Unveiling the Future of Solar: AMA with the Lead Core Developer
Unveiling the Future of Solar: Insights from the Core 5.0 Development AMA with the Lead Core Developer
Welcome to the Solar Community’s Telegram AMA
In this session, gym, the Core Lead Developer, addressed the community’s inquiries regarding the development progress of Core 5.0, shedding light on pivotal updates and the future direction of the Solar blockchain. This AMA allowed gym to elucidate the intricacies of Core 5.0’s evolution, its departure from the ARK Core framework, and the innovative strides taken to enhance the platform’s performance, security, and functionality. Join us as we delve into gym’s responses and glean insights into the exciting advancements awaiting the Solar ecosystem.
This was not an event to announce the completion or launch of Core 5.0; it’s as the title suggests, a discussion about the latest development updates as it’s been a while and a lot has happened behind the scenes.
How has the development of Core 5.0 been going?
Well, let’s get the big news out of the way first. I’m aware the community feels let down because Core 5.0 didn’t launch as hoped last year. Unfortunately, the second half of 2023 was plagued by personal problems which greatly limited my availability. Of course, I’m not the only developer, and the others continued their work, so that’s not the main reason for the delay in Core 5.0’s release. The key update from this AMA is that Core 5.0 is undergoing a huge transformation into an entirely new Layer 1 solution, and it will move away from being a fork of ARK Core.
ARK announced the development of a new product to replace ARK Core, “Mainsail”. Is this the future direction of Core 5.0?
No it’s not. In the past, the ARK team openly recognised that their ARK Core platform is encumbered with substantial architectural debt and legacy issues. They acknowledged that overcoming these foundational challenges is far from straightforward. Their dissatisfaction was so profound that they initially considered abandoning their entire Layer 1 blockchain in favour of becoming a token on the Polygon network. However, they ultimately chose to remain as an independent blockchain and announced their new Mainsail product instead.
Mainsail still shares its ancestry with the ARK Core TypeScript architecture, including elements of code dating back to 2017, and this also raises performance concerns due to the inherent limitations of Node.js. Even with the incorporation of worker threads and native bindings like the bcrypto library for cryptographic operations, their system cannot achieve the performance levels of other blockchains developed in different programming languages. This performance gap was a critical factor for us as we considered the future direction of Core 5.0, driving our decision to diverge. I wish them every success with their Mainsail product, and we’re grateful that we were able to use their blockchain framework to bootstrap our network which launched two years ago today, but our ARK — and Node.js — journey ends here.
How do you see Solar Core’s codebase evolving, and what key improvements or changes are anticipated?
An evolution of Solar Core’s codebase is already well under way, as we’re transitioning away from the ARK platform. This decision represents a substantial shift in our development direction, as, from its inception, Solar Core was written using the ARK Core framework.
With Core 5.0, we’re setting our sights on elevating the blockchain to the next level, so we recognise the need for a practical approach to realise these ambitions. So far, our public strategy for Core 5.0 involved a comprehensive overhaul of the existing ARK Core codebase. This has included integrating features such as block finality, support for the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), both fungible and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and permissioned keys, among others. However, this approach essentially means we are continually updating code that is 7 years old to try to align with modern standards.
We’re setting our sights on making Core 5.0 the launchpad for our greatest achievements that are yet to come, and this led us to face some tough decisions. Primarily, we had to decide whether to continue the development of Core 5.0 by building on ARK Core, thereby possibly missing out on substantial performance improvements, or whether this moment should serve as a turning point to fully abandon the “fork of ARK” label and evolve Core 5.0 into a brand new blockchain, giving us complete control over our codebase. After serious consideration, the decision by the entire development team was unanimous in favour of the latter option.
Core 5.0 marks a total architectural transformation, entirely replacing the current codebase. This shift has already tangibly delivered numerous performance enhancements which are crucial for our continued evolution and to maintain our competitive edge. By breaking free from the limitations of our previous foundation, we’re not only anticipating achieving superior performance, but also opening up a realm of possibilities for innovation, security, and scalability.
Does this mean Core 5.0 will restart the blockchain and will we need new addresses and mnemonics?
We’re fortunate that our technical debt is relatively minor, mostly limited to old-style transfer transactions, legacy Schnorr signatures, and the initial consensus mechanism. This allows us to ensure full backward compatibility without the need to restart the blockchain. For end users, this means business as usual, with the only difference being the introduction of additional features. There will be no need for a blockchain restart, and wallet addresses along with their mnemonics will remain as they currently are.
