⚡Create cardano-app: Simplifying Onboarding to Cardano, and expediting delivery of dApps with an Open-Source, Modular Web3 dApp builder

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Harry Jones

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

harry@flipr.io

Additional applicants

Antony Duchars

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

5

[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.” .

Cardano Serialization Library (Lucid when applicable)

Configurable infrastructure providers (database, hosting, blockchain data)

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s 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.”

Project will be fully open source.

[METADATA] Category of Proposal

Dev Tools, API or Library

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Perception of the Problem: 

Currently, dApp creation on the Cardano network can present significant challenges due to the complexities of infrastructure selection, blockchain data providers, wallet providers, and more. This complexity can be a hurdle to innovation and broad participation, particularly for developers who may not have deep blockchain expertise, and more specifically, Cardano experience.

Our Approach:

To address this, we propose to develop an open-source, modular dApp packaging system called create cardano-app that simplifies the creation process for developers of various skill levels to launch otherwise complex applications. This system aims to streamline high-quality development, provide an easy-to-follow path for launching dApps covering a range of use cases which include modular components of a token-gated hub for your NFT community, a Fungible Token Dashboard, a voting platform, an easy to manage non-custodial staking solution.

The modules we have devised are as follows:

• Intuitive Wallet Connection with user feedback.
• Token Gating.
• Staking NFTs (non-custodial).
• Voting (including metadata-weighted voting).
• Open-ended components, useful for communities, project data, utilizing modern Web3 UX/UI design principles.

We've chosen this approach to cater to a wide range of developers - from novices to experienced programmers - and to foster a more inclusive, collaborative community around Cardano dApp development. The open-source model we've adopted encourages shared learning and collective improvement, ensuring that our create cardano-app continues to evolve with the needs of the ecosystem.

Engagement:

Our project will primarily engage developers who are interested in creating dApps on the Cardano network. However, it also targets projects and community members passionate about the Cardano blockchain who may be potential users or contributors to these dApps.

Demonstrating Impact:

We will gauge our impact through a variety of metrics such as the number of dApps developed using our system, the diversity of those dApps, feedback from developers, and contributions to our open-source repository. We'll also track the growth of the developer community around our solution, and open social channels on Twitter and Discord.

Uniqueness and Benefits:

What sets the ‘create cardano-app’ apart is its modular design of essential Web3 functionality, which allows for simpler assembly of dApps, and its integration of up-to-date wallet support for Web3 access. Moreover, our open-source model and modular capabilities offer a unique blend of customization, security, and community involvement.

Beneficiaries of the create cardano-app include both developers and web3 users. Developers gain a simplified, flexible tool for dApp creation, while end-users benefit from a greater diversity of dApps and experiences utilizing key components of what Web3 offers such as Voting and Staking with their favorite NFTs.

Importance to Cardano:

By lowering barriers to entry for high quality dApp development, we're helping to attract more developers, projects, and community members to Cardano, thus contributing to the overall growth and vibrancy of the network.

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

Create cardano-app provides a range of benefits to the Cardano ecosystem:

Ease of Use: Create a useable dApp in days, not months. By lowering the barrier of entry to a single command, we will encourage more development and experimentation within the Cardano network. Not only does it allow for faster development/prototyping, but helps to facilitate higher quality UX/UI dApps.

Wallet Support: Our system will maintain up-to-date wallet support for Web3 access, utilizing the nature of open-source to allow others to benefit from new CIPs and wallet releases.

Token-Gated Access: By facilitating token-gated site entries, developers can control access to their dApps, defining parameters such as owned policyId(s) and fungible token quantities. This adds an extra layer of customization and security.

Open-Source and Community-Driven: Our project champions transparency and collaboration. It is open-source, meaning anyone can contribute, modify, and enhance the set of modular create components. This allows us to tap into the collective knowledge of the Cardano developer community, enabling constant evolution and improvement.

Cost-Effective: In contrast to other options that require ADA expenditure for white-label solutions, our system promotes a free-to-create environment. This democratizes the dApp creation process, thereby stimulating innovation and broader participation within the Cardano ecosystem.

