Compact SmartContracts: Build dApps on Midnight

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Compact SmartContracts: Build dApps on Midnight

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

36000

[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?

Midnight’s smart contract language is new and lacks documentation, leaving developers struggling to start because clear learning paths and practical examples are still missing.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://github.com/LTP-Blockchain-Lab/Compact-Tutorial

[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?

Yes

Please provide details on the intellectual property (IP) status of your project outputs, including whether they will be released as open source or retained under another licence.

All project content, including example source code, practical exercises, and documentation, will be publicly released under the MIT License on GitHub. The course, documentation, and illustrative examples will be made public from the early stages and continuously updated throughout the project’s lifecycle. We encourage the community to contribute, improve, and expand the materials to help more developers gain easier access to Midnight.

[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?

The target audience is new developers on Cardano and existing Cardano developers who want to build dApps on Midnight. We will reach them through:

• Online video courses: A structured lecture series from beginner to advanced, explaining step-by-step how to build smart contracts and dApps on Midnight.
• Open-source code and practical examples: A GitHub library containing practice examples, allowing learners to view, fork, and practice on their own.
• Supportive community: A dedicated Discord/Telegram group where learners can ask questions, share experiences, and receive guidance from mentors.
• Promotion: Sharing the course via social media such as X, Telegram, and in partnership with Blockchain Pioneer Student Club to recruit learners.

Importance for Cardano:

• This helps increase the number of developers proficient in Compact Smart Contracts, encourages community participation, accelerates dApp development on Cardano-Midnight, builds a knowledge bridge between platforms, and supports high-quality blockchain talent development.

Provide a list of key activities of your project:

List of main project activities:

Module 1: Overview and Environment Setup

• Introduce the course and learning roadmap.
• Introduce Midnight, create Lace-beta wallets, obtain test funds.
• Environment setup for MacOS, Ubuntu, Windows.

Module 2: Compact Language Syntax Tour

• Introduce variables, data types, and control structures.
• Guide on writing Counter, Tug of War, and Mint Token contracts.
• Best practices & debugging.

Module 3: (Offchain) Interacting with Smart Contracts

• Introduce Proof-Server and how to run it.
• Template to deploy smart contracts using Midnight SDK.
• Interact with contract functions using SDK.

Module 4: Building a Complete dApp

• Initialize a Next.js frontend and connect Lace-beta wallet.
• Integrate frontend with Midnight SDK: connect contracts, display data, send transactions, update contract state.
• Deploy the project to Vercel.

Support and community activities:

• Publish videos, slides, and code on YouTube, GitHub, Gitbook.
• Manage online study groups on Discord/Telegram.
• Update progress and milestones on X, Discord, Cardano Forum.
• Invite mentors to review learners’ projects.

What are your success metrics?

Success indicators (KPIs) of the project:

Quantitative:

• ≥30 learners within the first 6 months.
• ≥50% course completion rate with real projects delivered.
• Number of dApps and smart contracts developed by learners.
• ≥80% positive feedback from learners on course platforms.

Quality:

• Each graduate completes at least one dApp or contract running on testnet.
• Mentors directly review each project.
• All code, materials, and exercises are open-source and publicly accessible.

Proof of milestone completion:

• Links to YouTube playlists of course videos.
• Links to Gitbook materials and slides.
• Links to GitHub containing course code examples.
• Public Google Sheet tracking metrics.
• Social media posts on X and Telegram.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

Understanding the Problem

1. Lack of learning resources for Compact.

Midnight already provides official documentation, but most of it is reference-oriented and highly technical, making it more suitable for experienced developers. New developers often struggle to turn these theoretical instructions into practical learning paths or hands-on workflows.

There are currently few intuitive resources such as tutorials, structured courses, or real implementation examples. In particular, examples involving zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP) are still limited, making it difficult for learners to understand how to apply them to real projects.

As a result, self-learning becomes time-consuming and discouraging, especially for developers unfamiliar with Midnight’s new language, SDK, and unique security model.

