SAIB: Futura – Enabling F# Smart Contracts for Cardano .NET Developers

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Clark Alesna

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

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

No Additional applicants

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

6

[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)

Futura introduces an F# Domain Specific Language Extension that compiles to UPLC, enabling .NET developers to easily create and deploy smart contracts on Cardano, fostering wider blockchain 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?

Yes

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

Everything about Futura will be open source under Apache Open-Source License found in the project repository.

[METADATA] Horizons

Developer Tools

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Cardano smart contracts are powered by UPLC (Untyped Plutus Core), a low-level programming language. While languages like Haskell, TypeScript, Python, and Aiken have been adapted to compile to UPLC, there is currently no solution that caters to the .NET family of languages, creating a barrier for .NET developers and limiting the ecosystem's growth. We propose Futura, an F# DSL that compiles to UPLC, to open Cardano smart contract development to .NET developers. 

Solution: Futura will develop an accessible F# compiler targeting UPLC, enabling .NET developers to easily build and deploy smart contracts on Cardano, driving wider adoption. 

Why F#? F# is a functional-first language ideal for complex computations and widely used in the .NET ecosystem, enabling secure, efficient smart contracts for developers familiar with Microsoft tools. 

 

Key Features 

• F# to UPLC Compiler: Translates F# code into UPLC-compatible smart contracts. 
• Developer Tools: IDE support for development and debugging. Cardano Smart Contract Developers will now be able to take advantage of F# tooling (mostly created by Microsoft themselves) 
• Leverage .NET Ecosystem: The developers will now be able to take advantage of .NET ecosystem, libraries and F# language features 
• Documentation and Tutorials: Learning resources for onboarding developers 
• Cross-Pollination with Off-Chain Code: With F#, we can cross-pollinate .NET-based off-chain code (built with C#) with F#-based smart contracts, such as .NET-based PAB (Plutus Application Backend) and Transaction Builders 
• Open Source: Community-driven, open to contributions 

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

Futura will have a significant and positive impact on the wider Cardano community in several keyways:

• Expanding the Developer Base: By introducing F#—a powerful .NET language—into the Cardano ecosystem, we broaden the pool of developers able to interact with UPLC (Untyped Plutus Core). This opens the door for a wider range of developers, particularly those in the .NET ecosystem, to build on Cardano. 

• Lowering the Barriers for Smart Contract Development: Making smart contract development more accessible to .NET developers reduces the learning curve for those already familiar with .NET languages. This inclusion encourages more developers to experiment with and adopt Cardano for building decentralized applications. 

• Symbiotic Integration with .NET Ecosystem: Our project enables seamless integration between .NET-based off-chain code, transaction builders, and indexers. This synergy supports the development of more sophisticated and efficient dApps, allowing developers to leverage familiar tools while contributing to the Cardano ecosystem. 

• Increasing dApp and Smart Contract Adoption: By simplifying the process and expanding the developer base, we expect an increase in the number of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) being built on Cardano, enhancing its utility and relevance in the broader blockchain space. 

• Open-Source Collaboration and Innovation: We are committed to providing open-source tools, which will foster collaboration within the Cardano community. These resources will empower developers to build upon our work, driving innovation and creating a thriving ecosystem. 

• Comprehensive Documentation and Onboarding: In addition to tools, we will offer thorough documentation and tutorials. This will serve as an essential resource for onboarding new developers, facilitating faster adoption, and promoting knowledge sharing across the community. 

• Ecosystem Diversity and Growth: By diversifying the programming languages and tools available on Cardano, we strengthen the ecosystem, making it more resilient and inclusive. This diversity will fuel growth, attract developers from various backgrounds, and ultimately contribute to the long-term success and expansion of the Cardano network. 

[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?

With over fifteen (15) years of full-stack development experience across diverse platforms such as cloud, gaming, mobile, and server environments, I can confidently say that my comprehensive and diverse background uniquely qualifies me to lead this initiative. As the founder of SAIB Inc., a company specializing in blockchain technologies, I have successfully spearheaded several innovative projects on the Cardano platform. My collaboration with key entities such as TxPipe, dcSpark, Crashr, Coinecta, Levvy, and the Cardano Foundation highlights my strong understanding and deep commitment to the Cardano ecosystem.  

 

In addition to my leadership role, I bring hands-on experience as the operator of the ADAPH stake pool, and I have contributed to the development of open-source Cardano tools—further advancing the platform's functionality and accessibility. Our team's successful funding in Project Catalyst's Fund 12 demonstrates our ability to undertake projects with transparency and accountability. This ongoing work further reinforces my commitment to driving innovation within the Cardano ecosystem. For more details, you can learn about our project here: https://github.com/SAIB-Inc/Argus 

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

Milestone 1: Research & Development (Month 1) 

Objective: Conduct initial research on extending F# for Cardano smart contracts, focusing on integrating F# via the Roslyn Compiler and exploring approaches for F# to UPLC (Untyped Plutus Core) compilation. Investigate the feasibility of using the UPLC Rust crate versus creating its own pure F# UPLC library. 

