Gasless Tx Library: Empowering Cardano dApps & DAOs to Sponsor Gas Fees to Increase User Base and Adoption - Open-source

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Sricharan Ganta (nucast)

[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)

4

[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 library for gasless transactions that enables seamless dApp integration, removes gas fees as a barrier for new users, and unlocks new use cases for existing dApps & DAOs.

[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

The project will be open source under MIT License. This will allow anyone to do whatever they wish with the original code, as long as the original copyright and license notice is included either in the distributed source code or software.

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG Goals

8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

SDG Subgoals

17.19 - By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product, and support statistical capacity-building in developing countries

9.1 - Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all

9.b - Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Introduction

We'll deliver a gasless tx library which will enhance the Cardano onboarding experience, improve the flow of On-Chain Governance & interaction between the user and decentralized applications (dApps).

Objective

The primary objective of this library is to facilitate seamless user interactions by moving gas/tx fees behind the scenes. This will create an improved user experience by removing the need for them to pay the fees altogether.

How It Works

The gasless transaction library utilizes a meta-transaction workflow where:

• User Transactions: Users sign transactions without paying the gas fee.
• Relayer Scripts: These scripts receive the signed transactions and submit them to the blockchain.
• Fee Sponsorship: The gas costs are covered by the platform through a dedicated ADA pool designed to foster user adoption.

Key Features:

• Simplified Integration
• Provides a well-documented and easy-to-use interface for platforms.
• Minimizes the development effort required to implement gasless transactions.
• Abstracted Gas Management
• Manages gas fees transparently, offering users a frictionless experience.
• Allows platforms to subsidize gas costs without involving the end user.
• Enhanced User Experience
• Enables users to interact with dApps without worrying about gas fees.
• Promotes a seamless and engaging user experience across various platforms.

Benefits:

• For Users:
• Enjoy frictionless access to dApps without the complexity of gas fees.
• Engage more freely with the ecosystem, enhancing participation and satisfaction.
• For dApp Developers:
• Focus on core application features rather than infrastructure concerns.
• Attract a broader audience by lowering the entry barriers to dApp usage.
• For the Cardano Ecosystem:
• Increases overall adoption and encourages the development of innovative dApps.
• Strengthens Cardano’s position by offering user-friendly solutions.

Use Cases:

• Blockchain-Based Games:
• Enables players to make in-game purchases and trades without gas fees.
• Facilitates seamless participation in game events and quests.
• Social Networking Platforms:
• Allows for gas-free tipping, content purchases, and subscriptions.
• Supports the creation of decentralized social experiences without financial barriers.
• Creative Content Marketplaces:
• Streamlines the buying and selling of digital art, music, and videos.
• Encourages a larger volume of transactions by removing gas cost concerns.
• Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Platforms:
• Enables users to participate in staking, lending, and other DeFi activities without the overhead of gas fees.
• Facilitates smoother and more frequent transactions for yield farming and liquidity provisioning.
• Voting and Governance:
• Supports gas-free voting in DAOs and other governance frameworks, increasing voter turnout.
• Simplifies the process of engaging in protocol governance and decision-making.
• Supply Chain Tracking:
• Enables companies to log and verify supply chain actions without transaction fees, improving transparency and participation.
• Facilitates the adoption of blockchain for tracking by reducing operational costs.

and many more...

Conclusion

By providing a gasless transaction library, we empower the Cardano community to build more accessible and user-friendly dApps. This initiative is expected to fuel the growth and diversification of the Cardano ecosystem, making it more attractive to users and developers alike.

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

Impact

The gasless transaction library will have a significant positive impact on the wider Cardano community by:

• Enhancing User Experience: By removing the need to manage and pay gas fees, we make Cardano more accessible to a broader audience, enhancing user experience and increasing adoption in usecases such as On-Chain Governance Voting.
• Empowering Developers and Founders: By eliminating concerns around gas fees, developers and founders can focus more on innovation and user engagement strategies, rather than on the complexities of user acquisition costs.
• Strengthening the Ecosystem: Increased usage of dApps and participation in on-chain governance strengthens the overall Cardano ecosystem, making it more robust and versatile.

Measuring Impact

• Quantitative Metrics:
• User Growth: Track the increase in active users of dApps using the gasless tx library.
• Transaction Volume: Monitor the volume of transactions processed by dApps sponsoring the gas fees.
• Adoption Rate: Measure the number of dApps integrating the gasless tx library over time.
• Qualitative Metrics:
• User Satisfaction: Gather user feedback and satisfaction surveys to assess the improvement in user experience.
• Developer Engagement: Evaluate the increase in development activity and community engagement around the gasless tx library.

Sharing Outputs

• Community Engagement: Share the results and updates through Cardano forums, developer meetups, and conferences.
• Documentation and Guides: Provide comprehensive documentation and user guides to help developers integrate the gasless tx library.
• Open Source Collaboration: Publish the library and its improvements on platforms like GitHub to foster community contributions and feedback.

Conclusion

By providing a gasless transaction library, we empower the Cardano community to build more accessible and user-friendly dApps and governance protocols. This initiative is expected to fuel the growth and diversification of the Cardano ecosystem, making it more attractive to users and developers alike, and setting a precedent for user-focused blockchain innovations.

[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?

Track Record:

Our team consists of experienced developers with a strong understanding of dapp and smart contract development on Cardano. We have built multiple successful project which can be found in our website - nucastlabs.com

We possess proven experience in building user-friendly developer libraries and tools

Our catalyst Funded Opensource RNG Library is one of our successful opensource projects.