2. Lack of community and structured learning paths.

The Cardano developer community still focuses heavily on Plutus/Aiken, so resources and advice for Compact/Midnight are limited. Learners do not have a clear roadmap to progress from basics to advanced concepts.

The number of experienced Midnight developers is still very small. Therefore, an active community that shares knowledge, answers questions, and co-creates the future of the platform is something Compact/Midnight is still missing.

Proposed Solutions

• Video Course: Provide a visual series of lessons guiding learners from basic to advanced concepts in Compact and Midnight.
• Source Code Repository & Examples: Develop a GitHub library containing practical examples aligned with each lesson.
• Supportive Community: Create a dedicated online learning group (Discord/Telegram) for Compact learners. Here, students can ask questions, share experiences, and receive help from instructors and peers. As the Cardano culture emphasizes, “community is key” to refining and enhancing the project.

Modular Learning Roadmap

Module 1: Overview & Environment Setup

Goal: Help learners understand Midnight and set up the required environment and wallet.

Content:

• Course introduction and learning roadmap.
• Overview of Midnight and the language used to build dapps on it.
• Wallet creation and faucet guide.
• Environment setup for MacOS, Ubuntu, and Windows.

Module 2: A tour of the Compact language syntax

Goal: Teach learners the Compact syntax and how to write basic smart contracts.

Content:

• State declaration, logic functions, compilation, and testing.
• Hands-on: Counter contract.
• Hands-on: Tug of War contract.
• Hands-on: Token minting contract.

Module 3: (Offchain) Interacting with smart contracts

Goal: Explain how offchain components interact with smart contracts and the role of the proof-server.

Content:

• Introduction and guide for running the proof-server using Docker.
• Deploy template using Midnight SDK.
• Calling and interacting with contract functions via the SDK.

Module 4: Building a complete dapp

Goal: Help learners understand the full structure of a Midnight dapp and build one themselves.

Content:

• Initialize a frontend project with Next.js and connect to Lace beta.
• Integrate Midnight SDK to interact with smart contracts (connect, display data, send transactions, update contract state).
• Deploy the final project using Vercel.

This training model combines video-based theory, hands-on coding practice, and community support, effectively addressing the core challenges faced by new developers. Ultimately, Compact SmartContracts learners will gain comprehensive knowledge and the confidence to build secure applications on Midnight.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

Our project will create long-term impact on the Cardano and Midnight ecosystems by developing smart contract courses that help new developers learn about Cardano and Midnight, while also making it easier for existing Cardano developers to build dApps on Midnight.

Value for the Cardano Community:

• Contribute educational resources on the Compact language to both the Vietnamese and global developer communities.
• Foster broader engagement from developers across Cardano and Midnight.
• Provide knowledge that helps increase the number of open-source projects.
• Improve the overall skill level of developers supporting the future of Cardano and Midnight.
• Build a knowledge bridge between Cardano and Midnight through Compact Smart Contract courses.
• Contribute to the Cardano Foundation’s educational mission by supporting sustainable blockchain talent development.

How We Will Measure Impact

Quantitative Metrics:

• Number of developers joining the course: target of 30+ learners within the first 6 months.
• Course completion rate: at least 50% of learners complete the course and deliver a final project.
• Number of projects created: track the number of dApps and smart contracts developed by learners after the course.
• Positive feedback rate: ≥ 80% satisfaction based on GitHub, YouTube, or the hosting platform.

Qualitative Metrics:

• Each graduating learner will produce at least one functioning dApp or smart contract deployed on testnet.
• Mentors will provide continuous support, and experienced developers will be invited to review final projects.
• All course materials, sample code, and learning resources will be fully open-source for the community to reuse and improve.

How We Will Share Opportunities and Results

We commit to transparency throughout the teaching process and in sharing project outcomes.

