Cardano C Library Course

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Cardano C Library Course

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

35000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

6

[Proposal Summary] Translation Information

Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated

No

Original Language

en

[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement

What is the problem you want to solve?

The lack of accessible, beginner-friendly educational materials on Cardano's C library is hindering the attraction of C developers, limiting the creation of high-performance applications on Cardano.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://www.bpsclub.com/
,
• https://www.facebook.com/bpsclub.utc
,
• https://forum.cardano.org/t/cardano-blockchain-hackathon-vietnam-2025/147650
,
• https://forum.cardano.org/t/cardano-blockchain-hackathon-vietnam-2024-22-9-2024-recap/136286

[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies

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

No

Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'

No dependencies

[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source

Will your project's outputs be fully open source?

No

License and Additional Information

Fully open source

[Theme Selection] Theme

Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal

Education

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.

Target: Experienced C/C++ developers who are new to the Cardano ecosystem. This represents a vast pool of developers from the systems, embedded, and high-performance sectors.

How: Sharing the course on official Cardano community channels, such as the Developer Forum, Discord, and Telegram.

Why: This project helps to lower the barrier to entry for a large and experienced group of C/C++ developers, significantly expanding the talent pool capable of building on Cardano.

Provide a list of key activities of your project?

• Planning and design: Researching and developing a detailed course syllabus with clear learning objectives.
• Text and code content production: Writing video scripts, drafting detailed tutorials on GitBook, and developing practical code examples on GitHub.
• Video production: Recording and post-producing video lectures to ensure professional audio and visual quality.
• Community beta testing: Organizing a beta testing program with ~20 participants to gather feedback and improve the content.

What are your success metrics?

• Successful launch of the complete course, including at least 15 videos, a comprehensive GitBook document, and a well-annotated GitHub repository.
• Completion of the beta testing program with participation and feedback from at least 15 individuals.
• The GitHub repository receives at least 2 forks from users outside the project team.
• Achieve a minimum of 50 views on YouTube and 10 stars on the GitHub repository.
• Achieve an average satisfaction score of 4.0/5.0 or higher from beta testers through a short survey on course quality and usefulness.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

We propose to develop and launch the “Cardano C Library Course”, a comprehensive multimedia online course designed to onboard C/C++ developers into the Cardano ecosystem.

This course addresses a critical gap. While Cardano offers resources for Haskell/Plutus developers, the powerful cardano-c-library remains underutilized due to its steep learning curve and the lack of structured guidance. Our solution provides a clear, step-by-step learning path.

Course Structure & Content

The curriculum is structured to take a developer with knowledge of C but no blockchain experience to the point where they can confidently build applications.

Module 1: Basic knowledge of Cardano and environment setup

• Blockchain fundamentals, UTxO model vs. Account model.
• Cardano architecture: layers, consensus mechanism (Ouroboros), and the role of native assets.
• Why and when to use the C library: performance, embedded systems, and cross-platform integration.
• Step-by-step guide to installing and compiling the cardano-c-library on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
• Writing your first “Hello Cardano” program: connecting to the library and checking the version.
• Introduction to memory management and best practices specific to the library.

Module 2: Core features of the library.

• Address management: generating mnemonics, creating keys (BIP39), and generating different types of addresses (Base, Enterprise, Stake).
• In-depth analysis of transactions: understanding transaction structure, serialization (CBOR), and hashing.
• Transaction Builder: a practical guide to constructing transactions, adding inputs/outputs, including native assets and metadata.
• Blockchain data queries: using the Cardano Node API (Blockfrost) to retrieve data such as balances and transaction history.
• Minting and managing tokens: creating minting policies, minting tokens, attaching metadata, and submitting transactions to mint and burn tokens.
• Basic smart contract interaction: introduction to interacting with a simple Plutus script through the C library.

Module 3: Building a real-world application.

• Project 1: CLI Wallet – Build a command-line tool to create addresses, check balances, and send ADA.
• Project 2: Vesting Contract Interaction – Develop a CLI tool that allows users to create a vesting contract (gradual ADA release over time) and perform transactions to lock, check, and withdraw ADA from the vesting contract according to a predefined schedule.
• Project 3: Transaction Analysis Tool – Create a CLI tool to analyze Cardano transactions by transaction hash, displaying details about inputs, outputs, fees, and metadata (if available).
• Project 4: Token Price Tracker – Build a CLI tool that enables users to track the value of native tokens in their wallet, based on historical transaction data from the Cardano Node API.
• Project 5: Basic NFT Marketplace – Develop a CLI tool that allows users to mint NFTs with CIP-25 metadata, list NFTs for sale by sending them and the ADA price to a simple Plutus contract, and purchase NFTs by sending ADA to the contract to receive the NFT.

