Full-feature open-source NFT Web Forge

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Catalyst Rider

[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

180000

[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)

We propose an open-source NFT metadata editor and minting tool for Cardano, enabling bulk NFT creation, metadata customization & integrity checks, seamless IPFS image upload and decentralized hosting

[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 with MIT license

[METADATA] Horizons

NFT

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

We propose an open-source, web-based NFT metadata editor and minting tool to streamline the NFT creation process on Cardano. Our tool tackles challenges like bulk minting, metadata management, and IPFS-based image hosting. NFT creators, the decentralized community, and developers seeking transparent, cost-effective solutions will benefit from its features.

Users will be able to easily define the parameters of their NFT collection, including the total number of NFTs. The system will generate a customizable metadata template based on these parameters, allowing users to modify individual NFT attributes. The tool will perform built-in verification to ensure metadata integrity and compliance with Cardano standards.

For image handling, users will upload their collection images, and the tool will automatically generate IPFS links, which will then be integrated into the metadata via the editor. Once users finalize the metadata and complete the image uploads, they will initiate the minting process by clicking "Mint." The system will create a transaction, ready for signing, and upon successful completion, the images will be securely uploaded and stored in IPFS. This will ensure that the NFT images are accessible and visible within users' wallets.

The solution consists of the following components:

• Front-end: The front-end will handle the minter and metadata verification logic, wallet integration, and transaction creation. It will also serve as the user interface for the metadata editor, enabling users to easily define and customize NFT attributes.
• Back-end: The back-end will manage image uploads and handle file storage in IPFS once the transaction is signed. It will also verify users’ eligibility to upload images, with customizable logic that can include additional filters tailored to specific project needs.
• IPFS node: An IPFS node will provide decentralized storage for the NFT collection’s images, ensuring they are securely hosted, immutable, and universally accessible.

This comprehensive setup will provide an open-source affordable, and user-friendly solution for bulk NFT minting, addressing key challenges such as metadata management and decentralized image hosting. By streamlining the entire process, from generating metadata templates to handling secure image uploads on IPFS, the solution eliminates common pain points while ensuring creators maintain full control over their collections. This will ultimately empower users to create, customize, and mint NFTs at scale with minimal cost and effort, while benefiting from a streamlined workflow.

The tool will also include support for the minting of royalty tokens, allowing creators to establish automated royalty structures within their NFT collections. Additionally, it will be compliant with the CIP-68 Datum Metadata Standards, enabling potential future customization of NFTs. This ensures that the NFTs can be updated or extended with new attributes over time, offering greater flexibility and adaptability for creators.

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

Simplified Bulk NFT Minting: The tool will streamline the minting process for large collections, allowing creators to efficiently produce and manage multiple NFTs simultaneously, thereby fostering creativity and innovation within the community.

User-Friendly Editor: The intuitive metadata editor will empower users of all skill levels, including those without technical expertise, to create and customize their NFTs with ease. This will promote wider participation and diversity among NFT creators.

Seamless IPFS Storage Management: By handling IPFS storage automatically, the tool will alleviate the technical complexities associated with image hosting. Users can focus on their creative work without worrying about the intricacies of decentralized storage.

Extendability for IPFS Uploads: The system will incorporate extendable limits for IPFS uploads, allowing developers to build upon the project. Initially, the project will include a simple “always true” filter for uploads, but developers will have the option to fork the tool and customize it further. This customization allows for various enhancements, such as introducing custom free or paid tiers, as well as other features tailored to specific use cases and community needs.

[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?

As WingRiders, we have a track-proven record of developing within the Cardano ecosystem. Over the years we’ve shown to be at the forefront of technological advancements when it comes to DEXes and Cardano in general. We were the first ones to bring support for Stableswaps, have a fully on-chain DAO governance, launched the first trustless non-custodial launchpad and recently V2 smart contracts with optimized transaction batching, new features such as Routed Swap, PathFinder, ZapIn/ZapOut and much more. All along the way we were working with Cardano data encoded in CBOR. Created a lot of open source tooling and continues to push the edge of what is possible with the Cardano chain evolving. 

Regarding fund management, we adhere to rigorous protocols ensuring robust financial stewardship and accountability. Our practices encompass the maintenance of transparent financial records, periodic internal audits, and strict compliance with financial reporting standards. We understand the imperative nature of prudent fund management and commit to upholding the highest standards of fiscal responsibility throughout the project's lifecycle.

As evidence, we have 2 Catalyst proposals from F10 and F11 with Proof of Achievement submitted and approved for all completed milestones except the final milestones, which are in progress. Two proposals from F12 are having Milestones 1 and 2 submitted ahead of the schedule. 

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

Back-end and IPFS work

• Description: Develop the back-end code to create endpoints that enable the retrieval of the IPFS hash, as well as the upload and storage of images. Ensure that the back-end is capable of interacting with the IPFS node for file management.
• Expected Timeline: 2 months
• Outputs: Back-end code with functional endpoints for
• IPFS hash retrieval
• File upload
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Back-end functionality is operational, allowing successful IPFS uploads and retrieval of hashes
• Evidence: Link to the back-end code in the open source GitHub repository with individual links to
• IPFS hash retrieval endpoint
• File upload endpoint

Front-end IPFS functionality

• Description: Develop front-end to enable IPFS hash retrieval and File upload.
• Expected Timeline: 1 month
• Outputs: Front-end that supports IPFS retrieval and File upload.
• Acceptance Criteria: The front-end interacts with the back-end for IPFS uploads without errors.
• Evidence: Link to the code in open source GitHub repository and a video showcasing IPFS retrieval and File upload.

