Use "free software" terminology consistently

[luke-jr]

Right now, there's a mix of open-source and free software.

I'm not sure this is a good solution as-is. Maybe we should use "open" for Bitcoin itself (protocols, etc), and "free software" when specifically talking about Bitcoin-Qt etc?

[saivann]

This one is too short. How about adding:

Once the payment has been received, it is a good practice not to reuse previous addresses for privacy and security reasons.

[saivann]

I'd say let's not change this one for now. I generally try to avoid using "miners" except when required because it does not translate well and refers too much to "money issuance", which is not relevant on this context. Fraud detection isn't only required for high-value transactions, and I think the "no PCI" subject should be treated seperately.

[saivann]

Actually, I think this one should be rewritten. How about:

Your Bitcoin wallet is what allows you to transact with other users. It gives you ownership of a Bitcoin balance and lets you send and receive bitcoins using different Bitcoin addresses for each new payments. Just like email, all wallets are interoperable with each other. Before you start with Bitcoin, be sure to read what you need to know first.

[saivann]

This one is hidden because the website is down since quite a while and maintaining the app seems to be their lowest priority. I'd say let's not change this one. I will simply drop it in a seperate commit.

[saivann]

Shouldn't it actually be "no web wallet service provides" ?

[saivann]

Not mentionning Bitcoin addresses makes the explanation incomplete. How about:

"From a user perspective, Bitcoin is nothing more than a mobile app or computer program that provides a personal wallet and allows a user to send and receive bitcoins using Bitcoin addresses. This is how Bitcoin works for most users."

[saivann]

A bit too long for the available space. However, if you just remove "their half of", it fits correctly.

[saivann]

The "no PCI" subject could be treated seperately.

[saivann]

Did you mean "Bitcoin programs"?

[saivann]

A bit too long for the available space, how about:

Bitcoin is designed to allow its users to send and receive payments with an acceptable level of privacy as well as any other form of money. However, Bitcoin is not anonymous and cannot offer the same level of privacy as cash. The use of Bitcoin leaves extensive public records. Various mechanisms exist to protect users' privacy, and more are in development. However, there is still work to be done before these features are used correctly by most Bitcoin users.

[saivann]

I think we shouldn't say "specifically" there. Some legislation could indirectly make Bitcoin illegal (not by name) and yet there doesn't seem to be such case so far.

[saivann]

Your version is better. Shouldn't we keep a mention about the requirement of a strong majority? How about:

The Bitcoin protocol itself cannot be modified without the cooperation of a strong majority its users, who choose what software they use.

[saivann]

An uppercase B is used in "Bitcoin mining" everywhere, but to me it seems that both a lowercase or uppercase b are possible (correct me if I'm wrong). So if this one needs to be fixed, it could be better to fix them all at once in a seperate commit.

[saivann]

I would prefer to stick to the language used by most Bitcoin clients here (6 confirmations and not 6 blocks).

[saivann]

A bit too long for the available space, just using "known as ASICs" instead of "known as Bitcoin mining ASICs" would do the trick.

[saivann]

With the new FAQ and getting started page, I think this one should be shortened. How about:

As a new user, you can <a href="#getting-started#">get started</a> with Bitcoin without understanding the technical details. Once you have installed a Bitcoin wallet on your computer or mobile phone, it will generate your first Bitcoin address and you can create more whenever you need one. You can disclose one of your addresses to your friends so that they can pay you or vice versa. In fact, this is pretty similar to how email works, except that Bitcoin addresses should only be used once.

[saivann]

I'd prefer to keep "Balances" here. "Coins" don't translate well and it lets people think they have a coin in their computer. It is more accurate for them to think their wallet just show balances.

[saivann]

Since you change this one, I would suggest to replace "shared public transaction log" by "shared public ledger". It seems the later is more used.

[saivann]

I think we should keep mentionning addresses here. Also perhaps we should be more specific and say "is usually confirmed by the network in the following ten minutes on average" rather than "in the following hour".

[saivann]

This page is being rewritten, I will include your changes in the new version. Meanwhile, it's better not to ask translators to uselessly re-translate these strings if they are going to change a few weeks afterwhile.

[saivann]

This page is being rewritten, I will include your changes in the new version. Meanwhile, it's better not to ask translators to uselessly re-translate these strings if they are going to change a few weeks afterwhile.

[saivann]

This page is being rewritten, I will include your changes in the new version. Meanwhile, it's better not to ask translators to uselessly re-translate these strings if they are going to change a few weeks afterwhile.

[saivann]

This advice is out of reach for many users. I suggest taking the best parts of both texts:

Any password that contains only letters or recognizable words can be considered very weak and easy to break. A strong password must contain letters, numbers, punctuation marks and must be at least 16 characters long. The most secure passwords are those generated by programs designed specifically for that purpose. Strong passwords are usually harder to remember, so you should take care in memorising it.

[saivann]

Little typo here I think. Similar to a physical address.

[saivann]

This one should be split in two paragraphs. I can take care of this once everything else is fixed.

[saivann]

I think we should not use the word block without explanation. How about:

A confirmation means that a transaction has been <b>processed by the network and is highly unlikely to be reversed</b>. Transactions receive a confirmation when they are included in a <a href=\"#vocabulary##[vocabulary.block]\">block</a> and for each subsequent block. Even a single confirmation can be considered secure for low value transactions, although for larger amounts like 1000 US$, it makes sense to wait for 6 confirmations or more. Each confirmation <i>exponentially</i> decreases the risk of a reversed transaction.

[saivann]

I think we should actually remove insistance on Bitcoin address but still mention them otherwise the text isn't very clear. How about:

A private key is a <b>secret piece of data that proves your right to spend bitcoins</b> with a specific Bitcoin <a href=\"#[vocabulary.address]\">address</a> by using a cryptographic <a href=\"#[vocabulary.signature]\">signature</a. Your private keys are stored in your wallet on your computer, unless you are using a web wallet service to host your wallet online. Private keys is not something designed to interact with users and most users shouldn't be aware of them. Private keys should never be revealed as they allow you to spend bitcoins.

[saivann]

I think we shouldn't change this one.

[saivann]

I'd say let's replace "coins" by "bitcoins" in this one, easier to translate and more consistent with the rest of the website.

[saivann]

This page is being rewritten with the "Protect your privacy" page, I will include your changes in the new version. Meanwhile, it's better not to ask translators to uselessly re-translate these strings when they are going to change a few weeks afterwhile.

[saivann]

I would prefer to stick to the language used by most Bitcoin clients here (6 confirmations and not 6 blocks).

[saivann]

I think that your proposition makes sense.

Though when it's unclear if we speak about the protocol or the software, I would use open-source by default. In most cases, the argument is that it's open (and auditable) and I think we should be careful with the word "free" (people shouldn't be left thinking that Bitcoin has anything to do with "free money" as in "free beer").

I just pushed a commit to fix this, please re-open the issue if you see anything else you think is worth additional changes.