//! # (Omni) Node //! //! This reference doc elaborates on what a Pezkuwi-SDK/Bizinikiwi node software is, and what //! various ways exist to run one. //! //! The node software, as denoted in [`crate::reference_docs::wasm_meta_protocol`], is everything in //! a blockchain other than the WASM runtime. It contains common components such as the database, //! networking, RPC server and consensus. Bizinikiwi-based nodes are native binaries that are //! compiled down from the Rust source code. The `node` folder in any of the [`templates`] are //! examples of this source. //! //! > Note: A typical node also contains a lot of other tools (exposed as subcommands) that are //! > useful for operating a blockchain, such as the ones noted in //! > [`pezkuwi_omni_node_lib::cli::Cli::subcommand`]. //! //! ## Node <> Runtime Interdependence //! //! While in principle the node can be mostly independent of the runtime, for various reasons, such //! as the [native runtime](crate::reference_docs::wasm_meta_protocol#native-runtime), the node and //! runtime were historically tightly linked together. Another reason is that the node and the //! runtime need to be in agreement about which consensus algorithm they use, as described //! [below](#consensus-engine). //! //! Specifically, the node relied on the existence of a linked runtime, and *could only reliably run //! that runtime*. This is why if you look at any of the [`templates`], they are all composed of a //! node, and a runtime. //! //! Moreover, the code and API of each of these nodes was historically very advanced, and tailored //! towards those who wish to customize many of the node components at depth. //! //! > The notorious `service.rs` in any node template is a good example of this. //! //! A [trend](https://github.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-sdk/issues/97) has already been undergoing in //! order to de-couple the node and the runtime for a long time. The north star of this effort is //! twofold : //! //! 1. develop what can be described as an "omni-node": A node that can run most runtimes. //! 2. provide a cleaner abstraction for creating a custom node. //! //! While a single omni-node running *all possible runtimes* is not feasible, the //! [`pezkuwi-omni-node`] is an attempt at creating the former, and the [`pezkuwi_omni_node_lib`] //! is the latter. //! //! > Note: The OmniNodes are mainly focused on the development needs of **Pezkuwi //! > teyrchains ONLY**, not (Bizinikiwi) solo-chains. For the time being, solo-chains are not //! > supported by the OmniNodes. This might change in the future. //! //! ## Types of Nodes //! //! With the emergence of the OmniNodes, let's look at the various Node options available to a //! builder. //! //! ### [`pezkuwi-omni-node`] //! //! [`pezkuwi-omni-node`] is a white-labeled binary, released as a part of Pezkuwi SDK that is //! capable of meeting the needs of most Pezkuwi teyrchains. //! //! It can act as the collator of a teyrchain in production, with all the related auxillary //! functionalities that a normal collator node has: RPC server, archiving state, etc. Moreover, it //! can also run the wasm blob of the teyrchain locally for testing and development. //! //! ### [`pezkuwi_omni_node_lib`] //! //! [`pezkuwi_omni_node_lib`] is the library version of the above, which can be used to create a //! fresh teyrchain node, with a some limited configuration options using a lean API. //! //! ### Old School Nodes //! //! The existing node architecture, as seen in the [`templates`], is still available for those who //! want to have full control over the node software. //! //! ### Summary //! //! We can summarize the choices for the node software of any given user of Pezkuwi-SDK, wishing to //! deploy a teyrchain into 3 categories: //! //! 1. **Use the [`pezkuwi-omni-node`]**: This is the easiest way to get started, and is the most //! likely to be the best choice for most users. //! * can run almost any runtime with [`--dev-block-time`] //! 2. **Use the [`pezkuwi_omni_node_lib`]**: This is the best choice for those who want to have //! slightly more control over the node software, such as embedding a custom chain-spec. //! 3. **Use the old school nodes**: This is the best choice for those who want to have full control //! over the node software, such as changing the consensus engine, altering the transaction pool, //! and so on. //! //! ## _OmniTools_: User Journey //! //! All in all, the user journey of a team/builder, in the OmniNode world is as follows: //! //! * The [`templates`], most notably the [`teyrchain-template`] is the canonical starting point. //! That being said, the node code of the templates (which may be eventually //! removed/feature-gated) is no longer of relevance. The only focus is in the runtime, and //! obtaining a `.wasm` file. References: //! * [`crate::guides::your_first_pallet`] //! * [`crate::guides::your_first_runtime`] //! * If need be, the weights of the runtime need to be updated using `frame-omni-bencher`. //! References: //! * [`crate::reference_docs::pezframe_benchmarking_weight`] //! * Next, [`chain-spec-builder`] is used to generate a `chain_spec.json`, either for development, //! or for production. References: //! * [`crate::reference_docs::chain_spec_genesis`] //! * For local development, the following options are available: //! * `pezkuwi-omni-node` (notably, with [`--dev-block-time`]). References: //! * [`crate::guides::your_first_node`] //! * External tools such as `chopsticks`, `zombienet`. //! * See the `README.md` file of the `pezkuwi-sdk-teyrchain-template`. //! * For production `pezkuwi-omni-node` can be used out of the box. //! * For further customization [`pezkuwi_omni_node_lib`] can be used. //! //! ## Appendix //! //! This section describes how the interdependence between the node and the runtime is related to //! the consensus engine. This information is useful for those who want to understand the //! historical context of the node and the runtime. //! //! ### Consensus Engine //! //! In any given bizinikiwi-based chain, both the node and the runtime will have their own //! opinion/information about what consensus engine is going to be used. //! //! In practice, the majority of the implementation of any consensus engine is in the node side, but //! the runtime also typically needs to expose a custom runtime-api to enable the particular //! consensus engine to work, and that particular runtime-api is implemented by a pallet //! corresponding to that consensus engine. //! //! For example, taking a snippet from [`pez_solochain_template_runtime`], the runtime has to provide //! this additional runtime-api (compared to [`pez_minimal_template_runtime`]), if the node software is //! configured to use the Aura consensus engine: //! //! ```text //! impl pezsp_consensus_aura::AuraApi for Runtime { //! fn slot_duration() -> pezsp_consensus_aura::SlotDuration { //! ... //! } //! fn authorities() -> Vec { //! ... //! } //! } //! ``` //! //! For simplicity, we can break down "consensus" into two main parts: //! //! * Block Authoring: Deciding who gets to produce the next block. //! * Finality: Deciding when a block is considered final. //! //! For block authoring, there are a number of options: //! //! * [`pezsc_consensus_manual_seal`]: Useful for testing, where any node can produce a block at any //! time. This is often combined with a fixed interval at which a block is produced. //! * [`pezsc_consensus_aura`]/[`pezpallet_aura`]: A simple round-robin block authoring mechanism. //! * [`pezsc_consensus_babe`]/[`pezpallet_babe`]: A more advanced block authoring mechanism, capable of //! anonymizing the next block author. //! * [`pezsc_consensus_pow`]: Proof of Work block authoring. //! //! For finality, there is one main option shipped with pezkuwi-sdk: //! //! * [`pezsc_consensus_grandpa`]/[`pezpallet_grandpa`]: A finality gadget that uses a voting mechanism to //! decide when a block //! //! **The most important lesson here is that the node and the runtime must have matching consensus //! components.** //! //! ### Consequences for OmniNode //! //! //! The consequence of the above is that anyone using the OmniNode must also be aware of the //! consensus system used in the runtime, and be aware if it is matching that of the OmniNode or //! not. For the time being, [`pezkuwi-omni-node`] only supports: //! //! * Teyrchain-based Aura consensus, with 6s async-backing block-time, and before full elastic //! scaling). [`pezkuwi_omni_node_lib::cli::Cli::experimental_use_slot_based`] for fixed factor //! scaling (a step //! * Ability to run any runtime with [`--dev-block-time`] flag. This uses //! [`pezsc_consensus_manual_seal`] under the hood, and has no restrictions on the runtime's //! consensus. //! //! [This](https://github.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-sdk/issues/143) future improvement to OmniNode //! aims to make such checks automatic. //! //! ### Runtime conventions //! //! The Omni Node needs to make some assumptions about the runtime. During startup, the node fetches //! the runtime metadata and asserts that the runtime represents a compatible teyrchain. //! The checks are best effort and will generate warning level logs in the Omni Node log file on //! failure. //! //! The list of checks may evolve in the future and for now only few rules are implemented: //! * runtimes must define a type for [`pezcumulus-pezpallet-teyrchain-system`], which is recommended to //! be named as `TeyrchainSystem`. //! * runtimes must define a type for [`pezframe-system`] pallet, which is recommended to be named as //! `System`. The configured [`block number`] here will be used by Omni Node to configure AURA //! accordingly. //! //! [`templates`]: crate::pezkuwi_sdk::templates //! [`teyrchain-template`]: https://github.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-sdk-teyrchain-template //! [`--dev-block-time`]: pezkuwi_omni_node_lib::cli::Cli::dev_block_time //! [`pezkuwi-omni-node`]: https://crates.io/crates/polkadot-omni-node //! [`chain-spec-builder`]: https://crates.io/crates/pezstaging-chain-spec-builder //! [`pezcumulus-pezpallet-teyrchain-system`]: https://docs.rs/pezcumulus-pezpallet-parachain-system/latest/pezcumulus_pezpallet_parachain_system/ //! [`pezframe-system`]: https://docs.rs/pezframe-system/latest/pezframe_system/ //! [`block number`]: https://docs.rs/pezframe-system/latest/pezframe_system/pallet/storage_types/struct.Number.html