Open Source Sidechain Launcher Toolkit

[GENERAL] Name and Surname of Main Applicant

Lloyd Duhon

[GENERAL] Email address of Main Applicant

lloydduhon@gmail.com

Additional Applicants

Paul Spata

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

6

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language.

No

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.” in this field.

Our project relies on the open source node and sidechain toolkit from IOG, as well as the Cosmos SDK. As both of these projects and communities are open source, there is no foreseeable blockage that will occur in utilizing these dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project outputs be fully Open Source?

Yes

[GENERAL] If NO, please describe which outputs are not going to be open source. If YES, please write “Project will be fully open source.” in this field.

Project will be fully open source.

[METADATA] Category of Proposal

Dev Tools, API or Library

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

This project proposes to develop a set of Terraform scripts that will launch all of the necessary tooling and assets to launch a sidechain built on either the Cardano Node or Cosmos Node, with selectable consensus mechanisms and parameters. The project will also adapt the current IOHK released side chain smart contract to be able to launch on PreProd and/or MainNet according to the configuration of the above Terraform Scripts and link Cardano <> sidechain. Finally, the project will create a discovery tool that allows existing Cardano Stake Pool Operators to select and launch validator nodes for sidechains.

Project Goals:

The goals of this project are to:

• Provide a simple and easy-to-use way to launch sidechains on Cardano
• Increase the interoperability of Cardano with other blockchains
• Make it easier for developers to build dApps that can run on both Cardano and other blockchains
• Promote the adoption of Cardano by businesses and organizations

Project Benefits:

The benefits of this project include:

• Increased scalability and throughput for Cardano
• Improved security and privacy for Cardano users
• Increased flexibility and customization for Cardano dApp developers
• Enhanced interoperability with other blockchains
• Increased adoption of Cardano by businesses and organizations

Project Timeline:

The project is expected to be completed within 6 months.

Project Budget:

The total budget for the project is 247500. This budget will be used to cover the costs of development, testing, and deployment.

[IMPACT] How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?

We address the challenge setting in several ways: Node Software, Scalability Solutions, Technical Standards, and Blockchain Interoperability. 

• Node Software: The proposed Terraform scripts and the discovery tool for Cardano Stake Pool Operators will significantly streamline and enhance the processes involved in operating and managing sidechain nodes on the Cardano network. We reduce the technical barriers and complexities typically associated with these tasks by making launching sidechains and managing validator nodes easier and more efficient. The proposed Terraform scripts and the discovery tool facilitate a smoother operational workflow for node operators and encourage greater participation within the Cardano network.

• Scalability Solutions: Introducing selectable sidechains contributes directly to the scalability of the Cardano network. By processing transactions on sidechains, the main Cardano chain can handle a larger volume of transactions without compromising its speed or performance. This increased scalability is critical to ensuring that Cardano can continue to grow and accommodate an expanding user base, thereby enhancing its utility and attractiveness as a blockchain solution.

• Technical Standards: The development of the Terraform scripts, coupled with the adaptation of the IOHK-released sidechain smart contract, introduces new methodologies and technical standards to the Cardano ecosystem. These standards guide future projects and initiatives, ensuring consistency and quality in the development efforts within the Cardano community.

• Blockchain Interoperability: Our project promotes interoperability between blockchains by creating sidechains that can be built on either the Cardano Node or Cosmos Node. This interoperability allows developers and businesses to integrate and interact with various blockchain platforms easily, thus enhancing the overall utility of Cardano. This level of interoperability can help Cardano achieve broader adoption and acceptance, which in turn can help to grow and enrich the Cardano ecosystem.

Our project addresses critical challenges and contributes numerous benefits to the Cardano ecosystem. Our solution bolsters Cardano's robustness and growth potential by increasing scalability, promoting interoperability, and establishing new technical standards.

[IMPACT] How do you intend to measure the success of your project?

Our project will be a success when the terraform scripts can be used to launch a sidechain and the requisite smart contract on the Cardano Preprod Network. 

[IMPACT] Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?

The outputs of this project will be in a Github repository. Explainer videos will be uploaded to YouTube.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?

