Cardano Test Wallet: E2E DApp Testing & Private Network

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Kuber Team (Sandip Pandey)

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[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] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We have built a Cardano Test Wallet with Playwright integration, already in use but not widely known. We'll extend it to support a single-node private network, eliminating dependence on slow faucets.

[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] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

Apache License 2.0

[METADATA] Horizons

Developer Tools

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

I perceive the problem as a significant gap in the Cardano ecosystem: the absence of a robust test wallet that integrates with automation tools like Playwright for end-to-end DApp testing. Existing wallets can't be injected into browser tests, making automated testing difficult and inefficient.

We've already built a Cardano Test Wallet with Playwright integration, which is currently in use but not widely known. My reason for approaching the problem this way is to first address the immediate need for a testable wallet and then enhance it further. Now, we plan to extend this wallet to support a single-node private network. This addition will eliminate the dependency on slow faucets and rate limits, making testing faster and more productive—much like how Ethereum developers use Ganache.

Our project will engage DApp developers within the Cardano community who require efficient testing tools to streamline their development process. By providing a test wallet with private network support, we empower developers to perform comprehensive tests without external bottlenecks.

We will demonstrate our impact by showcasing improved testing speeds and increased developer productivity. Success can be measured by the adoption rate of our test wallet, feedback from the developer community, and the overall enhancement in the quality of DApps built on Cardano.

What makes our solution unique is that it's the first of its kind in the Cardano ecosystem as far as I know — a test wallet specifically designed for automation with support for a private network. Developers will benefit by having a reliable tool that accelerates their testing cycles, leading to better and faster DApp development. This is important for Cardano as it fosters innovation, improves the developer experience, and contributes to a more vibrant and efficient ecosystem.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Impact on the Cardano Community

Our project will significantly enhance the developer experience within the Cardano ecosystem by providing a robust test wallet equipped for automated end-to-end DApp testing. By integrating support for a single-node private network, we eliminate dependence on slow faucets and rate limits, enabling developers to test more efficiently and productively.

Measuring Impact

We plan to measure the impact of our project both quantitatively and qualitatively:

• Quantitative Metrics:
• Adoption Rate: Track the number of developers and projects utilizing the test wallet.
• Community Engagement: Measure downloads, GitHub stars, forks, and contributions to the project.
• Qualitative Metrics:
• Developer Feedback: Collect testimonials and conduct surveys to gather insights on user experience.
• Case Studies: Document success stories of DApps that have benefited from our test wallet.

Value to the Cardano Community

The success of our project will accelerate DApp development on Cardano by simplifying and speeding up the testing process. Developers will be able to bring high-quality applications to market faster, enriching the Cardano ecosystem with innovative solutions. This not only benefits developers but also end-users who gain access to a wider array of reliable DApps.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities

We will share our outputs openly with the community:

• Open-Source Release: The test wallet and its extensions will be available on GitHub under an open-source license.
• Documentation and Tutorials: Provide comprehensive guides to help developers integrate and utilize the tool effectively.
• Community Engagement: Participate in forums, and collaborate with other projects to promote knowledge sharing and gather feedback.

By making our project accessible and engaging with the community, we aim to foster collaboration and drive further innovation within the Cardano ecosystem.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Capability & Feasibility

We are confident in our ability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability, grounded in our proven expertise and track record in Cardano development. 

The biggest proof of capability is the currently available cardano-test-wallet which is available on Github and NPM registry which is being used on testing DApps like GovTool. Since we have built the original software, we believe we’re the most capable team to build the extension proposed under this proposal.

Our team has successfully executed several significant projects, including:

• KuberIDE: A browser-based Plutus Integrated Development Environment that facilitates smart contract development on Cardano.
• Cardano Mempool Explorer: A tool for exploring Cardano's mempool, successfully completed under a previous Catalyst proposal.
• GovTool: We utilized our Cardano Test Wallet for end-to-end testing.
• Chang Hard Fork Testing: Conducted extensive testing during Cardano's hard fork events to ensure network stability and performance.