 

Deliverables: 

• Research report on F# language extension via the Roslyn Compiler. 
• Feasibility analysis for F# to UPLC compilation using either Rust crate or a pure F# UPLC library. 
• Preliminary proof-of-concept to assess potential paths forward. 

Milestone 2: Finalize Design & Specification (Month 2) 

Objective: Finalize the technical design and documentation based on research findings. Establish the architectural specifications for the F# language extension and UPLC compilation method, detailing the chosen approach. 

 

Deliverables: 

• Detailed design document outlining the F# to UPLC compilation process and integration with Cardano. 
• Finalized specifications for F# language extension and UPLC workflow. 

Milestone 3: Implementation (Month 3-4) 

Objective: Implement the F# to UPLC compilation based on the finalized design, whether using the Rust crate or a native F# solution. Extend F# via Roslyn to support the required functionality for writing Cardano smart contracts. 

 

Deliverables: 

• Functional F# to UPLC compiler implementation. 
• F# language extension for Cardano smart contracts using the Roslyn Compiler. 
• Report documenting progress and any challenges encountered during implementation. 

Milestone 4: Testing & Basic Smart Contract Deployment (Month 5)

Objective: Test the implementation thoroughly, focusing on ensuring basic F# smart contracts can be written, compiled, and deployed on the Cardano blockchain. Validate functionality through the successful execution of simple contracts. 

 

Deliverables: 

• Testing suite for F# to UPLC compilation and contract execution. 
• Successfully deployed basic smart contracts using F# on the Cardano network. 
• Report on bugs, performance issues, and optimizations needed. 

 Final Milestone: Release (Month 6) 

Objective: Officially release the F# integration for Cardano smart contracts. Publish tools, libraries, and comprehensive documentation for developers. Engage the community to gather feedback and promote adoption of F# for Cardano smart contracts. 

 

Deliverables: 

• Public release of F# to UPLC compiler tools and language extension via Roslyn. 
• Developer documentation and tutorials. 
• Community outreach, including webinars, developer discussions, and online resources. 
• Final project report summarizing feedback, performance, and suggested future improvements. 

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

Team Lead:  

• Clark Alesna - https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarkalesna/ 

Backend Engineer:  

• Reza Jhay Lacanlale - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reza-jhay-lacanlale-6b8b62107/ 
• Christian Benedict Gantuangco - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christan-gantuangco/ 
• John Quinnvic Taboada - https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-quinnvic-taboada-8801b9275/ 
• Rico Miles Quiblat - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rico-miles-quiblat-34a6b7298/ 
• Jonh Alexis Buot - https://www.linkedin.com/in/laplace-xd/ 
• Wendell Mor Tamayo - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendell-mor-tamayo-41388b298/ 
• 
  

Frontend Engineer:  

• Stan Kiefer Gallego - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiefer-gallego/ 
• Kathea Mari Mayol - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathea-mayol/ 
• Caitlin Mariel Lindsay - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-mariel-lindsay-7341a3323/ 
• Ivanne Bayer - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivanne-bayer-a23b30302/ 

Marketing and Quality:  

• Melissa Naomi Legara - https://www.linkedin.com/in/misai-legara/ 
• Bern Villacura - https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbiebern/

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

Developers: We will allocate 45,000 ADA for the engagement of 4 developers. This will cover their compensation for the duration of the project, including development, testing, and ongoing support for the solution.

Development Infrastructure: An additional 10,000 ADA is allocated for Development Infrastructure, including Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD) servers, as well as other server and hosting requirements. This budget will ensure the necessary tools and infrastructure are in place to support efficient and secure development processes.

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

The budget for Futura is thoughtfully designed to ensure value for money while maintaining fairness and competitiveness. Our allocation for salaries is based on competitive industry standards and adjusted for the cost of living in the geographic locations of our development team. This ensures that our skilled professionals are compensated fairly, reflecting their integral role in the success of the project.

Additionally, we’ve included necessary costs for infrastructure and promotional activities, both of which are crucial for the effective deployment and community adoption of Futura. These expenses have been calculated based on current market rates and are essential for ensuring the smooth delivery of the project, as well as driving visibility and adoption within the ecosystem.

Our six-month timeline is meticulously planned based on a comprehensive understanding of the project’s scope and the capabilities of our team. This allows us to efficiently execute all phases, from development to launch, while adhering to high-quality standards.

By carefully managing the budget and aligning it with realistic salary benchmarks and operational requirements, we ensure financial prudence while delivering a project that provides substantial value to the Cardano ecosystem. Futura not only enhances the infrastructure but also promotes wider adoption, including enterprise-level applications, which will contribute to significant growth and utilization across various industries.