Solana Changelog: SIMD118, Metaplex Sea Hack, and Validator Updates

In the latest episode of the Solana Changelog, Nick from the Solana Foundation DevRel team and Jacob dive into the exciting developments within the Solana ecosystem. From the ongoing Metaplex Sea Hack to significant updates in the Solana Improvement Proposal (SIMD) process, this changelog offers a comprehensive look at the current state of Solana's development landscape.

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Metaplex Sea Hack: Fostering Innovation in Compressed NFTs

The Metaplex Sea Hack, a month-long hackathon focusing on compressed NFTs, is drawing to a close. This event has been a significant driver of innovation within the Solana ecosystem, particularly in the realm of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). The hackathon features multiple tracks, each designed to explore different aspects of compressed NFT technology and its applications.

Jacob, one of the judges for the dev tooling track, expressed his excitement about reviewing the submitted projects:

"I'm super excited for the Metaplex Sea Hack Hackathon. It's about a month-long hackathon. It's coming to a close now. There's a bunch of tracks that are all focused around compressed NFTs and I'm actually personally one of the judges for the dev tooling track."

This hackathon not only showcases the creativity and technical prowess of developers within the Solana community but also highlights the growing importance of compressed NFTs in the blockchain space. By focusing on this technology, Metaplex and Solana are paving the way for more efficient and scalable NFT solutions.

The Importance of Social Media Visibility

Both hosts emphasized the significance of sharing projects on social media platforms, particularly Twitter. This strategy is crucial for participants looking to gain visibility and potentially secure an advantage in the hackathon:

"Yeah, definitely share on Twitter. That's how you get people to know about your project and potentially even help you win because more people know about it."

This advice underscores the importance of community engagement and networking within the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. For developers and project creators, leveraging social media can be a powerful tool for gaining traction, attracting users, and even catching the eye of potential investors or collaborators.

SIMD118: Partitioned Epoch Rewards Update

One of the most significant updates discussed in this changelog is SIMD118, which focuses on partitioned epoch rewards. This proposal is actually a revision of an older SIMD (SIMD15), showcasing the iterative nature of Solana's improvement process.

The ANZA team has made substantial updates to the design and implementation of partitioned epoch rewards:

"The ANZA team has made some updates to design and basically repurposed it with the new design and how they're thinking about implementing this."

This update demonstrates Solana's commitment to continually refining and optimizing its protocol. By revisiting and improving upon previous proposals, the network ensures that it remains at the forefront of blockchain technology, addressing the evolving needs of its users and developers.

Preparing for Solana 2.0

A major revelation from this changelog is the ongoing effort to prepare for Solana 2.0. This significant update will involve removing deprecated code and methods from the 1.0 versions of various SDKs:

"119 is actually getting ready to bump us to 2.0 eventually. So there is an ongoing effort to bump everything to 2.0. What this will do is it'll remove a bunch of the deprecated code and methods that were in the 1.0 versions of the different SDKs."

This move towards Solana 2.0 represents a major milestone in the network's evolution. By streamlining the codebase and removing outdated elements, Solana aims to improve efficiency, reduce complexity, and set the stage for future innovations.

Accelerating Release Schedules

The transition to Solana 2.0 also brings changes to the development and release processes. The team plans to separate the CI (Continuous Integration) for different parts of the monorepo:

"There's also some other changes that this comes with is that they'll probably separate the CI for different parts of the monorepo so that things can be built on different release schedules and have a more accelerated release schedule for smaller SDKs instead of having everything tied to the validator."

This approach will allow for more flexible and rapid development cycles, particularly for smaller SDKs. By decoupling these components from the validator's release schedule, Solana can iterate and improve various parts of its ecosystem more efficiently.

Validator Improvements: Enhancing Performance and Efficiency

Several commits discussed in the changelog focus on improving the Solana validator's performance and efficiency. One notable update is the enhancement of the get_token_largest_accounts method:

"One of the other commits from this week was an improvement to the get token largest accounts method. Specifically, this method was basically gets the biggest accounts for any mint. So if you think like, if you want to get all token holders of USDC or whatever token you can think of, this actually gives a pretty significant speed improvement to that."

This optimization is particularly valuable for applications that need to quickly retrieve information about token holders, such as analytics platforms or decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. The speed improvement in this method can lead to more responsive and efficient dApps built on Solana.

Ensuring Compatibility with Downstream Projects

The Solana team has implemented a robust system to check compatibility with downstream projects whenever changes are made to the monorepo:

"Every time when they make a change for the monorepo, it'll do a check on the downstream projects of anchor to make sure that they're still compatible. So this is to prevent breaking changes, breaking anchor and program and development."

