Develop for New Chain

The development of a new chain mainly involves developing cross-chain modules. In chains supporting EVM, the cross-chain module works as a set of smart contracts.

In some cases, it can also work as a native module.

To help you develop it, here Poly Network team offers examples in Solidity to develop smart contract for each main method. You may refer to the complete code of these contracts.

[!Note|style:flat|label:Notice] If the chain integrated to Poly Network supports EVM, you can freely use Poly cross-chain contracts as templates. If not, you may need to develop your own contracts containing the main features, as shown in the following guidelines.

1. Introduction to Cross-chain Contracts

In general, cross-chain contracts are sorted into logic, data, and proxy contracts. You could either follow the methods listed below or choose other ways for your project.

  • List of contracts:

    • Cross Chain Manager Contract: It serves as an agent to manage the cross-chain transaction both on the source chain and the target chain. It may be referred to as CCM contract in the following context.

    • Cross Chain Data Contract: It serves as a database of cross-chain transactions. It may be referred to as CCD contract in the following context.

    • Cross Chain Manager Proxy Contract: It serves as a proxy of CCM contract to update the CCM contracts stored in CCD contracts. It may be referred to as CCMP contract in the following context.

    • Business Logic Contract: It executes the business logic of cross-chain projects. It interacts with users and the CCM contract both on the source and target chains. We also offer the guidelines for developing a Business Logic Contract.

  • Interactions among contracts

2. Developing CCM Module

The following four features are the core functions of CCM contracts and must be implemented.

Step 1. Synchronizing genesis block header

This step is meant to implement the methods of synchronizing the genesis block header of Poly Chain to CCM contract.

Example:

/*  @notice                       Sync Poly chain genesis block header to smart contract
 *  @dev                          This function can only be called once; nextbookkeeper of rawHeader can't be empty
 *  @param rawHeader              Poly chain genesis block raw header or raw Header including switching consensus peers info
 *  @return                       true or false
*/
function initGenesisBlock(bytes memory rawHeader, bytes memory pubKeyList) whenNotPaused public returns(bool) {
    // Load Ethereum cross chain data contract
    IEthCrossChainData eccd = IEthCrossChainData(EthCrossChainDataAddress);

    // Make sure the contract has not been initialized before
    require(eccd.getCurEpochConPubKeyBytes().length == 0, "EthCrossChainData contract has already been initialized!");

    // Parse header and convit the public keys into nextBookKeeper and compare it with header.nextBookKeeper to verify the validity of signature
    ECCUtils.Header memory header = ECCUtils.deserializeHeader(rawHeader);
    (bytes20 nextBookKeeper, address[] memory keepers) = ECCUtils.verifyPubkey(pubKeyList);
    require(header.nextBookkeeper == nextBookKeeper, "NextBookers illegal");

    // Record current epoch start height and public keys (by storing them in address format)
    require(eccd.putCurEpochStartHeight(header.height), "Save Poly chain current epoch start height to Data contract failed!");
    require(eccd.putCurEpochConPubKeyBytes(ECCUtils.serializeKeepers(keepers)), "Save Poly chain current epoch book keepers to Data contract failed!");

    // Fire the event
    emit InitGenesisBlockEvent(header.height, rawHeader);
    return true;
}
  • This method should be called initially and can only be called once. For the input data rawHeader, the nextbookkeeper can not be empty.
  • Firstly, this function checks the public key of the current epoch to make sure that the CCM contract is uninitialized.
  • Next, the raw header is parsed to get the header.nextBookKeeper. Comparing it with the nextBookKeeper converted from pubKeyList, the validity of the signature can be verified.
  • After verifying the signature, we can record the current epoch start height and the public keys by storing them in the address format. And then emit the event InitGenesisBlockEvent.

Step 2. Changing consensus validator

This step is meant to implement the methods of changing Poly Chain consensus validator, which is called BookKeeper in the code.