The introduction of such a system will not only aid existing Cardano developers but also attract newcomers to the ecosystem, thereby boosting the overall growth and vibrancy of the Cardano blockchain. We believe that the create Cardano-app will significantly contribute to making the Cardano ecosystem a hub for innovative, diverse, and user-centric dApp development.

In fact, we have already put these design principles to the test with a trial run of a token-gated dApp built for the Goofy Gophers Mining Club available at https://kingdom.ggmc.io. This was built using base modular elements from our past years of development experience on Cardano. The overwhelming success of the kingdom dashboard project gave us the green light, validating this idea to be opened up for all to use.

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

Quantitative Metrics:

Number of dApps Developed: A fundamental metric will be the number of dApps created using our system. This will provide a direct measure of the adoption of our toolkit in the developer community.

Community Growth: We'll monitor the growth of our GitHub repository in terms of stars, forks, and contributions. The increase in active contributors is a reliable indicator of the community's engagement and the impact of create cardano-app .

Qualitative Metrics:

User Feedback: Regularly surveying developers for their feedback will allow us to assess their experiences and satisfaction levels. This can provide insights into areas for improvement and potential features. A medium we will use to measure this will be a public Discord.

Case Studies: Successful projects that leverage our toolkit to build impactful dApps would serve as strong indicators of success. These would also be instrumental in showcasing the potential and versatility of our system to prospective developers.

These measures are realistic because they rely on concrete, observable phenomena such as community engagement, the adoption of our toolkit, and feedback from developers. They give us a holistic picture of our project's impact and effectiveness.

In terms of Cardano's productivity and growth, our innovation plays a crucial role in both the short and long term:

Short Term: Our system reduces the learning curve and complexity for developers, enabling faster development and deployment of dApps. This can increase productivity by freeing up developers' time and effort, allowing them to focus more on the problems they aim to solve.

Long Term: By fostering a more inclusive and collaborative development environment, we're paving the way for a greater number of developers and projects to enter the Cardano ecosystem. The resulting diversity and richness of dApps could significantly boost Cardano's growth and position it as a leading platform for dApp development.

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

Our project is rooted in openness and collaboration, and we're committed to sharing the results of our work with the broader community. Here are our plans for disseminating our project's outputs:

1.Regular Updates: We will maintain a consistent schedule of project updates on our GitBook and GitHub repository. These will include development progress, new features, case studies, and success stories from developers who use our system. Community contributions will also be highlighted on how they directly impact users of the create cardano-app platform through our social channels.

2.Community Engagement: We will post online community development updates, and AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions to keep the community updated and address any questions or concerns. These events will also serve as an avenue for us to collect feedback and improvement suggestions.

3.Partnerships: We will actively engage with new and existing projects building on Cardano. We will prioritize collaboration and sharing knowledge within the community to enhance the understanding and effective use of our toolkit, again social channels will be a great way to engage across the various platforms and communities on Cardano.

4.Social Media: We will primarily leverage our network of projects we have already assisted and worked with as partners. Social media platforms to share our project milestones and success stories with a broader audience. Highlighting what's possible on Cardano using create cardano-app will help significantly in highlighting the amazing developer infrastructure we have on Cardano.

5.Open-Source Contributions: By keeping our project open-source, we enable the developer community to directly engage with our code, contribute improvements, and utilize Create cardano-app for their projects.

Regarding the use of the project results in further research and development activities, we anticipate several paths:

1. Continuous Improvement: Feedback and insights gained from users and contributors will guide our ongoing development efforts, helping us continually enhance the system's functionality and usabilit

1. Feature Expansion: Based on the needs and suggestions of our user community, we may develop additional modules or features that cater to emerging demands in the dApp development landscap

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

Proven Expertise: Our team has been working full-time on Cardano for two+ years. During this time, we have acquired a thorough understanding of the network's nuances, potential, and challenges, which equips us to deliver solutions that are both effective and aligned with the Cardano ethos.

Track Record: We have successfully built and maintained projects such as kingdom.ggmc.io and flipr.io. Both projects stand out for their user experience and are continually being improved, showcasing our commitment to iterative development and user-centric design. One of our strong suits in these projects has been highly effective cost management, these platforms were built by 2 developers (Harry & Tony) and as such we have carefully planned costs given our prior experience with Cardano deliverables.

