Anvil - A SDK Built for Adoption

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Zachary Soesbee

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

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

465000

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

8

[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)

Anvil will provide a public use SDK. This SDK will reduce the need for specialized Cardano development skills, prompting adoption.

[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?

No

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

Not open source

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Anvil aims to make most of our SDK available for public use.

We will enhance the quality of our product, documentation, and usability.

Building on Cardano should be easy

The Anvil SDK and tools have been successfully integrated in many well-known projects in and out of Cardano. This proposal will allow us to take components of our paid SDK and adapt them to a set of free-to-use tools. In turn, this will streamline the acquisition process of our SDK, while also reducing the cost and complexity of project implementation. We plan on using a portion of the proposal budget to strengthen our existing tools, our documentation, and create more useful functions.

A Cardano project should be able to use their current development team or easily hire a developer, currently, that is not a reality.

Current related Anvil service reference

• (Anvil SDK)[https://docs.ada-anvil.io]
• (Universal Wallet Connector)[https://milestones.projectcatalyst.io/projects/1100028]

How do we know these challenges?

We've experienced challenges ourselves, and tried different solutions—some were successful right away, others took a large commitment to understand and improve—a lot of the tools and calls we built were out of sheer need, or lack of an existing solution. Now, we plan on leveraging our experience to refine our SDK, making it more accessible and easier for others to overcome these challenges.

How will we achieve this?

1. Identify the most common and difficult functions a developer needs for a project
2. Improve current features and develop anything missing
3. Update the SDK documentation to reflect the enhancements
4. Create new SDK documentation to outline new features added
5. Add real use case examples to documentation to demonstrate how the SDK can be used effectively
6. Integrate our "Open Source - Universal Wallet Connector" proposal to offer a seamless extension
7. Set up our website to host a sign-up portal for API keys that will simplify the onboarding process
8. Update the indexer to support new functions
9. Make Web3 Easy!

Private features to be made Public

1. Authentication
2. Wallet extended
3. SPO Tool
4. Non custodial staking*
5. ManageMint*
6. Self-serve mint*

* This feature may need an Anvil developer's involvement at some stage and/or fees may apply

New functionalities 

1. Advanced Anvil Cardano transaction builder
2. Exchanges capabilities (Cardano tokens and Cross-chain)
3. Basic marketplace functions such as listing, delisting, offers, and trade
4. Enhance the response time of most Wallet extended functions by utilizing the Anvil indexer rather than third-party services
5. Seamlessly manage chained transactions in relevant functions and where’s applicable
6. More trivial assets handling as:
7. Get a complete collection including metadata in a single and fast request
8. Standardize the metadata across all our functions by pre-parsing, pre-processing, and standardizing CIP-25 and CIP-68 format

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

Positive Impact on the Cardano Community:

Our project will significantly enhance the Cardano ecosystem by lowering the barrier of entry for developers, particularly those from non-blockchain backgrounds. By simplifying access to advanced blockchain functionalities through our SDK, we enable a broader range of developers to innovate and create applications on the Cardano blockchain. This inclusivity not only drives a higher volume of quality applications but also fosters a more vibrant and diverse community.

Benefits examples:

A developer could:

1. Build his own staking platform
2. Handle his own mint
3. Implement a trading system
4. Do different custom projects
5. Use the exchanges capabilities in any of the above applications

A project could:

1. Use their current dev team
2. Select a developer with no blockchain experience, which may be more cost-effective
3. Lower their risk by enhancing the probability of bringing their project to completion
4. Allocate their resources with their objectives instead of dedicating them mainly to development

Additionally, our solution offers the following advantages: 

- Lower Development Costs: By reducing the complexity of blockchain integration, developers can save on costs associated with learning and implementing blockchain technologies.  

- Optimized Chain Capability Utilization: Our SDK enables better utilization of Cardano’s capabilities, enhancing the performance and scalability of applications.  

- Greater Potential for Real-Life Applications: By simplifying the integration process, our tool increases the chances of onboarding applications that solve real-world problems, thereby expanding Cardano's applicability beyond traditional blockchain contexts.

Measuring Impact:  

The impact of our project will be measured both quantitatively and qualitatively:  

- Quantitative Metrics: We will track the number of developers adopting our SDK, the number and types of applications developed using our tool, and the frequency of SDK calls. These metrics will help quantify the adoption rate and the active utilization of our SDK within the developer community.  

- Qualitative Feedback: We will engage with the developer community through forums, surveys, and direct feedback to gather insights into the SDK’s usability and effectiveness. This feedback will be crucial in iterating and improving the SDK.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities:  

Outputs and opportunities resulting from our project will be shared with the Cardano community through multiple channels: 

- Documentation and Tutorials: Comprehensive documentation and tutorials will be made available to guide developers on how to use the SDK effectively. This will include use-case examples and best practices.  

- Community Engagement: We will actively participate in Cardano community events, workshops, and online forums to demonstrate the capabilities of our SDK and help developers understand how to integrate it into their projects.

[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 to Deliver with Trust and Accountability:

Our team includes skilled blockchain developers and project managers who have successfully completed complex projects. We are experts in the Cardano ecosystem, as shown by our past projects that have made blockchain more accessible and user-friendly. To build trust and ensure accountability, we follow strict project management methods. We are also highly engaged in the Cardano ecosystem and trusted amongst the community. 

Validation of Approach:

Our SDK has already proven its value in the real world, being successfully integrated into diverse projects ranging from metaverses to retail clothing brands operating on the Cardano blockchain, even MBOs. These implementations showcase the robustness and adaptability of our tools, which have significantly enhanced the capabilities of these projects.

