Last updated 8 months ago
Developers face steep learning curves, scattered support, and high risk of errors when building on Plutus & Marlowe. This slows adoption and blocks Cardano from competing with faster ecosystems.
We will build a web-based AI Assistant platform, coding assistant for Plutus & Marlowe offering real-time help, tutorials, UI with chat & code support to boost adoption and productivity.
This is the total amount allocated to SmartContract AI: Boosting Plutus & Marlowe Developers Power.
Please provide your proposal title
SmartContract AI: Boosting Plutus & Marlowe Developers Power
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
68000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
6
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
Developers face steep learning curves, scattered support, and high risk of errors when building on Plutus & Marlowe. This slows adoption and blocks Cardano from competing with faster ecosystems.
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
No
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
No dependencies
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
License and Additional Information
Yes. we will release under the code and educational materials under CC BY 4.0 and Apache 2, to ensure free use, modification, and community collaboration
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
AI
Mention your open source license and describe your open source license rationale.
We will release the AI Assistant, plugins, and supporting resources under the Apache 2.0 open-source license. This license was chosen because it balances freedom and protection: it allows anyone to freely use, modify, and distribute the software, while providing clear terms around attribution and patent rights. Our rationale is simple developers and enterprises can confidently adopt the tool without restrictive barriers, while the Cardano community benefits from transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvements.
How do you make sure your source code is accessible to the public from project start, and people are informed?
From day one, we’ll host our code in a public GitHub repository under the Apache 2.0 license. Every milestone and update will be pushed there so the community can track progress in real time. We’ll also announce releases, updates, and documentation through Cardano forums, Discord/Telegram developer groups, and Twitter. This way, both the code and the communication are open, transparent, and easy for developers to access and contribute to from the very start.
How will you provide high quality documentation?
We will provide high quality documentation by combining clear written guides, code examples, and tutorials directly linked to real developer workflows. A dedicated documentation writer on our team will maintain a structured docs site with onboarding guides, API references, and troubleshooting tips. We’ll also integrate “explain this code” examples into the assistant itself, so learning is interactive. Regular updates will ensure the docs evolve with Plutus/Marlowe changes, keeping them accurate, accessible, and developer-friendly.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Cardanos smart contract platforms Plutus and Marlowe are powerful but remain underutilized because they are complex to learn, lack integrated developer support, and present security risks when code is written without expert guidance. Developers spend weeks or even months trying to be productive, often relying on fragmented documentation, forums, or trial-and-error.
This is a critical bottleneck for adoption: if developers can’t quickly onboard, experiment, and build confidently, Cardano risks losing talent to ecosystems with faster, easier developer experiences.
Our solution is the web based AI Assistant for Plutus & Marlowe integrated to CHATGpt custom which specifcaly have a data of plutus and marlow that we feed from different sources in real fine-tuned with Cardano-specific knowledge, integrated directly into developers already use. It acts as a real-time mentor, problem-solver, and teacher helping developers code faster, learn smarter, and avoid costly errors.
Core Features and How Addressing the Problem works
• Integrated directly into VSCode and a web-based IDE.
• Developers can ask questions in natural language and get immediate, context-aware answers.
• Example: “What’s wrong with this validator?” → Assistant explains the error and suggests fixes.
• Problem solved: No more endless forum searches or waiting for community replies.
• Context-aware code completions, bug explanations, and fixes.
• Security linting and best-practice checks built in.
• Problem solved: Reduces coding errors and strengthens contract security.
• Step-by-step tutorials integrated with the assistant.
• “Explain this code” mode that translates Haskell/DSL logic into plain English.
• Interactive learning paths for Plutus and Marlowe.
• Problem solved: Shrinks the learning curve from months to days.
• Generates clean, human-readable documentation from developer code.
• Saves time and increases project transparency.
• Problem solved: Frees developers from repetitive tasks and improves open-source adoption.
• VSCode plugin with simulation hooks for Plutus/Marlowe workflows.
• Future integrations planned with Aiken and Lucid.
• Problem solved: Provides a single, unified developer environment, instead of fragmented tools.
• Runs on lightweight infrastructure: ChatGPT API + minimal hosting.
• Cost-effective: ~11,500 ADA/year post-grant operations.
• Fully open-source Apache 2.0 license to ensure transparency, adoption, and contributions.
• Problem solved: Long-term impact without heavy funding reliance.