Validation and Feasibility:

Technical Validation: We will conduct a thorough technical feasibility study to validate our approach and identify any potential challenges. This will involve library core functionalities and getting feedback from initial adopters.

Community Feedback: We will engage with the Cardano developer community through forums and workshops to gather feedback on our proposed solution and ensure it aligns with community needs.

Transparency and Communication:

We are committed to open communication with the Cardano community throughout the project lifecycle. We will provide regular updates on progress, challenges, and upcoming milestones.

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

Design and Architecture

A: Milestone Outputs

Technical Specification Document: A comprehensive design document that details the architecture of the gasless transaction library, including components like API endpoints, data flow diagrams, and system integration strategies.

Development & Testing Plan: A clear plan for developing the library, including the selection of development tools and a timeline for the initial coding phase.

B: Acceptance Criteria

Technical Specification Approval: Technical Specification Document ensuring that the proposed design meets the required functionality and integration capabilities.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

Technical Specification Document: A finalized technical architecture document with development and testing plan.

Development

A: Milestone Outputs

Working: A functional gasless transaction library that demonstrates the core functionality, including the ability to manage gas fees behind the scenes.

Integration Guidelines: Initial documentation that provides guidance on how to integrate the library with Cardano dApps.

B: Acceptance Criteria

Library Functionality: The library must successfully demonstrate the elimination of gas fees on the user end and provide a simple library for platforms to integrate.

Documentation Completeness: The integration guidelines should be clear, concise, and sufficient for developers to begin testing the integration with their dApps.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

Demonstration of the Library: A video or live demonstration showing the library in action, including how it handles gas fees internally.

Integration Documentation: A draft of the integration guidelines shared.

Testing

A: Milestone Outputs

Updated Library : The library updated with any necessary changes following the initial user feedback.

User Testing Plan: A comprehensive plan for conducting user testing, including objectives, participant criteria, and the methodology used.

B: Acceptance Criteria

Library Robustness: The updated library should incorporate all necessary changes and demonstrate improved stability.

Ready for User Testing: The user testing plan should be ready to implement, aiming to gather comprehensive feedback from potential users.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

Updated Library Demonstration: A demonstration showing the enhancements made to the Library post-testing.

Prepared User Testing Plan: A finalized user testing plan document ready for execution.

Publishing

A: Milestone Outputs

Final Version of the Gasless Transaction Library: The completed library, ready for public release, incorporating all feedback and security enhancements.

Comprehensive Documentation: Complete documentation, including user guides, API references, and examples of integration with various types of dApps.

Marketing and Launch Plan: A detailed plan for the launch and marketing of the library, including targeted outreach to potential developer communities.

B: Acceptance Criteria

Library Completeness: The final library must be fully functional, with all intended features working as expected and robust error handling.

Documentation Quality: The documentation should be comprehensive, easy to understand, and provide all necessary information for developers to use the library effectively.

Prepared for Launch: The marketing and launch plan should be ready to implement, with strategies in place to maximize adoption and community engagement.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

Library Deployment: A link to the publicly accessible repository where the library is available for download.

Documentation Package: A complete set of documentation, accessible online or in downloadable format.

Launch Readiness Report: A report summarizing the preparedness for the library's launch, including marketing materials and community feedback mechanisms.

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

Sricharan Ganta, CEO @ Nucast

Sricharan is a successful entrepreneur and business development strategist with over seven years of experience in business-driven roles and over four years of experience in the web3 domain. He has a successful track record of delivering innovative products on the Cardano Blockchain. As the CEO of Nucast, Charan is extremely passionate about community building and pioneering solutions. He currently leads a dynamic team of 15+ professionals at Nucast Labs. Additionally, he holds a Masters in Computer Science from the University of Central Missouri, USA.

Sam Jeffrey M, CTO @ Nucast

Building tech on Cardano for 3+ years. Midnight Pioneer 1st Cohort. Worked as Plutus Consultant at Gimbalabs. Awarded the Presidential Award for Innovation 2021 by the Government of India.

Nucast Labs : Successfully built various scalable Cardano dapps. Nucast is proud to host a highly skilled and experienced development team of 15+ members with over 30 years of combined industry experience.

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

Milestone 1

Total Duration: 20 Days

• Senior Cardano Developer x 2: 15000 ADA
• Cardano Solution Architect: 5000 ADA

Total: 20000 ADA

Milestone 2

Total Duration: 50 Days

• Senior Cardano Developer x 2: 40000 ADA
• Cardano Solution Architect: 10000 ADA

Total: 50000 ADA

Milestone 3

Total Duration: 30 Days

• Senior Cardano Developer x 2: 40000 ADA
• Cardano Solution Architect: 10000 ADA

Total: 30000 ADA

Final Milestone: Launch and Reporting

Total Duration: 20 Days

• Senior Cardano Developer x 2: 15000 ADA
• Cardano Solution Architect: 5000 ADA

Total: 20000 ADA

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

Our open-source library will serve as a permanent resource for the Cardano ecosystem. By removing the gas/tx fee barrier, we are increasing the efficiency and usability of Cardano dApps. This will lead to a larger user-base, higher transaction volumes and an increase in value for the whole ecosystem.

Our easy-to-use library will save developers significant time and resources by simplifying gasless transaction integration. This allows them to focus on building innovative dApps.

We adopt a lean development approach which ensures cost-effective use of funds. Our strategic use of a geographically diverse across US, Singapore and India team enables us to optimize our development costs while maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency.