Last updated 9 months ago
Cardano’s flagship smart contract language, Plutus, is powerful but intimidating. Developers lack a structured, approachable guide, creating a major barrier to Cardano’s growth.
“I Can Plutus” will be a clear, structured book (45–60 bite-sized chapters) guiding developers step by step from beginner to confident Plutus smart contract builder, fueling Cardano adoption.
This is the total amount allocated to I Can Plutus: Beginner-to-Pro Smart Contract Education.
Please provide your proposal title
I Can Plutus: Beginner-to-Pro Smart Contract Education
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
58000
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?
Cardano’s flagship smart contract language, Plutus, is powerful but intimidating. Developers lack a structured, approachable guide, creating a major barrier to Cardano’s growth.
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. The book’s digital edition and all accompanying materials will be released under the Apache 2.0 license, ensuring anyone can freely access, adapt, and redistribute the content. This guarantees openness, transparency, and long-term community benefit, while still allowing professional print editions for those who prefer them. Catalyst funds will directly support the creation of a high-quality resource that belongs to the Cardano ecosystem as a whole.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Education
Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.
This project targets developers who are new to Cardano or struggling to master Plutus, including Plutus Pioneer graduates, self-taught coders, and blockchain developers from other ecosystems. Outreach will use Catalyst town halls, Cardano Forum, Discord groups, and Cardano Academy partnerships, ensuring both newcomers and experienced builders can access the material. By lowering Plutus’ steep barrier, the book empowers more developers to understand, build dApps, grow the ecosystem, and strengthen Cardano’s long-term adoption.
Provide a list of key activities of your project?
The project will begin with the creation of a detailed curriculum and chapter outline to ensure clarity of learning progression. Over the following months, 45–60 chapters will be written, each blending conceptual explanation with practical coding exercises. A professional editor and technical reviewer will refine the content for accuracy and accessibility. Design and formatting will give the book visual clarity through diagrams and layout. Finally, the work will be published online as aneBook, accompanied by launch events and promotional campaigns through Cardano community channels.
What are your success metrics?
Success will be measured not only by publication but by adoption and impact. Within the first year, the target is at least 1,000 readers worldwide. At least 100 developers should complete half or more of the book’s lessons, measured through community surveys and feedback. Reader surveys will also measure confidence, with a goal of 70%+ improvement in perceived ability to use Plutus effectively. As a learning resource, community integration through workshops or developer meetups will also be a success metric while an overall satisfaction rating of 80% or higher will confirm its value.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Plutus is the backbone of Cardano’s smart contract ecosystem. Its functional programming foundation provides unmatched security and reliability compared to alternatives like Solidity. Yet these strengths are also barriers: developers frequently struggle to approach Plutus, with many abandoning the journey due to its steep learning curve. This has left Cardano in the paradoxical position of having the most advanced smart contract language in the industry, but too few developers able to wield it effectively.
This project proposes a direct and practical solution: I Can Plutus, a structured, narrative-driven, and highly practical book that lowers the entry barrier and creates a reliable pathway for new developers.
What makes this solution different:
Whereas documentation and online tutorials tend to be fragmented, overly technical, or outdated, I Can Plutus will be a holistic resource. It will start from first principles - what smart contracts are, how Cardano’s extended UTxO model works, and where Plutus fits - before gradually leading readers into increasingly sophisticated use cases. The language will remain accessible without compromising on technical accuracy.
The book will be composed of 45–60 chapters, carefully structured for progressive mastery:
Initial chapters lay the conceptual foundations, such as the eUTxO model, validator logic, and Plutus architecture.
Middle chapters focus on hands-on practice, with worked examples including writing validator scripts, managing datum and redeemers, minting tokens, and building a simple escrow contract.
Final chapters expand into real-world applications, including NFTs, governance, and best practices for secure contract design.
Each chapter will blend theory with step-by-step exercises, ensuring that readers learn not only how Plutus works but also how to apply it in real projects.
Why this matters:
For developers, the difference between scattered tutorials and a single, coherent guide is transformative. I Can Plutus will save them time, reduce frustration, and increase confidence. For the Cardano ecosystem, it means more developers completing the journey from curiosity to active contribution.
