Introduction
The first quarter of 2024 was a period of intensive development and refinement for Harmony Protocol, driven by a commitment to advance the protocol across various dimensions, including engineering, DevOps, and network security. This detailed report encapsulates the progress made on both the main and dev branches, addresses operational challenges, especially those related to HIP-32 — a proposal aimed at fully decentralizing the network by transitioning to external-only leadership — and outlines the steps to prepare the protocol for this significant transition.
Detailed Technical Contributions
Main Branch Enhancements
Release Candidate v2024.0.0 — HIP-32 Enhancements (PR #4546):
Integrated HIP-32 code enhancements aimed at decentralizing network leadership.
We implemented additional improvements to stabilize and optimize the network, anticipating the transition and avoiding needing a hard fork.
Complete Fast Sync (PR #4594):
We have completed the implementation of the Fast Sync feature to enhance node synchronization speed. This feature is crucial for supporting rapid network growth and improving user experience by minimizing downtime.
Reduction of Internal Devnet Voting Power (PR #4599):
Reduced internal voting power to 10%, a strategic move to facilitate the shift towards a more decentralized network by increasing the proportion of external validators in the consensus process.
Handling Known Blocks in Legacy Sync (PR #4602):
Addressed synchronization issues by enabling nodes to ignore already known blocks, thereby preventing nodes from becoming stuck and enhancing overall network resilience.
Mandatory Signature Verification (PR #4601):
Modified the blockchain to mandatorily verify all signatures before block insertion, thus eliminating unnecessary rollbacks and securing the network against potential signature-based attacks.
Stream Management Overhaul (PR #4606):
Streamlined the stream closure process to automatically manage the stream lifecycle within the stream manager, reducing manual intervention and potential error points.
Devnet Configuration for Scalability Tests (PR #4607):
Configured Devnet to support 15 nodes per shard, testing the network’s scalability and stability under enhanced node load conditions.
Concurrent Map Access Fix in Decider (PR #4610):
Fixed critical errors arising from concurrent map reads and writes within the consensus mechanism, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity and stability of the consensus process.
Activation of Leader Rotation on Devnet (PR #4611):
Initiated leader rotation protocols on Devnet to test the new consensus dynamics, which is critical to implementing HIP-32 effectively.
Recreate Trie After Revert (PR #4608):
Enhanced the trie reversion logic to rebuild state tries accurately post-reversion, ensuring data consistency and integrity.
Devnet Reset Preparation (PR #4615):
Prepared for a comprehensive Devnet reset to realign the network configuration to support increased external validator participation.
Handling of Fast Sync Null Snapshots (PR #4613):
Resolved issues where null snapshots occurred during fast syncing, refining the process to handle such anomalies effectively.
Fix for Block Update Panic (PR #4612):
Addressed and corrected instances where a panic occurred during block updates, stabilizing the block insertion process.
Dev Branch Progress
Enhanced Logging and Cleanup (PR #4656):
Added extensive logging for better diagnostics and troubleshooting across the network and cleaned up the codebase by removing unused parameters and ensuring essential count checks.
Transition Testnet to External Validators (PR #4640):
Began transitioning the testnet to operate with external validators by reducing internal validator power to zero, a crucial step for testing the network’s capacity to function in a fully decentralized environment.
Simplification of Backup Logic (PR #4639):
Removed redundant backup logic to streamline operations and improve the efficiency of the consensus process.
Metrics for Leader Signatures (PR #4638):
Introduced metrics collection for leader signature counts, enhancing network monitoring capabilities by providing real-time data to Prometheus.
Disabling Snapshot Functionality Across Networks (PR #4641):
Set the SnapshotLimit to zero to temporarily disable snapshot functionality across all networks, addressing specific performance and state management issues.
Enabling Leader Rotation and External Validators on Testnet (PR #4649):
Enabled leader rotation and the use of external validators on testnet, testing the resilience and dynamics of the network under these new conditions.
Restoration of Lost MaxRate Epochs (PR #4648):
Restored crucial configuration settings related to rate limiting that were inadvertently lost in previous version controls, ensuring network performance remains optimized.
Additional Logging for Block Proposing (PR #4658):
Implemented additional logging for the block-proposing process to aid in debugging and tracking the origins of block proposals, which is vital for maintaining transparency and accountability in block generation.
Reinstatement of Internal Voting Power on Devnet (Issue #4662):
Addressed challenges in shard committee formation by temporarily restoring high internal vote power, stabilizing operations, and allowing time to recalibrate validator distribution strategies.
Challenges with HIP-32 Implementation
The transition proposed by HIP-32 to fully decentralize the network leadership by eliminating internal-only leaders presented significant technical and operational challenges:
Synchronization and Consensus Issues: Synchronization challenges and consensus disruptions were observed as nodes transitioned between different operational modes. These were particularly pronounced during epoch transitions and were exacerbated by the dependency on outdated epoch information.
Testing on Shard1 Testnet: Specific issues related to consensus rejection mechanisms in loops were identified and rigorously tested on Shard1 Testnet. This included intensive replication of scenarios that might disrupt consensus or status acknowledgment.
Node Performance Variabilities: Post-upgrade variations in node performance necessitated a thorough review and alignment of software versions across the network to ensure consistency and reliability.
Strategic Responses
Enhanced Monitoring and Diagnostics: Improved logging and monitoring tools were deployed across the network to provide deeper insights into real-time operations and facilitate quicker response to anomalies.