Delivery format:

• Lecture videos: high-quality (1080p) screen-recorded and narrated videos for each topic, published on YouTube.
• Written guides: detailed tutorials with source code hosted on GitBook for easy reading and searching.
• Source code repository: a public GitHub repository containing all examples, project solutions, and supporting scripts.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

This project creates a profound impact by building a solid bridge for talented C/C++ developers to join and contribute to the Cardano ecosystem. We will systematically measure, share, and amplify this impact.

1. Measuring Impact

To ensure transparency and accurately evaluate the project’s effectiveness, we will track the impact through the following quantitative and qualitative indicators:

Quantitative:

• Number of interactions with the course.
• Number of projects developed by learners during and after the course, based on the knowledge acquired.
• Number of learner-submitted projects to Project Catalyst that utilize the C library.
• Number of learner projects that win awards in research competitions and hackathons within the ecosystem.
• Number of new open-source repositories using the cardano-c-library created by the community after the course launch.

Qualitative:

• Surveys: Collect positive feedback and improvement suggestions from learners after completing the course to assess satisfaction and teaching effectiveness.
• In-depth interviews: Conduct interviews with selected outstanding learners to gather success stories, share experiences, and highlight practical lessons from applying the knowledge to their own projects.

2. How We Share Opportunities

The project’s impact will be amplified by proactively sharing knowledge and fostering community connections.

• Publishing results and materials: We will widely promote the course and showcase learner projects on Cardano’s official communication channels, such as the Cardano Forum, developer-focused Discord servers, Twitter, and community meetups.
• Collaborating with organizations: We will actively engage with Developer Guilds, educational centers, and existing projects within the Cardano ecosystem to integrate this course into their learning pathways, thereby expanding its reach.
• Facilitating networking: We will establish a dedicated channel (e.g., Discord or Telegram) for alumni, enabling them to exchange ideas, support each other, and connect with job or collaboration opportunities within the community.

3. Value Brought to the Cardano Ecosystem

This project is not merely a course, but a strategic investment in the foundation of the ecosystem, delivering key values:

• Nurturing the next generation of Cardano developers: We provide a clear pathway to attract C/C++ talent to join and contribute to Cardano for the long term.
• Fostering innovation and product diversification: By equipping developers with the right tools, we encourage the creation of new applications—especially in high-performance domains such as lightweight wallets, IoT, and developer tools—enriching the ecosystem.
• Increasing the volume of high-quality open-source code: The course directly drives the development of open-source tools and libraries that serve the community, creating a compounding growth effect.

Enhancing Cardano’s competitive position: Having a strong C/C++ developer community is a significant competitive advantage, signaling technical maturity and the ability to support a diverse range of applications, helping Cardano stand out among other blockchains.

[Your Project and Solution] Capabilities & 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?

Blockchain Pioneer Student Club fully understands the importance of trust and accountability when building on Cardano. As a pioneering blockchain student organization in Vietnam, we have built a strong track record through educational initiatives, public events, and successfully delivered Catalyst-funded projects with transparency, efficiency, and a community-first approach.

We have successfully organized previous cardano hackathons:

Cardano Blockchain Hackathon Vietnam 2024: https://forum.cardano.org/t/cardano-blockchain-hackathon-vietnam-2024-22-9-2024-recap/136286

Cardano Blockchain Hackathon 2025: https://forum.cardano.org/t/cardano-blockchain-hackathon-vietnam-2025/147650

In addition, we have organized seminars to connect speakers and founders of prominent projects on Cardano such as: Minswap, C2VN, VTechCom…

Workshop 1: Blockchain & Cardano: Unlocking Opportunities (https://www.facebook.com/bpsclub.utc/posts/pfbid0a9i6ZJ14jwgrxyXjyZnZaKERjnw8xdhYL4F2NHaesSeJKfwgvR6NP6n1T6B3kNgNl))

Workshop 2: Building on Cardano: Ecosystem & Innovation (https://www.facebook.com/bpsclub.utc/posts/pfbid07ZZ5Qf2f5NqCGG5ZU1p1EutrenxuHn42SDEPyg9HpUh3B5zWZeJJnrWrUcMm72Ykl))

Workshop 3: How to win Hackathon on Cardano (https://www.facebook.com/bpsclub.utc/posts/pfbid0aTjEijXsvTirygUm79iG6dcYXyVqHtMrcQhPw9wVLk6KzPpTcLXGnZV2bFH12T3Ul))))

Our team consists of experienced developers and blockchain educators with a strong background in Cardano and decentralized technologies. We will validate feasibility through hands-on workshops, participant feedback, and collaboration with industry professionals. Transparent reporting and open-source contributions will ensure trust and accountability throughout the project.

