E2E Encrypted and Decentralized Web Market for Real-life Product Listings

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Kamil Monicz

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

kamil@monicz.pl

Additional applicants

None.

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

3

[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?

No

[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?

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

dApp

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

The problem that this solution addresses is the lack of truly decentralized and private online stores. In the current market, there's a need for a platform that guarantees end-to-end privacy, while also being user-friendly and self-sustainable.

The proposed solution specifically involves a locally run HTML file, as I believe it is the best approach to achieve true decentralization and privacy. By avoiding dependencies on frameworks and utilizing open standards, the application becomes easily auditable by individuals with limited expertise.

A single HTML file can be easily hidden, shared, and launched from any device with web browser and a Cardano wallet extension installed.

Selling goods online is a delicate subject, which is why a cautious approach is necessary. It is important to ensure that there is no trace of app usage on the device, and that the maximum amount of metadata and data is encrypted when stored on-chain. The application should be designed to be fool-proof, minimizing the risk of accidental mistakes. Additionally, proper user education through documentation is crucial.

It is the store owner who dictates which goods are sold under their domain. Thanks to the Cardano, we now have the opportunity to accomplish just that - truly decentralized and censorship-resistant offerings. I believe there's much room for innovation in this area, and this dApp is just a step forward. Anyone who shops online these days is a potential target audience for this project.

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

This innovative, first-of-its-kind solution addresses the challenge by providing a truly decentralized, privacy-centric method for creating and managing online stores. This project not only reaches out to the current Cardano community but is designed to spark widespread interest in the ecosystem.

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

I will measure and publicize the following metrics: the number of app downloads, general GitHub activity (such as commits, issues, and stars). I want to specifically limit any form of in-app tracking for privacy and security reasons. The metrics already mentioned will provide a decent approximation of the growth and total user base. To encourage community engagement, project discussions will be handled via the GitHub platform and their Discussions feature.

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

The complete dApp will be released under an open-source license, promoting free software. Anyone will be able to develop and build on top of the project.

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

1. I have been an open-source developer for quite some time.
2. I completed the Plutus Pioneer Program - Cohort 3.
3. I have successfully developed a working PoC solution and run it on the Cardano testnet (I understand this link is not informative, but I cannot release the PoC solution code to the public yet, there were multiple iterations of the PoC).
4. My PoC relies on the cardano-serialization-lib to facilitate the transaction creation process in the browser, 100% locally.
5. The querying of the blockchain takes place through a self-hosted or managed Blockfrost instance. At the time of development (~6 months ago), it was the only viable solution to query the blockchain. Perhaps now it would be possible to perform queries entirely within a browser wallet extension (possibly Lace?).
6. I am a strong blockchain advocate, and I want decentralized solutions to succeed. I want to make the world a better place. Read about me.
7. I completed my studies at Warsaw University of Technology and obtained a Bachelor's degree.
8. You can find some more information about me on my LinkedIn profile.
9. I have past experience working with Bootstrap for frontend development.

Managing risk,

I have developed a working PoC solution, which is a testament to the feasibility of this project. My plan is to continuously monitor, test, and refine the solution based on the community feedback and identified needs.

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

The user journey includes querying blockchain info, transaction creation, placing orders, utilizing built-in end-to-end on-chain chat, and rating the seller experience.

Querying of blockchain information,

This will include store information, active listings, buy offers, chats, ratings, and more. It will be facilitated through a blockchain connection using a lightweight wallet if possible, or a self-hosted or managed Blockfrost instance.

Encryption,

I will utilize symmetric and asymmetric encryption to achieve end-to-end communication between sellers and buyers. I plan to use noble libraries since they are free software and have undergone multiple audits.

Transaction creation,

To create transactions locally, I will use cardano-serialization-lib, which will be included in the self-contained HTML bundle.

Smart-contracts,

For smart contract development, I will most likely use Haskell Plutus. Currently, I have no plans for any package dependencies. The encryption will be handled client-side. Validators will use plain metadata to allow spending.

Placing orders,

When an order is placed, a seller will need to accept it within a limited time frame. Otherwise, the client will be able to revert it. Additional timeouts will be in place in case one of the parties stops communicating.

Communication,

The dApp will include a built-in end-to-end on-chain chat for easy communication, such as tracking numbers, returns, and warranty cases.

Trust,

Each store will have its own identification key, which also stores encryption information. To avoid scams, clients will be advised to purchase from externally verified stores. This verification process can happen (but is not limited to) decentralized solutions.

Ratings,

After completing an order, clients will have the opportunity to rate their experience and comment on the store. This information will be aggregated and displayed to new clients as an extra precautionary measure.

Transparency,

The bundled application will not be minified or obfuscated. It's important for the complete bundle to be easily self-auditable, without requiring substantial expertise.

FAQ,

Proper education is just as important. A dedicated project page will answer the most common questions and provide guidance on how to stay safe and avoid scams.

Project sustainability,

The project will aim to transition to a donation-based model to sustain its future growth. There will be an option to donate directly on-chain.

[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.

End of month 1,

The development environment is set up. The baseline code for smart contracts is completed. Work is underway for frontend logic development, while frontend visual development has just begun.

End of month 2,

The frontend is completed and functional, but it still lacks a few features, such as manual checking for updates, a blockchain provider selector, support for only one wallet, and periodic data refresh.

End of month 3,

Both the backend (smart-contracts) and frontend are finished. Additional wallets are supported. The project website is completed, and the FAQ and getting started guide are also finished. Application release scripts are done.

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

End of month 1,

A reproducible development environment will be established, making use of Nix. Additionally, a managed development Blockfrost instance will be initiated.

End of month 2,

The smart contracts will be completed and open-sourced.

End of month 3,

The frontend development will be finished and open-sourced. The project website will be completed, open-sourced, and deployed on a server.

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

• Development: 45k ADA
• Server infrastructure: 1k ADA
• Reserve and project maintenance after the 3-month period: 9k ADA

Development costs align with the average salary of a Senior Developer in Warsaw, Poland. Infrastructure cost is tailored to meet the needs of the project for effective delivery.

Any extra funds will be used to accelerate the project's development, including hiring additional team members, and to deliver a more feature-rich experience. The purchase of marketing or promotion is not under consideration. I believe that an innovative release will attract the attention of numerous privacy and decentralization advocates who will promote the project through their channels.

Any unspent funds will be allocated towards a reserve. I believe that maintaining a decent reserve is necessary to sustain the project for a few more months until it gains broader traction and recognition, and becomes self-sustainable through donations.

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

The development cost is 15k ADA/month, which is approximately 17k PLN/month, and falls within the mid-range for a Senior Developer in Warsaw, Poland. The infrastructure cost is 200+200+600 ADA, which is approximately 220+220+660 PLN. I intend to use Hetzner as the server hosting provider. Shortly after the release, some scaling may be required, which is why there is an extra buffer allocated for the third month. Unspent funds will go towards reserve for future maintenance costs.

[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