Speaking of business as usual, Core 5.0 will retain the Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism and the concept of 53 block producers.
You mentioned performance improvements, can you share any with us to show what’s being done to make sure Solar can handle more users and transactions as it grows?
Yes. Extensive testing was conducted to confirm the new direction for Core 5.0 was not only viable but significantly more efficient. The headline statistic from our benchmarks is that Core 5.0 is, on average, over 2400% faster than Core 4! 🎉
To give a concrete example, on a MacBook Pro M1, cryptographically verifying and processing a block containing 150 transactions took about 18ms in Core 4. In contrast, Core 5.0 handles the same block with 150 transactions in roughly 0.7ms. That means a full block is processed in less than a millisecond.
Additionally, we’ve compared other operations between Core 4 and Core 5.0. While the results for Core 4 are based on its latest stable version, it’s worth noting that the Core 5.0 operations are still being tweaked, so results might not yet be fully optimised. In every measured operation, Core 5.0 significantly outperforms Core 4, showcasing the substantial improvements we’re bringing to the platform’s efficiency and capability to handle more users and transactions as we grow. You can visualise these improvements in this graphic.
Does this transition affect the Solar Virtual Machine (SVM)?
Absolutely, and all for the better! The Solar Virtual Machine (SVM) stands to benefit from Core 5.0’s across-the-board speed improvements, guaranteeing high transaction throughput. These performance enhancements open up exciting possibilities for us to incorporate additional computationally demanding features that previously might not have been practical on the older platform. Rest assured, the SVM will maintain its support for both fungible and non-fungible tokens, along with all the other advanced capabilities we’re introducing with our new Core.
When are you expecting to release Core 5.0 and will you support other wallets and hardware wallets?
While I can’t provide a specific timeline for the release of the all-new Core 5.0 just yet, I assure you that moving forward, we’re committed to much greater transparency. We plan to regularly publish updates on the development process to ensure our community is fully informed about our progress.
In terms of wallet support, we’re excited to introduce a new desktop wallet that will debut with Core 5.0. Additionally, thanks to the Solar Virtual Machine (SVM), we’ll be enabling MetaMask integration, and for users of hardware wallets, we’ll continue to support the Ledger series of devices, ensuring that SXP remains secure and accessible across a variety of platforms.
As the Core Lead Developer, what are your current top priorities and main goals you are focusing on for developing the Solar network’s protocol right now, and why are they important for us?
My current primary focus is squarely on Core 5.0, which is our main goal. Ensuring its robustness and, above all, its security is our top priority. Security is paramount because we must ensure that funds remain safe, and the freedom afforded by moving away from our previous architecture enables us to build more secure implementations. Consequently, I’ve stepped back from community engagement to dedicate myself to this critical work.
In line with Core 5.0’s security-centric approach, we’re guiding external developers towards utilising the RESTful, websocket, and webhook APIs for interfacing with Core, rather than relying on direct plugin extensions as before. This shift is crucial because plugins can unpredictably alter Core’s functionality, possibly introducing bugs or modifying the API in ways that compromise data consistency across nodes.
Consequently, Core 5.0 will abandon plugin extensibility in favour of a model where a comprehensive suite of RESTful, websocket, and webhook APIs with complementary frameworks/SDKs in various programming languages will meet the needs of developers to facilitate blockchain development. This ensures that developers can still build on the blockchain effectively without directly modifying Core’s behaviour. Consistency and reliability across all nodes is a fundamental tenet to the integrity and trustworthiness of the blockchain, since every node needs to maintain the same state and data to ensure blocks and transactions are verified accurately across the network. Any discrepancy between nodes can compromise the network’s security and the immutability of its records, so by removing the concept of plugins from Core 5.0, we can ensure all nodes operate under a unified protocol, maintaining the network’s cohesion and safeguarding against vulnerabilities introduced by plugins that could be exploited by malicious actors.
Live Community Questions
Nayiem closed the channel to allow the community time to post their most pressing questions for gym. Below is a transcript of those questions and answers.
“..and Node.js — journey ends here ..” can you share more details on what replaces it?
