Understanding Cardano: introducing the Cardano Blueprint

Cardano is a third-generation blockchain platform built on years of rigorous research and developed with complex technical components, including the Ouroboros consensus protocol and the extended UTXO (EUTXO) ledger model.

While the research and formal methods have provided a strong foundation, understanding the details of how Cardano works can be challenging for some community members. The documentation is not as easy to find or understand as it could be.

This is where an important new initiative comes in: the Cardano Blueprint.

The goal of the Cardano Blueprint

The core objective of the Cardano Blueprint is to create a knowledge foundation for the Cardano blockchain. The goal is to make the protocol documentation and specifications implementation-independent and accessible to a wider audience. This audience includes developers working on current or future Cardano node implementations, application builders, integrators, and anyone keen to build a deeper technical understanding of the Cardano blockchain.

Ultimately, sharing knowledge in this way is crucial for supporting node diversity (different software implementations of the Cardano core logic) and maintaining the security and decentralization of the Cardano blockchain as its software stack evolves.

Why this initiative is necessary

The current reference implementation of the main Cardano network component, known as the cardano-node, has been developed over eight years. While the underlying concepts are well-researched and documented, accessing and comprehending this information is difficult because it's fragmented across multiple repositories, presented in different formats, sometimes uses highly technical language, and is occasionally mixed with details specific to the implementation in the Haskell programming language.

The Blueprint project aims to produce a set of resources that are:

• understandable by a wide range of individuals
• owned collectively by the Cardano community
• useful for developers working on various implementations, not just the reference implementation.

The meaning of ‘blueprint’ in this context

There is no one format, style, or type of specification that will work for everyone. A blueprint refers to various implementation-independent assets that explain how the Cardano protocol works. These can include:

• explanations and descriptions
• diagrams illustrating processes or structures
• specifications for interfaces (how different parts communicate)
• test data and test scenarios.

Regardless of the specific format, these blueprints should adhere to key values:

• Accessibility: using clear language, easy-to-read formats, and maintainable diagrams
• Openness: facilitating easy contributions from people with different backgrounds using common tools
• Minimalistic approach: focusing on describing the required functionality and behavior of the protocol, rather than specific implementation details
• Lightweight: easy to test against, use, and reference
• Evidence-based: supported by resources like test scenarios, test data, simulations, or models.

Examples of such blueprints could be explanations of network protocols, consensus algorithms, or block and transaction formats written in simple formats like Markdown, rendered into a searchable website with interactive diagrams. They could also provide valuable resources like introductions to test data sets, JSON schemas, or definitions.

Relationship with Cardano Improvement Proposals (CIPs)

The CIP process is the established method for proposing, discussing, and ratifying new features for the Cardano network. CIPs are effective for this purpose and share many values with the Cardano Blueprint.

While CIPs are great for discussing changes, Cardano Blueprint represents the end result of those discussions as part of its knowledge foundation. It also provides an ‘aggregate' view on what the Cardano protocol is made up of, while CIPs are documenting the individual decisions that lead up to this.

However, the Cardano Blueprint project will integrate closely with the CIP process. While CIPs will continue to be the primary forum for discussing and proposing new features, the Cardano Blueprint project itself may even be presented and ratified as a CIP, giving the community final approval over its status. Furthermore, CIPs could include updates to the blueprint documentation as part of their development path.

In conclusion

The Cardano Blueprint represents a vital community effort to make the deep technical knowledge underpinning Cardano more accessible, understandable, and collectively owned. It is hosted on GitHub to allow it to become a truly community-driven effort, utilizing familiar open-source contribution processes including pull requests and issues.

By creating clear, implementation-independent documentation and resources, it aims to empower a broader range of individuals to engage with and build upon the Cardano protocol, strengthening the network's security and decentralization.