Front-end completion

• Description: Complete the front-end development by implementing metadata verification logic and building the transaction based on user-provided NFT settings.
• Expected Timeline: 1 month
• Outputs: Fully functional front-end with
• Metadata verification features.
• Transaction building feature that incorporates user-defined NFT settings.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• The front-end successfully verifies metadata and highlights possible errors, ensuring users can correct issues before proceeding.
• Users can create transactions based on their NFT settings successfully.
• Evidence: Link to the code in open source GitHub repository and a video showcasing:
• Metadata verification.
• Transaction creation

Community reach out and marketing

• Description: Provide regular updates on proposal progress through social platforms, including Twitter and Discord. Gather feedback on those updates and github repository and address any major issues, if any.
• Expected Timeline: 1 month
• Outputs: Marketing Report Document listing
• All the updates regarding project progress., feedback on those updates.
• Feedback from GitHub repository.
• List of major issues.
• Fixes for those issues.
• Acceptance Criteria: Marketing Report Document has 4 chapters:
• Social updates: lists all relevant reports on social media and feedback (Twitter and Discord).
• GitHub feedback: lists all the feedback on GitHub repository (empty if none found).
• Major issues: lists all the major issues from all the feedback (empty if none found).
• Issue Fixes: lists all the commits in the GitHub that fix issues found in feedback (empty if none found).
• Evidence: Marketing Report Document provided to the review team.

Project Close-out Report and Project Close-out Video

• Description: Create final project completion report and video.
• Expected Timeline: 1 week
• Outputs:
• A 2/3 page written summary ‘Project Close-out Report’.
• Short video ‘Project Close-out Video’.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Project Close-out Report’ listing KPIs and how they were (or were not) addressed and what the next stage plans are with the product or service that was developed.
• Project Close-out Video’ outlining the project achievements and deliverables.
• Evidence:
• Final project report available on a publicly-accessible link.
• Video available on a publicly accessible link.

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

WingRiders engineering team is composed of experienced professionals in blockchain technology and software development. Our team members stand behind projects like Adalite, Yoroi wallet, Emurgo’s first blockchain explorer/indexer, firmware for hardware wallets Trezor and Ledger (bringing them to Cardano), and WingRiders DEX and LaunchPad.

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

Milestone 1: Back-end and IPFS work

1. Milestone Budget: ₳ 45,000
2. Resource MDs: 
3. Software engineer (senior & junior): 25
4. Project manager: 3

Milestone 2: Front-end IPFS functionality

1. Milestone Budget: ₳ 45,000
2. Resource MDs: 
3. Software engineer (senior & junior): 25
4. Project manager: 3

Milestone 3: Front-end completion

1. Milestone Budget: ₳ 40,000
2. Resource MDs: 
3. Software engineer (senior & junior): 22
4. Project manager: 3

Milestone 4: Community reach out and marketing

1. Milestone Budget: ₳ 30,000
2. Resource MDs: 
3. Software engineer senior: 3
4. Marketing Specialist: 15

Milestone 5: Project Close-out Report and Project Close-out Video

1. Milestone Budget: ₳ 10,000
2. Resource MDs: 
3. Software engineer senior: 1
4. Marketing Specialist: 6

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

By making the tool open-source, we are removing a significant paywall that many existing platforms impose for NFT minting and metadata management. This will drastically reduce the cost of minting NFTs, allowing creators to access essential features—such as bulk minting and decentralized image hosting via IPFS—without incurring high fees. As a result, more creators and projects will be able to participate in the Cardano ecosystem, increasing the number of NFT collections and driving higher traffic to the platform.

In turn, this will foster greater activity and engagement within the Cardano community, ultimately returning value to the ecosystem by encouraging a more diverse range of projects and innovation. The removal of barriers like minting fees will help smaller and independent creators who may not have been able to afford current solutions, allowing them to contribute to the ecosystem and grow their reach.

Additionally, by reducing the overall costs, the project will also drive more experimentation and broader adoption of NFTs on Cardano. Increased NFT activity benefits the entire ecosystem by boosting network usage, increasing transaction volumes, and creating a larger marketplace for collectors, developers, and other stakeholders. This growth not only brings new revenue streams but also enhances the reputation and visibility of Cardano as a blockchain for decentralized, creator-driven innovation.

In summary, this project returns value to the Cardano community by:

• Removing the cost barrier for NFT minting, making it accessible to more creators.
• Increasing the number of NFT collections, driving traffic and engagement.
• Boosting transaction volumes and ecosystem adoption.
• Fostering innovation by enabling a wider range of participants to enter the NFT space.

This strategic open-source approach will continue to benefit Cardano long after the initial project is complete, as developers and creators build on the tool, driving further decentralization and growth.