Deliverables:

• Video course: all lessons will be published on YouTube and promoted through the Blockchain Pioneer Student Club to reach new learners.
• Open-source code: all sample code and course projects will be published on GitHub under the MIT License, allowing anyone to view, fork, and reuse.
• Documentation and slides: all written materials will be organized on GitBook and shared openly for easy community access.

Opportunities & Reporting:

• Transparent progress reports: detailed reports will be submitted according to Project Catalyst’s requirements.
• Regular updates: progress, milestones, and visuals will be shared on X, Discord, and the Cardano Forum.
• Collaboration with Blockchain Pioneer Student Club to deliver the course and expand its reach.
• Knowledge sharing: invite outstanding learners or mentors to share their insights with the wider community.

[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?

Expertise: Our team consists of experts in developing dApps on Cardano and Midnight, with proven experience through blockchain development projects and Cardano Hackathon competitions, ensuring comprehensive knowledge in both research and teaching.

Capability: Our team includes developers with over 3 years of experience in Cardano blockchain development and more than 3 months of research experience on the Midnight blockchain. We have completed several projects and maintain repositories on Compact, as well as some basic dApps on GitHub, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of the platform’s strengths and limitations.

Teaching and Community Support:

Our team has taught over 100–200 students at universities in Vietnam. Our courses focus on Cardano blockchain topics, guiding students from zero knowledge to building a complete dApp. In addition, we actively support the Blockchain Pioneer Student Club by organizing workshops, hackathons, and mentoring sessions. These activities aim to introduce blockchain development to new learners, provide hands-on experience with Cardano and Midnight, and help build a vibrant developer community.

Additional Activities:

• Organizing technical workshops on smart contract development and dApp building.
• Hosting live coding sessions and Q&A for students and community members.
• Mentoring participants in hackathons and student projects.
• Producing educational content, tutorials, and guides for public use.

Links for reference:

• https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17qjAN7Wo4/
• https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Eomzoh9aY/
• https://x.com/bps_club/status/1978880718853017995
• https://x.com/bps_club/status/1987537831779287085
• https://x.com/bps_club/status/1990076090573095015
• https://github.com/-Tutoriallongdevbf/Compact_Tutorial

Awards:

The MedID project won 2nd prize in the main track of the Cardano Blockchain Hackathon 2025.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Overview and Environment Setup

Milestone Outputs

Compact tutorial video series (6 videos):

• Video 1: Course overview and learning roadmap.
• Video 2: Introduction to Midnight and its strengths.
• Video 3: How to create a Lace Beta wallet.
• Video 4-6: Environment setup (MacOS, Linux, Windows).

Acceptance Criteria

• Course plan completed.
• First 6 videos and documents published publicly.
• Three promotional posts published on X and Telegram.
• Each video reaches at least 50 views and 10 interactions, demonstrating initial audience traction.

Evidence of Completion

• Link to YouTube playlist with 6 videos.
• Link to GitBook documentation and slides.
• Link to public metrics Google Sheet.
• Links to X and Telegram announcements.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

8000

Progress

20 %

Milestone Title

Compact Language Syntax Tour

Milestone Outputs

Compact tutorial video series (8 videos):

• Video 1: Variables, data types, control structures.
• Video 2-3: Contract state and logic functions.
• Video 4: Counter contract tutorial.
• Video 5: Tug of War contract tutorial.
• Video 6: Mint token contract tutorial.
• Video 7-8: Best practices and compiler debugging.

Acceptance Criteria

• Eight videos and documents published.
• Three promotional posts on X and Telegram.
• Each video achieves at least 50 views and 10 interactions.
• Source code link included in materials for reference and verification.

Evidence of Completion

• YouTube playlist with 8 videos.
• GitBook documentation and slides.
• GitHub repository with sample code per lesson.
• Updated public metrics Google Sheet.
• X and Telegram announcement links.

Delivery Month

2

Cost

9000

Progress

50 %

Milestone Title

(Offchain) Interacting with Smart Contracts

Milestone Outputs

Midnight SDK tutorial series (4–5 videos):

• Video 1: Proof-Server overview and setup.
• Video 2-3: Deploy template using Midnight SDK.
• Video 4-5: Initialize functions and interact with contract methods.

