Solana Changelog: DevNet Faucets, Token Hooks, and Mountain DAO Insights

In this week's Solana Changelog, hosts Jonas and Mike McKenna bring us the latest updates from the heart of the blockchain innovation scene. Broadcasting from Salt Lake City during the Mountain DAO event, they share exciting developments in the Solana ecosystem, from new developer tools to governance proposals and community initiatives.

Mountain DAO: A Blockchain Builder's Paradise

The episode kicks off with Mike McKenna providing an overview of Mountain DAO, a month-long blockchain hacking festival taking place in Salt Lake City, Utah. This event has drawn some of the brightest minds in the Solana ecosystem, with over 110 participants in the current week and an expected total of nearly 400 throughout the month.

"We have more than 110 people here this week. There'll be a little bit of under 400 people throughout the whole month. And some of the best builders in the whole ecosystem here," Mike enthuses.

The gathering has attracted notable figures such as the Adagram Labs team, who are pushing the boundaries of AI integration with Solana, and T.H. Lawrence, the creator of the innovative local host validator that allows developers to rewind and fast-forward through blockchain states.

Mike emphasizes the unique opportunity Mountain DAO presents: "It's really like all the most talented people in Solana are here this month and if you can get here, you absolutely should."

Addressing the Recent Mainnet Beta Outage

Jonas addresses the elephant in the room – the recent outage on Solana's Mainnet Beta that occurred on February 6th. The incident, which lasted approximately five hours, was swiftly resolved thanks to a prepared fix and the coordinated efforts of validators.

"The fix for this was actually already prepared. So it was quickly rolled out and then in the night like all the validators gathered together in Discord and figured out the highest available optimistically confirmed slot," Jonas explains.

While the quick resolution is commendable, Jonas acknowledges the negative impact such outages can have on the ecosystem. For those seeking more information, a detailed report is available at solana.com/news, providing transparency and insights into the exact nature of the bug and the steps taken to resolve it.

Improved DevNet Faucet Guide

To address common developer pain points, Solana has released a comprehensive guide on obtaining DevNet SOL. This guide outlines several methods:

1. Solana CLI: Developers can use the command solana airdrop to receive up to 10 SOL per day.
2. Web Faucet: A higher airdrop limit is available through the web interface, with an additional boost for users who log in via GitHub.
3. RPC Provider Faucets: Some RPC providers like Helius, QuickNode, and Triton offer their own faucets with better success rates.
4. Proof of Work Faucet: For larger amounts, a tool can be installed to generate SOL over time.
5. Discord Communities: Channels like LAMPR DAO and 76 Devs Discord offer bot-driven faucet services.

Jonas also shares a sustainable tip for seasoned developers: "You can just use solana program show --buffers which shows you all the buffers that you already have and then you can just close them or solana program show --programs. And like I have 25 programs deployed and you can just close a few of them probably and then just reuse the SOL."

Token Extension Hooks: Simplified Development

The Solana team has released version 0.40 of the SPL JavaScript SDK, which includes significant improvements to transfer hooks functionality. This update introduces helper functions that simplify the process of obtaining additional accounts required for transfer hooks.

"There's some helper functions now which can very easily get you all the additional accounts that you need for the transfer hooks," Jonas notes.

The updated guide includes a "Hello World" example, a counter program, and a more complex demonstration of using delegates for transfer fees. Each example comes with a direct link to open the code in Solana Playground, enhancing the ease of use for developers.

Solana Scribes: A Writing Hackathon

Mike introduces an exciting new initiative called Solana Scribes, a hackathon focused entirely on writing and documentation. With a prize pool of $137,390, this event encourages participants to create content across various categories including economics, DeFi, communication, and even creative works like poems and thought-provoking essays.

"This is the first Hackathon in Solana that's just been about writing. So if you want to create the kind of documentation you always wish you had, if you've got some thoughts about blockchain or the future of the economy or the world or how we transmit value to each other, yeah, this is the time to kind of get published and get paid for doing so," Mike explains enthusiastically.

Revamped Solana Documentation

Solana has launched a new documentation site at solana.com/docs, replacing the previous docs.solana.com. This change is more than just a URL update; it represents a significant improvement in the organization and accessibility of Solana's documentation.

Key features of the new documentation site include:

• Improved navigation
• Anchor links for deep linking within documents
• A streamlined GitHub integration for easy contributions
• A focus on producing fewer, but better-maintained documents

Mike emphasizes the ongoing nature of this improvement: "If you're a Solana developer and you haven't been here in the past, it's worth coming back because we are constantly working on these docs."

Solana Stack Exchange: A Growing Community Resource

The hosts highlight the Solana Stack Exchange as a valuable resource for developers. They give special recognition to new users who have been particularly active:

• Fuzzy Yeti: 290 hit points in 44 days
• Way.Sol: 240 points in 21 days

Mike encourages users to engage with the platform: "If you search based on the specific error you're actually having, you can get answers always instantly. Even for things that I have kind of, I think previously would have like copy and pasted between projects."

SIMD-109: Leader Tipping Proposal

An interesting proposal has been put forward in SIMD-109, suggesting the implementation of a tipping mechanism for Solana leaders. This proposal aims to standardize a practice already common in the Jito ecosystem.

Mike explains the difference between tipping and priority fees: "Tipping is something you can add to your transactions that only gets paid if the transaction actually goes through. So the leader will receive that tip if it processes the transaction as opposed to a priority fee, which is taken even if the transaction does not immediately go through."

The proposal discusses various implementation options, including a dedicated tipping program and system calls to directly fund the current leader. This ongoing discussion reflects the community's efforts to refine Solana's economic model and incentive structures.

