Cardano SDK for Mobile dApp Development

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Udai Solanki

[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

Mahendra Sharma

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahendra-sharma-79a988b8/

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

7

[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)

Creating an open-source Cardano SDK for mobile dApp development on iOS and Android. This modular SDK will allow developers to easily integrate Cardano blockchain features into their mobile apps.

[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 fully open source under MIT License.

It is an open source development and it will be available throughout the entire lifecycle of the project with a published open-source repository.

[METADATA] Horizons

Developer Tools

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Proposed Solution: Cardano SDK for Mobile dApp Development

We propose the development of a comprehensive Cardano SDK for Mobile DApp Development, designed specifically for iOS and Android platforms. This SDK will empower developers to integrate Cardano blockchain functionality into mobile applications with ease. By providing a modular and open-source framework, developers can selectively incorporate the Cardano features that best suit their mobile DApps, allowing for flexibility and scalability.

Problem Perception and Approach:

The rapid growth of mobile applications and the increasing demand for decentralized apps (DApps) have created a need for seamless mobile blockchain integration. However, current tools for building Cardano-based mobile applications are limited, forcing developers to either build custom solutions or deal with complex blockchain interactions, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.

Our approach focuses on solving this issue by creating a developer-friendly SDK that abstracts the complexity of blockchain development and provides ready-to-use components. This will reduce the time to market for mobile DApps and lower the technical barriers for developers looking to enter the Cardano ecosystem.

Key Functionalities:

1. Wallet Integration:
2. Pre-Built Wallet Modules: The SDK will provide pre-built modules that allow mobile users to create, import, and manage Cardano wallets directly within the mobile app.
3. Transaction Support: Developers can easily integrate wallet-to-wallet transactions, staking functionalities, and display wallet balances within their DApps, offering a seamless user experience.
4. Impact: This will empower users to engage with the Cardano blockchain directly from their mobile devices, promoting higher engagement and adoption.
5. Smart Contract Support:
6. Interaction with Plutus and Marlowe Contracts: The SDK will enable developers to integrate tools for interacting with Plutus and Marlowe smart contracts, ensuring that mobile DApps can execute complex contract logic.
7. Secure Signing Mechanisms: Secure mechanisms will be provided for signing transactions and interacting with contracts, ensuring that users' private keys remain safe.
8. Impact: This will allow developers to build mobile applications that execute smart contract logic while maintaining security and decentralization, fostering innovative DApp solutions on Cardano.
9. NFT Integration:
10. NFT APIs: The SDK will provide easy-to-use APIs for integrating Cardano-native NFTs, allowing users to mint, view, trade, or collect NFTs within mobile applications.
11. Impact: This will significantly lower the barrier for developers to build mobile NFT marketplaces or incorporate NFTs into games and other interactive applications, driving adoption of Cardano-based NFTs.
12. Lightweight Node Interaction:
13. Mobile-Friendly Blockchain Interaction: The SDK will enable interaction with the Cardano blockchain using light clients or API endpoints, optimized for mobile devices to ensure minimal resource consumption and efficient performance.
14. Impact: This approach will allow mobile applications to interact with the blockchain without the need for heavy computational power or storage, making Cardano accessible on mobile platforms.
15. Cross-Platform Support:
16. Support for iOS and Android: The SDK will provide cross-platform support using modern frameworks like React Native, Flutter, or Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM), ensuring that developers can build for both Android and iOS with shared codebases where possible.
17. Impact: This will streamline the mobile DApp development process, allowing developers to deploy applications across multiple platforms while minimizing development effort.

Engagement and Demonstrating Impact:

• Who Will Benefit:
• Developers: The SDK will be a critical tool for mobile developers, simplifying the integration of Cardano blockchain features and allowing them to focus on building innovative solutions. It will benefit both experienced blockchain developers and newcomers by lowering technical barriers.
• Cardano Ecosystem: By enabling more mobile DApps, the SDK will expand the number of use cases built on Cardano, driving adoption and increasing user engagement with the network.
• Users: End-users will benefit from a smoother mobile experience when interacting with the Cardano blockchain, whether for managing wallets, participating in decentralized finance (DeFi), or engaging with NFTs.
• How We Will Measure Impact:
• Number of Mobile DApps Built: One key indicator of success will be the number of mobile DApps built using the SDK. We will track the adoption rate by monitoring SDK downloads, integrations, and developer feedback.
• Developer Feedback and Adoption: Surveys, community engagement, and developer workshops will provide qualitative insights into how the SDK is being used and its impact on reducing development barriers.
• Mobile User Engagement: The increase in the number of mobile users interacting with the Cardano blockchain through DApps built with the SDK will be another metric to measure success.