Example:

/*  @notice                       change Poly chain consensus bookkeeper
 *  @param rawHeader              Poly chain change bookkeeper block raw header
 *  @param pubKeyList             Poly chain consensus nodes public key list
 *  @param sigList                Poly chain consensus nodes signature list
 *  @return                       true or false
*/
function changeBookKeeper(bytes memory rawHeader, bytes memory pubKeyList, bytes memory sigList) whenNotPaused public returns(bool) {
    // Load Ethereum cross chain data contract
    ECCUtils.Header memory header = ECCUtils.deserializeHeader(rawHeader);
    IEthCrossChainData eccd = IEthCrossChainData(EthCrossChainDataAddress);

    // Make sure rawHeader.height is higher than recorded current epoch start height
    uint64 curEpochStartHeight = eccd.getCurEpochStartHeight();
    require(header.height > curEpochStartHeight, "The height of header is lower than current epoch start height!");

    // Ensure the rawHeader is the key header including info of switching consensus peers by containing non-empty nextBookKeeper field
    require(header.nextBookkeeper != bytes20(0), "The nextBookKeeper of header is empty");

    // Verify signature of rawHeader comes from pubKeyList
    address[] memory polyChainBKs = ECCUtils.deserializeKeepers(eccd.getCurEpochConPubKeyBytes());
    uint n = polyChainBKs.length;
    require(ECCUtils.verifySig(rawHeader, sigList, polyChainBKs, n - (n - 1) / 3), "Verify signature failed!");

    // Convert pubKeyList into Ethereum address format and make sure the compound address from the converted Ethereum addresses
    // equals passed in header.nextBookKeeper
    (bytes20 nextBookKeeper, address[] memory keepers) = ECCUtils.verifyPubkey(pubKeyList);
    require(header.nextBookkeeper == nextBookKeeper, "NextBookers illegal");

    // update current epoch start height of Poly chain and current epoch consensus peers book keepers addresses
    require(eccd.putCurEpochStartHeight(header.height), "Save MC LatestHeight to Data contract failed!");
    require(eccd.putCurEpochConPubKeyBytes(ECCUtils.serializeKeepers(keepers)), "Save Poly chain book keepers bytes to Data contract failed!");

    // Fire the change book keeper event
    emit ChangeBookKeeperEvent(header.height, rawHeader);
    return true;
}
  • Firstly, you need to make sure the rawHeader.height is higher than the recorded current epoch starts height.
  • Then you need to ensure that the rawHeader is the key header, including info of switching consensus peers by containing a non-empty nextBookKeeper field.
  • Analogous to initGenesisBlock(), we also need to parse the raw header to get the header.nextBookKeeper. Comparing it with the nextBookKeeper converted from pubKeyList, we can verify the validity of the signature.
  • After verifying the signature, we can record the current epoch start height and current epoch consensus peers bookkeepers by storing them in the address format. And then emit the event ChangeBookKeeperEvent.

Step 3. Pushing transactions

This step is meant to implement the methods of pushing the serialized cross-chain transaction information to Poly Chain.

Example:

/*  
 *  @param toChainId              The target chain id
 *  @param toAddress              The address in bytes format to receive the same amount of tokens in the target chain
 *  @param toContract             Target smart contract address in bytes in the target blockchain
 *  @param txData                 Transaction data for target chain, include toAssetHash, toAddress, amount
 *  @return                       true or false 
*/
function crossChain(uint64 toChainId, bytes calldata toContract, bytes calldata method, bytes calldata txData) whenNotPaused external returns (bool) {
    // Only allow whitelist contract to call
    require(whiteListFromContract[msg.sender],"Invalid from contract");

    // Load Ethereum cross chain data contract
    IEthCrossChainData eccd = IEthCrossChainData(EthCrossChainDataAddress);

    // To help differentiate two txs, the ethTxHashIndex is increasing automatically
    uint256 txHashIndex = eccd.getEthTxHashIndex();

    // Convert the uint256 into bytes
    bytes memory paramTxHash = Utils.uint256ToBytes(txHashIndex);

    // Construct the makeTxParam, and put the hash info storage, proving tx existence
    bytes memory rawParam = abi.encodePacked(ZeroCopySink.WriteVarBytes(paramTxHash),
        ZeroCopySink.WriteVarBytes(abi.encodePacked(sha256(abi.encodePacked(address(this), paramTxHash)))),
        ZeroCopySink.WriteVarBytes(Utils.addressToBytes(msg.sender)),
        ZeroCopySink.WriteUint64(toChainId),
        ZeroCopySink.WriteVarBytes(toContract),
        ZeroCopySink.WriteVarBytes(method),
        ZeroCopySink.WriteVarBytes(txData)
    );

    // Must save it in the storage to be included in the proof to be verified.
    require(eccd.putEthTxHash(keccak256(rawParam)), "Save ethTxHash by index to Data contract failed!");

    // Fire the cross chain event denoting there is a cross chain request from Ethereum network to other public chains through Poly chain network
    emit CrossChainEvent(tx.origin, paramTxHash, msg.sender, toChainId, toContract, rawParam);
    return true;
}
  • Only the contracts in the whitelist can call this method.
  • It creates cross chain transactions, invoked by service contracts when a cross chain function is carried out in the logic contract.
  • This method constructs the rawParam, which contains transaction hash, msg.sender, target chain ID, business logic contract to be invoked on the target chain, the target method to be invoked, and the serialized transaction data which has been already constructed in the business logic contract.
  • Then the hash of rawParam is put into storage, proving the existence of the transaction.

