Release 1
This section describes how to build on Trac Network Release 1 (R1).
R1 is ready for production and shares most of the features of the upcoming mainnet.
However, Mainnet won't invalidate apps developed on R1 as this release is going to be guaranteed to stay maintained (Hypermall is built on it).
Why Trac Network
Trac Network enables fast transaction finality and App3 capabilities, complementing the Web3 idea.
Trac Network smart contracts are called apps and are primarily focused on native app execution (Desktop/Mobile). Web3 compatibility is assured on app level and is highly configurable.
The app approach has consumers in mind first, because the typical crypto hoops to go through are drastically minimized.
Trac Network is a true peer-to-peer network and has self-custody built into its DNA across the board.
The Network
Trac Network is a pure peer-to-peer crypto network. Each participant in the network can be connected with each other, share data and agree on smart contract consensus — directly, while operating their apps.
Instead of utilizing a blockchain, the peer-to-peer approach allows for supporting streams of transactions. The result is a generally favourable transaction finality as the consensus is being achieved on transaction level rather than waiting for blocks to finalize (transactions finalize individually).
The ledger is being shared across the network at all times, across all participants. However, this doesn't mean that everyone has to share a complete set of data. Ledger data is distributed sparsely, only requested when needed. Additionally, there are special network participants called "indexers" that can be best compared to archive nodes in the blockchain world.
This approach allows to push the original Web3 idea further and applies it to native Apps (App3):
Each participant executes contracts, this includes users
An app is a peer in the network that embeds the same contracts like everyone else
Web3 can still be executed by peers exposing APIs to let wallets connect to and transact (similar to Full Nodes)
Instances of Trac Network may be detached from each other, even from Mainnet, to create seperated subnets. In fact this is encouraged as these subnets will still support the decentralized peer-to-peer swarm and stay in touch with validators — the backbone of the network.
Validators
Validators are special peers, technically operating on their own network, to accept transaction requests from other apps to verify. They also strengthen the general network connectivity by sheer presence as the have a monetary incentive to do so:
In R1, validators may be incentivized by projects to validate their apps. An example is Hypermall, which rewards validators by sharing 50% of the trading fees to keep the network secured.
On Mainnet, validators will earn $trac as network asset and still maintain the ability to earn elsewhere in the network if it's profitable to them.
Validators do not run traditional proof-of-* strategies. Instead, consensus is reached through smart contracts upon transaction validation. This keeps the footprint light and allows validators to focus on business opportunities with the ecosystem of the network.
Development Process
The development process differs from typical blockchain engineering.
We streamlined the development and deployment process to make it as easy as possible:
The programming languge is Javascript, the most popular and broadly used programming language
The package system is Node.js compatible and allows for a variety of existing libraries to be used
Existing validators can be "borrowed" from the main project but you can run an entire validator network yourself (with the organizational overhead this entails)
Last updated