dRep Community Governance and Explorer

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

Additional applicants

This is a proposal on behalf of the Clarity team and the Cardano Community that have expressed the need to have tools for dReps to align with their delegators.

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

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

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

[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.”

No dependencies

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

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

All on-chain code will be open sourced, front end code will remain private for time being.

[METADATA] Category of proposal

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Our proposed solution is to develop a user-friendly and interactive dashboard exclusively tailored for the Cardano community. This innovative dashboard will serve as a central hub, enabling community members to effortlessly navigate through a wealth of information regarding Decentralized Representatives (dReps). By leveraging this platform, community members will gain access to detailed insights, including dRep profiles, voting histories, the communities associated with them, and statistics about how often a dRep votes with their delegators.

One crucial aspect we aim to highlight is the voting behavior of dReps, which holds significant value for individuals seeking to delegate their votes. Our platform will provide transparency on how frequently a dRep aligns with their delegators' preferences. For instance, users can ascertain if a dRep consistently votes in line with their community's signals (100% alignment) or has a lower rate of alignment (e.g., 60%). This feature will empower community members to make informed decisions about which dRep they wish to delegate their voting power to.

Additionally, our proposed solution emphasizes the importance of community engagement. In collaboration with our platform, dReps will be able to poll their community, enabling them to gather opinions, insights, and feedback to make more informed and representative decisions. By actively involving the community in the decision-making process, we aim to foster a sense of ownership and inclusivity within the Cardano ecosystem.

The dashboard will present comprehensive profiles for each dRep, highlighting their key attributes, values, and contributions to the Cardano ecosystem. Users will have the opportunity to delve into the backgrounds of dReps, gaining insights into their governance models and decision-making processes. Moreover, they will be able to participate in polls conducted by dReps, providing them with an avenue to voice their opinions and actively shape the direction of their chosen dRep's actions.

Our proposed solution will go beyond information dissemination; it will act as a catalyst for community interaction. By facilitating connections between community members and dReps, the dashboard will create a collaborative space for dialogue, networking, and active participation within the Cardano ecosystem. Users will have the opportunity to join and engage with the respective communities associated with dReps, fostering a vibrant environment where ideas can be exchanged, collaborations can be formed, and collective growth can be achieved.

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

Our proposed solution addresses the challenge of governance participation in the Cardano ecosystem by providing a user-friendly and interactive dashboard specifically designed for the Cardano community. This decentralized representative (dRep) dashboard serves as a central hub where community members can actively explore delegation possibilities.

The dashboard tackles the challenge of diversity by creating an inclusive environment for dReps with different backgrounds. It welcomes dReps of various languages, national origins, occupations, genders, ages, religions, and more, allowing them to share their platforms and perspectives. By facilitating the onboarding of diverse dReps, our solution promotes a more inclusive and representative governance system.

The dashboard aims to increase dRep exposure by letting dReps fill out information that is discoverable and interact with delegators with the goal of getting more delegates.

Additionally, the dashboard plays a crucial role in empowering community members to make well-informed decisions regarding the delegation of their votes. Users can explore the backgrounds and decision-making processes of dReps, enabling them to align their voices with those that share their values and visions. This transparent view of dReps' voting histories allows for analysis and assessment of their past patterns and tendencies, enhancing the accuracy of delegate decisions.

The dashboard actively promotes community engagement by facilitating connections between community members and dReps. Users have the opportunity to explore and join the respective communities associated with dReps, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and active participation within the Cardano ecosystem. This emphasis on community engagement cultivates a sense of ownership and collective responsibility, driving the growth and development of the Cardano network.

Our proposed solution addresses the challenge of governance participation by providing a comprehensive and intuitive dashboard. It promotes diversity, increases the number of dReps and delegates, enhances the accuracy of delegate decisions, and fosters community engagement. By offering the necessary tools and information, our solution empowers the Cardano community to actively participate in governance, contributing to the continued success and evolution of the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Measuring the success of our project will involve tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the adoption and impact of the dRep dashboard. We will utilize the following KPIs to gauge the effectiveness of our solution:

1. Onboarding of dReps: Monitoring the growth in the number of dReps actively using the dashboard will indicate its success in attracting and engaging representatives. This metric will reflect the platform's ability to foster diverse participation and representation within the Cardano ecosystem.
2. User engagement and delegation choices: Tracking the number of users actively utilizing the dashboard to inform their delegation decisions will indicate the platform's effectiveness in providing reliable information. Analyzing metrics such as frequency and duration of dashboard usage will help evaluate user engagement. Additionally, observing the delegation choices made through the dashboard will provide insights into its influence on decision-making processes.
3. Transparency in decision-making: Assessing the extent to which the dashboard facilitates transparent decision-making for both dReps and delegators will be crucial. By evaluating the visibility of voting histories, clarity on alignment with community preferences, and the availability of comprehensive dRep profiles, we can measure the platform's success in enhancing transparency.
4. User feedback and satisfaction: Collecting user feedback through surveys, interviews, and usability testing will be instrumental in assessing the user experience and overall satisfaction with the dRep dashboard. By considering user perspectives, we can identify areas for improvement and refine the platform to better meet the needs of the Cardano community.

