Blockcast.cc: What has given you the most pleasure during your lengthy career and why?
Phil: The reason I have stuck to this career for so long, and stayed with OCI so long, is that I was able to fulfill the adage, “do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I found early on that creating software was a form of problem-solving, but more than that it was also an art form. What gave me the most pleasure was the feeling of satisfaction that I cracked a difficult challenge and the solution is elegant.
Blockcast.cc: I did hear that the complete Gaimin team flew out to St. Louis for a few days to discuss their project with you and to brainstorm with your team. What was your first impression of the Gaimin team?
Phil: They were an impressive lot! By the time they arrived in St. Louis, they had already scoped out a majority of the project details. I along with a few colleagues worked through the issues posed by the EOS smart contract infrastructure which they were able to grasp easily. I came away from that session eager to continue working with them.
Blockcast.cc: What’s your view on the synergy between gaming and the blockchain and where do you see this leading?
Phil: Gaming on the blockchain to date has mostly meant gambling. Morality aside, I think this is a natural fit as the blockchain will immutably record every bet, roll of the dice, hand of cards, etc. However, for non-gambling games I think the relationship is a little less clear. Gaimin’s concept was not so much a direct linkage between the gameplay, rather they provide a marketplace for trading in-game assets. I am not much of a game player these days so I’m afraid I don’t have much of an opinion on the direction on blockchain and gaming.
Blockcast.cc: The open-source community is a hub of collaboration. What do you see as Block.one’s contribution?
Phil: I have participated in the development of open-source software for many years. For infrastructure, it is a natural fit. By contributing EOSIO framework code to the community at large, Block.one has taken a huge step towards realizing the goal of deploying 100’s or 1000’s of blockchains all with specialized purposes but all based on their foundation. Even if the EOS mainnet fades in significance, already many forked chains have been deployed and many more are on the way.
Blockcast.cc: There are a lot of “shiny new objects” in the world of Crypto and Blockchain. Many have been hyped to hell and short-lived. Using your crystal ball, where do you think BSV and its cheerleader Craig Wright might sit on the continuum?
Phil: Prior to this question I had no knowledge of BSV, and I only know of Mr. Wright’s assertion that he really was Satoshi. However, a quick google search appears to indicate this assertion is false and therefore BSV will likely end up on the flash-in-the-pan pile.
Blockcast.cc: Here at Gaimin, we made the choice of EOS given that we anticipate an incredibly large onboarding of gamers in a very short space of time. Do you see that as a solid strategy?
Phil: Sure! As I said a couple of questions ago, Block.one’s decision to make the EOSIO software available at no cost to anyone who wants it, means that Gaimin has the option of launching on the EOS mainnet, or of building their own network perhaps with specializations to consensus, governance, tokens, and other attributes.
Blockcast.cc: On a lighter note, we would like to get to know you a little better. Are you doing this for the love of it, or for the money?? If you had to pick one of …. why you do this, would it be a) love b) money c) compulsion because you can’t help yourself?
Phil: I don’t see those as exclusive choices. As I hope I have communicated, I have always had a passion for software development but the money is nice. I never made stupid money as many in this space have, but I have been fortunate to make enough to provide for my family and to live comfortably if moderately.
Blockcast.cc: Would you like to share a quote with our audience that has inspired you?
Phil: “All things are possible, except skiing through a revolving door.” – Woody Allen. When I was young I had a poster full of ironic little quips including this one. All the rest have faded from memory though. To me, this quote implores one to think big, “All things are possible!” but remember to stay grounded and check your work.
Blockcast.cc: Thank you for your time Phil! We wish you well in the coming months and years and look forward to hearing about the impact your children are having on the world. Thank you once again!
Original Source: https://blockcast.cc/interviews/exclusive-interview-with-phil-mesnier-principal-engineer-at-oci-on-driving-forwards-with-the-occasional-glimpse-in-the-rear-view-mirror/
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