Vector Release (Test-net1 and Open — Source)

Published in

Tangram

4 min readSep 1, 2019

Vector release is a pre-production based experimental network. For this release individuals may build their own node, and will be able to begin running it within the next week (update will be made available). Notably for this release, the node code has been open-sourced for review, critique, and education.

To learn more, visit https://github.com/tangramproject/Tangram.Vector

Open Sourced Code

All code is now open sourced! Find it here: https://github.com/tangramproject/Tangram.Vector

What is Vector (Test-net1 release)?

First and foremost, Vector is a test network for the Tangram team and community to find critical bugs, run tests, and experiment in a Tangram-like environment. If you are a part of this release, you’re part of something very special, and a huge milestone which has been a long time coming.

Vector nest-net will be used as an early proving ground for things like consensus (messages, states and broadcasting), gossip protocol (dissemination of members — membership).

Security warning: Vector is the first release with consensus and as such should be treated as experimental! There are no guarantees made, and expect to find bugs and flaws.

However, please have fun on Vector and learn more about Tangram! Explore the open-source code, setup your node, and explore the features. The objective here is to get to a point where Vector will mimic the eventual live environment of Tangram network. Things may get messy; this is expected, but will progressively get better over-time. From installation difficulties on the user’s end to protocol enhancements and feature add-ons in Vector, every step is an improvement for us.

Who can participate in Vector?

If you wish to set up a node, experiment, and support the release by finding bugs, or even by getting yourself accustomed to the intricacies of what Tangram is about - this is release is for you! This is the perfect time to start getting to know Tangram and the inner mechanics of its technologies and protocols.

If you wish to participate in the release of Vector, you can claim test TGM through any of our channels (we recommend Discord; here).

If you’re thinking about starting a Tangram-related project and need support, whether that be a few questions that need answering or a little more detail than some, feel free to get in touch through any of Tangram’s channels and one of our community members or managers can point you in the right direction.

What’s Vector timeline? (Update)

The following timeline features approximations. We cannot predict what may or may not come out of this release, as a large release, and new, but we’re all hoping for as much as possible. Bug fixes, enhancements and optimizations will be considered and prioritized.

Phase 0: Set up a node

Approximate timeline: now.

Phase 1: Run a node

Approximate timeline: TBC

Phase 2: Monitoring

Approximate timeline: After Phase 1.

Phase 3: Bug fixes, enhancements and added features (incremental updates / changes)

Approximate timeline: After Phase 2.

Overview (high-level) of Tangram Technical Architecture

To be updated (naming conventions and added services): Please find the details here:

https://github.com/tangramproject/Tangram.Vector/wiki/Technical-Guide

Contribution and Support

If you’re thinking about starting a Tangram-related project and need support we thank you for considering. If you have a few questions that need answering or a little more detail than some, feel free to get in touch through any of Tangram’s channels and some community members and managers can point you in the right direction.

If you’d like to contribute to Tangram Vector (Node code), please know we’re currently accepting issues, forks, fixes, commits and pull requests so that maintainers can review and merge into the main code base. If you wish to submit more complex changes, please check up with the core devs first on Discord Channel to ensure the changes get some early feedback which can make both your efforts much lighter as well as review quick and simple.

Learn more

To learn more about Vector and Tangram, head to the Vector network wiki for further information:

tangramproject/Tangram.Vector

Tangram Vector Node. Contribute to tangramproject/Tangram.Vector development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

and to learn more what the release entails (features) take a look at these TWO important articles about Blockmania’s consensus and SWIM (Gossip protocol).

Blockmania Consensus:

Breaking down Tangram’s consensus mechanism: Part 1

Distributed consensus algorithm — A walkthrough on BFT & pBFT and more…

medium.com

SWIM:

v0.7 Release — Distributed Networking

Introduction

medium.com

In the pipeline

We understand there is a lot of code to process and understand in the open-sourced code release (here), and how important Developer Documentation will be for the future. Work on this area will commence prior to Phase 3 completion to ensure a low learning curve and ease of access in understanding Tangram.