Theta Explorer, API, and public development database

I have built the first 3rd-party block explorer, API, and database. These tools will help developers with a quick, easy, and affordable way to access the blockchain.

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Inspiration

I love the Theta project and want more developers to have access to the goods!

What it does

The API and Developer Database will help developers access the blockchain data. The Explorer will provide an additional avenue for tokens holders to track their coins. The Explorer will also eventually include several features that aren't available on the official Theta Blockchain Explorer. My tools will hopefully take some of the stress off of the Theta Labs team so any outages to their tools aren't a major event. These applications are all working, but are in the first phase of development.

How I built it

I had to build out quite a bit of architecture to get these applications working. There are a few different VMs, a MongoDB deployment with multiple DBs, an ASP.NET website, and an ASP.NET API. There is also a SQL Server up and running on the backend that will power all sorts of blockchain statistics as well as some upcoming Explorer features.

Challenges I ran into

This was my first project that touched on syncing up to a blockchain and not just querying it from an API. I had to do a lot of learning and troubleshooting in the Unbuntu environment as I am more of a Windows developer.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

I am proud to provide a set of tools for other devs to use in order to start getting involved in development. I am going to be providing help with the API as well as readonly credentials to the database so each dev doesn't have to go through all the steps of setting up a node and building from scratch. I will make changes to the API and Explorer as developers request changes.

What I learned

unbuntu, mongoDB, nodejs, how much I dislike Linux, and a ton of things about blockchain dev. Also, Jieyi and T. Zang are freaking rockstars for their help.

What's next for Theta Explorer, API, and public Development Database

Development Database

  • My mainnet DB does not currently have the entire mainnet chain. The sync started from a specific block height. I would eventually like to get the entire chain into my DB
  • Enable replication from the mainnet DB to the public facing theta_db. This will allow devs to get real-time mainnet data and perform readonly tasks against the data
  • Improve documentation and provide samples for developers to get started

API

  • Add several key methods regarding staking nodes, stats, etc
  • Improve documentation and provide easy to understand examples
  • Implement an alert system in case of a system outage to the API or Explorer

Theta Explorer

  • Big fixes regarding the implementation of the API
  • Make it mobile-friendly (responsive)
  • Add more links and more information regarding the Explorer
  • Provide a way for the community to provide feedback and submit requests and improvements
  • Include staking information on the wallet details
  • Adding the "ThetaTracker Marketplace" which will be a way to purchase badges and skins for the Explorer. USers will be able to buy little fun icons that will be assigned to their wallets (or another user's wallet) using TFuel.
  • Better error handling
  • Better documentation

Most importantly - I'm going to keep making improvements and responding to the community. This community is awesome!!

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