Step 4. Verifying & executing

This step is meant to implement the methods of verifying the block header and Merkle proof. If this verification is passed, the transaction can be executed on the target chain.

Example:

/*  
 *  @param proof                  Poly chain transaction Merkle proof
 *  @param rawHeader              The header containing crossStateRoot to verify the above tx Merkle proof
 *  @param headerProof            The header Merkle proof used to verify rawHeader
 *  @param curRawHeader           Any header in current epoch consensus of Poly chain
 *  @param headerSig              The converted signature variable for solidity derived from Poly chain consensus nodes' signature 
 *                                used to verify the validity of curRawHeader
 *  @return                       true or false
*/
function verifyHeaderAndExecuteTx(bytes memory proof, bytes memory rawHeader, bytes memory headerProof, bytes memory curRawHeader,bytes memory headerSig) whenNotPaused public returns (bool){
    ECCUtils.Header memory header = ECCUtils.deserializeHeader(rawHeader);
    // Load ehereum cross chain data contract
    IEthCrossChainData eccd = IEthCrossChainData(EthCrossChainDataAddress);

    // Get stored consensus public key bytes of current Poly chain epoch and deserialize Poly chain consensus public key bytes to address[]
    address[] memory polyChainBKs = ECCUtils.deserializeKeepers(eccd.getCurEpochConPubKeyBytes());

    uint256 curEpochStartHeight = eccd.getCurEpochStartHeight();

    uint n = polyChainBKs.length;
    if (header.height >= curEpochStartHeight) {
        // It's enough to verify rawHeader signature
        require(ECCUtils.verifySig(rawHeader, headerSig, polyChainBKs, n - ( n - 1) / 3), "Verify Poly chain header signature failed!");
    } else {
        // We need to verify the signature of curHeader 
        require(ECCUtils.verifySig(curRawHeader, headerSig, polyChainBKs, n - ( n - 1) / 3), "Verify Poly chain current epoch header signature failed!");

        // Then use curHeader.StateRoot and headerProof to verify rawHeader.CrossStateRoot
        ECCUtils.Header memory curHeader = ECCUtils.deserializeHeader(curRawHeader);
        bytes memory proveValue = ECCUtils.MerkleProve(headerProof, curHeader.blockRoot);
        require(ECCUtils.getHeaderHash(rawHeader) == Utils.bytesToBytes32(proveValue), "verify header proof failed!");
    }

    // Through rawHeader.CrossStatesRoot, the toMerkleValue or cross chain msg can be verified and parsed from proof
    bytes memory toMerkleValueBs = ECCUtils.MerkleProve(proof, header.crossStatesRoot);

    // Parse the toMerkleValue struct and make sure the tx has not been processed, then mark this tx as processed
    ECCUtils.ToMerkleValue memory toMerkleValue = ECCUtils.deserializeMerkleValue(toMerkleValueBs);
    require(!eccd.checkIfFromChainTxExist(toMerkleValue.fromChainID, Utils.bytesToBytes32(toMerkleValue.txHash)), "the transaction has been executed!");
    require(eccd.markFromChainTxExist(toMerkleValue.fromChainID, Utils.bytesToBytes32(toMerkleValue.txHash)), "Save crosschain tx exist failed!");

    // Ethereum ChainId is 2, we need to check the transaction is for Ethereum network
    require(toMerkleValue.makeTxParam.toChainId == chainId, "This Tx is not aiming at this network!");

    // Obtain the target contract, so that Ethereum cross chain manager contract can trigger the executation of cross chain tx on Ethereum side
    address toContract = Utils.bytesToAddress(toMerkleValue.makeTxParam.toContract);

    // only invoke PreWhiteListed Contract and method For Now
    require(whiteListContractMethodMap[toContract][toMerkleValue.makeTxParam.method],"Invalid to contract or method");

