Cardano Developer Toolkit

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

surafel nigusie

[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)

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)

Develop a Cardano Developer Toolkit to streamline and enhance the development process, fostering collaboration and innovation to address current inefficiencies and complexity.

[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

Yes

[METADATA] Horizons

Developer Tools

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Cardano developers face complexity and inefficiencies due to scattered tools and resources. This hampers productivity and innovation. This project aim to centralize essential tools, provide standardized libraries and SDKs, and offer comprehensive documentation. This will simplify the development process and enhance the developer experience.

Our solution targets both new and experienced Cardano developers by engaging key community members for insights and feedback. it will measure impact through developer adoption rates, community engagement, and feedback, tracking improvements in development efficiency and code quality. Also, simplify development will attract more developers, contributing to Cardano's relevance and fostering a thriving, innovative ecosystem.

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

This project will simplify the development process, attracting more developers and fostering a diverse range of innovative applications on Cardano. By streamlining tools and resources, it will lower entry barriers, enhance efficiency, and promote adoption across sectors, thereby increasing Cardano's relevance.

Measuring Impact:

• Developer adoption rates, community growth statistics, and project usage numbers.
• Collect testimonials and conduct surveys with developers and key stakeholders.

Sharing Outputs:

• Provide the community with frequent progress reports and insights.
• Maintain comprehensive, accessible documentation for all toolkit components.
• Engage with educational institutions and industry stakeholders to promote knowledge transfer and ecosystem growth.

By doing so, it'll ensure the toolkit brings substantial value to the Cardano community, empowering developers and driving ecosystem-wide innovation.

[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?

I'm Surafel Nigusie, a Computer Science BSc student with over two years in blockchain and full stack development, specializing in EVM-compatible environments and programming languages such as Python, Java, Haskell, and Solidity. My experience in cryptocurrency and blockchain development equips me with the necessary skills to address developer challenges on the Cardano platform.

I maintain trust through regular updates and transparent communication with stakeholders and the community. Financial responsibility is prioritized by adopting effective budgeting practices. To validate feasibility, we'll conduct a pilot phase with developers to refine the toolkit based on real-world feedback. Continuous integration and iterative development will ensure high-quality standards and adaptability to Cardano ecosystem needs.

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

Development of Core Toolkit Components (Months 1-3)

A: Milestone Outputs

• Initial version of the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Cardano.
• A basic set of standardized libraries and SDKs for common development tasks.
• Draft of comprehensive documentation outlining toolkit usage and best practices.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• The IDE should include features like syntax highlighting, code completion, and debugging tools with seamless Cardano integration.
• Libraries and SDKs must support wallet management, transaction handling, smart contract deployment, and native asset interactions.
• Documentation should be clear, accessible, and provide detailed guidance on using toolkit components.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• A demonstration video showcasing IDE functionality and integration with Cardano.
• Code repository containing the initial libraries and SDKs, along with documentation.
• Feedback from a subset of developers confirming the toolkit's usability and effectiveness.

Toolkit Expansion and Community Engagement (Month 4)

A: Milestone Outputs

• Improved developer productivity tools.
• Additional Libraries/SDKs For advanced Cardano scenarios.
• Community Collaboration Platform to share code and best practices.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• IDE Features must boost productivity and integrate with Cardano tools.
• Libraries/SDKs support multi-asset functionality and smart contract testing.
• User-friendly, secure, and actively used for collaboration

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• User Feedback Surveys.
• GitHub Updates.
• Engagement Metrics.

Documentation Enhancement and Adoption Metrics (Month 5)

A: Milestone Outputs

• Detailed guides on toolkit components, best practices, and use cases.
• Integrated systems within the toolkit and platform for ongoing developer input.
• Tracks adoption rates, developer engagement, and performance indicators.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Documentation be organized, searchable, and regularly updated.
• Integrated seamlessly, allowing easy input from developers.
• Provides real-time data on adoption and engagement.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Version controlled with regular updates reflecting changes and feedback.
• Show feedback mechanisms active in the toolkit and platform.
• Displays real-time adoption rates, user engagement metrics, and KPIs.

Community Impact and Sustainability (Month 6)

A: Milestone Outputs

• Integration of the Cardano Developer Toolkit into real-world projects.
• Community-driven contributions such as new features and bug fixes.
• Establish partnerships with Cardano projects, educational institutions, and industry stakeholders.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Toolkit adopted in at least 10 real-world projects, demonstrating improved development efficiency.
• Evidence of active community engagement and contributions via GitHub, forum discussions, and code submissions.
• Documented partnerships and collaborations showcasing shared initiatives and benefits to Cardano.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Case studies or testimonials from projects using the toolkit, highlighting development impact.
• GitHub activity logs and community forum discussions showing engagement and contributions.
• Announcements of partnerships, event summaries, or documentation of collaborative projects with outlined benefits.

