[Proposal setup] Proposal title
Please provide your proposal title
CS-Code: Web-IDE scaffolder for onchain and offchain code
[Proposal Summary] Budget Information
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
80000
[Proposal Summary] Time
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
8
[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?
Educators and beginners currently face fragmented tools, onboarded developers struggle with setup and integration of cardano onchain and offchain tools, slowing adoption and innovation.
[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation
Supporting links
[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
Yes
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
Aiken, Plinth, Helios, Marlowe, opshin, plu-ts, Plutarch, Mesh, Lucid Evolulution, pycardano, Apollos, Blaze, Tx3
[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.
MIT License & IP:
This project is open-source under the MIT License. You may use, modify, and distribute it freely, provided you include the original copyright notice. The software is provided “as is”, without warranty, and the authors are not liable for any issues. All contributions are licensed under MIT unless stated otherwise.
[Theme Selection] Theme
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Developer Tools
[Campaign Category] Category Questions
Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously launched in the market (whether by you or others).
- https://playground.marlowe-lang.org/#/
- Marlowe Playground offers a web‑based environment to write, simulate and test smart contracts either JavaScript, Haskell, Marlowe DSL
- They don’t provide comprehensive scaffolding for off‑chain logic, frontend/back‑end apps, user interfaces, wallet integrations
- https://play.aiken-lang.org/
- With the online Aiken Playground, developers can experiment, build, compile and test smart contracts in the browser so less setup friction, easier onboarding.
- still lacking a unified functionalities for off‑chain/frontend scaffolding, wallet/chain integration, testing of full dApp flow, and deployment
Various projects would continue this way with onboarding developers setup seperate repos for the onchain and offchain code
Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.
- Demonstrate the core value of cs‑code as a unified, web-based IDE for Cardano full-stack development. The MVP focuses on the minimal set of features that prove the concept and showcase the developer experience.
- How a developer can go from code to test to deploy to interact entirely in a single browser environment.
- Simplifies the traditionally fragmented workflow into a unified experience.
- Proves that a full-stack Cardano IDE is feasible and developer-friendly.
The MVP is accessible via a web-based prototype hosted on a webpage
and GitHub lin for open source contributions:
https://github.com/BlockPrintio/cs-code
Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.
- On-Chain Metrics
- Transactions initiated via IDE: over 10,000 transactions for first 3 months on IDE testnet preprod
- Smart contracts deployed via cs‑code: 100 - 200 within first 3 months
- Unique wallets interacting : 100–200 distinct wallets on testnet preprod
- Usage / Engagement Metrics
- Active developers - 50 DAU / 200 MAU,
- Average transactions per template, 20 - 50
- Infrastructure & Reliability
- IDE uptime : 99.9%
- Build / deploy success rate: 99.9%
[Your Project and Solution] Solution
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
CS-Code is a unified, web-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE) designed to simplify and accelerate the creation of full-stack Cardano decentralized applications (dApps). Unlike existing tools that focus on isolated parts of the development workflow such as smart contract writing, off-chain logic, or frontend integration CS-Code provides an end-to-end development platform that brings all these pieces together in one seamless environment.
Key Features and Capabilities
Synchronized On-Chain & Off-Chain Templates
- Developers gain instant access to ready-made templates for on-chain languages like Plutus and Aiken, paired with the corresponding off-chain scaffolding
- When a project is scaffolded, the smart contract boilerplate and transaction-building logic are automatically generated together. This ensures consistency, reduces errors, and eliminates the tedious task of manually wiring on-chain and off-chain components.
Integrated Testing and Simulation
- CS-Code allows developers to simulate smart contract execution and test off-chain transactions in a synchronized environment.
- On-chain validation and off-chain transaction logic can be tested together, enabling early detection of errors and saving time that would otherwise be spent debugging across multiple tools.
Simplified Deployment Workflows
- Developers can deploy their contracts and associated off-chain applications directly to Cardano testnet or mainnet using streamlined workflows.
- Complex command-line interactions and configuration steps are abstracted, allowing developers to focus on building functionality rather than infrastructure setup.
Full-Stack Scaffolding and Developer Experience
- Beyond on-chain and off-chain integration, CS-Code provides frontend scaffolding (React/Next.js templates) with pre-built wallet connections.
This allows developers to immediately create interactive dApps without needing to manually wire UI components, backend endpoints, and blockchain interactions.
[Your Project and Solution] Impact
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
- Raising Awareness of Cardano Tools
- Many developers, especially newcomers, are unaware of the variety of on-chain and off-chain tools available in the Cardano ecosystem, By integrating these tools into a single, accessible web-based IDE, CS-Code acts as a central discovery hub, helping developers understand and experiment with multiple tools without leaving the platform.
- Reviving “Silent” Builders and Dormant Projects
- A significant number of Cardano projects stall due to fragmented tooling, lack of templates, or high setup complexity like Marlowe, helios among others - CS-Code lowers the barrier to entry for both existing and new builders by providing ready-to-use scaffolds and integrated workflows, potentially reviving dormant projects and enabling developers to continue previously abandoned ideas.
