Hydra Minecraft

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

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

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

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

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

Doom on Hydra became a viral showcase of its speed and capabilities. I propose a "Minecraft on Hydra" demo, allowing players on different servers to stream world changes and play together seamlessly.

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

[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?

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

The source code will be released under the MIT license.

[METADATA] Horizons

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

The proposed solution leverages Hydra, Cardano’s Layer 2 scaling solution, to enable real-time synchronization of changes across multiple Minecraft servers. While the initial technical demo will showcase players interacting on different servers that are not interconnected directly, they will still be able to observe and experience changes in the game world made by other players across these servers. This synchronization will happen through Hydra, which will be tracking the changes by all the players.

Each player's actions, such as placing or breaking a block, will be represented by individual transactions within the Hydra network. These transactions will record and track the state changes within the game world. A websocket connection, maintained by the running Hydra node, will serve as the communication channel through which these game world changes are transmitted to all relevant servers.

Minecraft servers, which support the use of Java plugins, will utilize a custom-built plugin designed to integrate with Hydra. The plugin will actively listen for in-game events (e.g., a block being placed or destroyed). Upon detecting these events, the plugin will initiate a transaction submission to Hydra, recording the change. Conversely, when a new transaction is communicated via Hydra, the plugin will interpret the transaction data and apply the corresponding change to the Minecraft world on all participating servers. This ensures that even though players are on different servers, their worlds remain synchronized, reflecting the cumulative changes made by all players across the network.

Newly launched servers will have the capability to retrieve and replay the entire transaction history from Hydra, ensuring that the game world is fully synchronized and up-to-date with the latest state changes.

A simplified diagram can be seen below:

As a proof of concept, this project will focus on synchronizing key player actions, specifically block placement and block breaking. Certain events, such as explosions, item interactions (e.g., opening chests/doors or pressing levers), mob-related block destruction, and similar, will be excluded from this demo. This is primarily due to the potential performance impact on the Java Minecraft server (not Hydra), particularly in scenarios involving chained explosions, which can create significant server load. Additionally, these excluded events are not critical to demonstrating the core functionality of this showcase and would require substantially more resources and development time. These exclusions will be restricted plugin-side to ensure smooth and uninterrupted gameplay.

This solution can serve as an additional tech demo and marketing asset for Hydra, building upon the success of projects like "Doom on Hydra" and showcasing the broader potential of Hydra’s technology.

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

In what way will the success of your project bring value to the Cardano Community?

Transaction Efficiency Demonstration - By utilizing Hydra, the project can highlight the efficiency and scalability of Cardano’s infrastructure, which can lead to broader discussions about its application in other real-time systems.

Strong Promotional Opportunity - By showcasing Hydra's capabilities through a popular game like Minecraft, the project can generate significant buzz, similar to the success of Doom on Hydra. This initiative can attract media attention and engage the gaming community, showcasing Cardano as a leader in innovative blockchain applications and driving interest in the ecosystem.

Educational Opportunities - This project can serve as an educational tool, illustrating how blockchain technology can enhance gaming experiences. It may inspire other developers to incorporate blockchain concepts into their games or projects.

How will you measure this impact?

To assess the project's impact, key metrics will include the adoption rate, specifically the number of servers running the plugin, along with feedback gathered through a dedicated form included in the project's README.

How will you share the outputs and opportunities that result from your project?

The outputs and opportunities that result from the project will be shared on Medium and Twitter (https://x.com/CardanoProphet)

[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?

I bring over 8 years of combined experience in software development, including more than 3 years in the Cardano ecosystem and 5 years working in Web2 technologies. Currently, I work as a senior full-stack developer for one of the top DeFi protocols on Cardano.

In addition to my professional experience, I am an active contributor to the Cardano community under the pseudonym "CardanoProphet," through which I regularly post educational and fun content aimed at promoting broader understanding of the Cardano blockchain. My public profile, including educational posts and updates, can be found at https://x.com/CardanoProphet

I have also independently developed and launched two small Cardano projects:

• Cardaport.io Minter: A simple, free NFT minter for Cardano (https://cardaport.io/minter).
• CardaCraft: A virtual world leveraging Cardano CNFTs and Blockfrost (similar to projects like Pavia), which can be found at https://x.com/CardaCraft

To demonstrate my commitment to accountability and trust, I have structured the funding for this proposal with a conservative approach. I have requested a reduced amount of ADA in the first milestone, allowing me to deliver tangible results before seeking additional funding for subsequent phases. This approach ensures that I can prove my capabilities through deliverables, while minimizing risk for the Catalyst Fund.

In terms of feasibility, I have previously deployed a similar project on Cardano's Layer 1 involving CNFTs, which is publicly accessible. While that project did not utilize Hydra or involve server synchronization, I have conducted multiple tests with Hydra to assess its viability. Additionally, I am familiar with Hydra's HTTP and WebSocket APIs, which further strengthens my confidence in the feasibility of this proposal. Based on this experience, I am highly confident in the smooth delivery of the proposed solution.