Impact Assessment and Future Roadmap (Month 7)

A: Milestone Outputs

• Comprehensive impact assessment report detailing the outcomes of the Cardano Developer Toolkit.
• Roadmap for future developments and enhancements based on feedback and ecosystem needs.
• Engagement plan to sustain community involvement and gather ongoing feedback.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Impact assessment report includes quantitative metrics (e.g., adoption rates) and qualitative feedback (e.g., testimonials, case studies) to show success.
• Roadmap outlines specific features, improvements, and milestones based on community feedback and project goals.
• Engagement plan details strategies for maintaining developer interest and fostering collaboration.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Published impact assessment report accessible to the Cardano community and stakeholders, showcasing outcomes and success stories.
• Roadmap document with milestones, timelines, and feature enhancements, validated by community feedback and project team consensus.
• Active implementation of the engagement plan, involving regular updates, community events, and collaboration initiatives to sustain toolkit interest.

Project Completion and Handover (Month 8)

A: Milestone Outputs

• Complete version with all features and documentation.
• Outlines project ownership transfer, maintenance, and support.
• Summarizes achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and future recommendations.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Toolkit meets all feature and quality benchmarks.
• Detailed transition plan for continuity.
• Comprehensive closing report with success metrics and insights.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Release announcement and detailed documentation.
• Formal handover documents and communication with stakeholders.
• Published closing report accessible to the Cardano community, highlighting project achievements and recommendations.

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

Surafel Nigusie

• Role: Project Lead / Full Stack Developer
• LinkedIn: Surafel Nigusie
• Responsibilities: Overall project management, core toolkit development, backend and frontend development, integrating feedback, and ensuring project milestones are met.

Planning to Recruit:

1, Blockchain Developers

• Skills Required: Proficiency in Cardano development (Plutus, Marlowe), Haskell programming, blockchain architecture, smart contract development.
• Responsibilities: Development of Cardano-specific components, smart contracts, and ensuring compatibility with Cardano's blockchain architecture.

2, Full Stack Developers

• Skills Required: Frontend technologies (React, Next.js), backend development (Node.js, REST APIs), database management (SQL, NoSQL), DevOps practices (CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes).
• Responsibilities: Developing the toolkit's user interface and backend, ensuring seamless integration, and maintaining the overall functionality of the toolkit.

3, Technical Writers

• Skills Required: Comprehensive technical documentation, writing guides and tutorials, API and SDK documentation, familiarity with markdown and documentation tools.
• Responsibilities: Creating and maintaining high-quality documentation, guides, and tutorials for the toolkit to aid developer onboarding and usage.

4,UI/UX Designers

• Skills Required: User interface and user experience design, design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD), creating intuitive and user-friendly interfaces, understanding design principles and accessibility standards.
• Responsibilities: Designing the user interface of the toolkit, ensuring an intuitive and engaging user experience, and maintaining design consistency.

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

Development Costs

Core Toolkit Development (Milestone 1):

• Development tools and licenses: ₳5,000
• Developer salaries/contractor fees: ₳10,000
• Total Cost: ₳15,000
• Duration: 3 months

Toolkit Expansion and Community Engagement (Milestone 2):

• Enhanced features and integrations: ₳7,000
• Community platform setup: ₳3,000
• Total Cost: ₳10,000
• Duration: 1 month

Documentation Enhancement and Adoption Metrics (Milestone 3):

• Comprehensive documentation: ₳4,000
• Feedback mechanisms and metrics tracking: ₳2,000
• Total Cost: ₳6,000
• Duration: 1 month

Community Impact and Sustainability (Milestone 4):

• Community engagement activities: ₳3,000
• Partnership development: ₳2,000
• Total Cost: ₳5,000
• Duration: 1 month

Impact Assessment and Future Roadmap (Milestone 5):

• Impact assessment: ₳2,000
• Future roadmap development: ₳3,000
• Total Cost: ₳5,000
• Duration: 1 month

Total Cost for All Milestones: ₳41,000

Third-Party Services

• Cloud Hosting Services (AWS/Azure): ₳5,000
• Marketing and Publicity:
• Marketing campaigns and promotional materials: ₳6,000
• Organizing community events: ₳4,000
• Project Management:
• Project management tools and software: ₳2,000
• Project manager salary/consultancy fees: ₳7,000
• Legal and Compliance:
• Legal advice and compliance audits: ₳3,000
• Reporting and Documentation:
• Preparing reports and updates: ₳2,000

Total Third-Party Services Cost: ₳29,000

Contingency Fund

• Contingency Fund: ₳5,000

Total Budget Request

• Total Budget Request: ₳75,000

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

The Cardano Developer Toolkit project provides excellent value for money by aligning costs with industry standards and expected benefits. I've set the budget based on typical rates for skilled blockchain developers, ensuring fairness and quality. Funds are strategically distributed across development, community engagement, and essential services to maximize impact. This toolkit will simplify Cardano development, increase adoption, and drive innovation, offering substantial long-term benefits to the ecosystem. Overall, it's a smart investment to enhance Cardano's capabilities and community growth.