    //TODO: check this part to make sure we commit the next line when doing local net UT test
    require(_executeCrossChainTx(toContract, toMerkleValue.makeTxParam.method, toMerkleValue.makeTxParam.args, toMerkleValue.makeTxParam.fromContract, toMerkleValue.fromChainID), "Execute CrossChain Tx failed!");

    // Fire the cross chain event denoting the executation of cross chain tx is successful,
    // and this tx is coming from other public chains to current Ethereum network
    emit VerifyHeaderAndExecuteTxEvent(toMerkleValue.fromChainID, toMerkleValue.makeTxParam.toContract, toMerkleValue.txHash, toMerkleValue.makeTxParam.txHash);

    return true;
}

/* 
 *  @notice                       Dynamically invoke the target contract, trigger execution of cross-chain tx 
                                  on Ethereum side
 *  @param _toContract            the Ethereum Cross Chain Manager contract will invoke the target contract
 *  @param _method                At which method will be invoked within the target contract
 *  @param _args                  The parameter that will be passed into the target contract
 *  @param _fromContractAddr      From chain smart contract address
 *  @param _fromChainId           Indicate from which chain current cross-chain tx comes 
 *  @return                       true or false
*/
function _executeCrossChainTx(address _toContract, bytes memory _method, bytes memory _args, bytes memory _fromContractAddr, uint64 _fromChainId) internal returns (bool){
    // Ensure the target contract gonna be invoked is indeed a contract rather than a normal account address
    require(Utils.isContract(_toContract), "The passed in address is not a contract!");
    bytes memory returnData;
    bool success;

    // The returnData will be bytes32, the last byte must be 01;
    (success, returnData) = _toContract.call(abi.encodePacked(bytes4(keccak256(abi.encodePacked(_method, "(bytes,bytes,uint64)"))), abi.encode(_args, _fromContractAddr, _fromChainId)));

    // Ensure the executation is successful
    require(success == true, "EthCrossChain call business contract failed");

    // Ensure the returned value is true
    require(returnData.length != 0, "No return value from business contract!");
    (bool res,) = ZeroCopySource.NextBool(returnData, 31);
    require(res == true, "EthCrossChain call business contract return is not true");

    return true;
}
  • The relayer should invoke this method. In some circumstances, users can invoke this method by themselves if they get the valid block information from Poly.
  • This method fetches and processes cross-chain transactions, finds the Merkle root of a transaction based on the block height (in the block header), and verifies the transaction's legitimacy using the transaction parameters.
  • After verifying Poly Chain block header and proof, you still need to check if the parameters toContract and toMerkleValue.makeTxParam.method have been listed in whitelists.
  • The business logic contract deployed on the target chain is then invoked, which processes the business logic contract through the internal method _executeCrossChainTx():
    • This method is meant to invoke the target contract and trigger the execution of cross-chain tx on the target chain.
    • Firstly, you need to ensure that the target contract is waiting to invoke a contract rather than a standard account address.
    • Then construct a target business logic contract method: you need to encodePacked the _method and the input data format "(bytes,bytes,uint64)".
    • Then it would keccak256 the encoded string, using bytes4 to take the first four bytes of the call data for a function call that specifies what function to call.
    • Parameter _method is from the toMerkleValue, which is parsed from proof. And the input parameters format is restricted as (bytes _args, bytes _fromContractAddr, uint64 _fromChainId). These two parts are encodePacked as a method call.
  • After calling the method, you need to check the return value. Only if the return value is true will the whole cross-chain transaction be executed successfully.

To guarantee the safety of CCM contract, we keep whitelists of contract addresses and methods to prevent invalid calls. Meanwhile, we also set whiteLister to manage these whitelists of the CCM contract.

Here is the template for adding a whitelist. We highly encourage developers to develop similar features of authority management in personal projects.

3. Developing CCD Module

As mentioned above, CCD contract is functioned as storing and catching data of CCM. You can take different methods to realize CCM module for different chains according to your actual needs. In general, Poly Network team deploys the CCD contract separately for the CCD module, but you can also realize the module by deploying an integrated contracts. See the source code for the specifics.

4. Developing CCMP Module

CCMP is used to manage CCM. Similar to CCD, CCMP module also has two ways to be implemented. And you can see the source code for the specifics.

Copyright © 2022 PolyNetwork. All right reserved.Last modification date： 2023-06-28 12:22:10

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