Protofire - Contract Explorer

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Manuel Padilla

[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)

A Web that will provide information about the scripts used. To allow users to input the hash or script address & get access to its code, explanations & comments that help them see what it does

[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.”

1. Wallet Services and Providers: For optimal results, integration with wallet services and providers is necessary. These entities need to adopt and use our API to fetch smart contract info, which can impact the reach and effectiveness of our solution.
2. Blockchain Explorers: Similar to wallet services, blockchain explorers' integration with our API will significantly enhance the dissemination of script information and NFT verification data.

[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

Contract Explorer will be fully open source, available throughout the entire project lifecycle as GitHub repository. We will use the GNU General Public License. This ensures that all developers can freely use, modify, and contribute to the project, fostering a collaborative ecosystem around Cardano development tools.

[METADATA] Horizons

Smart Contracts

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Source Code and Blueprints

Administrators will be able to upload the source code and JSON Blueprint files of a contract (https://cips.cardano.org/cips/cip57/) along with its corresponding hash on our website. The platform will verify that compiling that source code generates the specified hash.

Initially, we will accept source code in Haskell, but we intend to incorporate all available contract writing forms. To achieve this, we will implement a compilation process for each of these forms and obtain the resulting hash, which will then be compared to the initially provided hash.

Ideally, the submitted source code should include comments and documentation so that the average user can understand and comprehend what the contracts they are interacting with do.

Searching Scripts

Users will search for a hash and obtain information and details of the contract. The platform will display contract definitions, source code, explanations, comments, and various ratings left by users who have analyzed the code.

Analysis by Creators and Third Parties

Users will be able to perform analysis, leave comments, and provide ratings for each contract. Both the creator and other users can analyze the code and leave their insights, and these analyses can be rated and ranked.

Some possible ratings for the contract could be: secure, clear, controversial, unreadable, insecure, etc.

A reputation system could be implemented to reward users for their participation and valuable contributions.

The goal is to have these analyses written in terms understandable to an average person, explaining what the contract does in general, its datums and redeemers, under what valid conditions it operates, and under what conditions it fails.

Minting Policies and NFTs

In the case of minting policies, we will provide additional information about the tokens being generated, such as whether they are FTs or NFTs, if there are wallet restrictions for generating them, if there are temporal limitations and other relevant aspects.

This information is particularly valuable for studying NFTs. Some NFTs hold high economic value, often costing hundreds or thousands of dollars, and many users cannot determine with certainty whether what they are purchasing is truly an NFT or simply resembles one.

For a token to be considered an NFT, the minting policy must meet certain conditions to prevent duplication. There are various ways to achieve this, including utilizing temporal conditions that can be highly useful. However, the most established condition for defining such policies is to use a UTXO as a parameter of the policy and ensure that this UTXO is being consumed, indicating that the policy will only validate once. This is one of the necessary conditions for creating NFTs. Therefore, we can analyze the scripts and their source code to identify which policies fulfill this condition and provide this information to users.

REST API

We will be implementing an API to query token information based on minting policies. This API will provide details about the token, such as whether it is an NFT or an FT, reuse restrictions of the policy, specific wallet restrictions, temporal limitations and the maximum supply defined in the policy, among other relevant aspects.

Different wallet services will be able to access this information through our API and clearly display to users whether a token is considered an NFT or not. Additionally, network explorers can also utilize our API to provide this information to users.

In addition, we will also introduce the capability to query contract information through APIs. This feature will provide basic information about a contract, as well as reviews and ratings associated with it.

The REST API will provide a user-friendly interface for developers and service providers to access our data programmatically. They can query specific policies or smart contracts, retrieve token attributes, and integrate this information into their applications or platforms.

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

Impact on the Cardano Ecosystem:

1. User Engagement: Expect an increase in the number of users engaging with the Cardano network, as they have access to a tool that helps them understand what they are interacting with.
2. Developer Involvement: By offering insights and an avenue for sharing code, it's likely to have more developers contributing to the ecosystem.
3. Trust and Transparency: Establishing a source of truth for contracts and policies could lead to increased trust in the ecosystem.