By funding this proposal, we will not only add more functionality to our SDK but also increase its accessibility, further lowering the entry barrier for developers. This enhancement ensures that any Cardano project can utilize their current development team or easily onboard developers with minimal blockchain experience, making our tools even more indispensable to the ecosystem.

To rigorously evaluate the feasibility of our updated SDK, we will:

• Conduct online market research to stay updated on the latest integration challenges and solutions within the blockchain space.
• Implement real use case scenarios to demonstrate the refined capabilities of our SDK, ensuring it meets practical demands efficiently.
• Perform a comparative analysis with other available SDKs, focusing on responsiveness, user-friendliness, and cost-effectiveness to ensure our SDK remains the most comprehensive option available.

This multi-faceted validation approach allows us to continuously refine our SDK, ensuring it not only meets, but exceeds the evolving needs of developers and projects within the Cardano ecosystem.

Utilizing this approach, we aim to make sure that our SDK exceeds expectations. Our focus is on simplicity and effectiveness, which will enable us to deliver the project reliably and transparently.

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

Milestone 1: Project Kickoff and Initial Setup

• Objective: Formalize project scope, assemble the development team, and set up initial project infrastructure.
• Activities:
• Develop a project plan with timelines.
• Assemble and brief the development team.
• Set up project management tools and repositories.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Project plan approved by the project steering committee.
• Development team fully staffed and briefed.
• Project management tools operational.

Milestone 2: Enhancement of Existing Features

• Objective: Improve and extend existing functionalities, including integration with the "Universal Wallet Connector".
• Activities:
• Identify key areas of improvement and new capabilities for integration.
• Develop enhancements and new functionalities.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Enhanced features meet predefined performance benchmarks.
• All identified key areas of improvement are addressed or justified.

Milestone 3: Development of New SDK Functionalities

• Objective: Develop and integrate new functionalities
• Activities:
• Design and develop new functionalities such as advanced transaction builders and exchange capabilities.
• Integrate these new functionalities, ensuring they compliment the existing framework.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Successful integration of new functionalities.

Milestone 4: SDK Documentation and Community Resources Update

• Objective: Update and expand the SDK documentation and community resources.
• Activities:
• Revise existing documentation to include updates and new features.
• Create new tutorials and real use case examples.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Comprehensive documentation and tutorials updated and available.

Milestone 5: Public Beta Release and Feedback Integration

• Objective: Release the updated SDK to public beta and integrate user feedback.
• Activities:
• Launch a public beta version of the SDK.
• Collect and analyze user feedback.
• Make necessary adjustments based on feedback.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Public beta successfully launched and accessible.

Final Milestone: Final Release, Project Close-Out, and Dissemination

• Objective: Finalize the SDK, close out the project, and disseminate the results.
• Activities:
• Finalize SDK adjustments and prepare for the official release.
• Prepare the Project Close-out Report detailing the project outcomes and challenges
• Produce a comprehensive video that highlights the project's achievements and potential impact on the Cardano community.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• SDK officially released and stable.
• Project Close-out Report and video completed and received positively by the community.
• Demonstrable evidence of impact and value provided to the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Cash (Zachary Soesbee) - CEO/Management

Patrick Bernard - Project manager and marketing 

Jérémie Bergeron - Lead developer UI/UX 

David Desjardins - Lead developer backend and smart contract 

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

SDK Portal: 15% 

Seamless portal for users to enter and acquire the SDK

• Development of portal

SDK: 35%

Development of the SDK:

• Adding New features (Exchange)
• Maximizing output of current calls 

UX/UI: 15% 

Creation and design of portal

Documentation and examples: 20% 

Adjusting our current documentation to make it more user freindly

• Adding new features
• Tweaking current feature documentation
• Adding additional visual content

Project management: 5% 

Overall management and planning of project

Free plan cost: 10%

Accounting for all free use cases

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

The cost of our project represents exceptional value for money for the Cardano ecosystem, primarily through the significant enhancements it offers and the strategic fee version. 

Here’s a detailed justification:

• Free Version vs. Server Cost: We will provide a free version of our SDK, which allows developers to experiment and innovate without upfront costs. This inclusivity is crucial for encouraging exploration and adoption. The costs associated with maintaining servers to support this free access are substantial, yet they are crucial for lowering barriers to entry and fostering a diverse developer community.

- Indexer Improvement: Part of our budget is allocated to improving the indexer, which is essential for enhancing the functionality and speed of blockchain interactions. This not only optimizes performance but also reduces the time developers spend managing data retrieval and processing, thereby saving on development costs in the long run.

- Development and Design Time/Cost: The costs associated with development and design are aligned with industry standards. We have benchmarked these against the average wage for software developers and designers in our country, ensuring that our project costs are proportional and justifiable. The investment in high-quality development and design ensures that the sign up portal and the documentation is not only functional but also user-friendly, which is critical for adoption.

- Opportunity Cost: While not a direct financial outlay, the opportunity cost represented by the potential revenue lost during the focus on this project is significant. By choosing to allocate resources to this project, we are prioritizing long-term ecosystem growth over immediate profit.

- Economic Evidence: The cost structure of our project is informed by research into typical freelance rates and software development costs in the blockchain industry. By ensuring our costs are in line with these benchmarks, we make certain that every dollar spent is an investment in robust, scalable solutions that extend beyond traditional blockchain applications.

These expenditures are designed to ensure that our SDK not only meets current developer needs but also anticipates future demands, making it a sustainable and valuable tool for the Cardano community. By focusing on lowering development costs, optimizing chain capability utilization, and increasing the potential for real-life applications we illustrate a clear return on investment through the enhanced quality, and quantity, of blockchain applications within the ecosystem. 

By measuring the impact both quantitatively and qualitatively, we will continuously validate that the project remains a cost-effective solution that drives substantial value for money, enhancing Cardano’s position as a leading blockchain.