//! # FRAME Pallet Coupling //! //! This reference document explains how FRAME pallets can be combined to interact together. //! //! It is suggested to re-read [`crate::polkadot_sdk::frame_runtime`], notably the information //! around [`frame::pallet_macros::config`]. Recall that: //! //! > Configuration trait of a pallet: It allows a pallet to receive types at a later //! > point from the runtime that wishes to contain it. It allows the pallet to be parameterized //! > over both types and values. //! //! ## Context, Background //! //! FRAME pallets, as per described in [`crate::polkadot_sdk::frame_runtime`] are: //! //! > A pallet is a unit of encapsulated logic. It has a clearly defined responsibility and can be //! linked to other pallets. //! //! That is to say: //! //! * *encapsulated*: Ideally, a FRAME pallet contains encapsulated logic which has clear //! boundaries. It is generally a bad idea to build a single monolithic pallet that does multiple //! things, such as handling currencies, identities and staking all at the same time. //! * *linked to other pallets*: But, adhering extensively to the above also hinders the ability to //! write useful applications. Pallets often need to work with each other, communicate and use //! each other's functionalities. //! //! The broad principle that allows pallets to be linked together is the same way through which a //! pallet uses its `Config` trait to receive types and values from the runtime that contains it. //! //! There are generally two ways to achieve this: //! //! 1. Tight coupling pallets //! 2. Loose coupling pallets //! //! To explain the difference between the two, consider two pallets, `A` and `B`. In both cases, `A` //! wants to use some functionality exposed by `B`. //! //! When tightly coupling pallets, `A` can only exist in a runtime if `B` is also present in the //! same runtime. That is, `A` is expressing that can only work if `B` is present. //! //! This translates to the following Rust code: //! //! ``` //! trait Pallet_B_Config {} //! trait Pallet_A_Config: Pallet_B_Config {} //! ``` //! //! Contrary, when pallets are loosely coupled, `A` expresses that some functionality, expressed via //! a trait `F`, needs to be fulfilled. This trait is then implemented by `B`, and the two pallets //! are linked together at the runtime level. This means that `A` only relies on the implementation //! of `F`, which may be `B`, or another implementation of `F`. //! //! This translates to the following Rust code: //! //! ``` //! trait F {} //! trait Pallet_A_Config { //! type F: F; //! } //! // Pallet_B will implement and fulfill `F`. //! ``` //! //! ## Example //! //! Consider the following example, in which `pallet-foo` needs another pallet to provide the block //! author to it, and `pallet-author` which has access to this information. #![doc = docify::embed!("./src/reference_docs/frame_pallet_coupling.rs", pallet_foo)] #![doc = docify::embed!("./src/reference_docs/frame_pallet_coupling.rs", pallet_author)] //! //! ### Tight Coupling Pallets //! //! To tightly couple `pallet-foo` and `pallet-author`, we use Rust's supertrait system. When a //! pallet makes its own `trait Config` be bounded by another pallet's `trait Config`, it is //! expressing two things: //! //! 1. that it can only exist in a runtime if the other pallet is also present. //! 2. that it can use the other pallet's functionality. //! //! `pallet-foo`'s `Config` would then look like: #![doc = docify::embed!("./src/reference_docs/frame_pallet_coupling.rs", tight_config)] //! //! And `pallet-foo` can use the method exposed by `pallet_author::Pallet` directly: #![doc = docify::embed!("./src/reference_docs/frame_pallet_coupling.rs", tight_usage)] //! //! //! ### Loosely Coupling Pallets //! //! If `pallet-foo` wants to *not* rely on `pallet-author` directly, it can leverage its //! `Config`'s associated types. First, we need a trait to express the functionality that //! `pallet-foo` wants to obtain: #![doc = docify::embed!("./src/reference_docs/frame_pallet_coupling.rs", AuthorProvider)] //! //! > We sometimes refer to such traits that help two pallets interact as "glue traits". //! //! Next, `pallet-foo` states that it needs this trait to be provided to it, at the runtime level, //! via an associated type: #![doc = docify::embed!("./src/reference_docs/frame_pallet_coupling.rs", loose_config)] //! //! Then, `pallet-foo` can use this trait to obtain the block author, without knowing where it comes //! from: #![doc = docify::embed!("./src/reference_docs/frame_pallet_coupling.rs", loose_usage)] //! //! Then, if `pallet-author` implements this glue-trait: #![doc = docify::embed!("./src/reference_docs/frame_pallet_coupling.rs", pallet_author_provider)] //! //! And upon the creation of the runtime, the two pallets are linked together as such: #![doc = docify::embed!("./src/reference_docs/frame_pallet_coupling.rs", runtime_author_provider)] //! //! Crucially, when using loose coupling, we gain the flexibility of providing different //! implementations of `AuthorProvider`, such that different users of a `pallet-foo` can use //! different ones, without any code change being needed. For example, in the code snippets of this //! module, you can fund [`OtherAuthorProvider`] which is an alternative implementation of //! [`AuthorProvider`]. #![doc = docify::embed!