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

The project has been funded by fund 10:

• 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

The project has been funded by fund 11:

• Proposal funded 1: Tamper-proof Certificate System
• Proposal funded 2: CareBlock: Empowering secure healthcare transactions by Cardano
• 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!

The project has been funded by fund 12:

• Proposal funded 1: Open source dynamic assets (Token/NFT) generator (CIP68)
• The project has been funded by fund 13:
• Proposal funded 1: [BUTC] Fueling Growth: Cardano Hackathons to Inspire Startup Success
• Proposal funded 2: [HTLABS] 5 Project templates combining blockchain and internet of things
• Proposal funded 3: 🇻🇳 Cardano App Development Course: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners - From basic Web development to use Cardano Libraries and interacting with Smart Contracts

Other activities

• Article 1: Students Scientific Research with Cardano Blockchain
• Article 2: Students Scientific Research with Cardano Blockchain part 2
• Article 3: Scientific research results of students of the University of Transport and Communications 2024
• Article 4: Cardano Blockchain Hackathon Vietnam 2024
• Article 5: Cardano Blockchain Hackathon 2025
• Article 6: Workshop 1: Blockchain & Cardano: Unlocking Opportunities
• Article 7: Workshop 2: Building on Cardano: Ecosystem & Innovation
• Article 8: Workshop 3: How to win Hackathon on Cardano

Validation of Feasibility

To ensure effective financial management, we will adopt the following strategies:

• Budget Planning: We will meticulously allocate funds for development, operations, and marketing activities.
• Transparent Cost Tracking: Maintaining clear records of all expenses will promote accountability and visibility.
• Regular Reporting: Regular reports will help us evaluate financial performance and guide our decisions.

To validate the viability of our approach, we will use both quantitative and qualitative measures:

Quantitative Validation:

• Track the number of modules upgraded and added via GitHub.
• Track the number of tasks exported from Jira
• Track user engagement through the number of active users on the platform.

Identity Validation:

• Conduct user satisfaction surveys to gather insights.
• Measure the level of excitement in project presentations to gauge interest.

Transparency and communication are fundamental to us. We prioritize open dialogue with all stakeholders, provide regular updates, and foster a collaborative atmosphere so that everyone is involved in the project’s progress.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Foundation & Detailed Planning

Milestone Outputs

• Detailed course outline: Including learning objectives for each module, targeting C developers who are new to Cardano.
• Course structure design: Deciding the format for each type of content (videos, written guides, practical exercises, sample code).
• Project management system: Setting up and configuring a workspace on Trello (or Jira, Asana) with clearly defined process columns.
• Document templates: Finalizing templates for video scripts, GitBook written guides, and file structures for source code projects.

Acceptance Criteria

• The course outline and learning objectives are approved by 100% of the project team.
• The course structure and document templates are completed.
• The project management system operates smoothly, with all team members trained and ready to use it.

Evidence of Completion

• Link to the Google Docs file containing the detailed outline.
• Link to the public project management board (Trello/Jira).
• Link to the folder containing finalized document templates.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

7000

Progress

20 %

Milestone Title

Content & Code Production

Milestone Outputs

• Video scripts and written guides: Complete detailed drafts for all modules.
• Sample code: Develop, test, and fully document example code snippets for key features (wallet creation, transaction signing, metadata interaction, etc.).
• Practical exercises: Create structured exercises.
• Draft recorded and edited videos: Record and first-round edit all lecture videos, meeting minimum image and sound quality standards.
• GitBook draft materials: Draft and format all written content on the GitBook platform.

Acceptance Criteria

• 100% of scripts and written materials are completed and technically reviewed.
• 100% of sample code is tested, fully functional, and stored on GitHub.
• All videos have been produced (draft versions) and are ready for review.
• The GitBook draft of the course is fully complete in terms of content.

Evidence of Completion

• Link to the private GitHub repository containing all source code and exercises.
• Link to the Google Drive/Dropbox folder containing scripts and draft videos.
• Link to the draft version of the course on GitBook.

Delivery Month

3

Cost

10500

Progress

50 %

Milestone Title

Community Beta Testing & Refinement

Milestone Outputs

• Beta testing program: Onboard a group of learners for trial testing.
• Consolidated feedback report: Collect, categorize, and analyze all feedback from testers via surveys and interviews.
• Updated course version: Implement necessary revisions to videos, materials, and source code based on the collected feedback.

