🇻🇳 Cardano App Development Course: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners - From basic Web development to use Cardano Libraries and interacting with Smart Contracts

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Phung Tien Dung

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

Entity (Incorporated)

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

5

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

Yes

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We created a dApp course, guiding basic programming from building the webapp, integrating tools like Mesh, Lucid for transactions, and connecting with Aiken smart contracts to build a complete dApp.

[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

All content including video tutorials, lesson recordings, reference materials, source code will be published after each of our lessons.

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Current Problem

The current problem in Vietnam is that despite the abundance of tech talent, the Cardano developer community lacks comprehensive, step-by-step resources for building decentralized applications (dApps) from scratch. While there are many available documents, there is no clear and structured guide that covers the entire process.

Solution

To address these limitations, we propose creating a complete dApp development course on Cardano, from basic to advanced levels, specifically for Vietnamese developers. This course will have the following key advantages:

• Clear and detailed learning path: The course will provide a well-structured path with in-depth knowledge of essential tools such as MeshJS, Lucid and Aiken to build a full-fledged dApp on Cardano
• Comprehensive content: The course will cover various aspects, including blockchain fundamentals, UTXO model, Aiken smart contract, web application development and tool integration to connect to Cardano blockchain.
• Free access: The course will be completely free for all participants.

Reasons for building:

• Prioritize education: We realize that the Blockchain human resources on Cardano platform in Vietnam are still limited. This course hopes to contribute to training more developers, promoting technology adoption and sustainable development on Cardano platform.
• Lack of detailed documentation: Currently, there are many documents about Cardano but lack easy-to-understand tutorial tools. The course will provide clear information, from beginner knowledge to building a complete dapp, helping learners to approach faster.
• Practical needs in the blockchain field: With the development of blockchain and Cardano, the need for programmers who know how to develop DApps will increase, bringing career opportunities to learners.
• Building a Cardano development community in Vietnam: The course not only provides knowledge but also contributes to building a strong Cardano programming community in Vietnam, supporting each other and developing new projects.

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

Positive Impact:

The solution we propose addresses the challenges related to technical documentation and training within the Cardano ecosystem by providing comprehensive and accessible resources. Our output will include instructional videos and sample template repositories for each lesson in the course.

The course content will begin with an introduction to building basic WebApp applications, helping learners grasp key concepts and the structure of web applications. Next, students will be guided on how to integrate Cardano libraries such as Mesh and Lucid to interact with the blockchain, covering functions such as creating transactions and minting NFTs. The course will also provide illustrative examples of how to write Aiken smart contracts and how to enable WebApps to interact with those contracts, from invoking functions to processing returned data. Upon completion, we ensure that learners will possess the necessary knowledge and skills to apply and build their desired dApps.

Benefits for Cardano:

This project will provide learning materials on dApp development to the Vietnamese programming community in particular, and the broader Cardano community in general. Currently, many individuals are interested in learning how to build dApps, but the online resources available are limited due to language barriers and a lack of detailed documentation. Existing materials are often difficult to understand and time-consuming to study. Therefore, this project will offer the community instructional video-based learning materials for dApp development, making it easier and more efficient for learners to access knowledge.

Additionally, the project aims to improve the quality of human resources for Cardano in the future. By developing a detailed course on dApp development, learners will be equipped with essential knowledge and skills, from writing smart contracts to integrating Cardano libraries. This will enhance their ability to develop decentralized applications. Not only will this elevate the quality of human resources within the Cardano community, but it will also promote the sustainable growth of the ecosystem in the future.

We will use the following metrics to measure the success of the project:

• The number of qualifying materials and videos shared publicly with the community.
• Engagement metrics such as participation, video views, feedback, and contributions from the community.

[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?

Expertise and Experience

Our team comprises an experienced instructor specializing in the Blockchain field, with a proven track record in successfully securing funding across multiple rounds, most recently during funding phases 10, 11, and 12. Additionally, we have three team members with practical expertise in working with and developing on the Cardano blockchain. Their programming skills encompass a variety of languages, including Haskell, Plutus, Aiken, Python, Node.js, and Java. This ensures that our course will stay aligned with real-world technological needs.

We have already completed several Cardano Blockchain courses:

• Learning portal: https://lms/cardano2vn.io

As proof of knowledge and research skills, some of our current proposals funded are attached:

The project has been funded:

• Proposal funded 1: “🇻🇳 Vietnam Cardano Catalyst - NFT Exchange testing and development environment helps young people approach with the Web3.0 platform”
• Proposal funded 2: "Study guide for Marlow"
• Proposal funded 3: “Dualtarget for ADA-Holders (Staking and increasing assets) with a decentralized automated trading bot”
• Proposal funded 4: “🇻🇳 The Complete Aiken Course Cardano: From Zero to Expert!”
• Proposal funded 5: "Open source dynamic assets (Token/NFT) generator (CIP68)"

Other activities

• Article 1: "Students Scientific Research with Cardano Blockchain"
• Article 2: "Students Scientific Research with Cardano Blockchain"
• Article 3: "Scientific research results of students of the University of Transport and Communications 2024"
• Article 3: "Cardano Blockchain Hackathon Vietnam 2024”

Ensuring Accountability

1. Progress Tracking: We will closely monitor and evaluate the project's progress using clear metrics and indicator

  

1. Transparent Communication: We prioritize open and honest communication with all stakeholder

By upholding these principles of accountability and transparency, we aim to build trust and confidence in the project implementation process. Throughout the project's lifecycle, we remain committed to reliability, transparency, and responsibility toward all involved stakeholders.