The team members are developers and network engineers with extensive real world expertise in deploying and maintaining scalable solutions. We have delivered the Urban Farmer dApp Proof of Concept in Fund 8. Our team members also have roles in other companies within the space, including DripDropz, & Adosia. Team members are highly active in the Catalyst community and are fully publicly available. We have strong relationships with the best and brightest within the Cardano ecosystem. We have a proven track record of working with IOG and the community on many projects. We are well suited to bring this project to completion.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

The main goals are to build an approachable, replicable format for launching a full sidechain for the Cardano Network, and to make it easy for validators to create a node to help validate the Sidechain. We will work with the community of Stake Pool Operators to receive feedback on ways to make discovering, launching, and maintaining a validator node a worthwhile endeavor for the operators.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed breakdown of your project’s milestones and each of the main tasks or activities to reach the milestone plus the expected timeline for the delivery.

Milestone 1:

• Complete the research and planning phase of the project. This includes:
• Conducting a thorough technical analysis of the Cardano blockchain and sidechains
• Identifying the necessary tooling and assets that need to be developed
• Developing a detailed project plan

Milestone 2:

Develop the Terraform scripts that will launch the sidechain tooling and assets. This includes:

• Creating the Terraform modules that will be used to deploy the tooling and assets
• Testing the Terraform scripts to ensure that they work as expected

Milestone 3:

Adapt the current IOHK released side chain smart contract to be able to launch on Preprod or MainNet according to the configuration of the above Terraform Scripts and link mainnet <> sidechain. This includes:

• Making the necessary changes to the smart contract code
• Testing the smart contract to ensure that it works as expected

Milestone 4:

Create the discovery tool that allows existing Cardano Stake Pool Operators to select and launch validator nodes for sidechains. This includes:

• Designing the user interface for the discovery tool
• Developing the backend logic for the discovery tool
• Testing the discovery tool to ensure that it works as expected

Milestone 5:

Deploy the sidechain tooling and assets to Preprod. This includes:

• Configuring the Terraform scripts to deploy the tooling and assets to production
• Testing the tooling and assets in preprod to ensure that they work as expected

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.

Milestone 1: Creation of Github Repository and explainer video for the Project Plan

Milestone 2: Terraform Scripts added to Github Repository.

Milestone 3: Modified Fork of Cardano Sidechain Toolkit added to Github repository

Milestone 4: POC Discovery website to select and launch a validator

Milestone 5: Deploy a sidechain and validator node, and the Smart Contract on Preprod.

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

This project makes use of our UX design resources, media team, engineering resources, and management resources. The Lead developer will work full time for 6 months on this project. The Manager and Systems Engineer will work part time, as will the UX designer. Full time pay is set at $5000 per month, at $0.25 ADA price. The end result will be an open source tool that allows developers to choose a sidechain configuration for their dApp, and assist them in locating validators for their sidechain dApp.

Milestone 1:

Lead Developer: 24000 ADA

UX Design: 20000 ADA

Systems Engineer: 12000 ADA

Management: 2000 ADA

Milestone 2:

Lead Developer: 24000 ADA

Systems Engineer: 12000 ADA

Management: 2000 ADA

Milestone 3:

Lead Developer: 24000 ADA

Systems Engineer: 12000 ADA

Management: 2000 ADA

Milestone 4:

Lead Developer: 24000 ADA

UX Design: 20000 ADA

Systems Engineer: 12000 ADA

Management: 2000 ADA

Final Milestone:

Lead Developer: 24000 ADA

Systems Engineer: 12000 ADA

Management: 2000 ADA

Administrative Overhead for Catalyst Fund Reporting Administration: 17500 ADA

Total Budget: 247500 ADA

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

This project has the potential to significantly increase the scalability, interoperability, and flexibility of Cardano. The project team has the experience and expertise necessary to deliver a successful project. The project is well-defined and has a clear timeline and budget. The project has identified and mitigated the risks associated with the project.

We believe that this project is a valuable investment in the future of Cardano. We are confident that the project team will deliver a successful project that will benefit the Cardano community.

The following are some of the specific benefits that the project can deliver:

• Increased scalability: Sidechains can be used to offload traffic from the main Cardano blockchain, which could significantly increase the scalability of Cardano.
• Enhanced interoperability: Sidechains can be used to connect Cardano to other blockchains, which could enhance the interoperability of Cardano and make it easier for developers to build dApps that can run on multiple blockchains.
• Increased flexibility: Sidechains can be customized to meet the specific needs of different users and applications, which could increase the flexibility of Cardano and make it more attractive to a wider range of users.
• Increased adoption: The development of sidechain tooling and assets could make it easier for developers to build dApps on Cardano, which could lead to increased adoption of Cardano by businesses and organizations.

[IMPORTANT NOTE] The Applicant agreed to Fund10 rules and also that data in the Submission Form and other data provided by the project team during the course of the project will be publicly available.

I Accept