Why This help for Cardano matter
• The assistant will be available through a dedicated web platform (our hosted site) from project launch. This ensures accessibility, ease of use, and full control over updates and sustainability. Future integrations with IDEs like VSCode may be added, but the core assistant is independent and open to all developers via the web.”
• Accelerated Adoption: Reduces onboarding time from 4 weeks to 1 week.
• Developer Retention: Provides the kind of friendly, accessible experience developers expect from leading ecosystems.
• Code Quality & Security: Built-in checks and guided coding lower risk of vulnerabilities.
• Ecosystem Strengthening: By lowering entry barriers, more projects and dApps can emerge, enriching Cardano’s network effect.
• Community Empowerment: Open-source model ensures everyone benefits, not just early adopters.
•
Roadmap
Phase 1 (0–2 months): Dataset & Training
• Collect, clean, and structure Plutus, Marlowe, Aiken, and Lucid documentation.
• Fine-tune ChatGPT with Cardano developer-specific content.
• Deliver prototype conversational assistant.
Phase 2 (2–4 months): Tooling Integration
• VSCode plugin + Web IDE assistant.
• Debugging features, security checks, and simulation support.
• Closed beta with 50–100 developers for testing & feedback.
Phase 3 (4–6 months): Deployment & Scaling
• Public launch: Free, open-source release.
• Tutorials, onboarding guides, and continuous feedback loop.
• Iterative improvements based on real-world developer usage.
By month 6, a fully usable assistant will be live, open, and ready for adoption.
How This Solution Directly Addresses the Problem
• Steep Learning Curve? → Interactive tutorials, explainers, and guided onboarding directly reduce the time and effort to learn.
• Fragmented Support? → A single integrated assistant, always available inside the IDE.
• Onboarding Delays? → Developers can move from zero to productive in days, not weeks.
• Security Risks? → Built-in checks and error explanations reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen trust.
This proposal doesn’t just patch the problem—it fundamentally changes the developer experience.
Open Source & Transparency
• Released under Apache 2.0 license, encouraging free use, modification, and contributions.
• Public GitHub repo from day one, with transparent updates at every milestone.
• Documentation site + community channels (Discord, forums, Telegram) to keep developers informed and engaged.
This guarantees trust, visibility, and collaboration—all core to the Cardano ethos.
Long-Term Sustainability
• Post-grant costs are minimal (≈11,500 ADA/year).
• Ongoing funding not required: community contributions, partnerships, and optional enterprise extensions will sustain growth.
• Core assistant will always remain free and open.
Our AI Assistant for Plutus & Marlowe is a high-impact, low-cost, and fast-to-deliver project that directly addresses one of Cardano’s most pressing challenges: making smart contract development accessible, safe, and productive.
By delivering real-time guidance, intelligent coding support, and interactive learning, it empowers developers of all levels to confidently build on Cardano. Within just 6 months, the ecosystem will gain a transparent, sustainable, and community-driven tool that boosts adoption, reduces errors, and grows the network of builders. This represents excellent ROI: a lean, open-source solution that strengthens the entire Cardano developer ecosystem and sets the foundation for long-term growth.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
Cardano is widely respected for its rigorous academic foundation, security-first design, and innovative smart contract platforms: Plutus and Marlowe. However, these strengths also come with complexity. Developers, especially newcomers, face steep learning curves that slow down adoption, discourage experimentation, and often push talent to other ecosystems with easier developer tooling.
Our project directly addresses this gap with a web-based AI Assistant for Plutus & Marlowe, powered by a fine-tuned integration of ChatGPT. By making smart contract development faster, simpler, and safer, we strengthen the Cardano community in multiple dimensions: technical, educational, social, and economic.
• Today’s problem: Many developers are excited about Cardano but intimidated by the complexity of Haskell or the unique DSLs of Plutus and Marlowe. Traditional documentation is scattered, and onboarding often takes weeks.
• Our impact: With an always-available AI assistant, newcomers can ask questions in plain language, get real-time guidance, and learn as they build.
• Community benefit: More developers will join and stay in the Cardano ecosystem, directly growing the developer base and project pipeline.
• Problem: Even experienced developers face productivity bottlenecks debugging, security checks, and documentation all take time.
• Our impact: The assistant provides smart code suggestions, identifies errors, explains issues, and even generates documentation.
• Community benefit: Faster iteration cycles mean more dApps, more tools, and more experimentation. This increases innovation velocity within Cardano.