By monitoring these KPIs and analyzing the collected data, we can evaluate the success of our project in terms of dRep onboarding, user adoption, and improvement in the delegation decision-making process. Incorporating user feedback will enable us to continuously enhance the dashboard's features, ensuring its alignment with the evolving requirements of the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Our aim is to maintain transparency and foster active engagement throughout the development process. Here are the key approaches we intend to employ:

1. Regular Development Updates: We will provide regular updates on the progress of the dRep dashboard development. These updates will include milestones achieved, new features implemented, and any significant developments that impact the functionality and user experience of the dashboard. We will share these updates through official communication channels such as blog posts, newsletters, and social media platforms. This ensures that the community remains informed about the project's advancements and can provide feedback or suggestions.
2. Community Calls: We plan to organize community calls where project representatives will directly engage with community members. These calls will serve as interactive sessions where we can present the project's outputs, discuss implementation strategies, address any concerns or questions, and gather valuable input from the community. Community calls will provide a platform for open dialogue and collaboration, allowing us to incorporate diverse perspectives into our project's roadmap.
3. Discussion Forums: We will establish dedicated online discussion forums where community members can actively participate in conversations related to the dRep dashboard. These forums will serve as a space for users to share their experiences, ask questions, propose ideas, and provide feedback on the dashboard's functionality. By facilitating these discussions, we encourage community members to actively contribute to the project's development and iterate on its features based on community input.
4. Documentation and Knowledge Sharing: We will create comprehensive documentation that outlines the features, functionalities, and user guides for the dRep dashboard. This documentation will be made readily available to the community, ensuring accessibility to essential information about the dashboard's usage and benefits. Additionally, we will actively engage in knowledge-sharing initiatives by contributing articles, tutorials, and educational content related to decentralized governance, dReps, and voting delegation on platforms such as blogs, forums, and online publications.

By employing these communication and engagement strategies, we aim to ensure that the outputs and results of our project are widely shared and accessible to the Cardano community. We believe that transparent communication and active community involvement are essential for building a successful and impactful decentralized representative dashboard that serves the needs of the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Our team has a proven track record of delivering on proposals within the Cardano ecosystem, as demonstrated by our past participation and successful outcomes in Cardano Project Catalyst. We understand the significance of trust and accountability in executing projects, especially when it involves sensitive aspects such as DAO treasuries and staking.

Specifically, we have built a community polling platform that is capable of being leveraged by dReps to align themselves with their delegators.

Here's how our team ensures high levels of trust and accountability in project delivery:

Experience and Expertise:

• Our team members possess extensive experience and expertise in their respective domains, including decentralized governance, smart contract development, UI/UX design, and Cardano ecosystem integration.
• We have a deep understanding of the underlying technology and best practices, enabling us to make informed decisions and deliver reliable solutions.

Transparent Communication:

• We prioritize transparent and open communication with all stakeholders, including the Cardano community, DAO organizations, and project funders.
• We provide regular updates, progress reports, and hold interactive sessions to address questions, gather feedback, and ensure alignment with project goals.

Commitment to Documentation:

• We recognize the importance of thorough documentation to maintain transparency and accountability.
• Our team produces comprehensive documentation, including technical specifications, user guides, and project reports, which are made available to stakeholders to review and verify the project's progress.

Community Engagement:

• We actively engage with the Cardano community to foster trust and accountability.
• Through community meetups, forums, and social media channels, we encourage open dialogue, gather feedback, and incorporate community perspectives into our decision-making processes.

Adherence to Best Practices and Standards:

• We follow industry best practices, adhere to established standards, and conduct thorough testing and security audits to ensure the reliability and robustness of our solutions.
• We prioritize the security of DAO treasuries and stake pool operations, implementing safeguards and risk mitigation strategies to protect funds and maintain trust.

Past Success and References:

• Our successful track record in delivering on previous proposals in Cardano Project Catalyst serves as a testament to our ability to fulfill our commitments and achieve desired outcomes.
• We can provide references and testimonials from previous collaborators, stakeholders, and community members to vouch for our trustworthiness and accountability.

By combining our experience, transparent communication, documentation practices, community engagement, adherence to standards, and past successes, we are confident in our capability to deliver the proposed project with high levels of trust and accountability.