Acceptance Criteria

• Successfully test at least 15 beta users from the Cardano community and/or C/C++ developers.
• Complete a feedback analysis report outlining key issues and proposed solutions.
• At least 90% of critical issues identified from feedback are addressed and updated in the course content.

Evidence of Completion

• Link to the registration form and list of participants.
• Link to the consolidated feedback report (Google Docs/Sheets).
• Changelog or commit history on GitHub/GitBook showing the updated content.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

10500

Progress

80 %

Milestone Title

Official Launch & Community Engagement

Milestone Outputs

• Course version 1.0: Release the complete course on public platforms — YouTube (videos), GitBook (documentation), and GitHub (source code).
• Launch marketing campaign: Conduct promotional activities on Twitter, Reddit, the Cardano Forum, and other relevant community channels.
• Launch and initial engagement report: Track and compile metrics on views, visits, and community feedback during the first month.
• Complete the project-closeout-report and project-closeout-video.

Acceptance Criteria

• The course is successfully published and fully functional on all selected platforms.
• The marketing campaign achieves minimum KPIs (>50+ views on YouTube, >10+ stars/visits on GitHub/GitBook) within the first month.
• A dedicated support channel (Discord/Telegram) is set up, with user inquiries responded to within 48 hours.
• Submission of the final project report.

Evidence of Completion

• Public links to the course on YouTube, GitBook, and GitHub.
• Links to posts and announcements from the marketing campaign.
• Final project report with screenshots of analytics data from the platforms (PCV, PCR).

Delivery Month

1

Cost

7000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Lead Content Production: 1 person × 6 months × 2750 ADA/month = 16500 ADA

(Elevated stipend for the lead role, responsible for research, curriculum development, scriptwriting, and video production.)

Technical Development & Review: 1 person × 6 months × 2000 ADA/month = 12000 ADA

(Increased budget for a C developer to produce high-quality sample code, create more complex practical exercises, and perform in-depth technical reviews.)

Professional Post-Production & Design: 1 work package × 3000 ADA = 3000 ADA

(Upgraded one-time cost to hire an experienced professional for motion graphics, animation, and professional-level design to enhance the learning experience.)

Community & Promotion Fund: 1 fund × 2000 ADA = 2000 ADA

(Doubled budget to offer more valuable rewards for beta testers and to run more effective promotional campaigns at launch, attracting a large initial learner base.)

Tools, Software & Hardware: 1 package × 1500 ADA = 1500 ADA

(One-time fixed cost for purchasing and licensing necessary tools (Adobe, Camtasia, GitBook) and investing in minimal production equipment.)

Total Budget: 35000 ADA

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?

The "Cardano C Library Course" project delivers exceptional value to the Cardano ecosystem through a range of practical and sustainable benefits. Below are the core values this project creates:

Addressing the shortage of educational resources for beginners with the Cardano C Library:

Currently, the Cardano ecosystem lacks accessible and in-depth educational materials tailored for beginners, especially regarding the Cardano C Library, a vital tool for C programmers. This course fills this gap by offering a comprehensive program with step-by-step guidance, covering the setup of the development environment, understanding core features like address analysis and transaction serialization, and building practical applications. Designed for clarity, it helps learners overcome technical barriers and quickly start developing on Cardano.

Attracting and training C programmers to join the Cardano ecosystem:

C programmers represent a talented group with expertise in high-performance systems, yet their potential remains underutilized in Cardano. This course provides a clear learning pathway, including video lectures, sample code, and hands-on projects, enabling them to master blockchain development and apply their skills. This not only boosts the number of developers in the community but also diversifies the technical talent pool, fostering a more varied ecosystem.

Promoting the development of secure, high-performance applications like digital wallets and embedded systems:

The Cardano C Library excels in supporting applications requiring high performance and security, such as digital wallets, embedded systems, or IoT applications on blockchain. The course guides learners in using the library to build these applications safely, adhering to security standards like MISRA. These applications expand Cardano’s use cases and enhance its reputation in cutting-edge technology fields.

Strengthening a sustainable developer community through free, open-source resources:

The course allows the community to use, modify, and distribute materials freely. This creates a sustainable educational resource, encouraging global developer contributions. Video lectures, written materials, and sample code serve as a foundation for self-learning and collaboration, building a robust, self-sustaining ecosystem.

This project delivers immediate value by addressing educational gaps while laying the groundwork for long-term development, innovation, and growth within the Cardano community.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes