The Filecoin Virtual Machine (FVM) is a runtime environment for smart contracts (also called actors) on the Filecoin network. FVM brings user programmability to Filecoin, unleashing the enormous potential of an open data economy.
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Why FVM
The FVM unlocks boundless possibilities, ranging from dataDAOs, to perpetual storage, to financial services for miners (e.g. collateral lending, liquid staking, insurance protocols), to decentralized compute and Layer 2 networks (such as reputation systems, and incentive-aligned content delivery networks, and more. Here are some of the things we're excited to see deployed on the Filecoin network. It's up to you to make them happen!
/// A Filecoin actor brokering decentralized compute jobs./// For illustration purposes only.#[fvm_actor(state=ComputeState, dispatch="method_num")]impl ComputeActor {/// Creates a job with an input DAG, WASM compute logic,/// data affinity, geographical bounds, and timeout.pub fn create_job(req: CreateJobReq, st: ComputeState)-> CreateJobRes { ... }/// Allows a compute node to claim a job by proving it/// satisfies the requirements and staking collateral.pub fn claim_job(req: ClaimJobReq, st: ComputeState)-> ClaimJobRes { ... }/// Proves that a compute node finished running a job,/// posts the result, and claims the reward.pub fn prove_done(req: ProveDoneReq, st: ComputeState)-> ProveDoneRes { ... }}
What Does FVM Unlock
How Does It Work
The FVM is a WASM-based polyglot execution environment for IPLD data. It is designed to support native Filecoin actors written in languages that compile to WASM, as well as smart contracts written for foreign runtimes including the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), Secure EcmaScript (SES), and eBPF.
The initial version of the FVM is relatively simple and deliberately conservative in features. This enables developers onboard quickly, and serves as a rock-solid foundation for many innovations to come.
Examples of future ideas include: async programming via continuations/futures, capability-orientation, time-locked transactions (using external beacons), parallel execution, native primitives for cross-chain interoperability, computation correctness proofs, and more.
The reference FVM and SDK are written in Rust. If you'd like to contribute, explore ideas, or build alternative implementations in other languages, please reach out.
FVM Roadmap
Milestone 0: Lotus mainnet canaries with FVM support
The reference FVM implementation has been integrated into a fork of Lotus (the Filecoin reference client). A fleet of canary nodes have been launched on mainnet, running WASM-compiled built-in actors on the FVM. The canaries are monitored for consensus faults and to gather telemetry. This milestone is a testing milestone that's critical to collect raw execution data to feed into the overhaul of the gas model, in preparation for user-programmability. It implies no network upgrade.
Milestone 0.5: Ability to run FVM node and sync mainnet
Any node operator can sync the Filecoin Mainnet using the FVM and Rust built-in actors, integrated in lotus, venus, forest, and fuhon implementations. It implies no network upgrade.
Milestone 1: Introduction of non-programmable WASM-based FVM
Mainnet will atomically switch from the current legacy VMs to the WASM-based reference FVM. A new gas model will be activated that accounts for actual WASM execution costs. Only Rust built-in actors will be supported at this time. This milestone requires a network upgrade.
Network Version 17 (nv17): Initial protocol refactors for programmability
An initial set of protocol refactors targeting built-in actors, including the ability to introduce new storage markets via user-defined smart contracts. Review the full planned scope of Filecoin Network Version 17.
Milestone 2.1: Ability to deploy EVM contracts to mainnet (FEVM)
The Filecoin network will become user-programmable for the first time. Developers will be able to deploy smart contracts written in Solidity or Yul, and compiled to EVM. Smart contracts will be able to access Filecoin functionality by invoking built-in actors. Existing Ethereum tooling will be compatible with Filecoin. This milestone requires a network upgrade.
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Dec 2022
Incremental delivery on the Wallaby testnet
Bleeding edge releases of the Filecoin EVM runtime are deployed every 1-2 weeks to the Wallaby developer testnet. The community is invited to participate in alpha testing to provide early feedback.
2023
Hyperspace testnet goes live
A new stable developer testnet called Hyperspace will be launched as the pre-production testnet. The community is invited to participate in heavy functional, technical, and security testing. Incentives and bounties will be available for developers and security researchers.
FEVM goes live on mainnet
The Filecoin EVM runtime is deployed on Filecoin mainnet via the Filecoin nv18 Hygge upgrade.
2023
Milestone 2.2: Ability to deploy Wasm actors to mainnet
Developers will be able to deploy custom smart contracts written in Rust, AssemblyScript, or Go, and compiled to WASM bytecode. SDKs, tutorials, and other developer materials will be generally available. This milestone requires a network upgrade.
Milestone 3+: Further incremental protocol refactors to enhance programmability
A series of additional incremental protocol upgrades (besides nv17) to move system functionality from privileged space to user space. The result will be a lighter and less opinionated base Filecoin protocol, where storage markets, deal-making, incentives, etc. are extensible, modular, and highly customizable through user-deployed actors. Enhanced programming features such as user-provided cron, async call patterns, and more will start to be developed at this stage.
Request for Startups
If you are looking for ideas on what to build, we have worked with both internal and external teams to learn what they are excited to see on FVM.
News
The FVM Imaginarium: Magmo Brings State Channels to the Filecoin Virtual Machine
The launch of the Filecoin Virtual Machine (FVM) is quickly approaching, but there are already amazing projects in development. The FVM Imaginarium Campaign is putting the spotlight on the teams who are building incredible use cases and introducing new opportunities and concepts on FVM.
Jan 5, 2023
Hacking the Filecoin Ethereum Virtual Machine (FEVM)
Hack FEVM introduced the Ethereum-compatible layer of the Filecoin Virtual Machine to the ETH ecosystem, welcoming over 400 hackers and 117 project submissions.
Dec 15, 2022
Announcing Space Warp: Journey to FVM Launch on Filecoin Mainnet
The Filecoin Virtual Machine’s EVM runtime (FEVM) is coming in February 2023, and it will be one of the most ground-breaking updates to the Filecoin network ever.
Dec 8, 2022