Try   HackMD

Proposal - MPC Phase 2 UI Enhancements

Scope

This proposal focusses on making the trusted setup ceremony faster and better streamlined. Incremental improvements in functionality are also proposed.

The key items proposed are:

  • Base the ceremony purely around snarkjs.
  • Multi-threading in-browser contributions.
  • GitHub Oauth: Allow manual creation of gist attestation; allow less intrusive permissions.
  • Two modes for running ceremonies:
    1. A project-specific group of circuits (cf zkopru);
    2. A pool of circuits for multiple projects, running perpetually, with circuits added and removed from the pool as required.
  • Near real-time updates to a public archive web site.
  • Direct expenses incurred in running the zkopru ceremony.

Discussion

Snarkjs

The current version runs the contribution in-browser using the Rust-based phase2 code derived via Kobi et al. This approach has several advantages for optimal user experience, but requires a server-side conversion - a slow process - to return to the snarkjs format needed for verification. Switching to snarkjs contributions will remove that step, and remove the server as a potential bottleneck for the ceremony. The snarkjs phase 2 code is optimised for CLI contributions. Some changes will be required to improve its browser-friendliness, e.g. progress callbacks. We anticipate that the multi-threading improvements will mitigate any loss of speed.

Multi-threading.

In-browser contributions currently run in a single worker thread, with circuits running sequentially. We have a couple of possible improvements to this mode:

  • Run multiple threads to compute each circuit.
  • Run circuits in parallel, each in a separate thread.

Some investigation will be required to settle on the optimal method. Corresponding changes to the UI will be included in the work.

Oauth

Participants are currently asked to allow the app to read private gists from the user's Github account. That level of access is not required (write access is required), but Github's authorisation process is not sufficiently fine-grained to make this distinction. Anecdotal feedback from the zkopru ceremony suggests some users find this off-putting.

We propose adding an option such that participants may choose to create their attestation with some manual steps, avoiding the need for intrusive permissions.

Project/Pooled modes

Project mode would operate just as the zkopru ceremony did, with a link from the project's web site, and a group of circuits required for that project.

With a few modifications, we can support an alternative that may suit some projects, where circuits are added from time to time to a common pool. Contributions are accepted perpetually, separate from project-specific groups. Circuits can be paused or stopped when they are ready for finalisation, but the ceremony will continue as long as active circuits remain.

Public Archive

A public web site allowing participants and observers to download and verify contributions promotes transparency. We propose that this web site be updated automatically soon after verified contributions are received.

ZKOPRU ceremony expenses

I have paid invoices for server expenses incurred over March and April for running the ZKOPRU trusted setup ceremony. The suppliers were: Google, for DB, site and data storage; Scaleway for backend servers, and Hetzner for a server used in the latter part of the ceremony.

Date Supplier Transaction description Paid cost ($A)
06/04/2021 Google ZKOPRU MPC Firebase - March 73.02
06/04/2021 Hetzner Hetzner cloud server - ZKOPRU MPC 264.15
07/04/2021 Scaleway server/IP/storage fees: ZKOPRU MPC, Mar 140.04
01/05/2021 Scaleway Scaleway server/IP/storage for ZKOPRU MPC 435.84
04/05/2021 Google Google Firebase Cloud services - APR 21 88.15
Total 1,001.20AUD
USD/AUD per messari.io 7 May 21 = 0.772 772.93USD

Schedule

This schedule proposes the milestones for deliverables, and the payment claim at each milestone.

Task Time Estimate (hours) Delivery Estimate Claim
Direct expenses for zkopru trusted setup mpc - - USD772.93
snarkjs 60 28-May-21 USD3000
Multi-threading 80 11-Jun-21 USD4000
OAuth enhancements / Ceremony modes / Public archive 52 25-Jun-21 USD2600

Notes

All code delivered will be public domain, with a suitable open source license.

I will support the code against defects for a minimum of 3 months from delivery.

I submit this proposal on behalf of Stonebell Consulting Pty Ltd, registered in Australia: ACN 631653328

Sincerely,
Geoff Lamperd
Director
Stonebell Consulting Pty Ltd

Last changed by 
 
Geoff Lamperd
0
1
85

Read more

Proposal - MPC Phase 2 UI Production Readiness

Scope As an extension to the Phase 2 MPC UI project, some work beyond the scope of previous work is required. Specifically: UX enhancements will give the site added appeal and professionalism, and Running the ceremony for the ZKOPRU project will require time to setup, support, prepare data, and transition to long-term data storage. Schedule This schedule proposes the milestones for deliverables, and the payment claim at each milestone.

Mar 1, 2021
Trusted Setup MPC Phase 2 UI - Design Spec

The suite of services will facilitate trusted setup ceremonies for SNARK circuits. Projects requiring an MPC will submit their circuits using the coordinator UI. The participant UI will register participants, allocate them a queue position, and manage their submissions. Coordinators may monitor the progress of the ceremony. Minimal intervention will be required. Participants will be register themselves with the particpant UI. The submission will be generated within the browser as a preference. That may not be feasible for larger circuits, so the option of a CLI for submission generation will be available. Components: Coordinator UI Participant Browser UI

Nov 10, 2020
Read more from Geoff Lamperd
Published on HackMD