This proactive approach to maintaining compatibility extends beyond just Anchor. The hosts revealed that other major projects in the Solana ecosystem, such as OpenBook and Metaplex, are also included in these compatibility checks:

"When I was looking at this PR and some of the related ones, I also found out that OpenBook is actually one of the downstream projects that also get checked with this. So there's a little fun fact. And Metaplex."

By ensuring that changes to the core Solana codebase don't inadvertently break popular tools and protocols, the development team demonstrates a strong commitment to ecosystem stability and developer experience.

CLI Improvements for Offline Transactions

The changelog also highlighted improvements to the Solana CLI, particularly for handling offline transactions:

"If you want to just sign the transaction with set upgrade authority on your CLI, you can do this for offline transactions so that you sign it and then you send your transaction hash to some other online device and then send your transaction. Previously, you probably had to do this in a much more manual way."

This enhancement streamlines the process of managing offline transactions, which is crucial for security-conscious users and applications that require air-gapped signing. By simplifying this process, Solana is making it easier for users to maintain high levels of security while interacting with the blockchain.

Zero-Copy Optimizations

Continuing the theme of performance improvements, the changelog mentioned refactoring efforts that implement zero-copy optimizations:

"There's actually this improvement that this refactoring that actually makes it. So some of the account copying that was happening now just gives references. So it's effectively like a zero copy sort of thing. So it's another just another speed improvement and overall improvement for all accounts actually on this one."

Zero-copy optimizations can significantly reduce memory usage and improve processing speed, especially for operations that involve large amounts of data. This enhancement contributes to Solana's reputation as a high-performance blockchain platform.

BPF Loader Upgradable: Preparing for Future Changes

The discussion touched on updates to the BPF Loader Upgradable, specifically the export of a helper function get_program_data_address:

"This is to help out with the future of if you've seen the recent SIMDs being approved of, I think it was like 72 and a few others. This is then the future when they move everything from they're kind of like the core programs or native programs to your actual just basic BPF programs."

This change is part of a larger initiative to simplify Solana's core architecture by moving native programs to BPF (Berkeley Packet Filter) programs. The hosts anticipate that this transition will occur later in the year, bringing significant benefits:

"Looking forward to it'll make things a lot simpler to upgrade change and call."

By standardizing on BPF programs, Solana aims to create a more unified and maintainable codebase, which could lead to easier upgrades and more consistent behavior across different parts of the protocol.

Unified Wallet Kit: Enhancing Developer Experience

The changelog highlighted an exciting new project from the Jupiter team - the Unified Wallet Kit:

"This was this cool project that I recently found from Jupiter. So the Jupiter team basically made a more flexible and more customizable wallet adapter."

This new wallet adapter builds upon the existing wallet adapter standard created by Solana Labs and the Anza team, offering enhanced flexibility and customization options for developers. One of the standout features of the Unified Wallet Kit is its comprehensive localization support:

"And they're giving a better developer experience built on top of it, including full localization support, which is really amazing."

The addition of localization support is a significant improvement, addressing a feature that many developers have been requesting. This enhancement will make it easier for dApp creators to reach a global audience by offering their applications in multiple languages.

The Unified Wallet Kit also provides developers with more control over how wallets are displayed and integrated into their applications:

"And you get more flexibility on how you're actually displaying the wallets that your application supports and being able to handle some additional things in there."

By offering these additional customization options, the Jupiter team is empowering developers to create more polished and user-friendly wallet integrations, which can significantly enhance the overall user experience of Solana-based applications.

Stack Exchange: Community Engagement and Moderation

The changelog concluded with updates on the Solana Stack Exchange, a valuable resource for developers seeking answers to technical questions about the Solana ecosystem. The hosts highlighted the current leaderboard, recognizing community members who have been particularly active in providing helpful answers:

"So the past week, we've had our leaderboard here and seems like white seal is the winner of the past week. Same with Sol Andy, I believe is what believe in. These are people that have gotten the most reputation in the past week."

This recognition not only celebrates the contributions of knowledgeable community members but also encourages others to participate actively in the Stack Exchange, fostering a vibrant and supportive developer community.

The hosts also announced an ongoing moderator election for the Solana Stack Exchange:

"And then the last thing on Stack Exchange is that there is actually a moderator election going on. So if you can see here, the moderator election has two nominees. And this will basically allow more moderators to come on to Stack Exchange and help us out make things a little bit simpler."

This election process is crucial for maintaining the quality and integrity of the Solana Stack Exchange. By involving the community in selecting moderators, Solana ensures that the platform remains a trusted and well-managed resource for developers.

Conclusion: Solana's Continuous Evolution

This changelog episode provides a comprehensive overview of the ongoing developments within the Solana ecosystem. From significant protocol improvements like SIMD118 and preparations for Solana 2.0 to community-driven initiatives like the Metaplex Sea Hack and Stack Exchange moderation, it's clear that Solana is continuously evolving and growing.