Unique Aspects and Importance to Cardano:

What makes this solution unique is its comprehensive and modular approach to mobile DApp development. By offering flexible tools for integrating wallets, smart contracts, NFTs, and identity solutions, the SDK will meet the diverse needs of developers building on Cardano. Moreover, its cross-platform support and emphasis on security and privacy will position Cardano as a go-to platform for mobile blockchain applications.

This is important to Cardano because mobile platforms are a critical vector for driving mass adoption. As more users rely on mobile devices for their day-to-day activities, providing a seamless way to interact with the Cardano blockchain via mobile DApps will be key to scaling the ecosystem and increasing user engagement.

By offering an easy-to-use yet powerful SDK, this project will foster the development of innovative mobile DApps, driving further adoption and strengthening the Cardano ecosystem in the mobile space.

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

Key Benefits and Impact on the Cardano Community:

• Boost in Mobile DApp Development:
• The SDK will significantly lower the technical barriers for developers looking to build mobile-first DApps on Cardano. By offering intuitive tools and pre-built components, it simplifies the development process, encouraging the creation of more mobile-centric solutions. This will lead to a greater number of mobile DApps, expanding the scope and diversity of applications within the Cardano ecosystem.
• Increased Cardano Adoption:
• As mobile is the dominant computing platform globally, enabling mobile DApps will allow Cardano to reach a much larger user base, especially in regions where smartphones are the primary means of internet access. This increase in accessibility will drive broader Cardano adoption, helping the platform grow in user engagement and network activity.
• Seamless Integration for Developers:
• By providing pre-built modules that handle complex blockchain interactions—such as wallet management, transaction signing, and smart contract execution—the SDK will save developers significant time and effort. This allows them to focus on building innovative and user-friendly experiences, leading to faster development cycles and higher-quality mobile DApps. The improved efficiency will be a major advantage for developers and, ultimately, the Cardano community.
• Diverse Use Cases Across Industries:
• The SDK will enable the development of mobile DApps across a variety of industries, including gaming, decentralized finance (DeFi), supply chain management, and more. This versatility will open up new avenues for mobile DApp development and usage, positioning Cardano as a leading platform for innovative and impactful applications.

Measuring Impact:

• Quantitative Metrics: The number of mobile DApps built using the SDK, monitor SDK downloads and developer engagement, and measure the number of active mobile users interacting with Cardano via mobile applications. Increased transaction volume and smart contract execution through mobile DApps will also serve as key indicators of the SDK’s impact.
• Qualitative Metrics: Feedback from developers and users to assess the SDK’s ease of use, security, and effectiveness. Developer surveys, workshops, and community engagement activities will provide valuable insights into how well the SDK meets the needs of the Cardano developer ecosystem.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities:

• The SDK and all accompanying documentation, tutorials, and templates will be open-source, made available to the entire Cardano community via GitHub or other development platforms.
• We will actively engage with the Cardano developer community by hosting workshops, webinars, or hackathons to showcase the SDK's capabilities and encourage collaboration.
• Regular project updates, case studies, and success stories will be shared through Cardano forums, social media, and developer channels, ensuring that the broader community can see the progress and opportunities created by the SDK.

[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 & Feasibility

Team Expertise:

We are a skilled team with deep experience in blockchain development, particularly within the Cardano ecosystem. Our past work on other blockchain projects showcases our capability to deliver complex SDKs and blockchain solutions. Our experience spans mobile development for both iOS and Android, ensuring cross-platform support for this SDK.

Our project on Java based SDK for Cardano https://github.com/CardanoJ/cardanoJ

Feasibility Validation:

We will validate our approach by developing a minimum viable product (MVP) for early testing with selected developers. User feedback, community engagement, and regular milestone reviews will be integral. We'll demonstrate functionality through incremental releases of SDK features, each with extensive documentation and use-case testing.

Trust & Accountability:

Our project management approach involves clear milestones, regular progress updates to stakeholders, and an open-source development model. Financial management will include transparency in fund allocation, with detailed reporting and community oversight to ensure funds are used efficiently. Furthermore, all deliverables will be hosted publicly on platforms like GitHub, where developers can assess our progress in real time.

The Proposer Udai Solanki is 23+ years of experience in Technology and 3.5+ years of experience with Cardano Tech. He has been selected as Developer Advocate position by Intersect Open source Office.

This combination of expertise, structured validation, and transparency ensures we can deliver the SDK project with a high degree of trustworthiness and accountability.