We intend to measure the success of our project through a combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics:

1. User Adoption Rate: Measuring the number of users who sign up and actively use our platform over time. A steady increase in this number indicates that the community finds value in the service we provide.
2. API Integration Adoption: Tracking the number of wallet services, blockchain explorers, and other third-party applications that integrate our API. This serves as an indicator of how well our service is being adopted within the Cardano ecosystem.
3. User Feedback and Satisfaction: Collect feedback through user surveys and reviews to gauge the quality of the user experience and the usefulness of our platform. Positive feedback and constructive criticism will be crucial indicators of success.
4. Community Engagement: Monitoring community engagement in terms of discussions, questions, and content sharing related to our platform on social media and forums. A thriving community discussion is a good indicator of interest and perceived value.
5. Educational Impact: Assessing the level of understanding and awareness that users gain from using the platform. This can be measured qualitatively through feedback and by tracking how often educational content is accessed.
6. Developer Engagement: Measuring the number of developers who use the platform for analyzing scripts, submitting their code, or learning. This reflects how the platform is contributing to the development community.
7. Content Submissions and Updates: Tracking the number of new scripts, contracts, and analyses submitted by the community. This indicates the community’s involvement in keeping the platform updated.

Short-Term Impact on Cardano’s Productivity and Growth:

• Enhanced transparency and trust within the community.
• Better-informed users making safer interactions with smart contracts.
• A potential reduction in scams and malicious contracts.

Long-Term Impact on Cardano’s Productivity and Growth:

• Sustained growth in the user base due to increased confidence.
• A more educated community, leading to higher quality dApps and smart contracts.
• Developers become more proficient in creating secure and efficient smart contracts, enriching the Cardano ecosystem.

Our plans to share the outputs and results of our project are structured around broad dissemination, community engagement, and collaboration. Here's how we plan to achieve this:

1. Open Source Code and Documentation: We will create a dedicated GitHub repository to share all the code, Dockerfiles, documentation, and resources developed as part of the project. This repository will serve as a centralized hub where developers can access and contribute to the project's outputs.
2. Project Catalyst: We will submit regular updates and progress reports to Project Catalyst, sharing the milestones achieved, impact metrics, and future plans.
3. Social Media and Forums: We plan to share updates and milestones on platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and the Cardano forums. Engaging with the community through these channels helps to keep them informed and allows for direct feedback.
4. Webinars and Meetups: We will organize webinars and participate in meetups to present the results and opportunities created by the project. This will also include demonstrations on how the project can be used and integrated into other services.
5. Collaboration with Wallets and Explorers: Reaching out to wallet services, blockchain explorers, and other stakeholders to integrate our API. This will enhance the user experience by offering them insights on scripts directly within these services.
6. Community Feedback Loop: We’ll actively encourage the community to provide feedback and suggestions, and will implement valuable recommendations into the project’s ongoing development.

In terms of utilizing the results for further research and development activities:

1. Continuous Improvement: Data and feedback obtained from users will be used for continuous improvement of the platform, refining algorithms, and adding new features.
2. Expansion to New Use Cases: Depending on the success and community interest, we may expand the project to cater to additional use cases 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?

Our capability to deliver the project with high levels of trust and accountability stems from the experience, expertise, and organizational processes we have in place. Here's why we are well-suited to execute this project:

• Protofire's Track Record: Protofire, which is spearheading this project, has an established reputation in building decentralized infrastructure, protocols, applications, and developer platforms. Its specialized skills in enhancing developer adoption and network usage are crucial for the success of this project.
• Skilled Team: Our team is composed of professionals with diverse backgrounds, including blockchain development, smart contracts, security, data analytics, and project management. This ensures a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving and guarantees the employment of best practices in execution.
• Previous Contributions: Protofire has a history of making meaningful contributions to the blockchain community. This indicates not only technical capabilities but also a commitment to the advancement of decentralized technologies.
• We have successfully delivered two Catalyst-funded proposals: Dev Studio (completed) and SmartUTXO (80% complete). These projects demonstrate our ability to execute Cardano development tools effectively.
• Dev Studio
• SmartUTXO
• Transparent Communication: We will maintain open lines of communication with the community through regular updates and engaging in forums. This transparency is essential for building trust.
• Robust Financial Management: We will implement strict financial controls and regular auditing to ensure that funds are used efficiently and for the intended purpose. This includes having a clear budget allocation, milestones-based disbursements, and financial reporting.
• Scalable Solutions: Protofire’s experience ensures that the solutions we develop are scalable and able to adapt to the evolving needs of the Cardano ecosystem. This speaks to our capability to deliver not just a project, but a sustainable and evolving solution.
• Feedback and Iterative Development: We will incorporate feedback from the community and users, and employ an iterative development process. This ensures that the project adapts and improves based on real-world input and requirements.