- Improving onboarding Developer and educators Productivity
- By providing synchronized templates, integrated testing, and one-click deployment, CS-Code reduces repetitive setup work, allowing developers to focus on core innovation rather than plumbing and wiring.
- Ecosystem Awareness and Adoption
- More accessible tooling and live examples increase community engagement, making Cardano more attractive to both developers and investors.
[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?
BlockPrint
- Our core team has deep experience in both Cardano-specific development (on-chain logic, transaction building) and full-stack engineering, including building complex web applications. The project appears entirely feasible because we plan to leverage existing, mature libraries and modern, tested IDE frameworks. The platform's design will be modular, which not only ensures smooth future expansion but also makes it significantly easier for the community to contribute new language support or tools down the line.
we were insired by these ideas from the replit https://replit.com/ and https://codesandbox.io/templates
We can be reliable and accountable for this project due to our timely and actionable delivery of our project with Gimbalabs African developers education initiave - 2025.
we want to continuously contribte the cardano on a broader scale.
[Milestones] Project Milestones
Milestone Title
UI Research & Design Concepts
Milestone Outputs
- Research on best practices for developer IDEs, including Cardano-specific workflows.
- Wireframes and design mockups for the main IDE interface, dashboard, and template management.
- UI style guide including color schemes, typography, and component standards.
Acceptance Criteria
- Wireframes approved and validated against target user workflows.
- UI style guide finalized for consistency across IDE components.
- Initial feedback from 3–5 developers collected.
- Prepare GitHub repo desciptions and UI implementation
Evidence of Completion
- Screenshots of wireframes and design mockups.
- PDF of UI style guide.
- Notes/recordings of developer feedback sessions.
- Link to GitHub Repo
Delivery Month
1
Cost
8000
Progress
10 %
Milestone Title
Core IDE Layout & Navigation
Milestone Outputs
- Implementation of the main IDE layout: menu, editor panels, sidebar, and dashboard placeholders.
- Functional navigation between key sections (Editor, Templates, Settings, Testing).
- Basic responsive design across desktop and tablet.
- prepare a webpage deployed
Acceptance Criteria
- Users can navigate seamlessly between all IDE sections.
- Layout renders correctly across tested screen sizes.
- All placeholder and functional components load reliably with no visual glitches or broken elements.
- The deployed webpage is accessible via URL and fully operational for end-users.
Evidence of Completion
- Screenshots/video of functioning navigation.
- GitHub commits showing layout and navigation code.
- Link to webpage for IDE layout
Delivery Month
3
Cost
16000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Editor & Template UI Integration
Milestone Outputs
- Integration of code editor panels (with syntax highlight for onchain codes)
- UI for selecting and managing templates (on-chain + off-chain).
- Real-time error highlighting and basic inline feedback.
Acceptance Criteria
- Users can open and edit code in editor panels.
- Templates can be selected, previewed, loaded, and instantiated in the editor with correct scaffolding applied.
- Syntax highlighting and inline error markers function correctly.
Evidence of Completion
- Video/screenshots of code editor with templates loaded.
- GitHub commits for editor and template UI.
Delivery Month
5
Cost
32000
Progress
50 %
Milestone Title
Wallet Integration & Interaction UI
Milestone Outputs
- UI elements for connecting testnet wallets (Nami, Eternl, etc.).
- Panels for viewing transaction history and simulating contract interactions.
- Interactive buttons and forms for submitting off-chain transactions.
Acceptance Criteria
- Wallet connection is functional and reflects account info.
- Users can trigger test transactions from UI and see results.
- Users can initiate, submit, and simulate test transactions directly from the UI, with real-time feedback on transaction status and results.
- UI components for wallet interaction are intuitive and responsive, supporting seamless integration between frontend actions and blockchain interactions.
Evidence of Completion
- Screenshots/video of wallet connected and transactions initiated.
- GitHub commits showing wallet integration and transaction UI.
Delivery Month
7
Cost
12000
Progress
80 %
Milestone Title
Final UI Polishing and User Testing
Milestone Outputs
- Complete visual polishing, including color consistency, icons, and responsive adjustments.
- User testing with 5–10 developers, collecting feedback for usability improvements.
- Integration of tooltips, inline guides, and help panels for IDE users.
Acceptance Criteria
- The UI is visually cohesive and polished across all IDE sections, including Editor, Templates, Settings, Wallet Integration, and Testing panels. Colors, typography, icons, spacing, and component styles are consistent and follow the established style guide.
- User testing feedback from at least 5–10 developers has been collected, reviewed, and incorporated, resulting in measurable improvements in usability, workflow clarity, and accessibility.
- All interactive components (buttons, menus, tabs, modals, editor panels) are fully functional
- Documentation, tooltips, and inline guides are integrated and accessible, helping users quickly understand IDE workflows without external assistance
Evidence of Completion
- Screenshots/video recordings showing polished IDE UI in action across all sections.
- Notes, reports, or video clips from user testing sessions demonstrating addressed feedback.
- GitHub commits showing final UI refinements, bug fixes, and feature implementations.