We have also been awarded two Catalyst proposals in the past:

1. Mempool Explorer: Successfully completed and delivered to the community.
2. Cardano Autonomous Testing: Currently nearing completion, demonstrating our ongoing commitment and reliability.

Our extensive knowledge in Cardano development and Plutus smart contract programming positions us uniquely to execute this project effectively. We have already built the Cardano Test Wallet with Playwright integration, which is currently in use but not widely known. This existing foundation showcases our technical capability to deliver complex solutions that directly address developers' needs.

Managing Funds Properly

As this is a technical project, the allocated funds will primarily be used for development efforts, including:

• Extending the Test Wallet: Enhancing functionality to support a single-node private network.
• Development Resources: Covering the costs of developers, testing, and quality assurance to ensure a robust and reliable tool.

The output of this project will be fully open-source, with all code and documentation made publicly available on GitHub. This transparency allows the broader community to:

• Track Progress: Monitor development in real-time and see how funds are being utilized.
• Validate Output: Review and verify the quality and functionality of the code.
• Contribute: Engage with the project through feedback, reporting issues, or contributing code.

We are committed to maintaining high standards of trust and accountability by:

• Establishing Clear Milestones and Budgeting: Defining specific deliverables and timelines to ensure efficient use of funds.
• Providing Transparent Reporting: Offering regular updates through Catalyst and other channels about project progress and financial expenditure.

By adhering to these practices, we aim to manage the funds responsibly, deliver valuable tools to the Cardano community, and enhance the overall ecosystem through increased transparency and collaboration.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Project Planning and Design

• Budget: 10,000 Ada

• A. Milestone Outputs:
• Technical design specifications for extending the Cardano Test Wallet to support a single-node private network.

• B. Acceptance Criteria:
• Completion of the project plan and technical specifications.
• Internal review and approval of the documentation by the team.

• C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:
• Project plan and technical design documents published in the project's open-source repository.

Milestone 2: Development of Private Network Support and Enhanced Automation Integration

• Budget: 60,000 Ada
• A. Milestone Outputs:
• Implementation of single-node private network support within the Cardano Test Wallet.
• Enhanced integration of the test wallet with Playwright for the private network environment.
• B. Acceptance Criteria:
• The test wallet operates with a single-node private network, and automated tests execute successfully.
• Internal testing confirming the full functionality of the new features and successful integration with automated testing tools.
• C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:
• Updated code and automated test scripts available in the public repository on GitHub.
• Allure test reports demonstrating functionality.

Milestone 3: Documentation and Educational Resources

• Budget: 15,000 Ada
• A. Milestone Outputs:
• Comprehensive user documentation covering setup, usage, and troubleshooting.
• Tutorials and guides for developers to integrate the test wallet into their workflows.
• B. Acceptance Criteria:
• Documentation is clear, complete, and accessible.
• C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:
• Documentation published on GitHub and the project website.

Milestone 4: Community Feedback and Bug Fixes

• Budget: 15,000 Ada
• A. Milestone Outputs:
• Collect feedback from the developer community through GitHub issues and other communication channels.
• Identify and fix bugs based on user feedback and real-world usage.
• B. Acceptance Criteria:
• Successful collection of feedback and identification of key areas for improvement.
• Timely resolution of reported critical bugs and issues.
• C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:
• GitHub issue logs and resolution status.
• Release notes detailing bug fixes and updates.

