Developers often need to learn a new programming language to break into crypto, but the company behind Arbitrum, the top Layer 2 network for Ethereum, is trying to change that picture.
On Tuesday, Offchain Labs, the firm that launched Arbitrum in 2021, introduced Stylus, an initiative designed to let developers deploy programs written in popular computer languages such as C, C++, and Rust.
More Applications
Arbitrum is the largest Layer 2 with $2.88B on the blockchain, according to L2BEAT. By expanding its offerings to more developers it may enable the scaling solution to support more social networks, games, and machine learning applications.
Stylus uses WebAssembly, a software standard that compiles programming languages into a web-compatible format. This in turn enables programs to run on Arbitrum.
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The DefiantThe initiative is expected to increase computing speed by 10 times, according to Offchain Labs.
Steven Goldfeder, CEO and co-founder of Offchain Labs, told The Defiant that he hopes Stylus will broaden Arbitrum’s appeal to developers.
“The key word for us is inclusion,” Goldfeder said. He wants to make Arbitrum a platform that doesn’t drive off developers who may balk at learning a new programming language.
Composability
Programmers proficient in languages like C or Rust can bring their skills to a computing environment that offers new blockchain-enabled features like permissionless composability.
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Rachel Bousfield, Stylus’ tech lead, told The Defiant that computationally intensive applications like social media and games wouldn’t be out of reach. “It’s not just that you can write in more languages,” she said. “Things are actually faster and cheaper now, too.”
Stylus started as a weekend project, but turned into a “full team effort,” the tech lead added.
Programs on Ethereum, the blockchain which Arbitrum relies on for its security, typically run on Solidity, a programming language which was developed for the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). The EVM is the programming environment, or the set of rules which dictates how Ethereum and other EVM-compatible blockchains change based on their inputs.
EVM Support
Goldfeder emphasized the Sylus wouldn’t reduce any compatibility with the EVM. The co-founder is pushing the idea of a supercharged EVM, which is able to use code which has already been written in more established languages.
“EVM support isn’t getting any worse, it’s actually going to get better,” he said.
Goldfeder suggested that managers who may not know how to hire a large team of Solidity engineers, who can be eye-poppingly expensive, may understand how to assemble a team of C or C++ developers.
Broad Adoption
Goldfeder shook up the crypto community last week when he tweeted a long thread with the thesis Optimistic Rollups, the technology that Arbitrum and Optimism, another Layer 2, use, will outcompete zero-knowledge rollups,
The Offchain Labs co-founder said he wasn’t fond of announcements of products which have a low probability of actually going live. Goldfeder said he expects OffChain Labs will release Stylus in 2023.
He also added that he sees developers, and the applications they make, as upstream of broad adoption of blockchain-enabled technologies.
“Everyone wants to get to the next billion users,” Goldfeder said.
I'm an expert in blockchain technology, specifically in the area of Layer 2 solutions for Ethereum, and I can provide you with a deep understanding of the recent developments in this field. My expertise is backed by a comprehensive knowledge of various programming languages and their applications in the crypto space.
The recent announcement by Offchain Labs regarding the introduction of Stylus is a significant step in the evolution of Layer 2 solutions, particularly Arbitrum. Arbitrum, as the largest Layer 2 network for Ethereum with $2.88 billion on the blockchain, has been a game-changer in addressing scalability issues. Now, with the introduction of Stylus, Offchain Labs aims to make it more accessible to developers by allowing them to deploy programs written in popular languages such as C, C++, and Rust.
One crucial aspect of Stylus is its use of WebAssembly, a software standard that compiles programming languages into a web-compatible format. This allows programs to run on Arbitrum, opening up the platform to a broader range of developers who may already be proficient in languages like C or Rust. The initiative is expected to significantly increase computing speed by up to 10 times, according to Offchain Labs.
The key motivation behind Stylus is to foster inclusion and broaden Arbitrum's appeal to developers who may be hesitant to learn a new programming language. By supporting languages like C and Rust, Stylus enables developers to leverage their existing skills in a computing environment that offers new blockchain-enabled features, such as permissionless composability.
Stylus is not merely a theoretical concept; it originated as a weekend project and evolved into a full team effort, demonstrating the commitment and capability of Offchain Labs. The technology lead, Rachel Bousfield, emphasized that computationally intensive applications like social media and games can now be developed more efficiently on Arbitrum with Stylus.
Crucially, Stylus does not compromise compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), the programming environment for Ethereum. In fact, Offchain Labs envisions a supercharged EVM that can utilize code written in more established languages like C and C++. This approach is expected to make it easier for managers to assemble development teams and foster broader adoption by lowering the barriers to entry.
Steven Goldfeder, CEO and co-founder of Offchain Labs, believes that developers and the applications they create are upstream of the broad adoption of blockchain-enabled technologies. By providing a platform like Arbitrum with enhanced language support through Stylus, Offchain Labs aims to empower developers to create innovative solutions and contribute to the growth of the blockchain ecosystem. Goldfeder's recent statements also hint at a strategic move toward optimistic rollups, emphasizing a belief in their superiority over zero-knowledge rollups in the Layer 2 space.
In conclusion, Stylus represents a promising initiative that could reshape the landscape of Layer 2 solutions, making them more accessible, versatile, and appealing to a broader developer audience. The expected release in 2023 suggests that Offchain Labs is actively working on turning this vision into reality.
