Exploring StarkNet, an Ethereum Layer 2.
#starknetfordummies
Volition
Today I decided to look into #Volition as it keeps coming up in talks of the quantum leap that #StarkNet is supposed to be taking this year – meaning cheaper fees, quicker transactions and greater access to computation for dapps. I found myself preaching to people about how Volition is going to change the game – while having no idea what it meant, other than it is supposed to reduce fees drastically.
The dictionary definition of volition is the power to make your own decisions. And that is how it is used in this instance as well: Simply put on StarkNet Volition means users have the choice to store data on chain (#Rollup) or off chain (#Validium) at the beginning of each transaction. According to StarkNet data storage makes up the bulk of gas fees. By eliminating the need for on-chain data storage, gas costs could potentially be reduced by as much as 95%. Instead of always storing all of the data on the chain, users now have another option. They could choose to store just an encrypted hash on-chain, which acts as a pointer to the data. This data, in turn, would be stored off-chain by a trusted party, a Data Availability Committee (DAC)
Here is an example of when you might use either option. Suppose I am using StarkNet and decide to buy a valuable #Cryptopunk. Given its worth, I opt for the Rollup Mode, registering my transaction and all of it's data directly on #Ethereum. This public record ensures everyone knows I’m the rightful owner.
Later, I buy a cloak for my character in a game called Eternum. For this less valuable item, I choose Validium Mode, storing the transaction data off-chain with an approved Data Availability Committee. This method is quicker and cheaper, perfect for less significant transactions. It will make games playable because no one will want to play if it costs money to take every action or transactions have significant lag.
With StarkNet's Volition design, I get to pick the best storage option depending on the value and urgency of each transaction. As far as I understand it, the tradeoff is there's a potential vulnerability for the off-chain data to be attacked or compromised. In most circumstances this wouldn't be worth it but Starknet will need to find effective methods to defend against this in the instances it is.
One might have some hesitations, such as: how are the Data Availability Committees chosen? And does this move away from the principle of trustlessness in blockchain? Currently, they are larger institutions in the blockchain space like Consensys, Nethermind, Iqlusion and Cephalopod, with more being added. There is a quorum system where a certain number of them have to agree on the transaction rather than any one having ultimate authority. Also, if they tampered with the hash they are verifying the other committee members would see that.
Encryption and zero-knowledge proofs are also used in the system. These tools can limit data access to suit the needs of specific situations. By doing this, the committee members' liability and responsibility are reduced, and user as well as dapp privacy is safeguarded.
StarkNet's introduction of Volition is a significant stride towards achieving more efficient, user-centric transactions. It offers an enticing vision of greater affordability and powerful computational capabilities for dapps. While Volition is not a perfect solution yet, it's a promising step in the right direction. Its flexible, user-driven approach to data storage could revolutionize the way we interact with blockchains. As we continue to follow StarkNet's journey, it'll be exciting to see how Volition develops and to what extent it fulfills its potential. The future of blockchain may well be on the verge of a dramatic transformation.
Here are sources of information I used and further reading regarding challenges and potential solutions in the second article.
starkware.co/resource/rollup-validium-volition-where-is-your-data-stored/
medium.com/starkware/data-availability-e5564c416424
starkware.medium.com/volition-and-the-emerging-data-availability-spectrum-87e8bfa09bb
ethresear.ch/t/mvr-minimally-viable-rollback/7538
#StarkBear #starknetfordummies
I am back after an inadvertent hiatus. I think I overwhelmed myself with too much information and expectations as I have a tendency to do. I had not looked at my Lens profile or starkbear accounts since the day I posted – and I was very surprised to see I had several follows, likes and comments on my short introduction. I don’t think I have ever really been early to a social app and I love that Lens seems like the place to be at the moment.
Now I have a bit more of a plan. I got rid of trying to keep track of the ecosystem on my own since there are already so many great dashboards. I am not going to try to be an everything tracker for StarkNet. I am going to double down on my focus to learn about the technology behind blockchains and share it with people in (hopefully) easily understood explanations. #starknetfordummies
I’ll keep the glossary as my notebook and I will fill the calendar with events and spaces I intend to attend that are educational in nature.
I will use Nurstar’s (twitter.com/0xNurstar)) and Starknet Digger’s (twitter.com/Starknet_OG)) Twitters to save myself time and if they share any articles or podcasts especially appealing to me I will attempt to break them down into important and easily digestible takeaways.
The dream is actually to learn Cairo and write my own smart contract one day even if I never become a professional developer or create something many people use.
My first article is going to be about Volition because I have found myself preaching about it recently and how it is going to reduce fees on StarkNet without knowing how or why it will do that. Fingers crossed I will be able to finish and post that later tonight.
#StarkBear
I have been into #crypto since May 2021. I’ve caught up with degen culture and to some degree trading terminology but when I read articles about #blockchain tech, each and every term leaves my mind swimming. Reading one of Vitalik’s conversations on #Twitter can feel like a completely foreign language. It reminds me there is still a stark divide between degens and the builders who are attracting them. My long-term goal is to transition from lucking into some money by getting into this space at the right time and becoming proficient in the programming language #Cairo and creating or contributing to a popular #dApp.
Even a term as simple as dApp (#decentralized application) may not be intuitive for people entering the space. I am beginning to understand the cliché: we are early, is in many ways, very true. The people here now are either creating scaffolding for blockchains or willing to deal with clunky, sometimes terrifying actions managing high value assets with no safeguards beyond your own level of meticulousness. Most people will not enter the crypto/blockchain/web3 space until the user experience is much smoother. Users want the tech in the background and the interface to mimic web2 apps, as close to one click experiences as possible. The original principles of sovereignty and #decentralization will have to function in the backdrop without sacrificing the ease of use for the end user. The exciting part is that seems like it is happening.
For any of you caught in the middle like me, my account @starkbear will catalogue my journey and hopefully help break down complicated ideas into simple language because I think once I can understand it, anyone can. The focus for me will be on #StarkNet as I think it is the ecosystem with the most potential.
On my Twitter (twitter.com/starkbear)) you will find links to a spreadsheet of dApps in the StarkNet ecosystem, a calendar of events in the StarkNet ecosystem, a glossary of blockchain terms and my lens account where I will post articles on topics that I spend a lot of time exploring. I ran this piece through Chat GPT and it recommended explaining degen culture, trading terminology, #Vitalik, Cairo, web2 and web3. If you are looking for definitions for any of those terms, be sure to check out the glossary mentioned above.
Here’s to looking back years from now and laughing about how far we’ve come.
#StarkBear
gm
#StarkNet is an Ethereum Layer 2 that will solve blockchain scalability issues and onboard billions of people across the world. 🌎
Check out my curated lists on Twitter twitter.com/starkbear/lists for people to follow and the link below to get started in the ecosystem. Join in on filling StarkNet’s canvas with the next era of incredible dApps. 💙