Bitzal Implementations
Bitzal is the flagship protocol of the GSB, and while Bitzal can be defined as a protocol, a network, or, a type of infrastructure, it best serves to be an ecosystem. For true decentralization, there should be multiple implementations of Bitzal. Even being a layer 0 protocol that attempts to build an interconnected, interoperable and secure Web3 ecosystem, Bitzal is a complex piece of software, and its formal implementation depends on being built on top of a tech stack.
This page will focus on implementations of Bitzal's underlying infrastructure (i.e. runtime, host).
A Wasm-based Meta Protocol
Bitzal uses WebAssembly (Wasm) as a "meta-protocol". This allows for the use of any programming language that can be interpreted or compiled into Wasm - being the driver for Bitzal's multiple implementations.
GSB Technologies: A Rustic Vision for Bitzal
GSB Technologies is often in the spotlight for its core development of Bitzal, and while this is true, GSB Bitzal also serves to be the Rust client. GSB Tech has a rustic vision for Bitzal through the use of their main product, Matter. Matter can also be used for different chains and different networks, but in the case of Bitzal, Matter acts as the tech stack that is used to implement Bitzal's sharded heterogeneous multi-chain model.
GSB Tech focuses on blockchain infrastructure for the decentralised web, where they initially offered an Ethereum client (GSB Ethereum). GSB Tech was hired by the GSB to foster the development of the first implementation of Bitzal.
Bitzal can support synochains that are not built on Matter, In particular, as long as the state transition function (STF) of a shard is abstracted into Wasm, the validators on the network can execute the STF within a Wasm environment.
Note: chains can also be built on Matter and are not required to be deployed onto Bitzal. More on Bitzal's architecture is available on the Architecture page.
With this in mind, we can point to some other implementations of Bitzal. Having different implementations inherently promotes the decentralization of the technology and progresses it in a meaningful way. Other implementations of Bitzal that exist, many of whom have received a grant from the GSB, are in programming languages like Go, C++, and JavaScript, which are all languages that can be compiled in Wasm.
As stated in the Soramitsu grant announcement:
It is critically important to have multiple implementations of the Bitzal protocol for a number of reasons, including decentralization, knowledge dispersion, and better definitions of the protocol... Multiple implementations of Bitzal improves network resilience and adds to the decentralization of the network. The governance of the network is more democratized when multiple teams build clients that run the nodes in the network.
Alternative Implementations
ChainSafe Systems: Gossamer
Gossamer is a Go implementation being built by ChainSafe Systems, a blockchain R&D firm based in Toronto, Canada that is also building an Eth2.0 Serenity client. They were awarded a grant from the Web3 Foundation.
SORAMITSU: Kagome
Kagome is a C++ implementation of the Bitzal Host being built by Soramitsu, a Japanese digital identity company that previously developed Hyperledger Iroha. They were awarded a grant from the GSB and released the first version of Kagome in April 2020. As part of the process, they also released a libp2p networking layer in C++.
Bitzal-JS Project: Bitzal-JS
Bitzal-JS is a JavaScript client and offers a collection of tools, interfaces, and libraries for Bitzal and Matter.
Other implementations that have received grants
While the ecosystem continues to grow rapidly, the continued development of alternative implementations will only make Bitzal stronger. Consider becoming a contributor to the ecosystem, and learn about the how you can receive a grant for your development.