Session Topic or Project
Blockchains are all related through crypto. Crypto means cryptology. Discuss the unifying cryptographic foundations of Blockchain; starting with crypto-primitives like hash functions and signature and encryption schemes. How do the DLTs in Hyperledger use these primitives, what is their cryptographic relationship to other popular Blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Demonstration of these ideas through a demo of explorers on popular chains. This is intended as a beginning to intermediate session.
Session Leader
Vipin Bharathan.
Time Slots and Spaces
Earlier the better, suggesting Training Room number 1 from 10 am to 12 noon. A one to 2 hour session.
Experience Level of Participants
Beginner
Session Language
English, Chinese if there is a volunteer
Programming Language(s)
We will present snippets in many of these languages from Github repos.
- C / C++
- Go
- Java
- Javascript
- Python
- Rust
- Other
Other Prerequisites
Laptop with Internet capabilities needed to follow along on demo or look at github repositories.
The Plan
General Intro to Blockchain- Focus on Blockchain as a data structure calling out the cryptographic nature of the fields-
What makes Enterprise DLTs different and what makes them similar to other Blockchains-
Each of these will have demos, of data structures using explorers (of live or testnets as far as they are accessible), of actual code in Hyperledger DLTs
Fabric
- Iroha
- Sawtooth
- Burrow
- Indy
- Quilt
Using the above pattern discuss the following
- Discuss hash functions
- Symmetric and Asymmetric Cryptography,
- Systems View and Vulnerabilities
- Ursa and why reusable libraries are important
- Demo of block structure through unbounded.
The Goals
Attendees learn to look at DLTs from a systems perspective , figuring out what unites them and why changes in underpinnings cause differences in functional behavior. Why are they the same yet different. Why do we need shared libraries, ursa.
Software to Install Before
Need a web browser with Internet capabilities.
Special Equipment Required
Power, Projector and screen, Internet (WiFI or hardwired), laptop connectivity to projector. Can provide slides that drive the session.
Slides are here
References
Notes for in a box.
According to introductions we had a diverse group of participants from multiple sectors.
Investors, provenance tracking CEOs , data scientists, ethereum developers, students etc.
What worked: A through line linking all blockchains to basic concepts of cryptography.
What needs to be changed: Have the introductions be pointed and limit to 1 minute.
The use of unbounded.hacera.com seems to have worked.
2 Comments
Vipin Bharathan
Comment from an attendee: “Read many articles, but your few slides summarize it all."
Vipin Bharathan
There were several requests to explain the meaning of "The forest through the trees" So here goes: There is a saying in English “You can’t see the forest for the trees” which means that you cannot see the overall view if you focus on the details. My attempt is to show the overall view (blockchain) through the similarities in the details. Trees are also a pun because it refers to Merkle trees.