Please describe your proposed solution

The reliance on a single library (DCspark’s CML) for Lucid Evolution poses risks to its stability and flexibility. If this library becomes unsupported or lacks features, it could hinder the development of Cardano-based applications.

We propose a dependency injection approach that allows the main packages of Lucid Evolution to interact with both CML and cardano-js-sdk. By doing so, we can ensure that all libraries remain agnostic to any specific tooling for building transactions, providing developers with more options and resilience against future changes in library support.

This solution is unique in its ability to decouple transaction building from a single library dependency. It promotes a more resilient ecosystem, ensuring that developers can continue to build innovative solutions on Cardano without fear of disruption. By enabling flexibility and reliability, we contribute to the overall stability and growth of the Cardano ecosystem, attracting more developers and projects to the platform.

Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Our project will significantly enhance the Cardano ecosystem by promoting a more robust and flexible transaction-building framework through the integration of both CML and cardano-js-sdk. This dual-library approach will empower developers to create applications without the constraints of a single library.

To measure the impact of our project, we will focus on quantitative metrics, particularly the number of downloads of the Lucid Evolution framework.

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?

The core team is uniquely positioned to enhance Lucid Evolution, having already demonstrated our capabilities through tangible achievements and a deep understanding of the Cardano ecosystem.

We've successfully implemented key improvements, such as robust error handling and a refined type system, making Lucid Evolution more reliable and predictable. We've streamlined dependency management, reduced redundant code, and optimized performance, resulting in a leaner, more efficient library.

Our efforts go beyond fixing existing issues. We've led Lucid Evolution's integration with CML 5, unlocking new possibilities like Plutus V3 and Conway features for developers. Additionally, we transitioned Lucid Evolution from a monolithic structure to a modern monorepo, enhancing scalability, maintainability, and code reusability, while streamlining development workflows.

Furthermore, we've integrated the latest Plutus V3 capabilities and governance features into Lucid Evolution, bringing new functionality to the platform.

These achievements represent real progress that directly benefits the Cardano ecosystem. The core team remains committed to open-source development and active collaboration within the community.

What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Decoupling CML from Existing Packages

A. Milestone Outputs:

Refactored codebase with CML decoupled from all existing packages, allowing for agnostic functionality.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

All packages function independently of CML, and both CML and cardano-js-sdk can be used interchangeably without issues.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Updated GitHub repository with the refactored code, including detailed commit messages explaining changes made

Milestone 2: Integrating CML Back into the Framework

A. Milestone Outputs:

Reintegration of CML into the Lucid Evolution framework while ensuring it works seamlessly with the decoupled structure.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

CML is fully operational alongside cardano-js-sdk, with all features functional and tested.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Updated GitHub repository showcasing the integrated code for CML, comprehensive testing results confirming functionality

Milestone 3: Integrating cardano-js-sdk

A. Milestone Outputs:

Successful integration of cardano-js-sdk into the refactored Lucid Evolution framework.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

Cardano-js-sdk functions correctly alongside the decoupled CML, with all transaction-building features available and tested.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Updated GitHub repository showcasing the integrated code and comprehensive testing results confirming compatibility with both libraries.

Milestone 4: Functionality Testing and Enhancement

A. Milestone Outputs:

Comprehensive testing results highlighting functionality and performance improvements across both libraries.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

All core features work seamlessly with both CML and cardano-js-sdk

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Testing documentation in the GitHub repository

Final Milestone: Lucid Evolution Integration & Documentation

A. Milestone Outputs:

Comprehensive documentation aligned with Cardano standards, a Project Closeout Report, and a demonstration video.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

Lucid Evolution seamlessly integrates with current Cardano infrastructure; documentation provides clear guidance for developers using Lucid Evolution; all identified bugs and issues are resolved and documented.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

GitHub repository (<https://github.com/Anastasia-Labs/lucid-evolution>) containing the final codebase with all improvements and integrations, comprehensive documentation, bug tracking log and issue resolutions, documentation on ecosystem alignment with the latest Cardano advancements, and the Project Closeout Report available in the repository.