Core 5.0 takes a significant leap forward by moving away from the Node.js-powered ARK Core framework that powered Core 3 and Core 4. Core 5.0 is being developed entirely in-house and has been fuelled by countless hours of hard work, innovation, and, yes, a considerable amount of coffee!
When did the Development for the “new Core 5.0” begin and how far are we away from releasing it?
Preliminary exploratory development for the “new Core 5.0” kicked off shortly after the last commit to the 5.0 branch in our existing Core repository. It’s difficult to specify precisely how close we are to launching it, because mentioning a date could be perceived by some within the community as a firm commitment, which could then place undue pressure on our development team, creating a negative feedback loop. I still face a lot of personal problems since last year, but am dedicated to seeing Core 5.0 through to completion as soon as possible, while also ensuring that we meet our high standards for quality, performance and security.
I would like to ask about the burning mechanism. After upgrading to Core 5.0, will the burning mechanism be increased? Is there a change in the burning rate? Or Any plan to burn more supply?
With the upgrade to Core 5.0, there will be a broader array of use cases for the blockchain, notably through the integration of the SVM (Solar Virtual Machine). This expansion in functionality may increase the volume of transactions on the network. Given the way our burning mechanism is structured — tied to transaction volume — an increase in transactions naturally means that the burn rate will also rise. So, while there may not be a direct change to the burning rate itself, the expected increase in network activity with Core 5.0 may lead to more coins being burned as part of the process, effectively reducing the supply over time as the platform’s usage grows.
Will the new codebase be open source?
Absolutely, the new codebase will be open source, under the same licence as Core 4. This ensures that the community and developers can continue to review, contribute to and build upon the platform, fostering innovation and transparency within our ecosystem
In order to restrict block producers who can produce without sharing rewards, are you considering introducing an innovation such as an identification system and maximum votes per person to verify that only wallet holders who want to vote are unique individuals?
Due to legal restrictions, the Core protocol intentionally does not recognise the concept of reward sharing. Introducing an identification system to regulate block producers, voters and their reward distribution practices would not only lead to complicated legal problems but also raise significant privacy concerns. Such concerns are valid and would likely deter participation, making the implementation of such a system unfeasible and contrary to our goals of maintaining a secure, open, and user-friendly environment.
How is Core 5.0 related to Solar Card?
Core 5.0 is not related to Solar Card. Solar Card is a project by Solar Enterprises, which is a separate entity, and I don’t have any involvement with it.
Is anyone still able to run a relay node in order to support the network with Core 5.0?
Absolutely, running a relay node is highly encouraged within the network, and that remains so with the introduction of Core 5.0. Relay nodes will continue to be a fundamental aspect of the network’s architecture, particularly as block producers will operate in complete stealth on the network. Therefore, public relays will play a crucial role in ensuring the efficient propagation of transactions and blocks.
To further support and promote the establishment of more relay nodes on the network, we are exploring various incentivisation models. These models are designed to reward participants for their contribution to network support, ensuring a robust and resilient infrastructure for Core 5.0.
Besides you gym, what is the size of the team actively working and developing the new core? Even though no timelines are provided, can we at least expect this new Core during the current year?
Including myself, there are six of us involved with Core 5.0. As previously mentioned, I’m keen to avoid setting deadlines or timescales to prevent unnecessary stress on our team. However, we are committed to maintaining transparency with our community by issuing regular updates on our progress going forward.
Any plans to rebrand the ticker #SXP to another one with the launch of Core 5.0? Because SXP gives a lot of people bad vibes.
Changing the ticker from #SXP to another isn’t something I would be responsible for. My focus lies entirely in steering the development of the code that underpins our network. The ticker name doesn’t impact Core’s operations, so it’s not a matter I’m involved with. I think altering the ticker could lead to issues with various exchanges, but that’s just my opinion and that particular decision would ultimately be made by someone else.
In conclusion
Gym’s insights provided invaluable clarity and transparency regarding the development trajectory of Core 5.0 and the future of the Solar blockchain.
The decision to pivot away from ARK Core underscores a commitment to innovation and autonomy, positioning Core 5.0 as a transformative milestone in Solar’s journey.
With a steadfast focus on security, performance enhancements, and community engagement, gym and the development team reaffirm their dedication to fostering a robust and sustainable blockchain ecosystem. As anticipation builds for the forthcoming releases and events, the Solar community eagerly anticipates the realisation of gym’s vision for Core 5.0 and beyond.
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