Research Summary
The report discusses the upcoming software update, Stylus, for Arbitrum, a blockchain platform. The update will allow developers to program in languages such as Rust, C, and C++, while maintaining compatibility with EVM languages like Solidity. The report also highlights the benefits of Stylus, including more efficient computation, cheaper transactions, and enabling operations previously not possible with EVM languages.
Key Takeaways
Stylus: A Next-Generation Programming Language
- Introduction of Stylus: Arbitrum is set to introduce Stylus, a “next-generation” programming language that will allow developers to write code in any language they prefer, including Rust, C, and C++, while still being fully compatible with EVM languages like Solidity.
- Benefits of Stylus: The introduction of Stylus will lead to more efficient computation, cheaper and more efficient memory, cheaper transactions, and the ability to perform operations that were previously not possible with EVM languages.
Increased Developer Flexibility
- Language Flexibility: With Stylus, developers will have the flexibility to write code in any language they prefer, which will help to attract a larger pool of developers to the blockchain industry. This is a significant upgrade as there are estimated to be about 20k Solidity developers compared to the 3 million Rust and 12 million C++ developers.
- Interoperability: Stylus is a fully interoperable environment, meaning developers can write code in Rust and interact with Solidity contracts as they would normally, enabling support for adding all kinds of languages.
Future Language Support
- Additional Language Support: In the near future, Stylus will also be able to support more languages, such as Go, Sway, Move, and Cairo, further increasing its appeal to developers.
Arbitrum Foundation Grant Program
- Grant Program: The initial deployment of Stylus will be supported by Phase 3 of the Arbitrum Foundation Grant Program, which will provide up to 150k USD in ARB as grants for projects.
Actionable Insights
- Monitor the Deployment of Stylus: Stakeholders should keep an eye on the deployment of Stylus, as it could significantly impact the blockchain industry by attracting a larger pool of developers and enabling more efficient and cheaper operations.
- Consider the Potential of the Arbitrum Foundation Grant Program: The Arbitrum Foundation Grant Program, which will support the initial deployment of Stylus, could provide significant funding for projects, potentially leading to increased innovation and development in the blockchain industry.
- Assess the Impact of Additional Language Support: The future addition of more languages to Stylus could further increase its appeal to developers, potentially leading to a larger pool of developers and more innovative applications in the blockchain industry.