Protocol and Network Adjustments: Proposals like updating internal voting power, considering a hard fork and resetting databases were actively discussed and are being strategically planned to ensure smooth implementation of HIP-32.
Strengthened Collaboration and Review Processes: Emphasis was placed on enhancing team collaboration, with a call for rigorous review of pull requests and active engagement in resolving issues, such as those with partners like Binance.
Looking Forward
As we advance into Q2 2024, our focus will intensify on addressing the operational challenges encountered with HIP-32 implementation. The insights gained from the extensive testing and community feedback this quarter will drive our efforts to refine the protocol, enhance system resilience, and fully embrace a decentralized governance model. Our commitment remains steadfast to overcoming these challenges and leveraging them as opportunities for innovation and growth within the Harmony ecosystem.
Q2 Vision and Strategic Initiatives
As Harmony moves into the second quarter of 2024, our strategic vision is focused on consolidating the gains from the first quarter while aggressively addressing the challenges and opportunities. This vision concerns several critical initiatives to enhance the protocol’s performance, security, and user engagement.
Enhancing Performance and Efficiency
1 Second Block Finality:
We are committed to achieving a block finality of 1 second to drastically improve the speed and responsiveness of the Harmony blockchain. This initiative is crucial for enhancing user experience and gaining a competitive edge in transaction processing.
Planned improvements include optimizing the consensus algorithm and network communication protocols to minimize latency and maximize throughput.
Cross-Sharding Improvements:
Efforts will be intensified to refine cross-shard communication and transactions, vital for maintaining high scalability and operational efficiency as the network grows.
We aim to implement more robust shard management techniques that ensure smooth shard additions and reductions, thereby adapting flexibly to network demands.
Security and Protocol Stability
Robust Security Measures for Decentralization:
Robust security measures are paramount for the full decentralization envisioned by HIP-32. We plan to enhance our security frameworks to handle the increased risks associated with external-only leadership and validator dynamics.
This includes implementing advanced cryptographic techniques and continuous security audits to safeguard against vulnerabilities.
Formal Verification of Smart Contracts:
To further bolster the security and reliability of the Harmony protocol, we will expand our efforts in the formal verification of smart contracts. This will ensure that contracts operate as intended and are free from bugs or exploitable loopholes.
Community and Governance
On-Chain Governance for Protocol Parameters:
A significant initiative for Q2 is implementing an on-chain governance mechanism similar to models used in other significant blockchains like Cosmos. This mechanism will allow dynamic updates to protocol parameters based on community votes, fostering a more democratic and responsive governance model.
We will engage with the Harmony community to refine this governance model and ensure it aligns with our users’ needs and expectations.
Community Engagement and Ecosystem Expansion:
We will continue to engage deeply with the blockchain community through events, workshops, and collaborations. This effort will enhance our support for developers and projects building on Harmony, providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed.
Expanding our ecosystem through strategic partnerships and community-driven projects will remain a priority, as these initiatives bring vitality and innovation to the Harmony network.
Operational Excellence
Log Management and State Trimming:
In response to the challenges of managing massive data volumes, we will focus on optimizing our log management system and implementing state trimming procedures. These efforts aim to improve the navigability and efficiency of our logs, reduce storage requirements, and enhance overall system performance.
Detailed protocols will be developed to ensure data integrity and accessibility are maintained even as unnecessary data is pruned.
Enhanced Node and Network Management Tools:
Development will continue on tools and scripts that enhance network management, monitoring, and performance diagnostics. These tools will allow our team and node operators to manage network operations effectively and respond swiftly to any issues.
Conclusion
The first quarter of 2024 has been a transformative period for Harmony Protocol, marked by significant strides towards achieving a fully decentralized network under the guiding principles of HIP-32. Through concerted efforts across engineering, DevOps, and network security, the team has successfully navigated the complexities of transitioning to external-only leadership, addressing inherent technical challenges through innovative solutions and strategic foresight.
The comprehensive enhancements to the main and dev branches have stabilized existing functionalities and paved the way for future advancements. Key implementations such as enhancing fast sync capabilities, reducing internal voting power, and proactively handling synchronization challenges illustrate Harmony’s commitment to optimizing network performance and reliability. Moreover, introducing rigorous testing environments and the strategic adjustments to Devnet configurations underscore our proactive approach to ensuring robustness and scalability.
Looking ahead to Q2 2024, Harmony is poised to cement its position as a leader in blockchain technology. The strategic initiatives for the upcoming quarter are designed to enhance system performance, fortify security measures, and deepen community engagement. Focusing on achieving 1-second block finality and enhancing cross-shard transactions will address critical performance metrics. At the same time, security and smart contract verification initiatives will ensure network operations’ integrity and reliability.
In parallel, implementing on-chain governance mechanisms represents a significant step towards fostering a more inclusive and responsive community governance structure. This, along with increased community engagement and ecosystem expansion efforts, will enhance user experience and participation, driving broader adoption and innovation.
As we continue to build on this quarter’s momentum, the dedication and expertise of the Harmony team are key to navigating the evolving landscape of blockchain technology. Our commitment to transparency, collaboration, and innovation remains unwavering, as we strive not only to meet today’s challenges but also to anticipate and shape tomorrow’s opportunities. Harmony’s journey towards a decentralized and dynamic future continues with vigor and purpose, guided by a clear vision and a robust strategic framework.
 | A guest post by
|