Acceptance Criteria

• Five public videos with documentation.
• Three promotional posts on X and Telegram.
• Each video achieves at least 50 views and 10 interactions.
• Source code link included in materials for reference and verification.

Evidence of Completion

• YouTube playlist with 5 videos.
• GitBook documentation + slides.
• GitHub with updated lesson code.
• Updated metrics Google Sheet.
• Links to X and Telegram posts.

Delivery Month

2

Cost

10000

Progress

80 %

Milestone Title

Building a Complete dApp

Milestone Outputs

Video series: Frontend integration with Midnight SDK

• Video 1: Next.js setup + Lace Beta wallet integration.
• Video 2-4: Contract interaction: connect, fetch data, send tx, update state.
• Video 5: Deploy dApp using Vercel.

Acceptance Criteria

• Five public videos with documentation.
• Three promotional posts on X and Telegram.
• Working demo dApp accessible publicly.
• Each video achieves at least 50 views and 10 interactions.
• Source code link included in materials for reference and verification.

Evidence of Completion

• YouTube playlist with 5 videos.
• Sample transactions on Midnight testnet explorer.
• GitBook documentation and slides.
• GitHub with all code and updated lessons.
• Updated public metrics Google Sheet.
• Links to all X and Telegram posts.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

9000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Our proposal is planned to be divided into 4 milestones with the following estimated budget (you can refer to this Google Sheet for more details).

Compact SmartContracts: Build dApps on Midnight

• Milestone 1: Overview and Environment Setup 8,000 ₳ <=> 22.22 %
• Milestone 2: Compact Language Syntax Tour 9,000 ₳ <=> 25.00 %
• Milestone 3: (Offchain) Interacting with Smart Contracts 10,000 ₳ <=> 27.78 %
• Milestone 4: Building a Complete dApp 9,000 ₳ <=> 25.00 %

Total: 36,000 ₳

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

This project will deliver value in terms of knowledge, creating an open-source educational asset that is scalable and permanent. The project directly addresses one of the gaps in the Cardano and Midnight ecosystems. The funds allocated for this project are not temporary investments; they represent a one-time investment with long-term returns.

Here is how we determine the costs and why they provide high value:

• Creating a long-term asset, not a service: The budget is dedicated to producing an enduring online course (videos, source code, tutorials). Once completed, these resources will be made freely and permanently available on platforms like YouTube and GitHub. Over time, they can train hundreds or even thousands of developers without additional cost, making the initial investment highly efficient and scalable.
• Strategic investment in talent development: The main costs are the time and expert effort required for research, content creation, and code development. We are funding the expertise needed to build a critical bridge for the developer community in the ecosystem. The cost of attracting and enabling a skilled development team to build on Cardano and Midnight could exceed the budget of this entire project. Our project aims to empower many people.

[Self-Assessment] Self-Assessment Checklist

I confirm that the proposal is a non-technical initiative, with ≤20% of the budget for tech support.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal provides verifiable evidence (portfolio, links, reports) of the team's ability to deliver the project.

Yes

I confirm that the proposer and all team members are in good standing with prior Catalyst projects.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal includes clear objectives with both Output Metrics (what proposal did) and Adoption-Focused Metrics (what effect proposal had).

Yes

I confirm that the proposal clearly explains the user journey and provides a credible plan for how the project will equip and motivate users for future on-chain activity.

Yes

I confirm that the initiative clearly demonstrates how it will grow the Cardano ecosystem or onboard users.

Yes

I confirm that the project plan and timeline (≤ 12 months) are realistic and well-defined.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal commits to public outputs and justifies any exceptions.

Yes

I confirm that the budget adheres to all policies: it is for future work, follows the merchandise rule, and excludes establishing local treasuries, incentives/giveaways, re-grants.

Yes

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

I Agree

Yes