Our team's capability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability is grounded in our extensive experience, track record of successful projects, and deep commitment to the Cardano ecosystem.

Community Involvement: Our close involvement with the Cardano community has given us valuable insights into its needs and pain points. This community-driven perspective will inform our project, ensuring it delivers genuine value to its intended users.

Transparency and Accountability: Our project's open-source nature encourages transparency. All code will be publicly available for review on GitHub, and we will regularly update our progress on GitBook. 

Regarding the proper management of funds, we have in place rigorous procedures to ensure accountability:

1. Budget Planning and Monitoring: We will create a detailed budget outlining how the funds will be use

1. Milestone-based Funding: We propose to implement a milestone-based funding approac

3. Regular Reporting: We commit to providing regular financial reports to the community, detailing how funds have been used. This transparency will allow stakeholders to see the direct impact of their support.

4. Auditability: We are open to third-party audits of our financial records to ensure complete transparency and adherence to our financial commitments.

Given these capabilities, processes, and our unwavering commitment to Cardano, we believe we are well-positioned to deliver this project with a high degree of trust and accountability.

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

Our main goals for this project can be classified into two broad categories: Developer Engagement and Technical Excellence.

1. Developer Engagement

Goal 1.1: Foster a robust and active developer community around our open-source dApp builder.

• This can be measured by tracking metrics like the number of active contributors, forks, and stars on our GitHub repository, as well as the amount of developer feedback and suggestions received.

Goal 1.2: Promote the use of our system among developers and hobbyists interested in building dApps on the Cardano network.

• Success here can be measured by the number of dApps created using our system and the diversity of those applications.

2.Technical Excellence

Goal 2.1: Develop a modular, open-source dApp builder that simplifies complex dApp creation process on Cardano.

• We'll validate this by assessing the system's functionality, its ability to integrate up-to-date wallet support for Web3 access, and its ease of composability based on developer feedback and user testing.

Goal 2.2: Continuously improve and adapt our system based on community feedback and changing industry needs.

• Success will be evaluated by our response to feedback, the speed at which updates and improvements are implemented, and the overall satisfaction of developers using the dApp builder.

Goal 2.3: Ensure the security and reliability of dApps built using our toolkit.

• This can be assessed by conducting unit tests, tracking the number of reported security incidents, and monitoring the relative performance of dApps built using our system. Ease of use from developer feedback will be key here.

In terms of implementation, our approach involves several steps:

1. System Design: Define the system's architecture and the specifications for its core and optional module.

2. Development: Build the core system and modules using an iterative development process.

3. Testing: Conduct rigorous testing to ensure the system's functionality, security, and usability.

4. Launch: Release Create cardano-app on GitHub and our GitBook, alongside comprehensive documentation and example projects for context when building developer guides (such as https://kingdom.ggmc.io).

5. Feedback and Marketing: Collect feedback from the community, address issues, and improve the system based on this feedback. Finally, market a production ready create cardano-app to wider audiences.

By using this structured approach, we can systematically work towards achieving our project goals while ensuring that we deliver a solution that is effective, secure, and beneficial to 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: System Design and Specification

Tasks: Define system architecture, specify core and optional modules

Team Member & Role: 1 Senior Developer

Timeline: 2 weeks

Cost Calculation: Senior Developer: 10 days 8h $40 = $3,200

Projected Cost: $3,200

Success Criteria: Complete and thorough system design, agreed upon by the core team and verified by NFT community members.

Milestone 2: Core System Development

Tasks: Develop core system components including the modular system, wallet integration, and token-gated customizable parameters

Team Member & Role: 1 Senior Developer

Timeline: 1 month

Cost Calculation: Senior Developers: 25 days 8h $40 = $8,000

Projected Cost: $8,000

Success Criteria: Functional core system, capable of assembling basic dApps, passed all internal tests

Milestone 3: Optional Module Development

Tasks: Development of optional modules, including on-chain Voting, non-custodial staking, Web3 Dashboard and UI components

Team Member & Role: 2 Senior Developers

Timeline: 1 month

Cost Calculation: Senior Software Engineer: 25 days 8h $40 = $16,000 2 Senior Developers.