Distribution and Reach:
The book will be published in ebook format, making it accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Free previews and selected excerpts will be shared online to draw readers in and ensure accessibility even for those who do know about the content of the book. Promotion will focus both inside and outside the Cardano ecosystem, capturing developers from other blockchains who may be curious about Cardano’s smart contract capabilities.
In essence, this project delivers a permanent piece of educational infrastructure for Cardano. Unlike workshops or short-term courses, a book has enduring value. Once published, it can be referenced indefinitely by individuals, educational institutions, and community meetups, multiplying its impact year after year.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
The Cardano community will experience several layers of positive impact from I Can Plutus.
First, developer onboarding will accelerate. Right now, many aspiring developers are lost between documentation and advanced tutorials, with no clear pathway. This book provides that missing bridge, ensuring that far more developers progress into competence.
Second, ecosystem growth will follow. Every developer who becomes proficient in Plutus is a potential contributor to Cardano’s dApp ecosystem. That means more DeFi protocols, NFT platforms, DAOs, and governance tools. More applications create more adoption, more transaction volume, and ultimately, more value circulating within the Cardano economy.
Third, this project provides durable educational infrastructure. Unlike a workshop that ends after a week, a published book remains available and relevant for years. It can be integrated into Plutus Pioneer cohorts, adopted by universities teaching blockchain courses, or used by community-led workshops. Its reach will extend far beyond initial readers.
Fourth, the project strengthens Cardano’s global presence. By publishing on mainstream platforms such as Amazon, the book becomes visible to developers worldwide, including those currently working on Ethereum, Solana, or other blockchains. For many, it will serve as their first serious introduction to Cardano.
Finally, the project aligns perfectly with Cardano’s mission of education and inclusivity. By lowering the learning barrier for Plutus, it opens doors for developers across geographies and skill levels, helping Cardano maintain its reputation as a blockchain built on research, rigor, and real-world utility.
The long-term impact will be seen not just in book sales but in the growth of a skilled, global developer community capable of driving Cardano forward.
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 has a proven track record of delivering high-quality educational projects within the Cardano ecosystem. In Fund 13, we successfully executed the NextGen Developers Hackathon, the first West Africa undergraduate and early developer hackathon. This initiative was completed with clear, verifiable outputs and strong community impact. As part of the hackathon preparation, we created and distributed a comprehensive suite of pre-event learning resources, including:
These resources were not only delivered but also actively used by participants to engage with Cardano’s technology stack. The success of this project demonstrated our ability to design structured curricula, produce high-quality educational materials, and manage complex initiatives from planning through delivery.
Beyond Fund 13, our team has also received and successfully delivered on multiple education-focused proposals within Catalyst. This consistent history of funding and delivery shows both our accountability and our alignment with the ecosystem’s need for developer onboarding and education. Importantly, the demand for structured, accessible learning materials became even clearer during the creation of our hackathon resources: participants repeatedly emphasized the need for beginner-friendly, narrative-driven guides to Plutus. This direct community feedback validated the gap that I Can Plutus now seeks to fill.
Feasibility:
We are not starting from scratch. With experience in writing, editing, and distributing technical guides, our team has the proven capacity to deliver a book-length project. We already have draft outlines and initial content frameworks prepared for I Can Plutus, building on the momentum of our previous guides.
Accountability:
We understand the peculiarities of Catalyst’s funding structure. Funds will be managed transparently with milestone-based reporting, just as we did in Fund 13. Drafts, edited manuscripts, and final publication links will serve as verifiable evidence at each stage. Monthly updates in the Catalyst app will ensure the community remains informed of progress.
To summarize this, our team has:
This combination of experience, insight, and accountability makes us uniquely positioned to deliver I Can Plutus successfully and to the highest standards.
Milestone Title
Drafting the Foundations
Milestone Outputs
A completed draft of the first six chapters covering Plutus fundamentals, including the extended UTxO model, validator scripts, datum and redeemer basics, and environment setup. The draft will include worked examples and sample code explanations written in plain language for beginners.
Acceptance Criteria
The draft chapters must be complete, accurate, and readable, with technical reviewers confirming the correctness of the examples. At least 80% of reviewers must confirm that the material is both understandable and applicable for new developers.