Our accumulated experience, transparency, and commitment to best practices and community engagement make us not only capable but trustworthy stewards of this project.

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

Project Setup and Initial Website Development

Duration: 4 weeks

A. Milestone outputs:

• Project repository setup
• Basic website structure with homepage and navigation
• Initial database schema design

B. Acceptance criteria:

• GitHub repository is created and accessible to team members
• Website displays a functional homepage and navigation menu
• Database schema is designed and documented

C. Evidence of milestone completion:

• Video tour of the initial website structure
• Report on the project setup and database schema design
• Link to the GitHub repository

User Authentication and Basic Contract Storage

Duration: 4 weeks

A. Milestone outputs:

• User registration and login functionality using Cardano wallets
• Basic database implementation for storing contract information
• Simple form for administrators to input contract data

B. Acceptance criteria:

• Users can register and log in using their Cardano wallets
• Database successfully stores and retrieves basic contract information
• Administrators can input contract data through a web form

C. Evidence of milestone completion:

• Video demonstration of user authentication and contract data input
• Report on the implementation of user authentication and database functionality
• 
  
• Updated GitHub repository with new features

Contract Upload and Verification System

Duration: 4 weeks

A. Milestone outputs:

• Functionality for uploading source code and JSON Blueprint files
• Basic compilation and hash verification process
• Simple search functionality for contracts

B. Acceptance criteria:

• Administrators can upload source code and JSON Blueprint files
• System verifies that uploaded source code compiles to the specified hash
• Users can search for contracts by hash or other basic criteria

C. Evidence of milestone completion:

• Video showcasing the contract upload and verification process
• Report on the implementation of the verification system
• Updated GitHub repository reflecting new functionality

User Analysis and Rating System

Duration: 4 weeks

A. Milestone outputs:

• User interface for leaving comments on contracts
• Basic rating system for contracts
• Display of user comments and ratings on contract pages

B. Acceptance criteria:

• Users can leave comments on individual contracts
• Users can rate contracts on a simple scale (e.g., 1-5 stars)
• Comments and ratings are displayed on contract pages

C. Evidence of milestone completion:

• Video demonstration of the comment and rating system
• Report on the implementation of user analysis features
• 
  
• Updated GitHub repository with new features

REST API Development

Duration: 4 weeks

A. Milestone outputs:

• Basic REST API for retrieving contract information
• API endpoints for user comments and ratings
• Simple documentation for API usage

B. Acceptance criteria:

• API successfully returns contract information based on hash queries
• API supports basic CRUD operations for user comments and ratings
• API documentation is clear and accessible to developers

C. Evidence of milestone completion:

• Video showcasing API functionality and example queries
• Report on API development and available endpoints
• Updated GitHub repository with API code and documentation

Testing, Launch, and Project Closeout

Duration: 4 weeks

A. Milestone outputs:

• Comprehensive testing of all implemented features
• Public launch of the website and API
• Project closeout report and video as per Catalyst requirements

B. Acceptance criteria:

• All major bugs and issues identified during testing are resolved
• Website and API are publicly accessible and functional
• Closeout report and video meet Catalyst specifications

C. Evidence of milestone completion:

• Final demonstration video of the entire platform
• Comprehensive project closeout report following Catalyst guidelines
• 
  