Milestone 5: Maintenance and Ongoing Support

• Budget: 50,000 Ada
• A. Milestone Outputs:
• Provide maintenance and ongoing support for the test wallet for a year from the start of the project.
• Regular updates, performance improvements, and bug fixes based on feedback.
• B. Acceptance Criteria:
• Timely resolution of reported critical issues.
• Release of periodic updates improving functionality and security.
• C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:
• Release and release notes published in the repository.
• PRs and closed issues on Github

Milestone 6: Project Close-out Report and Demonstration Video

• Budget: Included in previous milestones
• A. Milestone Outputs:
• Comprehensive final report summarizing project achievements, challenges, and impact.
• A video demonstrating the test wallet's features, usage, and benefits to the Cardano community.
• B. Acceptance Criteria:
• Submission of the final report and video to the Catalyst program.
• C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:
• Copies of the final report and video available publicly.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Project Team and Roles

The Kuber Team is made up of experienced developers and project managers with a deep understanding of the Cardano ecosystem. Below is a breakdown of the core team members and their roles in the project:

Sandip Pandey

Main Proposer and Project Manager

• Role: Oversees both the technical and management aspects of the project, ensuring milestones are met on time and resources are properly allocated. He will support the team in coordinating project deliverables and handling community engagement.
• Github: https://github.com/spannercode
• Previous Involvement: Plutus Pioneer Program, Hard Fork Testing (Vasil & Chang), GovTool Testing, Mempool Explorer, Cardano Autonomous Agent Testing, Kuber IDE.

Niraj Duwal

Lead Developer for Cardano Test Wallet

• Role: Leads the client side SDK development.
• Github: https://github.com/kneerose
• Previous Involvement: Cardano-test-wallet(core maintainer), GovTool Testing, Mempool Explorer, Kuber IDE.

Sudip Bhattarai

Lead Backend and Infrastructure Engineer

• Role: Leads the backend development and manages infrastructure setup, including Cardano node, dbsync, and testing environments for private network setup.
• Github: https://github.com/mesudip
• Previous Involvement: Plutus Pioneer Program, Hard Fork Testing (Vasil & Chang), GovTool Testing, Mempool Explorer, Cardano Autonomous Agent Testing, Kuber IDE.

Sital Nagarkoti

Fullstack Developer

• Role: Handles frontend and backend development tasks, ensuring the Hydra integration is user-friendly and supports DApp developers efficiently.
• Github: https://github.com/Sital999
• Previous Involvement: Cardano Autonomous Agents Testing, Kuber IDE, BetterCollected.

Additional Team Members

Beyond the core team, we have an in-house team of 8 fullstack developers who will be involved as needed, depending on the scope of the project and the number of proposals funded. Each team member brings a unique set of skills to ensure that the project is completed on time and to a high standard.

We have already engaged all team members and discussed the project's scope, ensuring their availability and commitment to its success if the project is funded. With their combined experience in previous Cardano projects and hard fork testing, we are confident in our ability to deliver the project with the necessary expertise and resources.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Budget & Costs

The total budget requested for this project is 150,000 Ada, allocated to cover development, project management, community engagement, maintenance, and support. Below is a detailed breakdown of the proposed work and resources:

1. Development (85,000 Ada)

This covers all technical development activities, including extending the Cardano Test Wallet to support a single-node private network and enhancing its integration with automation tools like Playwright.

• Development Team Salaries (85,000 Ada):
• Lead Developer (1 person, 6 months): 25,000 Ada
• Responsible for overseeing the technical direction, architecture, and implementation.
• Software Engineer (1 persons, 6 months): 60,000 Ada
• Focused on coding, feature development, and integrating new functionalities.
• Writing user manuals, setup guides, and API documentation.

2. Project Management and Community Engagement (15,000 Ada)

Funds allocated to manage the project efficiently and engage with the Cardano community.

• Project Manager (1 person, spread through 12 months): 15,000 Ada
• Handles project planning, timelines, resource allocation, and coordination.
• Community Engagement Activities
• Participating in community events to introduce the test wallet and educate developers.
• Creating content, social media outreach, and promotional materials.

3. Maintenance and Ongoing Support (50,000 Ada)

Providing support and updates for one year post-launch to ensure the tool remains reliable and up-to-date. This is done by a separate team than the development team to ensure the continuity of the project.