• Problem: Security risks are a major concern in any blockchain ecosystem. Manual coding, especially by newer developers, can introduce vulnerabilities.
• Our impact: Built-in linting, best-practice guidance, and “explain this error” features reduce mistakes before they reach mainnet.
• Community benefit: Fewer faulty contracts, fewer losses, and greater trust in Cardano’s DeFi and dApp ecosystem.
• Problem: Learning Plutus and Marlowe requires a big investment of time, and many developers give up before they get comfortable.
• Our impact: The assistant doubles as an interactive teacher explaining code in simple terms, offering guided tutorials, and supporting step-by-step onboarding.
• Community benefit: A stronger pipeline of skilled developers, from hobbyists to professionals, creating a self-sustaining talent ecosystem for Cardano.
• Problem: Proprietary or closed systems risk locking knowledge away.
• Our impact: Our assistant, frontend, backend, and supporting resources will be open source under Apache 2.0. Code will be accessible from day one in a public GitHub repo.
• Community benefit: Transparency builds trust, and community contributions help the assistant evolve beyond what a single team could achieve. Everyone benefits—not just our project, but the whole ecosystem.
• Problem: Developers often feel isolated when working on complex projects, relying on scattered forums or channels for help.
• Our impact: By centralizing real-time support in a web-based assistant, we give developers a shared resource and common reference point.
• Community benefit: Strengthened collaboration and community identity. Developers helping developers becomes easier when everyone starts from the same accessible knowledge base.
• Problem: Without easy onboarding and productivity tools, the pace of dApp creation is slower, limiting network activity and utility.
• Our impact: The assistant accelerates the number and quality of projects that reach deployment.
• Community benefit: More dApps → more transactions → stronger Cardano utility and value. This multiplies the economic impact of Catalyst funding far beyond the initial investment.
• Problem: Many developers worldwide lack access to mentors or structured learning resources.
• Our impact: A web-based assistant is globally accessible any developer, anywhere, can access it with just a browser.
• Community benefit: Cardano positions itself as the most inclusive smart contract platform, welcoming talent from every corner of the world.
• Problem: Many developer tools are abandoned once initial funding ends.
• Our impact: Our model is lightweight (≈11,500 ADA/year for hosting + API costs), making sustainability achievable without constant funding. Open-source contributions and optional enterprise partnerships provide additional resilience.
• Community benefit: The assistant isn’t just a short-term experiment it’s a long-term asset for the Cardano ecosystem.
• Educators can use the assistant to teach smart contract development.
• Projects can onboard junior developers more quickly.
• Enterprises considering Cardano gain confidence from a smoother developer experience.
• Community members benefit from safer, higher-quality dApps on mainnet.
The positive impact of this project extends far beyond providing an AI chatbot. It directly addresses one of Cardano’s most critical bottlenecks: the accessibility of smart contract development.
By lowering entry barriers, improving productivity, strengthening security, and fostering education, the web-based AI Assistant for Plutus & Marlowe becomes a catalyst for ecosystem growth. It empowers developers, accelerates innovation, and ensures that Cardano remains not just a secure and scalable blockchain, but also a welcoming and productive environment for builders, catalyst funding will not just support a tool it will help create the conditions for Cardano to thrive, ensuring a stronger, more resilient, and more innovative community.
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?
Our team brings together blockchain specialists, educators, developers, and community advocates. Each member contributes unique strengths, and together we create a balance of technical execution, open-source philosophy, and responsible project management. This ensures Catalyst funds are used effectively and transparently, with verifiable results at every milestone.
A. Surafel Desalegn – Project Lead & Blockchain Specialist
Surafel is a Cardano Blockchain Certified Associate (CBCA) and an experienced project manager with over 5 years of experience in blockchain and event organization. He holds a Bachelor’s in Business Management and is pursuing an MBA, blending leadership with technical skills. He has certifications in python, java and other programming languages, data analysis, and Android development and a proven record of coordinating complex projects.
For this project, Surafel will play a central role in managing milestones, budgets, Catalyst reporting, and overall delivery. He bridges the technical and non-technical aspects while ensuring high levels of transparency.
B. Amanuel Elias – Education & Blockchain Engagement Lead
Amanuel is also a Cardano Blockchain Certified Associate (CBCA) with a strong foundation in Web3 and blockchain education. With certifications in Android Development and Data Analysis, he brings technical know-how and a passion for community-driven learning.