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

Milestone 1: Month 1-2

Outputs: Research and Architecture Design:

• Conduct research on existing mobile SDKs in other blockchain ecosystems (e.g., Ethereum, Solana) to identify best practices and gaps.
• Design the architecture of the SDK, ensuring compatibility with iOS and Android, as well as the modularity for developers to pick the components they need (wallet, smart contracts, etc.).

Acceptance Criteria:

• Research report about Mobile SDK available in at least one Blockchain in top 10 Blockchains based on Market cap.
• Tech architecture document is prepared for Mobile SDK which support iOS and Android OS.

Evidence:

• Publicly accessible Link to the research report
• Publicly accessible Link to the technical architecture document

Milestone 2: Month 3-4

Outputs: Prototype Development

• Develop core SDK components, starting with wallet integration and basic Cardano transaction capabilities.
• Create the first version of smart contract interaction tools for mobile DApps.
• Conduct initial testing with a select group of developers.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Core SDK components for Mobile dApp are developed including functionalities
• Wallet Integration
• Smart Contract Integration
• Unit Test Cases are written and tests are conducted

Evidence:

• Publicly accessible Link to the source code repository
• Publicly accessible Link to the test cases repository
• Publicly accessible Link to a short video showing test cases are run successfully

Milestone 3: Month 5-6

Outputs: NFT & Light Client Integration

• Build out modules for NFT integration and light client node interaction to ensure scalability on mobile devices.

Acceptance Criteria:

• NFT Integration module is built and light client note interaction is developed

Evidence:

• Publicly accessible Link to the source code repository for the defined functionalities
• Publicly accessible Link to the test cases repository
• Publicly accessible Link to a short video showing test cases are run successfully

Milestone 4: Month 7

Outputs: Final Reports Submission

• Finalize and launch the full version of the SDK, complete with documentation
• Project Completion Report and Video

Acceptance Criteria:

• Final Version of SDK is ready with documentation and sample codes to use it

Evidence:

• Publicly accessible Link to the source code repository for the defined functionalities
• Publicly accessible Link to the sample code to use the SDK
• Publicly accessible Link to Closing out Video and Project completion Report.

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

We have a very strong team of senior developers and experienced software architects.

Below are our key team members who shall be engaged in this project.

Udai Solanki , CTO at www.erevmax.com

Role in Project : Blockchain/Solution Architect and Project Manager

Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solanki

Technical Architect, Java Programmer, Plutus and Haskell Programmer

23+ years Technology and programming experience

3+ years Cardano Tech Stack experience

Developer Advocate at OSO, IntersectMBO.org

Rupanjali Bask

Role in Project : Tech Writer and Tester

Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupanjali-basak/

Product Owner having 14 years in product management and

7 years in IT Support

Narendra Das

Role: Blockchain Developer

Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naren4das/

Technical Architect , Java Programmer, Plutus and Haskell Programmer

22+ years programming experience

3+ years Cardano Tech Stack experience

Mahendra Sharma

Role in Project: Software Architect, Technical Design and Developer

Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahendra-sharma-79a988b8/

Software Architect, Java Programmer and Delivery Manager

19+ years Programming and Technology experience

Anil Kumar Barik

Role: UI and Cardano dApp Developer

Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anil-kumar-barik-620965208/

2+ years of experience in developer on MERN Stack

2+ years of experience in developing on Cardano Blockchain

Our team other than mentioned above includes experienced mobile developers, blockchain engineers, and community managers with expertise in building and promoting developer tools:

• Lead Blockchain Developer: Expert in building blockchain SDKs and APIs, with 3+ years of experience working with decentralized networks, including Cardano.
• Mobile Development Lead: Skilled in iOS and Android development, with a strong background in cross-platform mobile frameworks (React Native, Flutter).
• Product Manager: Focused on coordinating the project and ensuring the SDK meets the needs of both the developer community and end-users.