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

Content Preparation

Milestone Outputs

• Creating detailed lesson outlines for the course and plan.
• Building the lecture plan.
• Creating lecture content (including making slides and instructional materials).
• Conducting internal review and assessment of the course content.

Acceptance Criteria

• The course outline must encompass all topics from basic to advanced levels regarding DApp development on Cardano.
• The lesson plan should be clear and understandable, with a timetable for each lesson.
• Each topic in the outline must have specific learning objectives.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• The outline and slides for course content will be available on Google Docs.
• The project repository will be available on GitHub, and the learning channel will be communicated to learners in Milestone 1

Build Frontend to Web3 Standards and Integrate Cardano Libraries

Milestone Outputs

• Creating lecture content (including making slides, documents, and repositories):
• Video 1: HTML, CSS, JavaScript - Basics
• Video 2: React, React-DOM Basics
• Video 3: Next.js
• Video 4: MeshJS, Lucid-Cardano
• Video 5: Blockfrost, Query Data Onchain
• Video 6: Making Transactions
• Video 7: Minting/Burning Assets
• Video 8: Introduction to Aiken

Acceptance Criteria

• Slides: Eight slides corresponding to each video (1-8) must be created, with clear and concise information.
• Instructional Articles: Eight instructional articles must be written, covering the content of each video in detail, with practical examples where applicable.
• Repositories: Eight repositories must be created, containing all code samples and resources discussed in each video, organized and documented appropriately.
• Videos: All eight videos from the course must be published and available for viewing on the YouTube channel, with appropriate titles and descriptions.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• The slides for course content will be available on Google Docs.
• The documents will be published on the learning blog and in the README of the repository.
• The repositories will be made public on GitHub.
• Videos will be published on the YouTube channel.

Interacting with Smart Contracts through a Front-End Interface

Creating lecture content:

• Video 1: Analyzing Ideas for an NFT Marketplace
• Video 2: Designing the NFT Marketplace User Interface
• Video 3: Aiken Smart Contract
• Video 4: Writing Test Cases for Smart Contracts
• Video 5: Developing the Frontend Marketplace with Corresponding Functions
• Video 6: Finalizing and Deploying the Marketplace to Vercel

Acceptance Criteria

• Slides: Six slides corresponding to each video (1-6) must be created, with clear and concise information.
• Instructional Articles: Six instructional articles must be written, covering the content of each video in detail, with practical examples where applicable.
• Repositories: Six repositories must be created, containing all code samples and resources discussed in each video, organized and documented appropriately.
• Videos: All six videos from the course must be published and available for viewing on the YouTube channel, with appropriate titles and descriptions.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• The slides for course content will be available on Google Docs.
• The documents will be published on the learning blog and in the README of the repository.
• The repositories will be made public on GitHub.
• Videos will be published on the YouTube channel. 

Closing Project

Milestone Outputs

• Create a Project Close-Out Report and Project Close-Out Video.
• Project management: 2 hours per week x number of weeks.
• Event marketing and communications.

Acceptance Criteria

• A video for the final report of the project.
• A Project Close-Out Report.
• Files describing marketing activities must be available on Google Drive.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• A copy of the Project Close-Out Report will be published on public Google Drive.
• The Project Close-Out Video will be published on the YouTube channel.
• Evidence of event marketing and communications compiled will be available on Google Docs.

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

📌Mr. Phung Tien Dung

Full-Stack Developer | Blockchain Developer

• Experience: Software engineering expert with 5+ years in Vietnam's tech scene. 2+ years in blockchain
• Programming Language: php , nodejs, python, c,c++ ,haskell, aiken
• Projects: Multiple completed projects funded by Catalyst
• Skills: dApp development with nextjs and smart contract writing with Aiken

Contact

• Email: tiendung0325@gmail.com
• Github
• Telegram
• Linkedin

📌Son Hong Nguyen

Blockchain Developer

• Responsible for developing and implementing smart contracts on the Cardano blockchain, ensuring the secure and efficient functioning of the platform.

Contact

• Telegram: https://t.me/sonson211992
• Email: son211204228@lms.utc.edu.vn

📌Khanh Duy Nguyen

Full stack Developer

• Tasked with developing the backend and frontend components of the platform, ensuring seamless integration and functionality.

Contact

• Telegram: https://t.me/khanhnguyen1711
• Email: nguyenkhanh17112003@gmail.com

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

Our proposal is expected to be divided into 05 milestones with the following expected budget:

(you can refer to this google sheet for more detail)

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

• Investment in Human Capital: By providing comprehensive training in Web3 development, particularly within the Cardano ecosystem, we are addressing the current shortage of skilled blockchain developers in Vietnam. This investment will not only enhance the local talent pool but also contribute to the long-term growth and sustainability of the Cardano community.

• Quality Course Material: The costs associated with developing high-quality educational resources—including video tutorials, documentation, and practical assignments—are justified by the need for accessible and effective learning materials. Given the limited availability of quality resources in Vietnamese, our course will fill a crucial gap and foster a new generation of developers proficient in Cardano technologies.

•  Potential Economic Impact: As more developers gain expertise in building decentralized applications (DApps) using Cardano, we anticipate a positive ripple effect on the local economy. This includes job creation, increased innovation, and attracting more developers to contribute to the Cardano ecosystem.

• Sustainability and Scalability: The course is designed with sustainability in mind. The initial investment will enable us to create a self-sustaining educational model, where successful alumni can contribute to future iterations of the course. This creates a cycle of continuous learning and improvement within the Cardano ecosystem.