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Coretime Sale Price Calculator by Lastic

  • Team Name: Lastic
  • Payment Address: 0x406FCE28194155A223bE3bF1F149D2Ee09c5E272 [USD-T Address]
  • Level: 1

Project Overview​

Overview​

The Coretime Sale Price Calculator represents a breakthrough in democratizing blockspace pricing within the Polkadot ecosystem. Developed in anticipation of Polkadot's Coretime, this tool will enable interactive, real-time simulations of Coretime pricing. Our objective is twofold: to offer the community a comprehensive view of Coretime pricing dynamics and to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities in the broker pallet's pricing mechanisms, thereby safeguarding against unintended outcomes.

Project Details​

  • UI Components: Our tool will incorporate interactive sliders and real-time graph visualizations, as currently demonstrated in our GitHub repository. The application is approximately 60% complete and you can get a prieview of it's non final stage at lastic.streamlit.app.
  • Data Models: We utilize adaptable Coretime pricing models, accessible through a user-friendly interface.
  • Technology Stack: Our technology stack includes Python and Streamlit for the web application, supplemented by Numpy and Matplotlib.
  • Inspiration: Our work is inspired by the Broker pallet.
  • Documentation: Comprehensive documentation, including details on core components and interface interaction, will be available at our docs site.
  • PoC/MVP: The current implementation, visible in our repository, is live at lastic.streamlit.

Ecosystem Fit​

  • Ecosystem Role: Our project is strategically positioned to enhance understanding of the new blockspace pricing dynamics within the Polkadot ecosystem.
  • Target Audience: Our tool is designed for:
    • Substrate Developers: to gain a better grasp of pricing dynamics.
    • Parachain Teams: to adapt to the shift from slot auctions to Coretime renewals.
    • New Coretime Buyers: giving them insights into Coretime pricing.
    • Polkadot Analysts and Analytics Providers: in need of real-time Coretime data.
    • DOT Holders and the Wider Polkadot Community: to understand the implementation of Coretime pricing.

Our engagement with the community, as evidenced by the Polkadot forum discussion, has already led to the identification of a potential vulnerability affecting new core purchases. Our goal is to refine the application further, ensuring that the Python code aligns with what is implemented within the Broker pallet, and to develop models that address and eliminate identified vulnerabilities.

  • Addressing the Needs: We provide a transparent, intuitive tool for simulating Coretime pricing, enabling teams to anticipate how demand and core availability might influence pricing.
  • Comparison to Existing Solutions: To our knowledge, there are no other initiatives aimed at simulating the Coretime pricing as implemented currently.

Team 👥​

Team members​

  • Phil Lucsok (aka Asynchronous Phil)
  • Aurora Makovac (aka Aurora Poppyseed)
  • Pierina Ponce

Contact​

  • Registered Address: Private
  • Registered Legal Entity: In progress

Team's experience​

Phil Lucsok:​

Phil began his career in web3 as a marketing and communications manager for a Bitcoin startup in Berlin in 2013 called BitcoinsBerlin. There, he created marketing campaigns for multiple products including:

  • All4BTC - a one-stop shop for purchasing anything on Amazon or eBay with bitcoin
  • Bills4BTC (later Bitwala, Nuri) - a SEPA-compliant payment method for holders of Bitcoin for regular payments
  • e4BTC - an electronics shop supporting purchases in Bitcoin

After this, he worked for 3.5 years at ResearchGate, a web2 social media platform for scientific researchers, where he learned skills in Product Management, Product Analytics, UX development and copywriting and design, and industry-standard growth practices.

In late 2017, Phil joined Parity Technologies to lead technical communications on Ethereum and Polkadot. There he worked closely with developers to create promotional content for open-source products including Parity Ethereum, Parity Signer, Polkadot.js. It was between 2018 and 2020 where he represented Parity in Ethereum governance to help recover the stuck funds from the November 2017 multisig hack.

He led the communications team for the first two years, growing the team from 1 to 12, where they created and executed the launch strategies for Polkadot, Kusama and Substrate. After that he joined the Ecosystem Success team to work with parachain teams to improve their communications and act as a liason between Substrate Builders Program teams and Parity.

Phil currently works as a freelancer but is focused on leading Missing Link's marketing, communications and governance strategies. He is also an active participant in Polkadot governance discussions on the Kusamarian and in ChaosDAO.

Note: Phil Lucsok has previously applied at the Web3 Foundation and has successfully completed Lastic Grant 1.

Aurora Poppyseed:​

Aurora's journey in the technological sphere stands out for her innovative approach and unwavering determination. With a foundation in Physics and Electrical Engineering, she transitioned into roles as varied as a Solutions Architect, focusing on electronics and low-level programming, to a Frontend Developer with a commitment to clean code and scalable frontend architectures.

At Instrumentation Technologies in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, she led the design of intuitive GUIs for advanced measurement devices in particle accelerators and streamlined future development with a standardized Vue CLI-based web GUI framework. Her contribution as a Frontend Developer at Block Analitica involved engineering the frontend framework for the Ajna project initiated by the MakerDAO team, ensuring clean coding practices and an organized project structure for future open-source contributions.

Aurora attended and graduated from the Polkadot Blockchain Academy at UC Berkeley (engineering track), learning about the fundamentals of blockchain from leaders in this domain. Further enhancing her mark in the blockchain domain, Aurora offered her expertise to KodaDot, a prominent multi-chain NFT marketplace, developing developer documentation and crafting both technical and non-technical articles to amplify the platform's presence.