("./src/reference_docs/frame_pallet_coupling.rs", other_author_provider)] //! //! A common pattern in polkadot-sdk is to provide an implementation of such glu traits for the unit //! type as a "default/test behavior". #![doc = docify::embed!("./src/reference_docs/frame_pallet_coupling.rs", unit_author_provider)] //! //! ## Frame System //! //! With the above information in context, we can conclude that **`frame_system` is a special pallet //! that is tightly coupled with every other pallet**. This is because it provides the fundamental //! system functionality that every pallet needs, such as some types like //! [`frame::prelude::frame_system::Config::AccountId`], //! [`frame::prelude::frame_system::Config::Hash`], and some functionality such as block number, //! etc. //! //! ## Recap //! //! To recap, consider the following rules of thumb: //! //! * In all cases, try and break down big pallets apart with clear boundaries of responsibility. In //! general, it is easier to argue about multiple pallet if they only communicate together via a //! known trait, rather than having access to all of each others public items, such as storage and //! dispatchables. //! * If a group of pallets are meant to work together, and but are not foreseen to be generalized, //! or used by others, consider tightly coupling pallets, *if it simplifies the development*. //! * If a pallet needs a functionality provided by another pallet, but multiple implementations can //! be foreseen, consider loosely coupling pallets. //! //! For example, all pallets in `polkadot-sdk` that needed to work with currencies could have been //! tightly coupled with [`pallet_balances`]. But, `polkadot-sdk` also provides [`pallet_assets`] //! (and more implementations by the community), therefore all pallets use traits to loosely couple //! with balances or assets pallet. More on this in [`crate::reference_docs::frame_currency`]. //! //! ## Further References //! //! - //! - //! //! [`AuthorProvider`]: crate::reference_docs::frame_pallet_coupling::AuthorProvider //! [`OtherAuthorProvider`]: crate::reference_docs::frame_pallet_coupling::OtherAuthorProvider #![allow(unused)] use frame::prelude::*; #[docify::export] #[frame::pallet] pub mod pallet_foo { use super::*; #[pallet::config] pub trait Config: frame_system::Config {} #[pallet::pallet] pub struct Pallet(_); impl Pallet { fn do_stuff_with_author() { // needs block author here } } } #[docify::export] #[frame::pallet] pub mod pallet_author { use super::*; #[pallet::config] pub trait Config: frame_system::Config {} #[pallet::pallet] pub struct Pallet(_); impl Pallet { pub fn author() -> T::AccountId { todo!("somehow has access to the block author and can return it here") } } } #[frame::pallet] pub mod pallet_foo_tight { use super::*; #[pallet::pallet] pub struct Pallet(_); #[docify::export(tight_config)] /// This pallet can only live in a runtime that has both `frame_system` and `pallet_author`. #[pallet::config] pub trait Config: frame_system::Config + pallet_author::Config {} #[docify::export(tight_usage)] impl Pallet { // anywhere in `pallet-foo`, we can call into `pallet-author` directly, namely because // `T: pallet_author::Config` fn do_stuff_with_author() { let _ = pallet_author::Pallet::::author(); } } } #[docify::export] /// Abstraction over "something that can provide the block author". pub trait AuthorProvider { fn author() -> AccountId; } #[frame::pallet] pub mod pallet_foo_loose { use super::*; #[pallet::pallet] pub struct Pallet(_); #[docify::export(loose_config)] #[pallet::config] pub trait Config: frame_system::Config { /// This pallet relies on the existence of something that implements [`AuthorProvider`], /// which may or may not be `pallet-author`. type AuthorProvider: AuthorProvider; } #[docify::export(loose_usage)] impl Pallet { fn do_stuff_with_author() { let _ = T::AuthorProvider::author(); } } } #[docify::export(pallet_author_provider)] impl AuthorProvider for pallet_author::Pallet { fn author() -> T::AccountId { pallet_author::Pallet::::author() } } pub struct OtherAuthorProvider; #[docify::export(other_author_provider)] impl AuthorProvider for OtherAuthorProvider { fn author() -> AccountId { todo!("somehow get the block author here") } } #[docify::export(unit_author_provider)] impl AuthorProvider for () { fn author() -> AccountId { todo!("somehow get the block author here") } } pub mod runtime { use super::*; use cumulus_pallet_aura_ext::pallet; use frame::{runtime::prelude::*, testing_prelude::*}; construct_runtime!( pub struct Runtime { System: frame_system, PalletFoo: pallet_foo_loose, PalletAuthor: pallet_author, } ); #[derive_impl(frame_system::config_preludes::TestDefaultConfig as frame_system::DefaultConfig)] impl frame_system::Config for Runtime { type Block = MockBlock; } impl pallet_author::Config for Runtime {} #[docify::export(runtime_author_provider)] impl pallet_foo_loose::Config for Runtime { type AuthorProvider = pallet_author::Pallet; // which is also equivalent to // type AuthorProvider = PalletAuthor; } }