Unified Development Tool Chain for Cardano Smart Contract Development

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Tim Ng

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

Individual

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

Phong Phu Tran

Quoc Vuong Do

[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)

We will develop a unified tool chain that integrates Aiken, Opshin (backend), and Lucid (frontend), providing a seamless environment for efficient smart contract development on Cardano.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

[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.”

The project uses external open-source tools like VSCode and Theia IDE (https://theia-ide.org/) to build the web-based IDE. These tools are essential because they provide a robust and versatile foundation for developing, testing, and deploying smart contracts. VSCode offers a well-established ecosystem with extensive extensions, while Theia IDE is a highly adaptable cloud and desktop IDE platform that allows for deep customization. Both are critical for ensuring a seamless, scalable, and feature-rich development experience for Cardano smart contracts.

[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 entire tool chain will be fully open-source, encouraging community contributions and future development.

[METADATA] Horizons

Developer Tools

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

The "Unified Development Tool Chain for Cardano Smart Contract Development" aims to solve the inefficiencies of switching between multiple tools for backend and frontend development. This tool chain will integrate Aiken and Opshin for backend smart contract logic and Lucid for frontend interactions, providing a seamless, all-in-one environment for developers.

The project will be built upon the widely-used VSCode and Theia IDE (https://theia-ide.org/) platforms, which offer robust and versatile development environments. VSCode is known for its extensive ecosystem of extensions, while Theia provides flexibility for customization and modularity.

Key Features:

1. Integrated Backend and Frontend Tools: The tool chain brings together Aiken and Opshin (for backend) and Lucid (for frontend) into one cohesive environment, streamlining smart contract development
2. Pre-configured Environment: The IDE will come with pre-installed tools such as the Aiken extension, Opshin, and Lucid, allowing developers to begin building immediately without the need for additional setup
3. Collaboration and Version Control: Developers will have access to built-in collaboration tools and version control features, enabling teams to work together efficiently and manage projects with ease
4. End-to-End Testing: The IDE will support end-to-end testing, allowing developers to thoroughly test their smart contracts in the same environment before deployment

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

Positive Impact on the Cardano Community:

The "Unified Development Tool Chain for Cardano Smart Contract Development" will enhance the Cardano ecosystem across education, developer tools, collaboration, and team efficiency:

1. Education: The tool chain simplifies the learning process for smart contract development, making it more accessible for educators and students
2. Developer Tools: By integrating backend (Aiken/Opshin) and frontend (Lucid) tools into one platform, the tool chain enhances productivity, reduces friction, and eliminates the need to switch between multiple tools
3. Dev Ecosystem Collaboration: With built-in collaboration and version control tools, developers can work together seamlessly
4. Dev Team Efficiency: The unified platform streamlines the development, testing, and deployment process, allowing dev teams to work faster and deliver projects more efficiently

[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?

Capability to Deliver with Trust and Accountability:

Our team has a proven track record in blockchain development, particularly within the Cardano ecosystem.

Team Overview:

- Tim Ng (Project Lead): 20 years of software development experience, specializing in blockchain.

- Phong Phu Tran (Backend Developer): 15 years of experience in backend systems.

- Quoc Vuong Do (DevOps Engineer): 10 years of experience in cloud infrastructure and CI/CD.

- Phan Thanh Long (Frontend Developer): 5 years of experience in frontend development.

We ensure transparency through regular progress updates and milestone tracking.

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Validation and Feasibility:

We will validate our approach through:

1. Technical Testing: Early validation of integrating Aiken, Opshin, and Lucid with Theia and VSCode.

2. Pilot Deployment: Beta testing with the Cardano developer community.

3. Feedback Loops: Iterating based on feedback from early users.

This structured approach ensures the feasibility and success of the project.

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

Web-Based Core Feature Setup for the Unified Toolchain

Output:

- Set up the core infrastructure for the unified toolchain.

- Integrate Aiken, Opshin, and Lucid into the development environment.

Acceptance criteria:

- The tool is accessible via a public link with all core features operational.

- Users can write Aiken, Opshin, and Lucid scripts and run unit tests.

Evidence:

- Public link to the working online tool (web-based).

- Public user guide document illustrating the core features with support for Aiken, Opshin and Lucid

Project Management Tools Implementation

Output:

- Project management feature that allows users to create a full project with multiple files & folders

- Collaboration with project sharing and revision control.

Acceptance Criteria:

- Users can create, store, and share projects with multiple files and folders

- Users can manage project revision similar to using GIT tools

Evidence:

- Link to updated tool with project management features

- Documentation and screenshots demonstrating how to use the project management features

Support for Local Chain and On-Chain Deployment

Output:

- Custom local Cardano Chain to speed up the development process

- Add support for deploying and testing contracts on multiple chains: local chain, preview testnet, pre-production testnet and mainnet

Acceptance Criteria:

- User can start a local Cardano Chain to speed up the development process

- User can deploy and test smart contracts on different chains: local chain, preview testnet, pre-production testnet and mainnet

Evidence:

- User guide for provisioning and using the local Cardano chain

- Documentation illustrating the testing process on multiple chains: local chain, preview testnet, pre-production testnet and mainnet

Grow User and Feedback Collection

Output:

- Public Git repository of the tool with standard open-source project guidelines (license, README, contribution guidelines).

- Acquire real users

- Collect user feedbacks for improvement

- Release a final close-out report & close-out video for the whole project

Acceptance Criteria:

- Working toolchain with all expected features and feedback collection mechanism,

- A user feedback mechanism is implemented within the tool

- Reach 50+ users & 50+ projects created

- Collect 20+ feedback responses.

- Final close-out report & close-out video is publicly available.

Evidence:

- Link to Git repository, which contains all the documentation and source code of the toolchain.

- Public link to the final version of the tool for community to use

- Reports about users, projects, and feedback collected

- Link to the final close-out report & close-out video

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

Project Team and Roles:

1. Tim Ng (Project Lead): 20 years of experience in software development, specializing in blockchain technology and Cardano ecosystem
2. Phong Phu Tran (Backend Developer): 15 years of experience in backend systems and integratio
3. Quoc Vuong Do (DevOps Engineer): 10 years of experience in cloud infrastructure, automation, and CI/CD processe
4. Phan Thanh Long (Frontend Developer): 5 years of experience in frontend development and user interface desig

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

Total Budget: ₳150,000

Cost Breakdown:

1. Development Team: ₳100,000
2. Infrastructure: ₳20,000
3. Marketing and Outreach: ₳30,000

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

This project consolidates essential tools (Aiken, Opshin, Lucid) into one platform, reducing the need for separate development efforts and saving resources. By building on open-source platforms, we minimize costs while delivering a scalable, flexible solution. The unified tool chain will boost developer productivity, encourage collaboration, and drive Cardano adoption, offering high value for the investment.