Cardano Smart DB

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Table of Contents

• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Features
• Transaction Flow and Smart Selection
• Documentation
• Installation
• Usage
• Conclusion
• Cardano Catalyst Reports
• Contribution
• License
• Acknowledgements

Introduction

The Smart DB Library is a Node.js package designed to simplify the interaction between JavaScript entities, a database, and the Cardano blockchain. It enables developers to work with entities backed by a database and synced with the blockchain, providing a transparent and seamless experience.

Features

• Hooks and Stores: Provides useHooks and EasyPeasy stores to deal with wallet connection.
• Seamless Blockchain Integration: Simplify interactions with the Cardano blockchain using JavaScript entities.
• Automatic Synchronization: Automatically synchronizes the application after transactions are confirmed to reflect the latest blockchain state in the internal database. Users can also trigger synchronization manually if needed.
• Smart UTXO Management: Implements a sophisticated system for managing UTXOs, including distinction between reading and consuming UTXOs.
• Smart Selection Algorithm: Optimizes UTXO selection for transactions, maximizing throughput and minimizing conflicts in high-concurrency scenarios.
• Concurrent Transaction Handling: Robust system for managing multiple simultaneous transactions with minimal conflicts.
• Authorization: All API endpoints are secured with authorization logic using Next.js sessions and JWT tokens.
• API Handling: The library handles all API routes, reducing the complexity in the projects that use our library.
• Example Project: Includes a comprehensive example project in the example folder demonstrating the use of the library.
• Node.js Dependency: This is a Node.js library to add as a dependency in dApps projects.
• Database Flexibility: Now supports both non-relational databases (using MongoDB via Mongoose) and relational databases (using PostgreSQL via TypeORM), giving developers the flexibility to choose the most appropriate database solution for their project.
• Query Optimization:
  • Selective field retrieval for optimized data transfer
  • Sorting and pagination capabilities
    • Support for sorting by any field
    • Skip/limit pagination
• Database Optimization:
  • Support for database indexes on entities
  • Covered queries optimization for minimizing I/O operations
  • Performance monitoring and comparison tools
  • Comparative testing between optimized and non-optimized entities
• Token Metadata Management:
  • Automatic retrieval and storage of token metadata from BlockFrost API
  • Local database storage to eliminate repeated external calls
  • Efficient metadata lookup for frequently accessed tokens

Transaction Flow and Smart Selection

The Smart DB Library implements a sophisticated transaction flow that includes:

• Distinction between reading (reference) and consuming UTXOs.
• Smart selection of UTXOs to optimize transaction success and system throughput.
• Concurrent transaction handling with minimal conflicts.
• Automatic UTXO locking and release mechanisms.
• Detailed transaction state management.

For a comprehensive explanation of the transaction flow, smart UTXO management, and the smart selection algorithm, please refer to our Transaction Flow Documentation.

For detailed concurrency tests that rigorously assess the performance and reliability of the Smart UTXO and Smart Selection systems across various scenarios, please refer to our Concurrency Tests or within the GitBook.

Documentation

For detailed documentation, please visit our Gitbook.

Installation

Refer to Installation for detailed installation instructions.

Usage

For information on how to use the Smart DB Library, including setting up entities, configuring the backend, and handling API routes, please refer to our Usage Guide.

Conclusion

The Smart DB library bridges the gap between traditional web application development and blockchain-based data management. By abstracting complex blockchain operations into familiar JavaScript entity interactions, it offers a developer-friendly pathway to blockchain integration. The sophisticated transaction handling and UTXO management systems enable the development of high-performance, concurrent dApps on the Cardano blockchain.

Cardano Catalyst Reports

Here are the links to the Catalyst Milestone reports for the Cardano Smart DB project. Each report provides an update on the project's progress, achievements, and next steps for each milestone.

• Milestone 1 Report
• Milestone 2 Report
• Milestone 3 Report
• Milestone 4 Report
• Milestone 5 Report
• Milestone 6 Report

For more details on our progress and achievements, please refer to each report.

Contribution

Contributions to the Cardano Smart DB are welcome. Whether you're looking to fix bugs, add new features, or improve documentation, your help is appreciated.

License

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgements

We express our deepest gratitude to the Cardano community for their unwavering support and valuable contributions to this project. This work is part of a funded project through Cardano Catalyst, a community-driven innovation platform. For more details on the proposal and its progress, please visit our proposal page on IdeaScale.