multiple countries. While these rules represent a potentially positive step, it is crucial to find a footing that doesn't frighten away young enthusiasts and start-ups. It's like nurturing a delicate flower — too much regulation can hinder its growth and survival. It's important to create a supportive environment that encourages innovation and allows these budding ventures to flourish. Let's ensure that the regulatory framework doesn't become an obstacle, but rather a catalyst for the success of the next generation of crypto pioneers. Of course, we all agree that the crypto industry needs to clean up its act and bid farewell to wild personalities like Mr. Sam Bankman-Fried and Alex Mashinsky. It's time to rein in the wild west and bring a sense of order to this digital frontier. The EU's ambitious move towards unifying crypto may set a powerful precedent for other countries and regions. The true impact of MICA will only be revealed over time, allowing us to witness the unfolding of both the advantages and disadvantages of this vast and interconnected regulatory landscape. Sooner or later, we will gain a comprehensive understanding of the outcomes and consequences brought about by these ambitious regulations.

Stories, News & Mentions about PLACEMAKR

Placemakr’s Stories on HackerNoon