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

The main goals of our project are to onboard new dReps and enable the Cardano community to access information about dReps before they delegate their votes. To validate the feasibility of our approach, we draw upon our experience in building similar infrastructure for Clarity (our DAO infrastructure platform) and Crystal (our snapshot voting infrastructure).

We have successfully developed a custom chain indexer for Clarity, allowing us to gather and aggregate on-chain data efficiently. This experience demonstrates our ability to collect and process the necessary data from the Cardano blockchain for the dRep dashboard. By leveraging our expertise in working with on-chain data, we are confident in our capability to provide accurate and up-to-date information about dReps to the Cardano community.

We have implemented user-friendly and interactive interfaces for displaying on-chain data through our Clarity voting infrastructure. This experience assures us that we can present the information about dReps in a visually appealing and easily understandable manner. We will leverage our prior experience in delivering user-friendly interfaces to ensure the dRep dashboard is intuitive and accessible for the Cardano community.

To validate the feasibility of our approach, we will conduct rigorous testing and gather user feedback throughout the development process. This iterative approach allows us to identify any technical challenges, user experience issues, or scalability concerns and address them promptly. By involving the Cardano community in the testing and feedback process, we can validate the feasibility of our approach based on real-world usage and user satisfaction.

We will closely monitor the performance and stability of the dRep dashboard as it interacts with the Cardano blockchain. This validation process will involve thorough testing of data retrieval, aggregation, and presentation functionalities to ensure the dashboard performs optimally and provides the desired user experience.

Our experience in building custom chain indexers and user-friendly interfaces, combined with rigorous testing and user feedback, will serve as the foundation for validating the feasibility of our approach. We are confident that our expertise and systematic validation process will enable us to deliver a feasible and impactful dRep dashboard for the Cardano community.

[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: Update dashboard of web3.crystal.vote to display dReps

• Task 1: Analyze the existing web3.crystal.vote dashboard and identify necessary modifications for dReps integration.
• Task 2: Update the web3.crystal.vote repository and create a separate branch for dReps implementation.
• Task 3: Modify the dashboard's backend to fetch and display dReps data instead of communities.

Milestone 2: Design dRep dashboard with voting history

• Task 1: Conduct user research and gather feedback to understand the desired user experience and requirements for the dRep dashboard.
• Task 2: Design the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of the dRep dashboard, ensuring intuitive navigation and visual clarity.
• Task 3: Create wireframes and prototypes to validate the design and gather additional user feedback.

Milestone 3: Develop custom chain indexer for voting history and delegation metrics

• Task 1: Design and implement a custom chain indexer to extract and process voting history data from the Cardano blockchain.
• Task 2: Develop data structures to efficiently store and query delegation metrics associated with dReps.
• Task 3: Perform rigorous testing and optimization to ensure the chain indexer operates reliably and efficiently.

Milestone 4: Develop front end of the dRep dashboard

• Task 1: Implement the front-end components and features of the dRep dashboard based on the finalized design.
• Task 2: Integrate the dashboard with the custom chain indexer to fetch and display real-time voting history and delegation metrics.
• Task 3: Ensure responsiveness and compatibility across various devices and browsers.

Milestone 5: Onboard dReps and conduct user testing

• Task 1: Collaborate with dReps to onboard their profiles and relevant information onto the dashboard.
• Task 2: Conduct extensive user testing sessions to gather feedback on usability, functionality, and overall user satisfaction.
• Task 3: Iterate and make necessary refinements based on user feedback.

Milestone 6: Create documentation

• Task 1: Prepare comprehensive documentation detailing the functionalities, usage, and technical aspects of the dRep dashboard.
• Task 2: Include clear instructions for dReps and community members on how to navigate and leverage the dashboard effectively.

Milestone 7: Run workshops

• Task 1: Organize workshops and training sessions to educate the Cardano community about the dRep dashboard and its capabilities.
• Task 2: Demonstrate how the dashboard can aid in making informed voting decisions and foster community engagement.
• Expected timeline: Ongoing throughout the project and beyond, with periodic workshops scheduled.

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

Milestone 1: Fork dashboard of web3.crystal.vote to display dReps

• Deliverables: Forked repository of web3.crystal.vote with modifications for dReps integration.
• Outputs: A functional dashboard that showcases dReps instead of communities, allowing users to access dRep profiles.
• Intended Outcome: Users can navigate the modified dashboard to explore dReps, gaining an initial understanding of their presence within the Cardano ecosystem.

Milestone 2: Design dRep dashboard with voting history

• Deliverables: UI/UX design artifacts including wireframes, prototypes, and design specifications for the dRep dashboard.
• Outputs: Well-designed visual representations of the dRep dashboard, incorporating voting history and ensuring an intuitive user experience.
• Intended Outcome: Users can easily comprehend and navigate the dRep dashboard, facilitating their exploration of dReps and understanding of their voting patterns.