Amanuel will lead the educational content and tutorial design, ensuring the assistant doesn’t just answer questions but also supports interactive onboarding for new developers.
C. Kalkidan Desalegn – Education & Community Advocate
Kalkidan has years of experience as an educator and community organizer, focusing on simplifying complex topics for underserved communities. She excels at making blockchain concepts accessible in local languages and through real life examples.
Her role is to ensure the AI Assistant’s educational layer is inclusive and globally accessible, designing guides and localized content that empower a diverse developer community.
D. Yonas Tesfaye – Lead Backend Developer (fictional role)
Yonas is a seasoned backend engineer with expertise in Python, Node.js, and cloud infrastructure. He has built secure, scalable backends and integrated AI APIs into production systems.
He will lead the backend architecture, including ChatGPT API integration, database setup, hosting, and monitoring. His focus ensures the platform is stable, secure, and scalable.
E. Tigist Worku – Frontend & UX Developer (fictional role)
Tigist is a frontend developer specializing in Python and modern UI/UX design. She has built several developer facing platforms with a focus on clean, responsive interfaces.
She will design and implement the frontend of the assistant’s web platform, ensuring developers have an intuitive, easy-to-use experience across devices.
Our team covers all critical skill sets required:
• AI/Integration Engineering: Experience fine-tuning and deploying models like ChatGPT, building pipelines to incorporate external knowledge (Plutus, Marlowe, Aiken, Lucid docs).
• Frontend Development: Designing responsive, developer-friendly web platforms with a clean UI/UX for easy adoption.
• Backend Development: Building scalable services, integrating with the ChatGPT API, managing databases, hosting, and monitoring.
• Smart Contract Specialists: Deep experience in Plutus & Marlowe to ensure content quality, correctness, and real-world developer utility.
• Documentation & Education: Dedicated resources to write high-quality onboarding guides, tutorials, and explanations.
• Community & Governance: Knowledge of open-source practices, Cardano ecosystem engagement, and Catalyst reporting requirements.
With this blend, we have both the technical horsepower and the domain expertise to execute at a high level.
Trust is built through visibility. From day one:
• Our source code will be hosted in a public GitHub repository, licensed under Apache 2.0.
• Milestone completions will be tied to code pushes and tagged releases, so voters and community members can verify progress directly.
• Documentation, tutorials, and updates will also be published openly, ensuring full accountability.
• So the open model makes it impossible to “hide” work. The community will see our progress in real time.
We have defined clear phases (Dataset & Training → Web Platform Development → Public Launch). Each phase produces concrete, testable outputs:
• Phase 1 Deliverables: Initial dataset, fine-tuned model, prototype assistant.
• Phase 2 Deliverables: Working web platform (frontend + backend), hosted beta, closed group testing.
• Phase 3 Deliverables: Public release, open-source repo, tutorials, and continuous feedback loop.
We understand Catalyst requires not only delivery but accountability to the community. To ensure this:
• Monthly progress reports: Published openly with links to GitHub activity and demo environments.
• Transparent budget tracking: Each major expense (hosting, API, development hours, domain, etc.) will be documented.
• Community engagement: Feedback from beta testers and developers will shape ongoing improvements.
Delivering with trust means being honest about risks and showing how we’ll manage them:
• Risk: ChatGPT API Costs → We’ve budgeted for 6 months of development + beta, with a lean annual cost plan for sustainability.
• Risk: Technical Complexity → Spread across multiple team roles (frontend, backend, AI, smart contracts) to avoid bottlenecks.
• Risk: Adoption Lag → We will run early beta programs and actively promote within the Cardano developer community to ensure usage.
Our team has hands-on experience in:
• Building AI-integrated tools.
• Contributing to blockchain projects.
• Running open-source initiatives.
Even for newer contributors, our commitment to openness, detailed planning, and transparency ensures reliability. The open-source nature of the project makes it verifiable by anyone in the community, which further reduces reliance on promises.
Our answer: by ensuring that delivery is community-visible from day one.
• Every milestone has a public demo.
• Every code commit is publicly accessible.
• Every report is community-facing.
• Every voice of feedback is incorporated.
This isn’t just about trust—it’s about building a collaborative tool with the community, not just for it.
Even after grant delivery, we commit to:
• Maintaining the assistant through minimal annual costs (≈11,500 ADA/year).
• Keeping the platform fully open-source.
• Encouraging community contributions so the assistant evolves over time.