Projected Cost: $16,000

Success Criteria: Functional optional modules that integrate seamlessly with the core system, passed all internal tests

Milestone 4: System testing, refinement, and packaging

Tasks: Conduct extensive testing, collect and implement feedback, refine system based on testing outcomes, deliverable CLI for create cardano-app

Team Member & Role: Senior Developer specializing in QA

Timeline: 1 month

Cost Calculation: QA Engineer: 25 days 8h $40 = $8,000

Projected Cost: $8,000

Success Criteria: System meets all predetermined requirements, demonstrates robust performance and security during testing

Milestone 5: Documentation and Example Projects

Tasks: Write comprehensive documentation, create example projects for the GitBook and GitHub repository

Team Member & Role: Technical Writer

Timeline: 2 weeks

Cost Calculation:Senior Developer: 10 days 8h $40 = $3,200

Projected Cost: $3,200

Success Criteria: Complete and clear documentation, functional and demonstrative example projects that cover a wide range of use cases create cardano-app is intended for

Milestone 6: Pre-release and Community Engagement

Tasks: Pre-release system on GitHub and documentation on GitBook, host community events, gather initial feedback, and implement

Team Member & Role: Community Manager

Timeline: 2 weeks

Cost Calculation: Community Manager: 10 days 8h $40 = $3,200

Projected Cost: $3,200

Success Criteria: Successful pre-release with robust community engagement, positive initial feedback

Milestone 7: Launch, Feedback Implementation, and Marketing

Tasks: Address feedback and suggestions, market to Web3 in and outside of Cardano, Onboarding static site funnel

Team Member & Role: All

Timeline: 2 weeks + Ongoing after launch

Projected Cost: $1,000 (estimated ongoing marketing & static site creation/hosting budget, domain acquisition)

Success Criteria: Full product launch, Timely and effective response to feedback, high satisfaction among Cardano developers, and developers outside of the ecosystem.

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

Milestone 1: System Design and Specification

Deliverables: System Design Document, Module Specification Document

Intended Outcomes: A clear and comprehensive understanding of the system architecture and functionality; a blueprint for development

Progress Measure: Completion and approval of the System Design Document and Module Specification Document

Milestone 2: Core System Development

Deliverables: Core System Codebase

Intended Outcomes: A working core system that facilitates basic dApp assembly

Progress Measure: Successful internal testing and review of the core system's functionality

Milestone 3: Optional Module Development

Deliverables: Optional Modules Codebase

Intended Outcomes: A range of optional modules that enhance dApp customization and functionality

Progress Measure: Successful integration and internal testing of optional modules with the core system

Milestone 4: System testing, refinement, and packaging

Deliverables: Final System Codebase, Testing Reports, deliverable CLI for create cardano-app

Intended Outcomes: A robust, secure, and user-friendly system ready for launch

Progress Measure: Successful completion of extensive testing; addressing of identified issues; preparation of detailed testing reports

Milestone 5: Documentation and Example Projects

Deliverables: Comprehensive System Documentation, Example Project Codebases

Intended Outcomes: Clear understanding of the system for developers; illustrative examples of what can be achieved with the system

Progress Measure: Completion of comprehensive system documentation and example projects

Milestone 6: Launch and Community Engagement

Deliverables: Pre-release on GitHub and GitBook, community engagement reports and insights

Intended Outcomes: A publicly accessible system; a growing community of developers using and contributing to the system

Progress Measure: Successful system launch; analysis of community engagement data and feedback

Milestone 7: Feedback Implementation and Marketing

Deliverables: Full product launch, Updated based on user feedback, Static site creation, social media marketing

Intended Outcomes: Regular system updates and improvements based on feedback; high satisfaction among users. Ease to understand static site, optimized SEO for user capture.

Progress Measure: Release of system updates; tracking of feedback implementation; monitoring of user satisfaction levels via social channels

Throughout the project, we will employ various tools and methodologies to track our progress. These will include project management tools for task tracking, GitHub for version control and tracking code contributions, and user feedback captured from social channels to gauge sentiment. This will ensure we have insights into our project's progress and can make necessary adjustments where needed.