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

Detailed Budget Breakup by Milestone

Milestone 1: Research and Architecture Design

Duration: 2 Months

1 Solution Architect/Senior Blockchain Developer: 30 person days x ADA 700 = ADA 21,000

1 Developer: 30 person days x ADA 400 = ADA 12,000

1 Tech Writer: 40 person days x ADA 300 = ADA 12,000

1 Project Manager (Tech): 20 person days x ADA 500= ADA 10,000

Total = ADA 55,000

Milestone 2: Prototype Development

Duration: 2 Months

1 Solution Architect/Senior Blockchain Developer: 20 person days x ADA 700 = ADA 14,000

2 Developer: 60 person days x ADA 400 = ADA 24,000

1 Tech Writer: 20 person days x ADA 300 = ADA 6,000

Development Environment Infrastructure = ADA 1,000

1 Project Manager (Tech): 20 person days x ADA 500= ADA 10,000

Total = ADA 55,000

Milestone 3: NFT & Light Client Integration

Duration: 2 Months

1 Solution Architect/Senior Blockchain Developer: 20 person days x ADA 700 = ADA 14,000

2 Developers: 60 person days x ADA 400 = ADA 24,000

1 Tech Writer: 20 person days x ADA 300 = ADA 6,000

Development Environment Infrastructure = ADA 1,000

1 Project Manager (Tech): 20 person days x ADA 500= ADA 10,000

Total = ADA 55,000

Milestone 4: Final Version , Documentation and Final Reports

Duration: 1 Month

1 Solution Architect/Senior Blockchain Developer: 10 person days x ADA 700 = ADA 7,000

2 Developers: 30 person days x ADA 400 = ADA 12,000

1 Tech Writer: 20 person days x ADA 300 = ADA 6,000

Development Environment Infrastructure = ADA 500

1 Project Manager (Tech): 15 person days x ADA 500= ADA 7,500

Total = ADA 33,000

Total Budget Requested : ADA 198,000

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

Value for Money: Justifying the Cost for the Cardano Ecosystem

The Cardano SDK for Mobile DApp Development represents a highly strategic investment for the Cardano ecosystem by enabling the creation of mobile-first decentralized applications (DApps) on iOS and Android platforms. Given the growing importance of mobile platforms globally, this project aims to unlock significant potential for developers and users alike, fostering broader adoption and use cases across various industries. Here’s why the costs associated with this project provide strong value for money:

• Lowering the Barriers to Entry for Mobile Developers:

The SDK will offer pre-built tools, templates, and comprehensive documentation, simplifying the complex process of building mobile DApps on Cardano. By reducing the technical overhead for developers, we are expanding the pool of potential contributors to the Cardano ecosystem. This democratizes access to blockchain technology, enabling more innovation at a faster pace. The upfront investment in building this SDK is outweighed by the long-term benefits of wider adoption, increased developer engagement, and community growth.

• Strategic Expansion of Cardano’s Reach:

Mobile is the dominant computing platform in many parts of the world, particularly in emerging markets where smartphones are often the primary way people access the internet. By enabling mobile DApp development, this project positions Cardano to tap into new markets and user bases that otherwise might not have access to the blockchain. The cost of developing the SDK is a proactive investment in Cardano’s long-term growth, as it will make the ecosystem more inclusive and accessible.

• Cost Justification Based on Industry Standards:

The proposed budget has been carefully designed to reflect industry-standard rates for mobile development, blockchain engineering, and cryptography. These costs have been benchmarked against typical freelance rates in our industry and align with the average wage levels for qualified developers in our region. Additionally, the costs for auditing and security testing, which ensure the SDK meets rigorous standards, are proportional to best practices in both blockchain and mobile development fields. These factors collectively ensure that the project is delivered at a fair market value while prioritizing quality and security.

• Long-Term Impact and Reusability:

The SDK will be open-source, meaning the initial investment will benefit the community for years to come. Developers will be able to reuse and extend the tools provided, continuously expanding the utility of the SDK without requiring significant additional investment. This compounds the value of the initial development cost, as it will empower developers globally to create new mobile DApps without incurring additional development costs for core functionalities. In this way, the project has a multiplier effect on the overall value it provides to the Cardano ecosystem.

• Supporting Regulatory Compliance and Security:

The SDK will include modules that address regulatory requirements, such as KYC/AML, and incorporate best-in-class security practices such as encrypted storage and secure key management. This reduces the development burden on projects that would otherwise need to invest heavily in compliance and security measures. By including these features, we are future-proofing the ecosystem, ensuring that mobile DApps built on Cardano are secure, compliant, and scalable—further reinforcing the value of the initial investment.

• Efficient Use of Resources:

The modular nature of the SDK allows developers to select only the features they need for their DApps, making it a resource-efficient solution. This reduces unnecessary development overhead and accelerates the time-to-market for mobile applications. The initial costs of developing this SDK will therefore lead to faster and more efficient mobile DApp development, generating early returns in terms of ecosystem engagement and user growth.

The Cardano SDK for Mobile DApp Development represents exceptional value for money because it will significantly lower development costs for individual projects, drive the adoption of Cardano in mobile-first markets, and create long-term infrastructure that will benefit the entire community. By investing in this project, we are empowering developers to build innovative, secure, and scalable mobile DApps, which will in turn lead to sustained growth and value creation for the Cardano ecosystem.