Serve Web Frontends from Smart Contracts | Full On-Chain Web Hosting on ICP | Raymond Khalife
In this World Computer Tech Talk, Raymond Khalife, Director of Engineering at the DFINITY Foundation, explains how the Internet Computer enables developers to host web frontends directly from smart contracts.
Most blockchains only run backend logic on-chain, leaving their web frontends on centralized servers. This creates security risks and breaks true decentralization. The Internet Computer changes that. It allows you to serve complete web apps from the blockchain itself – ensuring end-to-end decentralization, verifiable security, and high performance.
Learn how HTTP gateways, certified data, and the asset canister make it possible to deliver fast, tamper-proof web experiences fully on-chain.
Key Topics Covered:
Why traditional dApps still rely on centralized frontends
How ICP serves web assets from canisters
The role of HTTP gateways in connecting browsers to blockchain apps
Certified data for integrity verification
Using the Asset Canister for efficient static web hosting
Real-world examples: OpenChat, ICP Ninja
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:08 - What Makes ICP Different
00:24 - The Problem with Centralized Frontends
00:48 - How ICP Serves Frontends from Smart Contracts
01:08 - Canisters and HTTP Interfaces Explained
02:00 - Role of HTTP Gateways
02:41 - Addressing Performance: Query Calls
03:04 - Certified Data for Security and Integrity
03:25 - Using the Asset Canister
03:47 - Real Examples: OpenChat and Other dApps
04:00 - Build and Deploy with ICP Ninja
04:12 - Join the World Computer Journey
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New to the Internet Computer?
ICP enables you to build anything without traditional IT and Big Tech. It hosts decentralized serverless compute that's simpler, immune to cyber attack, unstoppable, and controllable by DAOs. Create web3 social networks and media, socialfi, games, multi-chain dapps, Al, or an enterprise app. The internet is evolving.
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