Cardano development library in C++

[IMPACT]

Cardano+ +, A blazingly fast library of Cardano blockchain tools written in modern C+ +

This library seeks to provide an interface for open-source C++ projects to quickly integrate Cardano capabilities into their new or existing project. By enabling Cardano primitives to be easily integrated into C++ applications, the Cardano ecosystem will benefit from not only the rich C++ developer community, but also the high-performance capability of compiled code.

The current version of the library has the basic functionality for BIP32 HD key derivation and subsequent address creation. Additionally, the BECH32 encoding capability is already implemented. The efforts under this proposal will seek to further implement Cardano primitives focusing on wallet interactions: full BIP39 implementation, CBOR serialization, as well as transaction building and signing. Future work (not covered by this proposal) will build off of this foundation to implement Cardano protocol primitives to enable a C++ application to interface directly with on chain nodes.

This library will target modern C++ standards as much as possible. We are already implementing capabilities from standards as new as C++20.

This project impacts the key KPIs for the challenge:

- This project will increase the number and the quality of Cardano Open Source projects, since it is itself a new Cardano open source project as well as making it easier for additional open source projects to come to the Cardano ecosystem.

- This project can increase the number of contributors to the Cardano ecosystem by bringing in developers from the C++ developer community.

- This project will increase the amount of open source tools and frameworks from the community for the community since it is built by a team of long time community members for other developers in the community.

The project will be openly shared through social media channels and developer groups.

Some of the tasks represent a learning opportunity for the team. The available project documentation and example code in the IOHK repositories has proven in the past to provide the information needed to learn about the protocol.

[FEASIBILITY]

Q3 2022: Implementation of the BIP29 root key derivation from mnemonic phrase. CMake file for integrating the library with other applications.

Q4 2022: Implement basic transaction (P2P ADA transaction) building and key serialization (CBOR). Implement transaction signatures and transaction serialization (CBOR).

This project depends entirely on manual hours invested to implement the code.

We estimate the required effort to fall roughly at 55 hours per month. With a conservative estimate of hourly labor costs, the total comes to approximately $10,000.00 for the six month effort.

Team member 1: Dylan Crocker Ph.D.

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science from Georgia Tech. Engineering professional with over 10 years of experience. Cardano stake pool operator since December 2019.

Team member 2: Willie Marchetto

Received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology and a Master of Science degree in Astronautical Engineering (with a focus in spacecraft electronics and software) from University of Southern California. I have 10 years experience in research and development of high-consequence, high-reliability space systems and have spent a great deal of time administrating Linux servers, much like the ones we use to operate our stake pools. Cardano stake pool operator since December 2019.

Both team members have previously had a project funded through Catalyst with successful completion.

[AUDITABILITY]

The project progress will be measured by a goal of 5 substantial git commits per month. This isn't always the best method of measuring progress so we additionally measure implemented unit tests with the goal of one new unit test implemented and passing each month.

The project work defined under this proposal will be considered "done" when the following criteria are met:

1. The library can be integrated with another modern C++ project using CMake.

2. Unit tests are defined and successfully passed that derives spending and staking addresses from a mnemonic phrase.

3. Keys can be serialized to CBOR and this verified with a unit test.

4. Basic transaction building, signing, and serialization completed and verified with a test(s).

This is an entirely new project.