• Maintenance Team (2 persons, spread through 12 months): 50,000 Ada
• Dedicated to fixing bugs, implementing updates, and improving performance based on user feedback.
• Updating the documentation

Project Participants

• Lead Developer and Project Manager:
• Role: Overseeing development, managing the team, ensuring milestones are met, and maintaining project quality.
• Software Engineer (1 person):
• Roles: Implementing new features, integrating the private network support, and enhancing automation capabilities, Conducting tests to ensure the wallet functions correctly across various scenarios.
• Role: Developing clear and comprehensive documentation and tutorials for users.
• Maintenance Team (2 persons):
• Roles: Providing ongoing support, addressing bugs, and releasing updates post-launch.

Additional Budget Considerations

• Publicity and Marketing:
• Allocated funds for promoting the project to increase awareness and adoption within the community.
• Project Management:
• Ensuring efficient workflow, timely completion of milestones, and effective team coordination.
• Open-Source Commitment:
• All outputs will be made available under an open-source license, allowing for community participation and transparency.

Total Budget: 150,000 Ada

• Development: 85,000 Ada
• Project Management and Community Engagement: 15,000 Ada
• Maintenance and Support: 50,000 Ada

Note: If the project costs exceed the funding request, additional resources will be sought through alternative funding sources or personal investment to ensure the project's successful completion.

By providing this detailed budget breakdown, we aim to demonstrate our commitment to transparency and responsible fund management. Every element of our plan is carefully considered to ensure the project's success and to bring significant value to the Cardano community.

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

Value for Money

We believe this project offers substantial value to the Cardano ecosystem by tackling a significant hurdle in DApp development—the need for an efficient test wallet that integrates smoothly with automation tools for end-to-end testing. The requested budget of 150,000 Ada is thoughtfully allocated to develop and deliver an open-source solution that aims to boost developer productivity and foster innovation within Cardano.

Cost Justification:

• Development Costs (85,000 Ada): This forms the core of our project, covering the technical work required to extend the Cardano Test Wallet with single-node private network support. We've based this amount on standard industry rates for blockchain development to ensure we can attract skilled developers while keeping costs reasonable.
• Project Management and Community Engagement (15,000 Ada): Effective coordination and active engagement with the community are crucial for success. These funds will help us manage the project efficiently, meet our milestones, and interact with developers to gather feedback and improve the tool.
• Maintenance and Ongoing Support (50,000 Ada): Providing maintenance and support for a year after launch is important to keep the tool reliable and up-to-date. This investment will allow us to address any issues that come up and make necessary updates based on user feedback.

Value for the Cardano Ecosystem:

Our aim is to make testing easier and more efficient for developers. By reducing reliance on slow faucets and integrating with automation frameworks like Playwright, we hope to enable developers to test their applications more effectively. This can lead to quicker deployment of high-quality DApps, benefiting everyone in the community.

Since the project is open-source, it not only addresses immediate needs but also provides a foundation for future enhancements. We encourage other developers to build upon our work, which can contribute to the ongoing growth and improvement of Cardano's technology.

By streamlining the testing process, we anticipate that more innovative DApps will emerge, enriching the Cardano platform and offering more options for users.

Supporting Evidence:

The budget aligns with typical costs for similar projects in the blockchain industry, considering the technical complexity and the specialized skills required. We've aimed to keep the costs fair while ensuring we can deliver a high-quality product.

Our team has experience with previous Cardano projects like the Mempool Explorer and Cardano Autonomous Testing. This background gives us confidence that we can manage the project effectively and use the funds wisely.

Conclusion

In summary, we feel that this proposal represents good value for money by helping developers work more efficiently, encouraging the creation of new DApps, and providing a tool that benefits the entire Cardano community. We believe that supporting this project will contribute positively to the growth and success of the Cardano ecosystem.