The focus on performance optimizations, developer experience improvements, and community engagement demonstrates Solana's commitment to maintaining its position as a leading blockchain platform. As the ecosystem prepares for the transition to Solana 2.0 and the standardization of BPF programs, developers and users can look forward to an even more robust and efficient blockchain infrastructure.

The Metaplex Sea Hack, with its emphasis on compressed NFTs, showcases the innovative spirit within the Solana community. As these projects come to fruition, we can expect to see new and exciting applications of NFT technology on the Solana blockchain.

With each update and improvement, Solana is not just enhancing its technical capabilities but also strengthening its community and ecosystem. As the platform continues to grow and mature, it's poised to play an increasingly important role in the broader blockchain and cryptocurrency landscape.

Facts + Figures

• The Metaplex Sea Hack, a month-long hackathon focusing on compressed NFTs, is coming to a close.
• SIMD118, an update to the partitioned epoch rewards proposal, has been introduced by the ANZA team.
• Solana is preparing for a transition to version 2.0, which will remove deprecated code and methods from 1.0 SDKs.
• The development team plans to separate CI for different parts of the monorepo to allow for more flexible release schedules.
• An improvement to the get_token_largest_accounts method has resulted in significant speed improvements for retrieving token holder information.
• Compatibility checks for downstream projects like Anchor, OpenBook, and Metaplex are now integrated into the Solana development process.
• CLI improvements have been made to simplify the process of signing offline transactions.
• Zero-copy optimizations have been implemented to improve account management efficiency.
• Updates to the BPF Loader Upgradable are preparing for the future transition of core programs to BPF programs.
• The Jupiter team has developed a Unified Wallet Kit with enhanced flexibility and full localization support.
• A moderator election is currently underway for the Solana Stack Exchange.

Questions Answered

What is the Metaplex Sea Hack?

The Metaplex Sea Hack is a month-long hackathon focused on compressed NFTs within the Solana ecosystem. It features multiple tracks exploring different aspects of compressed NFT technology and its applications. The hackathon aims to foster innovation and showcase the potential of compressed NFTs on the Solana blockchain, bringing together developers to create new and exciting projects in this space.

What updates does SIMD118 bring to Solana?

SIMD118 is an update to the partitioned epoch rewards proposal, originally introduced in SIMD15. The ANZA team has made significant updates to the design and implementation of partitioned epoch rewards. This revision demonstrates Solana's commitment to continually refining its protocol and addressing the evolving needs of its users and developers by improving upon previous proposals.

How is Solana preparing for version 2.0?

Solana is preparing for version 2.0 by removing deprecated code and methods from the 1.0 versions of various SDKs. This transition involves updating the entire ecosystem to be compatible with the new version. Additionally, the team plans to separate CI for different parts of the monorepo, allowing for more flexible and accelerated release schedules for smaller SDKs, independent of the validator's release cycle.

What improvements have been made to the Solana validator?

Recent improvements to the Solana validator include enhancements to the get_token_largest_accounts method, resulting in significant speed improvements when retrieving information about token holders. Zero-copy optimizations have also been implemented, reducing memory usage and improving processing speed for operations involving large amounts of data. These updates contribute to Solana's overall performance and efficiency as a blockchain platform.

What is the Unified Wallet Kit?

The Unified Wallet Kit is a new project developed by the Jupiter team that builds upon the existing wallet adapter standard created by Solana Labs and the Anza team. It offers enhanced flexibility and customization options for developers, including full localization support. This kit allows developers to create more polished and user-friendly wallet integrations, improving the overall user experience of Solana-based applications.

How is Solana ensuring compatibility with downstream projects?

Solana has implemented a robust system to check compatibility with downstream projects whenever changes are made to the monorepo. This includes compatibility checks for major projects in the Solana ecosystem such as Anchor, OpenBook, and Metaplex. By running these checks, the development team can prevent breaking changes and maintain stability across the ecosystem.

What changes are being made to the BPF Loader Upgradable?

Updates to the BPF Loader Upgradable include the export of a helper function get_program_data_address. This change is part of a larger initiative to simplify Solana's core architecture by transitioning core programs from native to BPF (Berkeley Packet Filter) programs. This transition, expected later in the year, aims to create a more unified and maintainable codebase for easier upgrades and more consistent behavior across the protocol.

How is the Solana community contributing to the ecosystem's growth?

The Solana community is actively contributing to the ecosystem's growth through various means. This includes participation in hackathons like the Metaplex Sea Hack, engagement on the Solana Stack Exchange where community members provide helpful answers to technical questions, and involvement in the governance process through events like the ongoing moderator election for the Stack Exchange. These activities foster innovation, knowledge sharing, and community-driven development within the Solana ecosystem.