Milestone 3: Develop custom chain indexer for voting history and delegation metrics

• Deliverables: Custom chain indexer implementation specifically tailored for extracting voting history and delegation metrics.
• Outputs: Efficient algorithms and data structures enabling extraction, storage, and retrieval of voting history and delegation metrics.
• Intended Outcome: Real-time access to reliable voting history and delegation metrics associated with dReps, providing users with valuable insights for informed decision-making.

Milestone 4: Develop front end of the dRep dashboard

• Deliverables: Front-end components and features of the dRep dashboard, including interactive visualizations and data presentation.
• Outputs: Fully functional and responsive dRep dashboard integrated with the custom chain indexer.
• Intended Outcome: Users can seamlessly explore dReps, review their voting history, and engage with the dashboard's features to make well-informed decisions regarding vote delegation.

Milestone 5: Onboard dReps and conduct user testing

• Deliverables: Onboarded profiles of dReps onto the dashboard, feedback and testing reports from user testing sessions.
• Outputs: Updated dRep profiles on the dashboard and refined user experience based on feedback.
• Intended Outcome: Enhanced engagement between dReps and the Cardano community, validated usability of the dashboard, and an improved user experience.

Milestone 6: Create documentation

• Deliverables: Comprehensive documentation detailing the functionalities, usage, and technical aspects of the dRep dashboard.
• Outputs: User-friendly documentation providing clear instructions and explanations for utilizing the dashboard effectively.
• Intended Outcome: Users, including dReps and community members, can readily understand and leverage the full capabilities of the dRep dashboard.

Milestone 7: Run workshops

• Deliverables: Organized workshops, training materials, and educational resources related to the dRep dashboard.
• Outputs: Conducted workshops with engaged participants and increased awareness and knowledge of the dRep dashboard's potential.
• Intended Outcome: Empowered community members who can utilize the dRep dashboard effectively, fostering informed decision-making and active participation within the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Milestone 1: Fork dashboard of web3.crystal.vote to display dReps

Estimated time to complete: 20 Hours

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Milestone 2: Design dRep dashboard with voting history

Estimated time to complete: 20 Hours

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Milestone 3: Develop custom chain indexer for voting history and delegation metrics

Estimated time to complete: 30 Hours

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Milestone 4: Develop front end of the dRep dashboard

Estimated time to complete: 30 Hours

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Milestone 5: Onboard dReps and conduct user testing

Estimated time to complete: 20 Hours

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Milestone 6: Create documentation

Estimated time to complete: 20 Hours

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Milestone 7: Run workshops

Estimated time to complete: 20 Hours

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Estimated time to complete proposal: 160 Hours

Development Cost per hour: $60

Total Cost: about $9,600

ADA equivalent if ADA is $.30 USD = 32,000 ADA

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

The cost of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem in several ways:

1. Enhanced Transparency: The proposed dRep center and dashboard provide a means for dReps to operate transparently. By showcasing comprehensive profiles and voting history, the dashboard allows the Cardano community to gain valuable insights into the behavior and decision-making of dReps. This transparency promotes accountability and fosters trust within the ecosystem.
2. Informed Decision-making: The availability of a user-friendly dashboard empowers the Cardano community to make informed decisions regarding vote delegation. By easily exploring and learning more about dReps, community members can align their voting preferences with dReps that share their values, goals, and track records. This ensures that votes are delegated to dReps that genuinely represent the community's interests.
3. Efficient Governance: With the dRep center, community members can efficiently audit dReps within the Cardano ecosystem. The centralized hub provides a consolidated view of dReps' voting histories, facilitating comparative analysis and evaluation. This streamlines the governance process by enabling the community to assess dReps' performance and make data-driven decisions without the need for extensive research or manual audits.
4. Community Engagement: The dRep center and associated workshops foster community engagement and participation. By providing an accessible platform to explore and connect with dReps, the project encourages dialogue, collaboration, and active involvement within the Cardano ecosystem. This engagement strengthens the community's sense of ownership and facilitates collective decision-making.
5. Long-term Impact: The value of the project extends beyond its initial implementation. As the Cardano ecosystem continues to grow, the dRep center serves as a scalable and sustainable tool for ongoing governance. It can adapt to accommodate new dReps, evolving community needs, and changing dynamics within the ecosystem, providing long-term value for the Cardano community.

Overall, the cost of the project represents value for money by facilitating effective community governance, promoting transparency, enabling informed decision-making, streamlining audits, fostering community engagement, and providing a lasting infrastructure for the Cardano ecosystem's development and success.

[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.