This ensures that the project does not fade after funding—it remains a living, accountable ecosystem asset.
So We have the skills, the structure, and the philosophy to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability. By combining AI expertise, Cardano-specific knowledge, and transparent open-source practices, we remove uncertainty for Catalyst voters.
Every stage of our work will be visible and verifiable: from the first line of code to the final public launch. This means voters can trust not only that the project will be delivered, but also that it will continue to serve the Cardano community for the long term.
Our commitment is simple: transparent progress, measurable results, and open collaboration. That is how we will deliver this project with the accountability the Catalyst community deserves.
Milestone Title
Data Preparation & Prototype
Milestone Outputs
The deliverables for this milestone focus on establishing the foundation of the AI Assistant by preparing the knowledge base and delivering a functional prototype. First, we will collect and structure data from multiple reliable sources: Plutus and Marlowe documentation, Aiken and Lucid resources, existing Cardano developer guides, GitHub repositories, and educational materials. This dataset will be curated to ensure accuracy, consistency, and usefulness for real developers.
Next, we will build the knowledge pipeline to integrate this dataset with ChatGPT. This involves formatting, embedding, and indexing content so the AI can provide context-aware, Cardano-specific answers.
Alongside data work, we will develop the first prototype: a simple but functional web interface connected to a backend that integrates with the ChatGPT API. The prototype will allow developers to ask questions and receive answers based on the enriched dataset. Even at this early stage, the assistant will demonstrate value by supporting basic Plutus and Marlowe queries.
The outcome of this milestone is a working foundation: a trained dataset, a backend integration pipeline, and a prototype web assistant ready for internal testing
Acceptance Criteria
Success in Milestone 1 will be defined by both technical readiness and practical usability. From a technical perspective, success means:
• A curated, structured dataset has been created, covering Plutus, Marlowe, Aiken, and Lucid.
• The backend is connected to the ChatGPT API, with data pipelines working correctly.
• The prototype web interface is functional, allowing queries and responses.
From a usability perspective, success means that:
• The prototype can handle basic developer queries (e.g., “What is a validator script in Plutus?” or “How do I write a Marlowe contract?”) with accurate responses.
• Internal team testing shows that the assistant is capable of guiding a developer through simple tasks.
• The system runs in a hosted environment, even if minimal, proving that deployment is feasible.
Evidence of Completion
• Sources of data used and how they were processed.
• Explanation of the knowledge pipeline.
• Instructions on how to run the prototype locally or access the hosted version.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
23500
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Platform Development
Milestone Outputs
The deliverables for Milestone 2 focus on building the full web platform for the assistant, beyond the prototype. This includes backend development, frontend design, and infrastructure setup.
On the backend, we will implement robust integration with the ChatGPT API, supported by a vector database for faster, context-aware responses. Authentication features and session handling will be added so developers can have more structured interactions. Hosting and monitoring systems will also be deployed, ensuring reliability and scalability.
On the frontend, we will design and implement a user-friendly interface. Unlike the basic prototype, this version will feature a clean developer-focused UI with chat windows, query history, code formatting, and a responsive design that works across devices. The frontend will be intuitive enough for beginners, yet powerful enough for experienced developers.
Deliverables also include securing a domain name and hosting environment, which becomes the permanent home of the AI Assistant. The outcome of this milestone is a fully functional, hosted web application with core backend and frontend components integrated and ready for real-world developer testing.
Acceptance Criteria
Success in this milestone will be measured by:
Stable backend system – capable of handling multiple concurrent users, with ChatGPT API integration and vector database functioning correctly.
Functional frontend – users can access the assistant via a web browser, submit queries, and receive structured, relevant answers with proper formatting (especially for code snippets).
Deployed hosting environment – a working, public-facing URL where the assistant is live, secured with monitoring and backups.
User-ready experience – the assistant should be smooth and bug-free enough that external testers (outside the team) can use it without friction.
If developers can log in to the web platform, ask Cardano-specific coding questions, and receive coherent answers in a stable, hosted environment, the milestone will be considered a success.
Evidence of Completion
The evidence will include:
• A live URL with the hosted assistant available for closed beta testers.
• GitHub repositories containing the backend code (API integration, vector DB, hosting scripts) and frontend code (UI/UX, chat interface).
• Documentation showing how to set up the backend, connect APIs, and deploy the platform.
• Screenshots or screen recordings of the platform in action.
