IOHK, the brains behind the Cardano ecosystem, recently unveiled its “most significant update” yet to the platform. Version 1.4 is said to be a radical overhaul of Cardano, implementing a string of technical improvements that will greatly improve the robustness and flexibility of the Cardano software. It is hoped that this latest update will lay the groundwork for the Cardano ecosystem to achieve its long-term goals in the years to come.
The Cardano project remains one of the most fascinating crypto projects, due largely to its philosophy that’s underpinned by academic and scientific research. In recent months, the price of Cardano has also been somewhat stable compared to other altcoins in the crypto market. This has given IOHK and the platform’s believers great confidence that Cardano can continue to do great things in 2019 and beyond.
So, what does the much-anticipated Cardano V1.4 look like? In short, the upgrade incorporates optimised block storage on the Cardano blockchain, a brand-new Cardano test network, new support for the Rust programming language and comprehensive wallet support for the Daedalus wallet for Linux users.
What does that all mean? The optimised block storage on the Cardano blockchain is certainly significant. Presently, users that store the entire Cardano blockchain are required to house 1.5 million files. However, the V1.4 update has substantially reduced the size of blocks on the Cardano blockchain, requiring nodes to hold only 200 files to host the entire Cardano blockchain. This makes it far quicker for users to create and restore a Cardano wallet and widespread synchronisation with the blockchain is far more efficient.
Another of the long-awaited features of Cardano V1.4 is the launch of a new testnet for developers on the Cardano blockchain. The testnet has the same environment as the legitimate Cardano blockchain, allowing developers to seamlessly test and operate code, safe in the knowledge that if it’s a success on the testnet, it will migrate easily to the Cardano blockchain.
Developers that are au fait with the Rust programming language will also be delighted to hear that Cardano V1.4 includes support for this too. A new open-source sandbox has been launched to allow developers to test and implement Rust-programmed services on the Cardano blockchain. This is particularly important for the long-term credibility of Cardano given that the majority of app developers on Android and iOS devices utilise Rust.
Finally, Cardano V1.4 also includes a comprehensive release of the Daedalus wallet for Linux operating systems. Although Linux is by no means as popular as Windows or Mac, it remains the number-one open-source operating system, with the capability to operate high volumes of servers and supercomputers.
With the V1.4 update now done and dusted, the Cardano roadmap points to “Shelly” being the next stage of development for the platform. This will also be a giant step forward for Cardano, as it will help to cement it as a credible option for cryptocurrency users in 2019. Full support for Ledger Nano S and Trezor hardware wallets is anticipated, along with quantum-resistant encryption, a comprehensive roll-out of network decentralisation and the release of Cardano NFC debit cards.
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