• Link to the live, public website and API documentation

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

Protofire Experience

Protofire stands at the forefront of the Web3 revolution, offering a comprehensive range of services to empower and catalyze the growth of decentralized technologies. With our deep-rooted expertise and vast experience, we have established ourselves as a trusted partner for clients seeking to harness the full potential of blockchain and Web3 applications. From smart contract development and decentralized app creation to developer tools, integrations, DevOps, wallets, and TVL solutions, our team of blockchain mavericks has collaborated with prominent projects and platforms, such as Gnosis Safe Wallet, Chainlink, The Graph, Filecoin, MakerDAO, Fuse, CowSwap, and many others. We are committed to bringing your visionary ideas to life, combining technical prowess with effective project management to drive the success of your Web3 endeavors

Diego Torres Project Management

https://www.linkedin.com/in/diego-torres-borda-94b70912/ 

In 2018, I stumbled upon Bitcoin's White Paper, and it was love at first sight. Since then, I've immersed myself in the world of blockchain and studied numerous other protocols, from Ethereum to third-generation blockchains. To me, a decentralized protocol is more than just a buzzword - it's a community-driven decision-making organization with open and public records, enforced by consensus protocols that ensure permissionless access and censorship resistance. 

 Web3 Experience

• Protofire FCTO: Business Development. Education. Team Leadership.
• The Graph: Indexing Operation Leadership. Subgraph development. Hosted services to third parties.
• Polkadot Ecosystem: Contract Wizard & Multisg development. Infrastructure as a service to Parachains.
• Cardano Ecosystem: RastDAO Founder, Core team at Mayz & Cardano Ambassador. 

Manuel Padilla Lead Software Engineer & Blockchain Specialist

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuel-ale-padilla/

Manuel Padilla is a versatile and highly motivated software engineer with a Bachelor's degree in Technology from the National Technological University. Having a plethora of programming languages under their belt, including but not limited to SQL, Basic, C, C++, VB, .NET, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, and Haskell, Manuel Padilla brings over 13 years of experience in web development and software engineering.

Web3 Experience:

• Protofire (April 2023 - Present): Currently working as a Software Engineer, focusing on blockchain technologies including Cardano, Plutus, DeFi, and DApps.
• MAYZ Protocol (October 2022 - Present): Involved in full-stack blockchain development, specializing in Cardano, Plutus, and Haskell.
• RATS DAO (January 2022 - Present): Serving as a Web Developer, DApp Developer, and Blockchain Developer, primarily focusing on Cardano, Plutus, and Haskell.
• 
  

dApps:

• https://aldea-nft-marketplace.vercel.app/
• https://staking.ratsdao.io/

GitHub:

https://github.com/manupadillaph/

Camila Mancusi QA Engineer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/camilamancusi/

Camila wants to participate improving the user experience and usability in the web3 applications to make this world more friendly and accesible to everyone. She wants to be involved in making possible that using web3 functionalities is as simple and usual as those focused on web2

Web3 Experience:

• Protofire: QA & Project Management
• SimpleState: Design test cases. Participate in the definition of features. Design scenarios and test cases.Report errors, propose solutions and validate the correction. Ensuring that the product is ready for the customer
• UNICEF: Design test cases. Participate in the definition of features. Creates test executions. Reports bugs / issues. Monitor bug priorities.

Luis Lopez Full Stack Developer 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/luigibyte/ 

Luis likes the entire Blockchain ecosystem, and He is currently creating an minting Dapp for BadgerDAO. Expert knowledge in NodeJS, Web3JS, SM, Solidity. Has experience with Smart Contracts. Polkadot, Polygon, Chainlink, Lens

Web3 Experience:

• Protofire: Full Stack Developer
• BadgerDAO: 
• MakerDAO: Subgraph development
• Messari: Built subgraph for harvest-finance yield-farming protocol Messari

 Braian Leiva DevOps

https://www.linkedin.com/in/braian-leiva/

Fan of blockchain and decentralized system. Infrastructure automation lover.

