Leap 5 Deployed: Optimizing the Present, Architecting the Future

Leap v5.0.0 is designed to be more performant, efficient, and reliable. Notable achievements with this release include:

• Up to 5x faster execution of system contracts (including EOS EVM)
• Up to 4x speed improvement and more reliable atomic API calls with non-blocking serialization
• Up to 20% reduction in system memory consumption by state database
• High scale read-only-transactions with parallel processing up to 128 parallel threads
• Support for larger transactions with relaxed constraints
• More reliable block production by optimizing block start time to reduce latency between rounds
• Customizable endpoints for more control over networking.
• New “mapped_private” database mode combines the low memory usage of “mapped” mode with the reduced disk wear-and-tear of “heap” mode.

The much-anticipated stable release of Leap 5.0 is now available, bringing with it a host of enhancements across speed, efficiency, control, and flexibility for developers, API providers, and node operators alike. It reflects our commitment to deliver cutting-edge technology while aligning with rigorous engineering standards.

Leap is the free and open source C++ implementation of the community-led Antelope framework developed by EOS Network Foundation engineers, our incredible partners, and community contributors from around the world. Currently powering over fourteen blockchains and nine testnets,  Leap represents an ongoing evolution of truly scalable and highly performant public and private blockchains, and the enterprise-grade applications they support.

Leap 5: A Symphony of Technological Advancement

Leap 5 is poised to significantly optimize the EOS Network, laying a robust foundation for the anticipated Leap 6 consensus upgrade. This update is centered around four primary themes: relaxing constraints, increasing speed, boosting efficiency, and enhancing control.

Initially slated for this release, Instant Finality and the monumental new consensus upgrade of which is part, are now due for release with Leap 6. We look forward to sharing more about those exciting advancements in the coming months.

Relaxing Constraints

Leap 5 brings about two notable adjustments to parameters that previously restricted the operation of smart contracts.

The first parameter is max-nonprivileged-inline-action-size which is removed from Leap 5 so that the only constraint on inline action size comes from the objective limit (max_inline_action_size) that is managed on-chain.

In practice, this change means smart contracts can send larger payloads via inline actions when communicating with other contracts.  For example, EOS EVM’s new call action could be used to deploy EVM contracts greater in size than 4 KiB from an EOS smart contract.

The second parameter is max-transaction-time which is given a new default value so that transaction wall-clock deadline is effectively driven by the objective limit (max_transaction_cpu_usage) that is managed on-chain.

In practice, this change means transactions can do more work within the longer time duration allotted to them. For example, EOS EVM can take advantage of the relaxed transaction wall-clock deadline to successfully execute more computationally-heavy EVM transactions that may have been rejected previously.

Speed Increase

Leap 5 promises a 4X speed boost for ABI intensive requests, enabled by non-blocking deserialization. It also expands the scale of read-only transactions through parallel processing on up to 128 threads.

Furthermore, EOS VM OC can now be used to better optimize select smart contracts to execute the same smart contract code often in a significantly shorter window of time. This optimization is currently only limited to trusted smart contracts that are deployed to accounts that have a name starting with the “eosio.” prefix.

The smart contracts for EOS EVM are deployed on accounts with the “eosio.” prefix which means EOS EVM can take advantage of the speed improvements enabled by the optimization feature. This provides further ways for computationally-heavy EVM transactions to fit within the limits imposed by the transaction wall-clock deadline.

Efficiency Improvements

Antelope networks become more cost-effective with Leap 5, thanks to features like streamlined sync and memory-optimized chainbase, reducing state memory consumption by approximately 20%.

Control Enhancements

Node operators gain enhanced control options, including the ability to customize node setups, troubleshoot peering challenges with Prometheus logging, and benefit from efficient, secure local-only connections.

Leap 5’s Key Enhancements

With the introduction of Leap 5, we celebrate significant enhancements designed for Developers, API Providers, and Node Operators, furthering the evolution of the EOS Network. This latest iteration brings a balanced mix of improved performance, scalability, and efficiency, thoughtfully tailored to meet the varied needs of our user community.