Evidence of Completion
A PDF of the first 20 chapters submitted to Catalyst along with GitHub links showing some code snippets tested. Reviewer feedback from at least 10 early readers will also be documented, with tracked comments and suggestions incorporated if necessary into the manuscript.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
17400
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Full Draft Manuscript
Milestone Outputs
Completion of a draft manuscript containing 45–60 chapters, covering conceptual foundations, practical use cases such as escrow, token minting, and multi-signature scripts, as well as guidance on debugging and best practices. The content will be structured and internally consistent.
Acceptance Criteria
The manuscript must be comprehensive and fully aligned with the original proposal scope, covering beginner through intermediate Plutus material. Technical accuracy must be validated, and reviewers must confirm that practical examples run as expected in a development environment.
Evidence of Completion
A full draft PDF submitted to Catalyst with clear version history. Technical reviewers will produce a signed validation report confirming that all code samples are functional and aligned with Plutus development standards. Draft will also reflect integration of feedback from earlier milestone reviews.
Delivery Month
3
Cost
10000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Final Editing and Design
Milestone Outputs
A finalized and professionally edited manuscript of I Can Plutus, with corrections applied for accuracy, grammar, and flow. The book will be typeset for print and digital formats, with professional diagrams and cover design completed. This version will be publication-ready.
Acceptance Criteria
The book must be error-free, publication-ready, and visually professional. Both the editor and the technical reviewer must sign off on the quality of the final product. Catalyst reviewers must be able to confirm the files are ready for print and global distribution.
Evidence of Completion
Submission of the final formatted PDF for print and EPUB file for digital release. A professional editor’s report and technical reviewer’s validation statement will be provided, confirming readability, coherence, and correctness. The final cover design and diagram files will also be submitted.
Delivery Month
4
Cost
10000
Progress
90 %
Milestone Title
Publication and Launch
Milestone Outputs
Official publication of "I Can Plutus" on opensource platforms like Book.io and Github, accompanied by a community-focused marketing and awareness campaign. A final Catalyst report and summary video will also be produced.
Acceptance Criteria
The book must be verifiably available worldwide for purchase or download. Catalyst reviewers must be able to access the publication links. The marketing campaign must show visible community engagement. The close-out report must document distribution, impact, and lessons learned.
Evidence of Completion
Live links to published versions of the book on Book.io, github or equivalent, screenshots and analytics of the marketing campaign, and a distribution report demonstrating at least 100+ initial downloads, or access instances. The final Catalyst report and video will be published.
Delivery Month
5
Cost
20600
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
The total requested budget of ₳58,000 will cover all phases of the project from research and writing through editing, design, publication, promotion, and reporting. Each component has been carefully costed to reflect realistic market rates for professional services while ensuring efficient use of Catalyst treasury funds.
1. Writing & Research - ₳30,000
The largest portion of the budget is allocated to the core work: researching, drafting, and writing the 15–20 chapters of I Can Plutus. This represents approximately four months of full-time work by the lead author, who will develop both conceptual explanations and step-by-step coding examples. Writing a professional technical book requires not only deep subject knowledge but also the ability to translate complex material into accessible, structured learning pathways. This allocation covers author compensation at a fair market rate for highly specialized technical writing in blockchain, ensuring the project attracts and retains the talent needed to deliver quality.
2. Editing & Proofreading - ₳10,000
Professional editing and proofreading are essential to ensure that the book is clear, accurate, and polished.
This includes:
Technical review by an experienced Plutus developer, who will validate every code sample and confirm correctness.
Language editing by a professional editor to ensure clarity, readability, and accessibility for non-native English speakers.
Proofreading to eliminate grammatical errors, formatting inconsistencies, and typographical mistakes.
Without this stage, the book risks being error-prone or inaccessible. The ₳10,000 allocation reflects industry-standard rates for technical editing and ensures the final product meets professional publication quality.
3. Design, Diagrams, and Formatting - ₳6,000
Complex technical material is best understood with visual support. This allocation covers the design of professional diagrams illustrating key concepts (e.g., validator flow, eUTxO transactions, and off-chain vs. on-chain interactions). It also funds the cover design and typesetting/layout of the manuscript into professional print and eBook formats. Proper formatting ensures the book is easy to read, visually appealing, and meets publishing standards for global platforms.