Experience:

• 15+ years of experience using Linux (Debian, Centos, Arch Linux, Red Hat, OpenSUSE, Fedora, Ubuntu, etc).
• 7+ years designing, maintaining and improving all size of application Infrastructure as System Engineer and now as Cloud Engineer.
• 4+ years using AWS. I'm Amazon Solutions Architect working on infrastructure automation using tools like Terraform, Cloudformation, Sam, Serverless, Fargate, CodePipeline, Docker, Python.
• Currently working as DevOps/Cloud Engineer
• Also studying and learning Data Science and Machine Learning. He've got AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty (MLS)

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

Milestone 1: Project Setup and Initial Website Development

• Project Manager: 2,000 ADA
• Technical Architect: 8,000 ADA
• Full Stack Developer: 10,000 ADA
• DevOps Engineer: 2,000 ADA
• Subtotal: 22,000 ADA

Milestone 2: User Authentication and Basic Contract Storage

• Project Manager: 1,000 ADA
• Full Stack Developer: 15,000 ADA
• UI/UX Designer: 8,000 ADA
• Quality Assurance Specialist: 1,000 ADA
• Subtotal: 25,000 ADA

Milestone 3: Contract Upload and Verification System

• Project Manager: 1,000 ADA
• Full Stack Developer: 15,000 ADA
• Blockchain Developer: 8,000 ADA
• Quality Assurance Specialist: 1,000 ADA
• Subtotal: 25,000 ADA

Milestone 4: User Analysis and Rating System

• Project Manager: 1,000 ADA
• Full Stack Developer: 30,000 ADA
• Blockchain Developer: 17,000 ADA
• Marketing and Community Manager: 3,000 ADA
• Quality Assurance Specialist: 3,000 ADA
• Subtotal: 54,000 ADA

Milestone 5: REST API Development

• Project Manager: 1,000 ADA
• Full Stack Developer: 17,000 ADA
• Blockchain Developer: 9,000 ADA
• Quality Assurance Specialist: 8,000 ADA
• Subtotal: 35,000 ADA

Milestone 6: Testing, Launch, and Project Closeout

• Project Manager: 1,000 ADA
• Full Stack Developer: 10,000 ADA
• DevOps Engineer: 6,000 ADA
• Quality Assurance Specialist: 4,000 ADA
• Subtotal: 21,000 ADA

Total General: 182,000 ADA

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

We, at Protofire, are thrilled to submit our proposal for the Catalyst Grant Program, highlighting our strong determination to enter in Cardano ecosystem as +80 Engineer Company. 

In this proposal, we will outline our approach, emphasizing the importance of quality, adherence to timelines and milestone base projects, and our proven track record in diverse markets.

While profitability is undoubtedly a critical aspect of any project, we recognize that onboarding Cardano requires a long-term vision that extends beyond immediate financial gains. We understand that investing in this new technology may initially result in costs that surpass our break-even point.

However, we firmly believe that by strategically positioning ourselves within this ecosystem, we will eventually become a main character that can drive and produce great value for everyone.

So for Cardano, this proposal represents a world-class team working on an open-source tool for half the cost. It's definitely a good deal!

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

1. Innovation and Scalability: The project focuses on enhancing the capabilities of smart contract interactions with the Cardano blockchain. By offering an efficient and scalable solution for making smart contracts more transparent.
2. Integration with Wallets and Blockchain Explorers: To maximize the impact, we aim to integrate our system with existing wallets and blockchain explorers in the Cardano ecosyste
3. Increase Transparency of Scripts and Contracts in the Cardano Network: The foremost goal is to build a system that enables users to understand what scripts and contracts on the Cardano network do without the need for programming knowledge. This would involve creating an interface and an API that can translate scripts into human-readable formats.
4. Enhance Security and Trust in the Cardano Ecosystem: By increasing transparency, we aim to build a more secure environment within the Cardano ecosystem where users can make informed decisions.
5. Knowledge Sharing and Documentation: With comprehensive documentation and examples, the project acts as a knowledge base for developers who want to integrate with the Cardano blockchain. This education can accelerate the adoption of Cardano technology and attract more talent to the ecosystem.
6. Education and Community Engagement: The project will seek to educate and engage the Cardano community on the importance of transparency and understanding the contracts they interact with.
7. Expand Developer Adoption: By providing tools that make scripts and contracts more accessible, we hope to lower the barriers to entry for new developers and users alike.

Validation: Track the number of new developers using the Cardano network, and gather feedback from them regarding how the project influenced their decision to develop on Cardano.