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

Milestone 1: System Design and Specification

Tasks: Define system architecture, specify core and optional modules

Timeline: 2 weeks

Projected Cost: $3,200

Deliverables: Detailed system design document, specifications for core and optional modules

Intended Outcomes: A clearly outlined system architecture and module design that aligns with the needs of the Cardano developer community

Milestone 2: Core System Development

Tasks: Develop core system components including the modular system, wallet integration, and token-gated customizable parameters.

Timeline: 1 month

Projected Cost: $8,000

Deliverables: Fully developed and functional core system

Intended Outcomes: A robust and user-friendly core system that developers can use to assemble basic dApps

Milestone 3: Optional Module Development

Tasks: Develop optional modules, including Voting, non-custodial Staking, Web3 Dashboard components.

Timeline: 1 month

Projected Cost: $16,000

Deliverables: Functional and integrable optional modules

Intended Outcomes: A variety of modules that can be used to customize dApps to suit specific project needs.

Milestone 4: System testing, refinement, and packaging

Tasks: Conduct extensive testing, collect and implement feedback, and refine system based on testing outcomes

Timeline: 1 month

Projected Cost: $8,000

Deliverables: Tested and refined system

Intended Outcomes: A robust, secure, and efficient dApp creation system that meets all predetermined requirements

Milestone 5: Documentation and Example Projects

Tasks: Write comprehensive documentation, create example projects for the GitBook and GitHub repository

Timeline: 2 weeks

Projected Cost: $3,200

Deliverables: Detailed documentation, example projects

Intended Outcomes: Clear and thorough guidance for developers to utilize the system effectively, demonstrated through practical examples

Milestone 6: Pre-release and Community Engagement

Tasks: Pre-release system on GitHub and documentation on GitBook, host community events, gather initial feedback, and implement

Timeline: 2 weeks

Projected Cost: $3,200

Deliverables: Launched system, engagement activities

Intended Outcomes: Successful pre-release launch with high community engagement, collection of useful feedback for further improvements

Milestone 7: Feedback Implementation and Marketing 

Tasks: Address feedback and suggestions, implement improvements, create and maintain the static site for onboarding

Timeline: 2 weeks + Ongoing after launch

Projected Cost: $1,000

Deliverables: System updates

Intended Outcomes: Full product launch, a continuously improving dApp creation toolkit that evolves based on community feedback and changing developer needs.

The total projected cost of the project, based on these milestones, is $42,600. These costs are allocated to ensure every necessary element of our plan is accounted for and that resources are efficiently utilized to deliver maximum value to the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Innovation and Ecosystem Growth: The proposed dApp builder is a novel solution within the Cardano ecosystem. By offering an easy-to-use interface for developing dApps, we are lowering the barrier to entry and fostering innovation within the community. This tool will attract new developers, expanding the ecosystem, and in turn, increasing the utility and adoption of ADA.

Efficiency and Time Saving: The platform significantly cuts down the time and complexity involved in creating dApps on Cardano. Developers can leverage the modular system to quickly assemble dApps without starting from scratch, leading to a more efficient allocation of resources.

Open-Source and Community-Focused: Our platform is open-source, meaning that all developments and improvements are available to the entire community. This not only ensures transparency but also allows other developers to contribute to and build upon our work.

Long-Term Impact: While the initial development and launch of the dApp builder require investment, the long-term impact offers substantial value. As the Cardano ecosystem grows and more dApps are created using our platform, we can expect the create cardano-app system to only improve, benefitting all in the Cardano space who use or build dApps.

Proven Track Record: Our team, consisting of Antony Duchars and Harry Jones, has a strong track record within the Cardano ecosystem, having founded successful projects like Flipr.io, and heavily assisted in technical expertise for established projects such as the “Goofy Gophers Mining Club” NFT project, in piloting a ‘create cardano-app’ like developer experience. This demonstrates our capability and commitment to deliver high-quality results that provide significant value to the ecosystem.

In essence, the proposed budget is a strategic investment into the infrastructure of the Cardano ecosystem. The upfront costs are geared towards developing a tool that not only promotes innovation and growth within the Cardano community but also provides lasting value through its open-source nature and its potential for long-term impact.

[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