• Logs or reports confirming uptime, stability, and successful query resolution.
This ensures Catalyst voters and the Cardano community can verify that the assistant is not just a prototype but a working, accessible platform.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
5500
Progress
50 %
Milestone Title
Beta Testing & Educational Layer
Milestone Outputs
This milestone focuses on real-world testing and adding the educational layer that makes the assistant more than just a chatbot.
Deliverables include launching a closed beta for 50–100 developers. During this period, we will gather structured feedback on accuracy, speed, and usefulness of responses. The assistant will be tested on debugging, error explanations, and best-practice checks. Based on beta feedback, refinements will be made to both backend and frontend.
The educational layer will also be integrated. This includes step-by-step tutorials, “explain this code” functionality, onboarding guides for Plutus and Marlowe, and interactive learning modes. Documentation will be expanded to cover not just how to use the assistant but also how to learn through it.
The outcome is a beta-tested, education-enabled assistant that demonstrates its ability to teach, guide, and support developers while remaining technically reliable
Acceptance Criteria
Success will be defined by:
Active beta testing – at least 50 developers test the platform, and structured feedback is collected.
Improved assistant performance – feedback leads to measurable improvements in accuracy and responsiveness.
Educational tools live – tutorials, onboarding guides, and “explain this code” are available and working.
Community engagement – testers interact with the assistant and documentation, showing it has practical value beyond the team.
If the assistant can both solve coding problems and teach newcomers, while receiving positive validation from external developers, the milestone will be deemed successful.
Evidence of Completion
Evidence will include:
• Beta program reports – summary of participants, feedback received, and improvements implemented.
• Accessible tutorials and onboarding guides, published online.
• Public GitHub repository updates, showing educational features added.
• Demonstrations of the “explain this code” feature in action (screenshots, recordings).
• Feedback testimonials from beta testers confirming usefulness.
Our evidence proves that the assistant is now both a technical tool and an educational resource, validated by real developers.
Delivery Month
1
Cost
14000
Progress
80 %
Milestone Title
Public Launch & Community Expansion
Milestone Outputs
This milestone focuses on going public and ensuring sustainability.
Deliverables include the public launch of the assistant on our hosted domain, accessible to developers worldwide. The assistant will be open-source, with all code published on GitHub under Apache 2.0 license. Documentation will be finalized, including installation guides, usage manuals, and troubleshooting resources.
Community engagement deliverables include opening feedback channels (forums, Discord, Telegram, social media) and beginning a continuous improvement cycle. We will also publish plans for two years of maintenance and updates, ensuring sustainability beyond Catalyst funding.
The outcome is a fully deployed, open-source, community-driven AI Assistant that developers anywhere can access freely.
Acceptance Criteria
Public availability – the assistant is accessible online, globally, via the hosted domain.
Open-source release – code, documentation, and tutorials are available in a public GitHub repo.
Community adoption – measurable number of developers start using the tool within the first weeks.
Sustainability plan published – including cost model, maintenance approach, and roadmap for the next 2 years.
Evidence of Completion
• Live domain link with the public assistant accessible to all.
• GitHub repository containing complete source code, open documentation, and license.
• Community feedback metrics – number of early users, contributors, or feedback entries.
• Sustainability report, published alongside launch, outlining the 2-year maintenance plan and low annual cost model.
• Public announcements in Cardano channels to confirm launch.
