Weekly update 2021-03-26

[artob]

Weekly update 2021-03-26

The weekly update on the forum is at:
https://gov.near.org/t/2021-03-26-evm-update/1029

The recording is available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBRqfoTrRHU&list=PL9tzQn_TEuFV2O7twBM-41lCDq5nr8nLm

Summary

• This week, we completed work on a protocol upgrade to accelerate cryptographic functions used in the EVM contract, implemented EVM meta-transactions and precompiles, fixed bugs in the EVM contract, and prepared for the TestNet release next week.
• Next week, we are going to deploy the EVM contract to TestNet, host relayers for TestNet and BetaNet providing Web3-compatible RPC endpoints, and update the EVM developer documentation to refer to TestNet instead of BetaNet.

Agenda

• Current goal
• This week
• Discussion
  • Contract size
  • Scope for TestNet next week
  • ETH balances, TestNet faucet
  • Documentation updates
• Next week

Current goal

• TestNet release by the end of Q1

This week

Alex

• Worked mostly on Bridge this week.
• Supported Kirill and Evgeny on the ETH Connector.
• Planned the EVM TestNet deployment with Arto.

Arto

• Continued work on the Aurora Engine:
  • Implemented the most important precompiles.
  • Created a deployment and configuration script.
    • https://github.com/aurora-is-near/aurora-engine/tree/master/scripts
  • Created an Aurora Engine client library.
    • https://github.com/aurora-is-near/aurora-engine/tree/master/clients/js
  • Fixed bugs in ecrecover and added tests.
    • aurora-is-near/aurora-engine@fc5a73f
  • https://github.com/aurora-is-near/aurora-engine
  • EVM returns unexpected result for ecrecover near-evm#69
• Planned the EVM TestNet deployment with Alex.
• Setting up hosted relayer endpoints for TestNet and BetaNet.

Evgeny

• Continued work on the ETH Connector:
  • Addressed PR reviewer comments.
  • Fixed issues related to gas use, etc.
  • Discussed with Alex and Kirill.
  • Completed manual testing.
  • https://github.com/aurora-is-near/eth-connector
  • Pure no-std eth-connector implementation Near-One/eth-connector#10
• Planning on more testing and adding integration tests.

Frank

• Continued work on the EVM Bully:
  • Implemented TX sending, begin_chain
  • Started replaying, first TX fails due to chain ID.
  • https://github.com/aurora-is-near/evm-bully
• Planning to switch over to working on the EVM contract.

Illia

• Contributed missing pieces to the Aurora Engine:
  • Implemented upgradability and meta-transactions.
  • Adding upgrade functionality & meta tx aurora-is-near/aurora-engine#6

Joshua

• Completed the Math API extensions:
  • Tested and fully documented the new host functions.
  • Solicited PR reviews and addressed feedback.
  • Ran the runtime-params-estimator twice, but blocked by bugs.
  • Raised runtime-params-estimator issues with Runtime team.
  • Extend the Math API with EVM precompiles #3954

Discussion

Contract size

• Reduce contract size aurora-is-near/aurora-engine#7
• Hypothesis: static data segment from some new dependency
• Not a blocker, we can defer it

Scope for TestNet next week

• AS: Don't need to merge ETH connector
• Hosted relayer endpoints
• Ability to obtain ETH balances (TestNet faucet)

ETH balances, TestNet faucet

• IP: Integrated faucet, initial supply

Top-level accounts (aurora)

• Give Bowen public keys to create those accounts

Documentation updates

• Documentation updates on Arto
• Change the default from BetaNet to TestNet

Next week

Deployment

• Hosted relayers for BetaNet and TestNet, initially charging nothing
• Faucet, give ETH balances
• Alex and Arto need to work through upgradability and key management
• Create top-level accounts for deployment
• Define the process for deploying and upgrading
• Update documentation to make TestNet the default

Parallel tracks

• EVM contract integration with the ETH connector => stays on a branch
• EVM Bully functionality => behind a feature flag, first thing to do

Not urgent/critical

• Remove EVM-as-precompile feature flag from BetaNet builds