A demonstration video showcasing key features and improvements of Lucid Evolution will also be included.

Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Jonathan Rodriguez - Senior Blockchain Developer

Linkedin

Jonathan Rodriguez is a distinguished Cardano Smart Contract Developer with a wealth of experience in auditing and optimizing key protocols within the Cardano ecosystem, including Minswap V2, IBC protocol (Cardano Foundation), Optim Finance, Lenfi V2, Genius Yield, and Wanchain Bridge.

His deep technical expertise in smart contracts is further evidenced by his development of the Lucid Evolution framework and his authorship of CIP-128. Jonathan is also a co-creator of the Cardano Design Patterns Libraries, which serve as valuable resources for the wider developer community.

Beyond his technical development work, Jonathan has made significant contributions to the Cardano network's resilience, playing a pivotal role in mitigating a DDOS attack.

His efforts in the Cardano community extend to delivering over five successful Project Catalyst proposals, which have added important open-source tools and innovations to the ecosystem.

Jonathan's role as a Smart Contract Developer and lecturer for the "Cardano Solutions Architect" course at Emurgo Academy demonstrates his commitment to shaping the next generation of blockchain developers.

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

The total budget for the proposed project is estimated at 200,000 ADA, equivalent to 60,000 USD at the current ADA price of 0.30 USD. This plan is designed to efficiently deliver the project within 6 -8 months, ensuring quality while addressing all cost considerations.

Senior Developers:

Hiring two senior developers is essential for the successful completion of the project within the specified timeframe. Their combined expertise will be crucial for delivering high-quality, secure code.

• Hourly Rate: Senior developers’ rates range from 80-120 USD per hour.
• Estimated Total Cost in ADA (6 months):
• 80 USD/hour: For two developers working full-time (40 hours per week for 6 months), the total cost per developer would be 76,800 USD, equivalent to 128,000 ADA.

Thus, hiring two senior developers at the 80 USD/hour rate will collectively cost approximately 256,000 ADA over the full project duration.

However, since the total project budget is 200,000 ADA, the cost per developer will be split, bringing each developer's effective budget allocation down to 100,000 ADA for the duration of the project.

Managing Price Volatility

To mitigate the risks associated with ADA's price volatility, the project will implement Fixed-Rate Contracts (Partial):

• A fixed portion of each developer’s payment will be denominated in ADA at the contract’s start, while the remaining portion will be paid in a stable currency, ensuring predictable compensation despite ADA price fluctuations.

Tools &amp; Services

The project will require essential third-party tools and services to support efficient and secure development.

• Infrastructure: $800/year (~2,667 ADA)
• This cost covers hosting, servers, and cloud resources required for continuous development and deployment. The selection of cost-effective infrastructure ensures uninterrupted progress with minimal overhead.

Community Engagement &amp; Publicity

Community engagement and promotion are vital for raising awareness and ensuring the project's long-term success.

• Community Engagement &amp; Marketing: $3,000 (~10,000 ADA)
• This budget will be allocated to community outreach, educational content creation, and promotional activities within the Cardano ecosystem to ensure visibility and adoption of the project.

Contingency Fund &amp; Continued Maintenance

A contingency fund has been established to address unforeseen costs or challenges that may arise during the project, ensuring smooth execution and continued maintenance.

• Contingency Fund: 20,000 ADA (10% of the total budget)
• This fund will provide flexibility to manage unexpected expenses, serving as a safety net to keep the project on track.

No dependencies

How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The Cardano development community has previously faced significant challenges due to its reliance on the maintainability of libraries, leading to disruptions and project delays. Therefore, implementing agnostic SDK options that allow seamless switching between libraries like CML and cardano-js-sdk is crucial for enhancing stability and flexibility.

Lucid Evolution is a core library within the Cardano ecosystem, supporting numerous protocols such as Mynth, Pondora, Genius Yield, Splash, Ada Markets, Meld, Summon, Strike Finance, Atrium, and many others.