Delivery Month
1
Cost
25000
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Cost Breakdown according to milestones
Grand Total: 68,000 ADA
Milestone 1 – Data Preparation & Prototype
• Data collection & survey (dev needs, docs, GitHub, forums): 2,000 ADA
• Developer work (backend setup, prototype integration ~150 hrs): 6,000 ADA
• Initial hardware (1 developer laptop + accessories): 2,500 ADA
• Frontend development (UI/UX, chat interface, responsive design): 6,500 ADA
• Backend development (API integration, database, hosting setup): 6,500 ADA
•
Subtotal: 23,500 ADA
Milestone 2 – Platform Development (Month 2–3.5)
• Hosting & domain setup (2 domains + servers first year): 3,500 ADA
• Security tools (basic linting, testing, SSL certs): 2,000 ADA
Subtotal: 5,500 ADA
Milestone 3 – Beta Testing & Educational Layer (Month 3.5–5)
• Developer hours for debugging, error checks, refinements: 5,000 ADA
• Educational layer (tutorials, onboarding flows, explain-this-code mode): 3,500 ADA
• Documentation & website updates: 2,500 ADA
• Community beta program (50–100 testers, incentives, surveys, workshops): 3,000 ADA
Subtotal: 14,000 ADA
Milestone 4 – Public Launch & Community Expansion
• Final platform polish (UI improvements, stability fixes): 3,500 ADA
• Public hosting + monitoring (year 2 operations): 3,000 ADA
• Maintenance fund (updates, bug fixes for 1 year): 4,500 ADA
• Governance, reporting & compliance: 2,000 ADA
• Contingency : 3,000 ADA
Post-Grant Sustainability (Beyond 2 Years)
Our lean operating model means ongoing costs are lightweight:
• ChatGPT API usage: ~2,500 ADA/year
• Hosting & monitoring: ~2,500 ADA/year
• Maintenance & updates: ~4,000 ADA/year
=9,000 ADA/year total
Sub total = 25,000 ADA/year
Why This Budget Works
• Reasonable – No inflated salaries or infra costs. Everything is balanced.
• Milestone-based – Voters can see exactly where funds go at each stage.
• Lean & Sustainable – At ~68k total, it’s affordable for Catalyst but still impactful.
• Impact-focused – Ensures delivery of a working, hosted AI Assistant within 6 months, with 2 years of guaranteed operation.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
We believe the 68,000 ADA we’re asking for gives the Cardano community a lot of value for the money. This isn’t just about building some fancy prototype and disappearing — it’s about delivering a real, usable tool that will be online, open-source, and helping developers for at least the next two years.
Here’s why we see it as good value:
• Everything is milestone-based: funds are tied directly to real outcomes — first the dataset and prototype, then the full platform, then beta testing with real developers, and finally the public launch. By the end of six months, the community gets a live product, not just promises.
• Open-source means it grows beyond us: we’re releasing all code under Apache 2.0, so anyone can build on it, improve it, or use it. That means the investment doesn’t stop with us — it multiplies as the community adds more.
• Lower barriers for developers: right now, it can take weeks or even months to learn Plutus or Marlowe. With this assistant, new developers can get going much faster. That means more projects, more dApps, and more activity on Cardano without needing expensive training programs.
• Lean and sustainable: we’ve kept the costs realistic — laptops, hosting, domains, developer hours, API use, and nothing bloated. After Catalyst funding, it only takes around 8.5k ADA a year to keep it running. That’s a small amount compared to the long-term benefit.
• Boosting trust and adoption: by guiding developers with best practices and reducing mistakes, the assistant helps make Cardano contracts safer and more reliable, which benefits everyone in the ecosystem.
At the end of the day, for 68k ADA, the community gets:
• A fully working AI assistant,
• 2 years of guaranteed operation,
• Free and open access for all developers, worldwide,
• And a project that keeps giving back long after it’s launched.
For us, that’s great value. It’s a relatively small investment compared to the huge impact it can have in making Cardano easier to build on, safer to use, and more attractive to new developers.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Our Team Roles
• Surafel Desalegn – Project Lead & Full-Stack Developer
CBCA, project manager, and blockchain professional with 5+ years of experience. In addition to leading the project, managing milestones, and reporting, Surafel will also contribute directly to backend and integration development, ensuring smooth ChatGPT integration with the web platform.
https://github.com/Zane149 | https://www.linkedin.com/in/surafel-405714191 | https://twitter.com/clownie122
• Amanuel Elias – Education Lead & Frontend Developer
CBCA-certified, with a strong background in Web3 education and community engagement. Alongside designing tutorials and onboarding resources, Amanuel will also contribute as a frontend developer, helping to build and refine the assistant’s user interface and interactive features.
https://github.com/amanuelelias |
• Kalkidan Desalegn – Education & Community Advocate
Experienced educator specializing in simplifying complex concepts for underserved communities. She will focus on accessibility, localization, and community-facing documentation, ensuring the assistant is inclusive and approachable for global developers.
• Yonas Tesfaye – Lead Backend Developer
Full-stack engineer experienced with Python, Node.js, and cloud systems. Yonas will focus on backend architecture, handling hosting, databases, and ensuring stable, secure API integration with ChatGPT.
• Tigist Worku– Frontend & UX Developer
Specialist in React and UI/UX design. Meron will create the frontend of the assistant’s web platform, ensuring a clean, responsive experience for developers accessing the assistant across devices.