Add year-in-review blog post by sadie

i2p2www/blog/2022/1/1/I2P-2021-in-Review.rst

+===============================================
+{% trans -%}Year in Review: 2021{%- endtrans %}
+===============================================
+
+.. meta::
+   :author: Sadie
+   :date: 2021-12-29
+   :category: general
+   :excerpt: {% trans %}I2P Turns 20, Faster Crypto and A Growing Network{% endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}
+Update details
+{%- endtrans %}
+============================================
+
+{% trans -%}Development Highlights{%- endtrans %}
+#################################################
+
+{% trans -%}
+The 0.9.49 release began the migration to the new, faster ECIES-X25519
+encryption for routers. It took many years of work on the specifications and
+protocols for new encryption, and this release, new installs and a very small
+percentage of existing installs (randomly selected at restart) began using the
+new encryption. This is the first time that the default encryption type has
+ever been changed, so the full migration would take place over several
+releases in order to minimize any issues.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}Full release notes{%- endtrans %}: https://geti2p.net/en/blog/post/2021/02/17/0.9.49-Release
+
+{% trans -%}
+0.9.50 enabled DNS over HTTPS for reseeding to protect users from passive DNS
+snooping. Additionally, work was done to protect the network from possible
+malicious and buggy routers, and numerous fixes and improvements for IPv6
+addresses, including new UPnP support were completed.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}Full release notes{%- endtrans %}: https://geti2p.net/en/blog/post/2021/05/17/0.9.50-Release
+
+{% trans -%}
+In recognition of almost 20 years of work to provide anonymity and security,
+the team decided to go straight from 0.9.50 to 1.5.0. The 1.5.0 release
+finished support for new build messages (proposal 157), and finished
+implementation of smaller tunnel build messages to reduce bandwidth. The
+transition of the network’s routers to X25519 encryption continued.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+
+{% trans -%}Full release notes{%- endtrans %}: https://geti2p.net/en/blog/post/2021/08/23/1.5.0-Release
+
+{% trans -%}
+The rollout of two major protocol updates reached completed in 1.6.1. Almost
+all routers will be rekeyed by the end of the year. Also, short tunnel build
+messages were enabled for a significant bandwidth reduction. Progress on the
+design of the new UDP transport SSU2 began, and is expected to start
+implementation early next year.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+
+{% trans -%}Full release notes{%- endtrans %}: https://geti2p.net/en/blog/post/2021/11/29/1.6.0-Release
+
+{% trans -%}Easier Installs: JPackage{%- endtrans %}
+****************************************************
+
+{% trans -%}
+With upwards of 30 steps required to install both the I2P software and Java,
+the process for new user onboarding has not been historically easy. Unfamiliar
+and unintuitive, it was a process that has created issues for usability for
+many years.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}
+However, in recent Java versions, a new option emerged that had the potential
+to solve this issue for the Java software. The tool is called “Jpackage” and
+would allow for the creation of a Jpackage powered I2P Router.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}
+We removed dozens of steps from the installation process by switching from an
+external JVM to a Jpackage, built standard packages for target operating systems,
+and signed them in a way the operating system would recognize to keep the user
+secure. Since then, the jpackage routers have reached a new milestone, they have
+recieved their first incremental updates. These updates will replace the JDK 16
+jpackage with an updated JDK 17 jpackage and provide fixes for some small bugs
+which we caught after the release.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}Improving I2P Adoption and Onboarding using Jpackage, I2P-Zero{%- endtrans %}: https://geti2p.net/en/blog/post/2021/09/15/i2p-jpackages
+{% trans -%}JPackages Get their First Update{%- endtrans %}: https://geti2p.net/en/blog/post/2021/11/2/i2p-jpackage-1.5.1
+
+{% trans -%}Bitcoin Core added Support for I2P{%- endtrans %}
+*************************************************************
+
+{% trans -%}
+Bitcoin-over-I2P nodes can now fully interact with the rest of the Bitcoin nodes,
+using the help of nodes that operate within both I2P and the clearnet.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}Read the full blog post{%- endtrans %}: https://geti2p.net/en/blog/post/2021/09/18/i2p-bitcoin
+
+{% trans -%}I2P Usability Lab{%- endtrans %}
+********************************************
+
+{% trans -%}
+This year, the I2P Usability Lab was created. The focus will be on user research,
+product development and tooling to support adoption. Additionally, better focus on
+localization efforts, protocol bridge building within the privacy community and
+sustainability considerations will be part of the ongoing effort to bring I2P to
+more people.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}New User Onboarding Research{%- endtrans %}
+*******************************************************
+
+{% trans -%}
+In 2020 the I2P UX team worked with Simply Secure on a usability sprint to assess
+user interaction with the I2P website. Many changes were applied, however, feedback
+has indicated that there are still issues with some aspects of new user onboarding.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}
+We have expanded our team thanks to the BASICS project (Building Analytical and
+Support Infrastructure for Critical Security tools), and not only revisiting the
+new user onboarding, but we are also expanding the scope to include onboarding for
+developers and researchers. The goal will be to present an improved information
+architecture.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}
+This year we focused on the massive overhaul of the new user onboarding for the
+download and browser configuration workflow and language. New wireframes for the
+I2P website have been created, and new information architecture put in place. This
+has been done in order to better support new users, maintainers, application 
+developers, I2P core contributors, and researchers. This work will continue into
+2022 as documentation is refined and the site changes are implemented.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}Read the full UX review here:{%- endtrans %} https://i2p.medium.com/i2p-ux-research-d2567aefd275
+
+{% trans -%}Forum on internet Freedom in Africa 2021{%- endtrans %}
+*******************************************************************
+
+{% trans -%}
+Working with our partners in Africa, the Invisible Internet Project was invited
+to participate in both a panel discussion, as well as work with a group of 
+journalists to explore what privacy and security mean to them. The goal for the
+outcome from this opportunity was to understand what establishes trust, the
+concept of privacy and what it means, and egin to evaluate I2P and its tooling
+through this lens.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}
+We saw that adoption results from efficiency, ease of use, and empowerment. All
+of these things result in a person not just wanting to use a privacy option, but to
+feel like they are actually taking control of their privacy. This is one of the
+most important aspects we have encountered during the past year when talking with
+new users: the emotional aspect of interacting with technology. Telling a person
+that something can technically provide a solution is one part of adoption. Providing
+a person with something that they can use with confidence is the other. 
+Meeting people where they are and asking about who they are ensures that we are
+creating for real needs and for the most people possible.
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}Read the entire blog post here{%- endtrans %}: https://i2p.medium.com/i2p-usability-lab-b2098bf27d4d
+
+{% trans -%}
+Thank you to everyone who contributes to building the Invisible Internet!
+{%- endtrans %}
+
+{% trans -%}
+This post originally appeared on Sadie's blog. https://i2p.medium.com/4b926a488919
+Copied with permission.
+{%- endtrans %}
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