ETC NodeOS and Dapp API Software Suite Proposal [Under Review]

[Bwana]

Background:

Node distribution is essential to the integrity of a decentralized blockchain and required for scalability. The current software for node hosting is rudimentary and beyond the capability of average users to operate and very limited in features. Running ETC nodes not only provides RPC API endpoints which are needed for dapp development but also contributes to the overall decentralization of the ETC network.

Ethernode.io lead dev, Bakon has developed and supported successful ETC Docker Container node software for some time https://github.com/DialogueSolutions/Geth-ETC-DockerContainer. This OS solution will be a tremendous step forward in features, functionality, and user experience resulting in widespread deployment and enhanced network performance.

Solution:

Ethernode.io proposes an Ubuntu-based NodeOS Software Suite with a simple Web UI capable of deploying independent blockchain nodes on a single host utilizing Docker Containers running the GETH ETC Node client and a suite of tools for successful ETC node deployment.

Cost:

Projected timeline for completed software is three months and total project cost is ETC 2250, Preferred payment would be ETC 750/mo to distribute financial impact on the community. This will fund a team of two Software Developers and one Project Manager and cover support and marketing resources costs.

Summary:

NodeOS Software Suite is intended as a highly efficient network utility solution to address the need for distributed node hosting. Utilizing the Ubuntu Linux distribution as the base image Ethernode.io team will release a simple software suite at first to help anyone with lower powered devices or a simple hosted VPS to successfully run a fully synced ETC node. Initial introduction will be releasing a simple Linux based install.sh script, that will help a user with a clean Ubuntu or CentOS distro, install the whole Docker Environment and spin up their first ETC Mainnet or Test(Morden) ETC nodes.

After successful software deployment Ethernode.io team will begin development of a low powered Pi type device with NodeOS software suite already preinstalled and ready for plug and play to any local network. Simple WEbUI will aid the user in completing their node setup with future development to include a build in screen. Ethernode.io will distribute the hardware initially but not exclusively as it will be based on readily available components and opensource framework. We believe this can be done with a sufficient margin to fund ongoing support and development of the software without community contributions.

To further incentivize users to run ETC nodes and create an unstoppable distributed ETC network Ethernode.io will be actively developing updates to NodeOS software suite. Future development includes minting a token on the ETC blockchain and distributing it to users running NodeOS software. NodeOS will track individual node stats and compensate users based on a dynamic uptime/bandwidth/storage/load calculation through a series of ETC smart contracts.

Ethernode.io is committed to creating and supporting a hyper-efficient community utility. We believe that node software must remain free and openly distributed and the more users the better!

[bakon]

So let me add to this a little bit. The idea as Bwana has mentioned is to decentralize the ETC network as much as possible. That means giving the masses an easy way to run nodes to support the network, Mining Pools, currently trying to run a mining pool takes some extensive setting up and pretty good understanding of Linux.

Being able to run mining pools to further help distribute the network is another important step we plan on solving. A lot of new DApp developers, have to rely on a Node end points they have to trust, and being new to a network that might be a little difficult to do, so running your own node end point that you know you synced yourself is a huge added bonus of trust, and we know that being able to connect to your own local API end point also adds extra to personal security and app security and further takes off more load off the network as well.

So now at this point to achieve the above we need to download node software, set up your ETC node client and sync it. Then setting it up so it’s all friendly for RPC API end point to use libraries like web3.js or web3.py to connect to the ETC network through your own node is a whole other story.

Same goes with pool software, maybe not everyone wants to run a big pool for the masses, but many would enjoy running a small pool for friends, family and just for testing, and it further helps keep the network distributed, fair and secure.

With the above said, there is several great open source software out there for setting up ETC nodes, ETC mining pools, with support for mostly Linux and more and more node clients for Windows.

The idea for NodeOS is to take all that great software and taking the core version of Xubuntu 16.04 LTS for super light weight OS and Desktop interface and pack the distro full of those tools with easy to launch GUI’s to set it all up. The GUI’s will be developed by ethernode.io to interface the current solutions and provide easy tools to update to new versions

This distro will run in virtual box (https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads) on windows/linux/osX, a vmdk with the image will be available for more advanced users, and more importantly it will be tailored to work on devices like Pine64 and Raspberry PI 3 models B+.

Hopefully this helps clear up a few thing and please feel free to ask any question. More information coming soon.