Developers:

Developers will find themselves in a more flexible and capable environment, with expanded transaction limits fostering intricate computations and more dynamic contract interactions.

API Providers:

Leap 5 redefines performance for API Providers. Enhanced read capabilities mean APIs are quicker, more robust, and scalable, ensuring each interaction is smooth and efficient, reflecting our commitment to speed and reliability.

Node Operators:

Leap 5 enhances transaction processing efficiency and network control, reduces the memory footprint, and offers more nuanced control over networking. These improvements equip operators with tools that are not only more powerful but also more intuitive and responsive.

Future-Ready Features of Leap 5

Certain enhancements in Leap 5, while present in the software, are protocol-level features awaiting activation with the anticipated release of Leap 6, a consensus level upgrade (hard-fork) slated for the latter half of 2024. However, these enhancements are ready for any Antelope chains, particularly test chains, to adopt earlier.

New Cryptographic Primitives

New host functions allow smart contracts to carry out mathematical operations with the BLS12-381 elliptic curve, enabling applications like zero-knowledge proof systems upon activation.

Disabling Deferred Transactions

In addressing Deferred Transactions, Leap 5 continues the process of disabling them. Initially, we modified node configurations to reject new deferred transactions. Now, Leap 5 enforces this behavior in the code and, with future protocol activations, will prevent any new deferred transactions from being added and ensure rapid cancellation of existing ones. These steps are part of a broader strategy that will culminate with the release of Leap 6.

Charting the Path Forward: A Glimpse into Leap’s Ongoing Evolution

We have highlighted the significant enhancements Leap 5 introduces for Developers, API Providers, and Node Operators. Each of these developments signifies our enduring dedication to the growth and refinement of the EOS Network, striving for a balance of robustness, efficiency, and user accessibility.

Our approach is one of continuous evolution. We are committed to innovating while upholding the EOS Network’s renowned reliability and performance standards. As part of these efforts, we are on course to reimagine network consensus itself with mathematical clarity and precision. Our next stage of network evolution is earmarked for release with Leap 6 during our regular autumn consensus upgrade cycle.

Developers, API Providers, and Node Operators

Get Started Today With the Leap 5.0 Release Notes

Keep an eye out for new articles offering an in-depth exploration of each feature in Leap 5. Our goal is to provide clear, insightful, and comprehensive information to keep our community informed and actively involved in the EOS Network’s evolution.

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EOS Network

The EOS Network is a 3rd generation blockchain platform powered by the EOS VM, a low-latency, highly performant, and extensible WebAssembly engine for deterministic execution of near feeless transactions; purpose-built for enabling optimal Web3 user and developer experiences. EOS is the flagship blockchain and financial center of the Antelope framework, serving as the driving force behind multi-chain collaboration and public goods funding for tools and infrastructure through the EOS Network Foundation (ENF).

EOS EVM

The EOS EVM is an emulation of the Ethereum EVM, housed within an EOS smart contract. It offers feature parity to other EVMs in the space but with unmatched speed, performance and compatibility. EOS EVM connects the EOS ecosystem to the Ethereum ecosystem by allowing developers to deploy a wide array of Solidity-based digital assets and innovative dApps on EOS. Developers can use EOS EVM to take advantage of Ethereum’s battle-tested open source code, tooling, libraries and SDKs, while leveraging the superior performance of EOS.

EOS Network Foundation

The EOS Network Foundation (ENF) was forged through a vision for a prosperous and decentralized future. Through our key stakeholder engagement, community programs, ecosystem funding, and support of an open technology ecosystem, the ENF is transforming Web3. Founded in 2021, the ENF is the hub for EOS Network, a leading open source platform with a suite of stable frameworks, tools, and libraries for blockchain deployments. Together, we are bringing innovations that our community builds and are committed to a stronger future for all.