Proposal for Polkadot OpenGov Funding: WEB3DEV Bootcamp for Rust and Pallets Learning

Proponent: WEB3DEV Community
Date: Q2 2024
Requested Amount: $50,000 USD

Project Overview:
Within the WEB3DEV community, a robust network of over 15,000 registered developers, we are proposing a strategically designed bootcamp to facilitate the entry of developers into the Polkadot ecosystem. Our initiative leverages the strengths of our existing CMS platform, build.w3d.community, which has proven effective with over 9,000 subscriptions to our Solidity and Solana development courses. Our next endeavor is to enrich this educational platform with a curriculum focused on Rust, blockchain fundamentals, and pallets development anchored in the principles of open-source learning. Central to our proposal is the utilization of the rust-state-machine GitHub repository (kudos to Shawn Tabrizi) as a foundational resource. This commitment to open-source education not only underscores our dedication to transparent and accessible learning but also aligns with the collaborative spirit of the blockchain community. By offering our course materials, including those derived from the rust-state-machine, entirely open-source, we aim to not just educate but also contribute to the pool of global knowledge, facilitating innovation and development of new educational content for the Polkadot network.

The content of our course is meticulously designed to offer a comprehensive introduction to Rust programming and blockchain basics, leveraging the rich educational resources available in the rust-state-machine GitHub repository. We start with the fundamentals of Rust, including its syntax and unique features that make it an ideal language for blockchain development. Participants will delve into Rust's powerful type system, exploring how it ensures code safety and efficiency, which is crucial for developing secure blockchain applications, specially those using Polkadot SDK / Substrate FRAME. The course also covers generics and advanced data structures, providing a deep understanding of how to leverage Rust's capabilities to write versatile and robust code, making students familiar to FRAME and pallet creation syntax. 

By integrating practical exercises and projects throughout the course, participants will gain hands-on experience, from writing their first "Hello, World!" in Rust to creating their first pallet structure and custom blockchain code.This thorough and pragmatic approach ensures that by the end of the course, developers will not only grasp Rust programming principles but also understand how to apply these skills in the context of blockchain and pallets development, preparing them for a wide array of opportunities in the Polkadot space.

Our expansive digital footprint across various media channels places us in an exceptional position to effectively reach and engage our primary audience: software developers interested in expanding their skills. Our YouTube channel serves as a cornerstone for delivering in-depth tutorials and educational content specifically designed for developers. This platform, along with our Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, allows us to tailor our communication and content to meet the unique interests and needs of the developer community. These social media platforms offer an invaluable avenue for sharing programming insights, course announcements, and the latest trends in blockchain development, ensuring our content is directly aligned with our audience’s professional interests and learning objectives.

Moreover, our engagement extends through a direct line to over 8k individuals in our email user base and a vibrant Discord community of 6k members, reinforcing our position as a leading educational resource within the software development sphere. This targeted approach ensures that every piece of content, from webinar invitations to interactive study groups, is highly relevant to our audience of developers, fostering a supportive community eager to explore new technologies. By leveraging these channels, we are not only able to reach a wide array of software developers but also to cultivate a dedicated space for learning, collaboration, and innovation within the Polkadot ecosystem. Our focused strategy ensures that we remain at the forefront of blockchain education, providing the tools and knowledge necessary for developers to make significant contributions to the field.

In addition to our community's broad reach across digital channels, Daniel Cukier and Yan Luiz, two Polkadot Blockchain Academy Graduated students will be the teachers and advertisers of this initiative. These two recognized developers significantly amplify our outreach capabilities through their individual social media presence. With 7k followers on both Twitter and LinkedIn, Daniel alone brings a substantial audience of engaged professionals, primarily from the software development and blockchain sectors. His content resonates widely, generating approximately 30k post impressions per month on each platform. This impressive reach not only underscores the value and relevance of the content shared but also represents a powerful conduit for promoting our bootcamp, study groups, and educational resources. Daniel's influence and visibility in these professional networks enhance our ability to connect with a broader segment of the developer community, furthering our mission to equip software developers with the knowledge and skills required for innovation within the Polkadot ecosystem. His contributions, coupled with our established media channels, create a synergistic effect, significantly extending our educational impact and fostering a more informed and skilled community of developers ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities presented by blockchain technology.

Course Structure:

• Content: Based on the rust-state-machine GitHub repository, covering Rust programming and blockchain basics: Rust basics and syntax, type system, generics, data types, 

• Languages: Initially courses will be available in both English and Portuguese to maximize reach and inclusivity. We can also extend the offer to Spanish if there is enough demand from the communit.

• Course Syllabus:

• Section 1: Introduces the Balances Pallet, covering basics from adding state and storing/reading data, to basic testing and balance transfers.

• Section 2: Explores the System Pallet, detailing block numbers, nonce, runtime execution, and runtime debugging processes.

• Section 3: Delves into Generic Types and the Num Crate to make the Balances and System Pallets generic and configurable, addressing tight coupling issues.

• Section 4: Focuses on block execution and call dispatching, including block types, executing blocks with extrinsics, pallet level dispatch, and nested dispatch.

• Section 5: Presents the Proof of Existence Pallet, from its basic functions and dispatch to integration into the runtime and adding extrinsics to blocks.

• Section 6: Concludes with Rust Macros, demonstrating the addition of Call Macro to Balances and Proof of Existence, usage of the Runtime Macro, and course completion.

• Sessions: Three cohorts (2 English, 1 Portuguese) of the course will be run to ensure wide participation

Team:

• Daniel Cukier: Polkadot Blockchain Academy Graduate, PhD in Computer Science, extensive experience in the tech industry, and active in the crypto space since 2020.

• Yan Luiz: Polkadot Blockchain Academy Graduate, developer since 2014, experienced in crypto and Solidity teaching.

• Nicholas Kneip: Master in Innovation and Bachelor degree in Finance. Working in the blockchain industry for 4 years. 

• Anna Bida: MBA in Business Management, entrepreneur with experience in consulting for startups and digital marketing, Head of the WEB3DEV community. 

Comparative Advantage and Justification:

• Cost-Efficiency: By requesting $50k, we calculate an expected cost per graduated developer in the range of $150-$250

• Proven Track Record: With over 9k developers registered on our platform for previous courses, and 580  graduates, we have demonstrated our capability to deliver value and education effectively.

• Transparent Data Report: all data about courses subscriptions and graduations are openly available in our analytics report.

• Local Impact: Emphasizing local language courses (Portuguese) addresses the critical barrier of language, making high-quality tech education accessible to a broader audience in Brazil.

• Global and Local Relevance: By focusing on Rust State Machine full course, essential skills for Polkadot development, we aim not only to enhance the global Polkadot developer community but also to address specific Brazilian socio-economic challenges through blockchain technology.

Utilization of Funds:

The requested funds will be allocated as follows:

• Course Development and Material: Creating and refining course content based on the rust-state-machine GitHub repo and adapting it for our educational approach.

• Instructor and Coordinator Compensation: Ensuring high-quality instruction and course management.

• Platform Maintenance and Support: Supporting our CMS platform for course delivery, including language-specific support for Portuguese-speaking participants.

• Marketing and Outreach: Targeted efforts to engage the Latin America developer’s community and beyond, emphasizing the course's relevance to local and global issues.

Conclusion:

The WEB3DEV community's proposal for a bootcamp focused on Rust state machine represents a strategic and cost-effective approach to expanding the Polkadot ecosystem. By leveraging our existing platform and community, and by focusing on both global and local needs, we aim to significantly contribute to the growth of skilled developers in the Polkadot space, thereby fostering innovation and addressing critical challenges in Latin America and beyond.