4. Publication & Distribution Costs - ₳4,000
Although publishing on platforms like Amazon and Kindle Direct is cost-effective, it still requires investment in ISBN registrations, distribution setup fees, print-on-demand testing, and digital platform compliance. This budget line ensures I Can Plutus will be globally available as both paperback and eBook, reaching developers wherever they are. It also covers test printing and shipping of author copies for quality control.
5. Marketing & Community Engagement - ₳6,000
For this book to achieve its goal of onboarding developers, publication alone is not enough. Active outreach is required to ensure it reaches its intended audience.
This budget covers:
Promotion in Cardano community spaces (Catalyst town halls, Cardano Forum, Telegram, Discord).
Sponsored online campaigns targeting developers interested in blockchain.
Collaborations with Cardano education initiatives (e.g., Plutus Pioneer Program, Cardano Academy).
Organization of a virtual launch event to showcase the book and gather developer engagement.
This ensures that the book has visibility, traction, and sustained adoption rather than being lost in obscurity.
6. Project Management & Reporting - ₳2,000
A portion of the budget is reserved for project management tasks, including milestone tracking, coordination with editors and reviewers, and regular progress updates to Catalyst. It also covers the preparation of the final close-out report and summary video required by Catalyst. While modest, this allocation ensures accountability and proper administration of the project.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
This project represents an exceptional use of Catalyst treasury funds because it combines cost efficiency with long-term, ecosystem-wide impact. At a budget of ₳58,000, the proposal is modest when compared to the standard costs of producing a professional technical book. In the publishing industry, author compensation, technical editing, and design for a specialized text of this scope often exceed $25,000–$30,000 alone, not including marketing or distribution. Here, the Catalyst treasury is funding the full lifecycle — from research to publication — at a lower cost while maintaining professional standards.
The value is amplified by the durability of the output. Unlike one-off workshops or time-bound programs, "I Can Plutus" will remain useful for years as a permanent, structured learning resource. It will be openly accessible under the Apache 2.0 license, meaning the Cardano community can reuse, adapt, and expand it indefinitely. This ensures that Catalyst’s investment continues to generate returns far beyond the initial funding cycle.
In terms of ecosystem impact, the treasury’s investment will unlock the growth of the most critical resource for Cardano: developers. By lowering the steep entry barrier to Plutus, this book will help onboard thousands of developers globally, creating a multiplier effect. Each new Plutus developer has the potential to build decentralized applications, tools, or services that contribute to Cardano’s adoption and transaction volume. The modest cost of a single book can thus translate into dozens of new projects, stronger dApp diversity, and higher network activity.
The budget is also structured responsibly, with over 50% allocated directly to writing and research - the project’s core activity. Professional editing, design, and publication ensure quality and global reach, while only a small proportion is reserved for administration and reporting. This demonstrates lean, efficient fund management.
Finally, the proposal builds on proven success. Our team has already delivered educational resources under previous Catalyst funding, including Haskell, Plutus, and Marlowe guides for the NextGen Developers Hackathon. This demonstrates not only our capability but also our commitment to extracting maximum impact from treasury support. With I Can Plutus, we are transforming the insights gained from that work into a globally accessible, permanent resource.
In summary, for a modest treasury investment, "I Can Plutus" delivers a professional-quality, open-source book that directly addresses one of Cardano’s biggest challenges: onboarding developers into Plutus. The cost is fair, the outputs are durable, and the potential impact is transformative - a clear case of high value for money.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Duke Peter (Tech community Catalyst)
Duke is the founder of Ubuntu and AI and a leading catalyst for blockchain adoption and ethical AI development in Africa. With over a decade of experience in community engagement and communications, he has built strong ecosystems that connect innovators, entrepreneurs, and developers within the Web3 space.
As the African Community Lead for SingularityNET, Duke has spearheaded the platform’s regional expansion across Africa - organizing conferences, roundtables, townhalls, and research collaborations that have introduced thousands of participants to decentralized AI and blockchain. His leadership has also advanced the development of Afrocentric and ethical AI tools, ensuring that emerging technologies are shaped by Africa’s unique values and perspectives.
