Blockfrost PAB

Implement Plutus Applacation Backend with Blockfrost support for nodeless operation.

We are the creators of Blockfrost, creating services and tools lowering barriers to entry for developers.

## What is Blockfrost.io?

Blockfrost.io is an instant, public and freely accessible API that removes infrastructure obstacles for developers so that everyone can start building (d)apps on Cardano. With Blockfrost.io, developers can start doing what they love ❤️, without the need for running and maintaining additional infrastructure and tooling themselves.

At the moment, we have more than 2,500 developers already onboarded in Blockfrost!

## What is Plutus Application Backend?

Plutus Application Backend (PAB) is a component developed by IOG, which manages contract applications run on users' machines. It handles the interactions with the node to manage the state of the wallets and tracks historical chain information. Right now, you need to run a full Cardano node to interact with PAB.

## Deliverables and roadmap

We would like to build a version of PAB that will, instead of having to talk to full node, interact with Blockfrost API. That way, developers building on Cardano will be able to take full advantage of PAB without having to run, maintain and monitor full node infrastructure.

We will release the first version of this software within two months after funding. This first release will be composed of a functional PAB node integration with Blockfrost API, documentation and relevant tests. We anticipate the active developement to continue into Q1 2022.

## Relevant experience

Five Binaries is an infrastructure development company. We're Cardano pioneers - with the first Cardano block minted on an aeroplane, first stake pool on the ITN and the first Shelley transaction on the mainnet.

We are the creators of Blockfrost.io. We are participants in Alonzo since the Blue testnet and we are Plutus pioneers.

We are trusted by the community, as we have been granted already 24 proposals across several funds in the past. To find out our progress on making the Cardano infrastructure better, check our Catalyst dashboard page at https://catalyst.fivebinaries.com/.

We are trusted by customers such as Emurgo, Trezor or Cardano Foundation. To get in touch or find more information about us, please visit https://fivebinaries.com/.

## Budget

Given the complexity of this haskell project, we estimate it will take about 4 months of envelopment, not less than 550 human hours.

## License

The entire outcome of this project will be open sourced under Apache License 2.0.