- Links to deployed MVP accessible via web, showing working core workflows (code editing, scaffolding, wallet integration, and simulation).
- Published documentation, tooltips, and inline guides accessible within the IDE.
Delivery Month
8
Cost
12000
Progress
100 %
[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
- Frontend / UI Development (2) – 20,000 ADA
- Role: Develop IDE interface, templates UI, dashboards, onboarding, wallet integration.
- Rate: 40 ADA/hour
- Hours: 2 designers × 250 hours = 500 hours
- Total: 20,000 ADA
- Backend / Off-Chain Integration (1) – 15,000 ADA
- Role: Integrate Mesh SDK / Lucid, transaction building, APIs, off-chain logic.
- Rate: 50 ADA/hour
- Hours: 1 engineer × 300 hours = 15,000 ADA
- Total: 15,000 ADA
- On-Chain Integration (2) – 15,000 ADA
- Role: Smart contract scaffolding (Plutus & Aiken), compiler integration, simulations
- Rate: 50 ADA/hour
- Hours: 2 developers × 150 hours = 300 hours
- Total: 15,000 ADA
- Testing & QA – 10,000 ADA
- Role: End-to-end testing of IDE, on-chain/off-chain integration, contract simulations, frontend.
- Rate: 40 ADA/hour
- Hours: 250 hours
- Total: 10,000 ADA
- Deployment Infrastructure – 8,000 ADA
- Role: Testnet/mainnet deployment, CI/CD setup, cloud hosting, monitoring.
- Estimated Total: 8,000 ADA
- Documentation & Tutorials – 5,000 ADA
- Role: Create developer guides, sample projects, tutorials, and templates documentation.
- Rate: 35 ADA/hour
- Hours: 143 hours (approx.)
- Total: 5,000 ADA
- Project Management & Coordination – 7,000 ADA
- Role: Milestone planning, task tracking, team coordination, reporting.
- Rate: 70 ADA/hour
- Hours: 100 hours
- Total: 7,000 ADA
Overall total: 80,000 ADA
[Final Pitch] Value for Money
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
Efficient Resource Utilization
- The project leverages a small, focused team (frontend, backend, on-chain developers, QA, PM) to deliver a full-stack IDE, reducing overhead compared to fragmented tool development.
Hourly rates and hours are carefully planned to maximize output per ADA, ensuring cost-effectiveness for all core deliverables.
- High Impact per ADA Invested
Unified IDE: Combines on-chain, off-chain, and frontend scaffolding in one platform, reducing the need for multiple separate tools, saving developers time and costs.
Templates & Scaffolding: Developers can start projects instantly with prebuilt templates, avoiding repetitive boilerplate coding. Each ADA invested unlocks hours of productivity for multiple developers in the ecosystem.
- Ecosystem Growth & Multiplier Effect
By enabling more developers to build and deploy real Cardano dApps, the platform indirectly increases Cardano adoption, project visibility, and ecosystem activity.
Revives silent projects and empowers new builders, multiplying the impact of each ADA spent.
- Accelerated Development Cycles
Reduces onboarding friction for developers unfamiliar with Cardano tools (Plutus, Aiken, Mesh SDK, Lucid).
Fewer setup errors and integrated testing mean faster iteration cycles for dApps effectively giving a high return on each hour and ADA invested.
- Measurable Outcomes
With quantifiable KPIs such as smart contracts deployed, transactions initiated, unique wallets interacting, and template adoption, the impact per ADA can be tracked and assessed, ensuring accountability and transparency.
- Cost Comparison
Building the same ecosystem of on-chain, off-chain, and frontend tools separately would likely exceed 150,000–200,000 ADA in cumulative effort and integration costs.
CS-Code consolidates these efforts into 80,000 ADA, representing a 50–60% saving compared to a fragmented approach, with higher efficiency and end-to-end integration.
[Self-Assessment] Self-Assessment Checklist
I confirm that evidence of prior research, whitepaper, design, or proof-of-concept is provided.
Yes
I confirm that the proposal includes ecosystem research and uses the findings to either (a) justify its uniqueness over existing solutions or (b) demonstrate the value of its novel approach.
Yes
I confirm that the proposal demonstrates technical capability via verifiable in-house talent or a confirmed development partner (GitHub, LinkedIn, portfolio, etc.)
Yes
I confirm that the proposer and all team members are in good standing with prior Catalyst projects.
Yes
I confirm that the proposal clearly defines the problem and the value of the on-chain utility.
Yes
I confirm that the primary goal of the proposal is a working prototype deployed on at least a Cardano testnet.
Yes
I confirm that the proposal outlines a credible and clear technical plan and architecture.
Yes
I confirm that the budget and timeline (≤ 12 months) are realistic for the proposed work.
Yes
I confirm that the proposal includes a community engagement and feedback plan to amplify prototype adoption with the Cardano ecosystem.
Yes
I confirm that the budget is for future development only; excludes retroactive funding, incentives, giveaways, re-granting, or sub-treasuries.
Yes
[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation
I Agree
Yes