Detailed Plan
<u>#######################</u>
<u>#What is an API service about?</u>
For developers to build dapps, wallets, NFT marketplaces, etc, they require to query the Cardano blockchain. This is currently done via a database syncing tool called db-sync. The developers have to run their own infrastructure for this and that they end up wasting a lot of time on infrastructure than the actual product. An API service provides serverless highly scalable APIs for the developers to use and build apps without relying on their own backend systems.
<u>#What can a developer do with this service?</u>
Developers can build pretty much everything on Cardano using this API service, some common applications range from implementing pool updates on their website to, bots, etc.
This API service would also allow developers to submit transactions on the network. This will be a backbone for the new smart contract era on Cardano, that developers will be able to use this service to build swap, dex, etc. This can also be a great service for a wallet backend, which will allow many developers to build Cardano wallets without worrying about the infrastructure. So to summarise, major use cases are as below,
- Dexes
- Swaps
- Wallet Backends
- ADA Payment Gateways
- Native Asset Metadata and queries
- NFT marketplace listing APIs
- Analytics dashboards
- Smart contracts metadata APIs
- Telegram bots
- Pool tracking tools
<u>#Is there a similar service?</u>
There is a service for a similar use case, Blockfrost. We believe that having a choice for the community is a big plus and that we need a few infrastructure providers for this big ecosystem.
<u>#Who are we?</u>
We are the company behind the Cardanoscan explorer, the widely used Cardano blockchain explorer.
- We have been funded in the catalyst for testnet explorer and delivered it successfully https://testnet.cardanoscan.io/
- We are also funded for the Cardano networking library in JS, which is currently being developed as per the plan
Github: https://github.com/StricaHQ
Twitter Handles
Company: @StricaHQ
Ashish: @ashisherc
Cardanoscan: @cardanoscanio
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<u>#Some Key Data Points</u>
Cardanoscan explorer has a global Alexa rank of ~38k with about 250k+ active users. We have also been requested many times for the API service, and we think fund 6 would be the opportunity to deliver what the community is asking for. Below are some API related queries on our telegram group,
<https://t.me/cardanoscan/1920>
<https://t.me/cardanoscan/1646>
<https://t.me/cardanoscan/1495>
<https://t.me/cardanoscan/1496>
<https://t.me/cardanoscan/1296>
<https://t.me/cardanoscan/990>
<https://t.me/cardanoscan/568>
<https://t.me/cardanoscan/548>
<https://t.me/cardanoscan/442>
<u>#Deliverable</u>
Mainnet and Testnet cardanoscan API service with rich documentation and a free plan for the community.
<u>#The success of this project?</u>
This is an ever-running service and will have recurring costs to maintain it. The cost for the developers and for the infrastructure. We are asking for an initial boost through the catalyst fund, and plan to have a pricing tier for the enterprise and companies.
We will have a FOREVER FREE plan for this awesome community. The free plan will allow developers to play with Cardano. Integrate APIs to their apps that are small scale and for light use cases.
<u>#Timeline</u>
It is estimated to complete the project in 45 working days from the date of the results of the voting.
<u>Budget</u>
- Developer salary - 2 x 26,000 USD
- Infrastructure Cost mainnet - 10,000 USD
- Infrastructure Cost testnet - 6,000 USD
Total Funds Required - 68,000