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

Milestone 1: The initial environment setup and listening to in-game events

• Outputs:
• An initial version of the plugin
• A basic version of the plugin that listens to specific in-game events (block placement and block breaking) with no Hydra interaction yet
• Docker Compose setup
• A configuration file for Docker Compose that sets up 2 Minecraft servers, a Cardano Node and opens a Hydra Head
• Logging & Reporting
• The plugin logs the desired events (block placement and breaking) to the Minecraft chat
• Acceptance Criteria
• A functional plugin
• The initial version of the plugin successfully detects and reports block placement and block breaking events initiated by the player in the Minecraft chat
• Successful environment setup
• Docker compose correctly configures and launches two Minecraft servers, a Cardano node, and a Hydra head
• A Hydra Head is successfully opened on the Cardano testnet
• Evidence
• Code repository
• The plugin and Docker Compose configuration publicly available in the repository: https://github.com/CardanoProphet/hydra-minecraft
• Video demonstration
• Showing the plugin's response to in-game events
• Showing the synchronized setup of the Cardano node and opened Hydra head
• Shared at https://x.com/CardanoProphet

Milestone 2: Submitting state updates to Hydra

• Outputs
• Plugin submitting world updates to Hydra
• The plugin has added support for sending transactions to Hydra based on the events happening in the Minecraft world
• Logging & Reporting
• The plugin logs the transaction related information to the Minecraft in-game chat
• Acceptance Criteria
• Storing world changes successfully
• The plugin successfully stores the information related to the in-game world changes in the L2 ledger
• Evidence
• Code repository
• The updates related to this milestone are publicly available in the repository: https://github.com/CardanoProphet/hydra-minecraft
• Video demonstration
• Showing the plugin submitting transactions based on the world changes
• Showing the in-game debug logs related to the Hydra transactions
• Shared at https://x.com/CardanoProphet

Milestone 3: Synchronizing the servers

• Outputs
• Finalized plugin
• The plugin is now capable of creating or destroying blocks in the Minecraft world based on transactions submitted to the Hydra L2 ledger by other Minecraft server instances
• Finalized environment setup
• Docker compose setup should now also be final. Any adjustments identified during previous milestones are implemented here
• Logging & Reporting
• The plugin logs now log everything related to events, sending transactions and world modifications based on the L2 transactions
• The logs are made optional enablable in the plugin config
• Acceptance Criteria
• Server synchronization
• Multiple Minecraft servers are synchronized through Hydra, meaning any world changes made by players (block placement or destruction) performed on one server are reflected on all other connected servers
• The Hydra head successfully propagates all transactions between servers with no data loss or inconsistencies
• Evidence
• Code repository
• The final code is available at: https://github.com/CardanoProphet/hydra-minecraft
• Video demonstration
• Showing the plugin placing/destroying blocks based on the Hydra transactions
• Shared at https://x.com/CardanoProphet

Milestone 4: Project Close-out Report and Video

• Outputs
• A project Close-out Report
• A comprehensive report that provides a detailed summary of the project’s overall achievements, key challenges faced, and the milestones completed
• Includes an overview of each milestone, detailing the specific outputs, and how each milestone was successfully met
• A summary of the final state of the plugin and the Docker Compose environment setup
• A project Close-out Video
• A video demonstrating the plugin in action, with a focus on key features such as server synchronization and Hydra L2 transactions.
• An overview of the plugin’s architecture and functionality, visually explaining how it integrates with Hydra and Cardano.
• Acceptance Criteria
• The close-out report clearly describes the project from start to finish, including setup details, and milestone achievements
• The report is published and accessible to the community
• The video accurately showcases the plugin’s core functionalities, including server synchronization and blockchain transactions through Hydra L2
• The video is shared with the community via X
• Evidence
• The project report will be published on Medium and shared on X at https://x.com/CardanoProphet
• The final project demonstration video will be posted and shared on X at https://x.com/CardanoProphet

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

CardanoProphet (https://x.com/CardanoProphet)

As this is an individual project, I will be responsible for developing and managing all aspects of the process, from planning and design to implementation and deployment. I will ensure that each phase is executed efficiently and that the project meets its objectives. With over 8 years of development experience, I am confident in my ability to handle the technical and operational demands required to successfully deliver the Hydra Minecraft project.

Additionally, I have an additional full-stack developer available as a backup, should the need arise. This developer can assist with any technical challenges or additional development work, ensuring the project’s continuity and timely delivery.

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

The proposed budget is structured at 20,000 ADA (approximately 7,000 USD pre-tax) per month, with the project expected to take approximately four months to complete, totaling 80,000 ADA. To demonstrate good faith and accountability, the budget for the first milestone will be reduced by 50%, with the remaining amount allocated to the final milestone. This structure allows for a lower initial payment, ensuring that I can deliver results before receiving the full payment for the first milestone.

Total project budget: 80,000 ADA

Milestone 1: The initial environment setup and listening to in-game events

• 25,000 ADA - 12,500 ADA = 12,500 ADA (15.625% of the total budget)
• Estimated time: 5 weeks

Milestone 2: Submitting state updates to Hydra

• 25,000 ADA (31.25% of the total budget)
• Estimated time: 5 weeks

Milestone 3: Synchronizing the servers

• 25,000 ADA (31.25% of the total budget)
• Estimated time: 5 weeks

Milestone 4: Project Close-out Report and Video

• 5,000 ADA + 12,500 ADA = 17,500 ADA (21.875% of the total budget)
• Estimated time: 1 week

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

The cost of this project represents excellent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem, as it leverages the widespread popularity and accessibility of Minecraft to showcase the capabilities of Hydra in a practical, engaging, and easily understood way. By building on the success of previous tech demos like "Doom on Hydra," this project will provide a powerful marketing asset for Cardano, highlighting Hydra’s scalability and low-latency potential in a high-visibility environment.

The project's relatively low cost, in comparison to the marketing and educational impact it can deliver, makes it a cost-effective investment. It also educates both developers and the broader public on its real-world applicability. The demo will serve as an open-source resource, adding long-term value to the ecosystem by providing a blueprint for future use cases that may arise from this initiative.