SIMD-110: Exponential Fees for Write-Locked Accounts

Another significant proposal under discussion is SIMD-110, which suggests implementing exponentially increasing fees for write-locked accounts. This proposal aims to address congestion issues during high-demand events like NFT mints or token airdrops.

Jonas encourages community participation: "Please follow the discussions in here and you can see lots of statistics on fees and everyone has like different ideas. So like this, it's very difficult to find a perfect solution for this, of course."

The proposal includes detailed statistics from recent high-congestion events, providing a data-driven approach to the discussion.

Conclusion: A Thriving Ecosystem

As the Solana Changelog wraps up, it's clear that the ecosystem is buzzing with activity and innovation. From the collaborative atmosphere at Mountain DAO to the continuous improvements in documentation and developer tools, Solana is demonstrating its commitment to growth and accessibility.

The hosts conclude with an invitation to the community: "Come visit us at Mountain DAO if you're close by and yeah, see you all next week."

This episode of the Solana Changelog showcases the dynamic nature of the Solana ecosystem, highlighting both the challenges faced and the collaborative spirit driving solutions forward. As Solana continues to evolve, these regular updates provide invaluable insights for developers, investors, and enthusiasts alike.

Facts + Figures

• Mountain DAO in Salt Lake City has over 110 participants this week, with nearly 400 expected throughout the month.
• A recent Mainnet Beta outage on February 6th lasted approximately 5 hours before being resolved.
• The new Solana web faucet allows for higher airdrop limits, especially when logged in with GitHub.
• Version 0.40 of the SPL JavaScript SDK includes improvements for transfer hooks functionality.
• The Solana Scribes hackathon offers $137,390 in prizes for various types of written content.
• Solana's new documentation site is now located at solana.com/docs, replacing docs.solana.com.
• On Solana Stack Exchange, user Fuzzy Yeti earned 290 hit points in 44 days, while Way.Sol gained 240 points in 21 days.
• SIMD-109 proposes a tipping mechanism for Solana leaders, distinguishing between tips and priority fees.
• SIMD-110 suggests implementing exponentially increasing fees for write-locked accounts to address congestion issues.
• Jito currently runs 51% of all Solana validators.

Questions Answered

What is Mountain DAO?

Mountain DAO is a month-long blockchain hacking festival taking place in Salt Lake City, Utah. It brings together some of the best builders in the Solana ecosystem, with over 110 participants in the current week and an expected total of nearly 400 throughout the month. The event provides a unique opportunity for collaboration and innovation among talented developers and projects within the Solana community.

How was the recent Mainnet Beta outage resolved?

The recent Mainnet Beta outage on February 6th was resolved within approximately 5 hours. A fix for the issue was already prepared, allowing for quick deployment. Validators coordinated through Discord to identify the highest available optimistically confirmed slot and orchestrated a restart from that point. This collaborative effort among validators demonstrates the resilience and quick response capabilities of the Solana network.

What new resources are available for obtaining DevNet SOL?

Solana has released a comprehensive guide outlining several methods for obtaining DevNet SOL. These include using the Solana CLI for daily airdrops, a web faucet with higher limits (especially when logged in with GitHub), RPC provider faucets, a proof-of-work faucet for larger amounts, and Discord community faucets. Additionally, developers can reclaim SOL by closing unused program buffers or programs, providing a sustainable approach to managing DevNet resources.

What improvements does the new SPL JavaScript SDK version 0.40 bring?

Version 0.40 of the SPL JavaScript SDK introduces significant improvements to transfer hooks functionality. It includes new helper functions that simplify the process of obtaining additional accounts required for transfer hooks. The update comes with an enhanced guide featuring examples like a "Hello World" program, a counter program, and a more complex demonstration of using delegates for transfer fees. Each example is accompanied by a direct link to open the code in Solana Playground, improving ease of use for developers.

What is the Solana Scribes hackathon?

The Solana Scribes hackathon is a writing-focused event with a prize pool of $137,390. It encourages participants to create content across various categories including economics, DeFi, communication, and creative works like poems and essays. This unique hackathon aims to improve documentation and written content within the Solana ecosystem, providing an opportunity for writers and thinkers to contribute to the blockchain space and get paid for their efforts.

How has Solana's documentation site been improved?

Solana has launched a new documentation site at solana.com/docs, replacing the previous docs.solana.com. The new site features improved navigation, anchor links for deep linking within documents, and a streamlined GitHub integration for easy contributions. The focus is on producing fewer, but better-maintained documents, making it easier for developers to find and use the information they need. This ongoing effort represents Solana's commitment to improving the developer experience and accessibility of its documentation.

What is the proposed leader tipping mechanism in SIMD-109?

SIMD-109 proposes implementing a tipping mechanism for Solana leaders. Unlike priority fees, tips would only be paid if the transaction successfully goes through, with the leader receiving the tip for processing the transaction. This proposal aims to standardize a practice already common in the Jito ecosystem and is part of ongoing discussions to refine Solana's economic model and incentive structures. Various implementation options are being considered, including a dedicated tipping program and system calls to directly fund the current leader.

What does SIMD-110 propose regarding fees for write-locked accounts?

SIMD-110 suggests implementing exponentially increasing fees for write-locked accounts on the Solana network. This proposal aims to address congestion issues during high-demand events like NFT mints or token airdrops. The proposed fee structure would dynamically adjust based on network congestion, potentially improving transaction processing during peak times. The proposal includes detailed statistics from recent high-congestion events to support the discussion and help find an optimal solution for managing network load.