45B - Open Source interchangeable algorithms to rank Stake Pools

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Pedro Lucas - 45B

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

Entity (Not Incorporated)

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

12

[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)

Instead of creating strictly defined ranking criteria, SPOtter aims to be a framework and set standards for obtaining and processing the Stake Pools data. The Delegator sets his ranking preferences.

[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

Project will be fully open source.

Apache 2.0, MIT License https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

This proposal aims to create a community of maintainers around an open source “SPO Spotter” solution to provide suggestions of Stake Pools to delegate to in different interchangeable ways.

The SPOtter approach is to break down the process of ranking Stake Pools according to your priorities. This process is composed of:

• Indexing the blockchain, obtaining all the SPO-relevant data particles (illustration 1) into a standard ‘SPOtter format’.
• From that data facilitate that the community develops different algorithms to process it according to different priorities.
• Provide an intuitive user interface to visualize and tweak the resulting SPO ranking/suggestions.
• Delegate to the SPOs directly from our platform.
• Share your views with friends and collegues.

Some possible examples of algorithm priorities are:

• To (randomly) prioritize Single Pool Operators
• To help pools that have been on the verge of minting blocks
• Simply to try to maximize your staking rewards.

SPOtter leaves the responsibility of that decision to the user.

Because algorithms are open-source, anyone can tweak them and generate variant algorithms, but the best of these are expected to accumulate more statistics of being used, making them more trusted. Also some algorithms may have a review by some reputable organizations, confirming what priorities the algorithm is enforcing.

Beyond providing this tool in our own web app, we can build towards providing it as a consumable service that can be consumed from any Cardano wallet. We can then build partnerships with wallets, SPO communities, and other entities.

Illustration 1 - SPO-relevant data particles (as currently viewed in wallets and block explorers:

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

Creating an open-source framework/standard for writing data algorithms to rank SPOs by arbitrary priorities will provide a tool for equitative aplication of each algorithm to all the SPOs in the ecosystem. This will result in the surfacing of SPOs that have been in the bottom of the traditional (or random) listings. It will help decentralize Cardano by supporting more diverse SPOs.

[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?

45B is composed of and has access to professionals with an extensive track record of delivering solutions in Finance, Banking and other lines of business. Also they are responsible in helping the promotion and socials of some players in the Cardano ecosystem.

45B’s capacity in this project will be mostly that of Technical Product and Project management. Also of crucial importance, we’ll promote the creation of a community of developers who will contribute to implementing the solution, sponsored by bounties from this proposal. We trust there are considerable skills and infrastructure partners in the ecosystem to embrace this goal.

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

• Promote the initiative
• Network with existing relevant communities 
• Create spaces for conversation
• Identify key technical contributors who can act as technical leads
• To ensure a consistent technical approach and reviews
• Reach out for partnerships and networking in general that facilitate spinning up instances of SPOtter

• Periodically gather the community for discussions
• Establish a list and format for obtaining the data from data providers
• Identify and mature the relevant data structures to consider standard
• Identify and prototype some typical algorithms that could be ran over that data
• Identify the corresponding possible data visualizations, possible end UI controls

• Implement what was defined previously to obtain an MVP
• Improve the framework around the algorithm to make it as modular as possible
• Testing and feedback in the SPOtter team and community

• Implement changes that resulted from testing/feedback
• Prepare documentation and guides where necessary
• Reach out to wallet providers to potentially integrate the solution
• Launch a web app that exposes the solution

• Promote the use of the tool
• Create spaces to present the tool and gather feedback
• Create bounties to implement changes

• Document learnings throughout the project
• Prepare a close-out report
• Transition the project to community maintenance

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

Product/Project Manager; Technical specifications

Pedro Lucas - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedrohlucas/ 

Maestro Developer Experience, BizDez;

Pedro Lucas has over 20y experience in IT. Working as a Technical Business Analyst in Business Process Management and Decision support DataViz solutions in Finance and Banking. He has been in Crypto for 3y and 100% dedicated to Cardano communities and technology for almost 2y. Pedro has helped in Gimbalabs, amongst other communities, created and ran 'Cardano for non-techs' workshop sessions, and now collaborates with Maestro focusing on Developer Experience and Business Development.

Engineering tech leads

To be recruited from the Cardano community

Marketing and Community

To be recruited from the Cardano community

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

Funds for development bounties

$50 x 150hrs = 7 500$

Funds for technical leads

$60$ x 40hrs = 2 400$

Project and Product management

$50 x 25hrs = 1 250$

Technical specifications and testing overview

$50 x 20hrs = 1 000$

Promotion and community building/moderation

$45 x 6hrs/month x 12 months = 3 240$

Total $15 390 at $0.30/ADA = 51 300 ADA

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

This solution will benefit Cardano as a whole in the sense that it will help establish standard Stake Pool suggestion ways of enforcing certain postures that will be more beneficial for example small stake pools that are not getting enough delegation. It is the value of helping to decentralize staking in a way that will benefit stake pools without damaging delegators.

The services budget is according to or below standard rates for these professional services in Europe or the USA.