Duke is also a funded proposer in Catalyst Fund 13 (F13), where he continues to design and deliver projects that strengthen blockchain ecosystems through education, community-driven research, and capacity building.
Duke’s work sits at the intersection of blockchain ecosystems, AI ethics, and community empowerment, positioning him as a strategic leader capable of delivering high-value, sustainable outcomes for funded initiatives.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dukepeter/
Remostart (Tech Startup):
Remostart will serve as the technical partner for this project, bringing a global network of thousands of skilled professionals, including hundreds already integrated into the Cardano ecosystem across Africa. The team at Remostart comprises experts in artificial intelligence IOT and blockchain technology, with over a decade of experience in developing solutions and training the next generation of developers.
Achi Emmanuel (Researcher, Data Privacy and Ethics Specialist):
Achi is a seasoned freelance writer and researcher, he works with international Masters and PhD students as a think thank to refine their research topics and achieve both academic and organizational success. His expertise also extends to consulting for innovative firms locally and globally, driving business growth through informed insights. Additionally, he collaborate with cutting-edge tech startups to craft product strategies and technology adoption models that propel market entry.
He has contributed to several research interests and projects in niches spanning across sustainability, healthcare management, project management, marketing, business development, real estate development, disruptive technology solutions such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, zero knowledge proof, virtual reality, big data, IoT, augmented reality, mixed reality, management tech, genetics, information technology, and biotechnology.
Rejoice Olie (M&E/Data analyst)
Rejoice is a data analyst par excellence with nearly half a decade of experience. As someone deeply passionate about the transformative power of knowledge, her journey spans content creation, data analysis, and digital archiving, each role feeding her drive to make information accessible and impactful. She has worked as a Data Archiving Consultant at SCIDAR, where she spearheaded initiatives to optimize data storage and retrieval systems, ensuring the sustainability of critical digital collections. In addition to this, she has led data analysis for an Inclusivity research project within SingularityNET, identifying key trends and shaping policies that promote inclusivity. She has worked as a Content Review Analyst with Nigeria's leading Ed-tech firm, uLesson, she has analyzed hundreds of sessions, identifying trends and generating reports that empowered senior stakeholders to make data-driven decisions, ultimately enhancing both the app's functionality and user experience.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rejoice-olie/TBC
Victor Maxwell (Operations Manager)
As an experienced operations professional with over 4 years of expertise in web3 community management and moderation, Maxwell has successfully led high-impact projects across decentralized communities, enhancing operational efficiency and user engagement. His journey spans moderating communities for leading blockchain protocols and managing strategic growth initiatives for web3 projects. In doing so, he has developed a unique ability to optimize processes, reducing support response times by up to 40% while increasing community retention by 22%. He excels in designing and executing strategies that align community management efforts with overarching business operations. His strengths include establishing clear communication across cross-functional teams, implementing scalable processes, and delivering measurable results in user growth and satisfaction. Additionally, he is proficient in developing key operational metrics, improving internal workflows, and leading teams through the complexities of decentralized ecosystems. Drawing on his expertise in operational oversight, team coordination, and process optimization, he has been instrumental in fostering seamless project execution and operational excellence.
Lazarus Christian Chinaza (Project Manager)
Lazarus is a Project Manager, Operations Strategist, and blockchain advocate known for leading diverse teams and executing high-value projects. His background in mechanical engineering, leadership, and sustainability, combined with a passion for technology, helps organizations transform ideas into results.
He holds various key roles, including Project Manager at Better Africa Foundation, where he oversees development initiatives in education, health, and youth empowerment. He was also the Head of Marketing at Ovviy Tactical and was also the Operations Lead at Farmatrix Agro Allied & Technological Ltd, where he manages large-scale agricultural projects.
Lazarus is particularly passionate about blockchain technology, especially Cardano, and explores its potential to improve supply chain traceability and create equitable financial systems.
A graduate member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (GMNSE) and the Institute of Disaster Management and Safety Science (GDMSS), Lazarus is multilingual, speaking English, Igbo, and Hausa. His career is defined by resilience, resourcefulness, and a commitment to using innovation and leadership to empower communities and drive sustainable development in Africa.
You can view his portfolio at lazarus-transforms-africa.lovable.app