In the realm of community engagement and organization, Aurora co-organized the Polkadot Bled mini-conference and more recently, orchestrated a breakfast as a side event at sub0 aimed at women in Polkadot in collaboration with H.E.R. Dao. This gathering aimed to empower and bring together women leaders and enthusiasts in the Polkadot ecosystem. Furthermore, she's a staunch supporter of SubWork, a tech-centric coworking hub in the scenic Bled region and one of the pioneer Polkadot hubs.

Now a freelance blockchain developer, Aurora champions women's representation in Polkadot and ardently supports community-driven blockchain initiatives.

Note: Aurora Poppyseed has previously applied at the Web3 Foundation and has successfully completed Lastic Grant 1.

Pierina Ponce:​

In the dynamic landscape of technology, Pierina Ponce emerges as a versatile force, seamlessly transitioning from a background in health informatics to a burgeoning career in blockchain development.

Pierina's academic journey commenced with a foundation in medicine, culminating in 2018. The pivotal moment occurred during her master's degree in health informatics from 2020 to 2022, where she discovered a profound interest in technology and programming. Eager to explore this newfound passion, Pierina took the leap and enrolled in the computer science program at the Universidad de Palermo in Buenos Aires.

The year 2023 marked Pierina's initiation into the world of blockchain. Driven by a curiosity to delve deeper into this transformative technology, she sought knowledge and practical skills through the Polkadot Blockchain Academy at UC Berkeley. The immersive experience equipped her with the fundamentals of blockchain, setting the stage for her journey into the vibrant blockchain ecosystem.

Pierina's enthusiasm for blockchain manifested in her active participation in hackathons. Notably, she contributed to the success of the Women of Polkadot team in the encode ink! hackathon, where they secured victory by implementing a groundbreaking PSP34 smart contract. This achievement not only showcased her technical acumen but also underscored her commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the blockchain community.

Currently employed as a data professional at Ixpantia, a consulting Costa Rican business specializing in data science and data engineering projects, Pierina has become a catalyst for community growth. Pierina's unique trajectory blends her expertise in health informatics with her burgeoning skills in blockchain development. As a data professional, she brings a valuable perspective to the intersection of technology and healthcare, embodying the spirit of a true interdisciplinary innovator.

Note: Pierina Ponce has not previously applied for a grant at the Web3 Foundation.

Team's Repository & Online Presence​

Organization's GitHub Page:

Primary Repository for Grant Submission:

Team Member GitHub Profiles:

LinkedIn Profiles:

Development Status 📖​

Our project’s initial phase is already operational as seen on our GitHub repository. It includes a basic UI and the fundamental functionality for Coretime price simulation.

Development Roadmap 🔩​

Overview​

  • Total Estimated Duration: 2-3 weeks
  • Full-Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.5 FTE
  • Total Costs: 6,000 USD

Milestone 1 — Creation of Coretime Price Simulator​

  • Estimated duration: 2-3 weeks
  • FTE: 1.5
  • Costs: 6,000 USD
NumberDeliverableSpecification
0a.LicenseThe project will adopt the GPLv3 license, promoting open-source access and collaborative development.
0b.Comprehensive DocumentationIn-depth documentation, inclusive of inline code commentary, will be available. This is further augmented by a detailed user guide on Lastic's Docs, detailing usage, configuration settings, and installation procedures.
0d.Article on Simulator's ImpactPublication of a detailed article discussing the development process, key functionalities, and the potential influence of the Coretime Price Simulator within the Polkadot ecosystem.
1.Streamlit-based Application DevelopmentCreation and launch of an interactive Streamlit-based web application, featuring user interface elements like sliders and input fields for dynamic simulation of Coretime pricing.
2a.UI - Dynamic Graph VisualizationIntegration of live graph visualization using Matplotlib to display Coretime pricing trends, including visual representations of renewals, sales, and the impact of varying core numbers and price adjustments.
2b.UI - Interactive SlidersDesign and implementation of interactive sliders within the user interface, allowing adjustment of parameters such as start price, observe blocks, and quantity of cores sold per sale.
2c.UI - Configurable System ManagementDevelopment of an in-app configuration management system, enabling users to tailor settings like region length, bulk proportion, and renewal bump as per their requirements.
2d.UI - Flexible Price Calculation OptionsImplementation of diverse price calculation methods, offering both linear and exponential models, with functionality for users to seamlessly toggle between these options.
2e.UI - Monthly Adjustment FeatureCapability for users to modify bulk coretime renewals and sales on a monthly basis, with each month equating to one region length.
3.Detailed Functionality AnalysisComprehensive evaluation to ensure the Python-based pricing functionality aligns closely with the existing implementation in the Broker pallet.

Additional Note on 2d: While the exponential model is a deviation from the current Broker pallet implementation, we believe it offers a valuable alternative for addressing potential vulnerabilities discussed in the Polkadot Forum.

Future Plans​

Our short-term goal is to integrate this tool into the Polkadot ecosystem, with continuous improvements based on community feedback.

Long-term, we aim to establish Lastic as a core component of Polkadot’s blockspace marketplace, contributing to its broader adoption and utility.

Additional Information​

How did you hear about the Grants Program?

  • Phil's experience working at Parity informed him of the Web3 Grants program.
  • Aurora has learned about the Web3 Grants program during her time working at KodaDot.

Previous Grant Completion:

  • We successfully delivered on Lastic's Grant Application Number 1, focusing on creating a UI mockup for the Coretime Parachain and developing a static mockup with simulated data.