A few weeks ago, we started a new development cycle of two-week sprints that will lead to the launch of the OriginTrail Decentralized Network (ODN) test network (testnet) by the end of June. Currently, we are working on involving the community and businesses interested in using our protocol as much as possible.

The current cycle of development was launched immediately following our token sale in January when the alpha network was successfully deployed and tested on the first pilot project.

Because OriginTrail is an open-source solution and easy to implement for data exchange in any supply chain, we decided to share the development process in detail with everyone. This means that anyone can install the test node. At the same time, we have also put together extensive supporting documentation and tutorials.

The ODN nodes can perform two roles — those of the data creator and data holder. Every node will act as a data holder. Nodes set up by data providers (i.e. companies) who will use the ODN to ensure the integrity of their data will also be data creators. In this blog post, our focus is on presenting how to setup data creator nodes. Companies and individuals who chose to do so can already gain insight into how it could interact with their IT systems, allowing them to prepare for the testnet launch.

Everything You Need Is On GitHub

Our code is available on our GitHub repository - everybody is invited to review it and propose updates. OriginTrail’s software development process is based on agile methodology. We have major releases every two weeks, but updates are happening every day.

Besides code, you can also find examples and templates for development and testing on our GitHub. Our development team will be happy to review your pull requests, issues and comments posted there.

Our GitHub also contains extensive documentation that is updated daily. Documentation is aimed towards two main groups of readers — service providers and developers. Service providers are specialized companies that will integrate the OriginTrail protocol with data providers’ enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. In layman’s terms, these companies will help data providers get their data on the ODN by setting up data creator nodes. Developers are individuals focused on protocol improvement and the utilization of data stored on the ODN. However, data providers can also use our GitHub for information regarding the implementation process. Stakeholders that want to set up a node on the mainnet can also gain quick insight into how everything works. We are working on creating content for specific groups of readers precisely because there are many stakeholders.

Step 1: Preparing the Data Structure

The first step in setting up your pilot project is structuring your use case. How do you plan to use the data from your supply chain in the application? How can trusted and interconnected data from OriginTrail help you improve efficiencies or gather insights? The second step is selecting the data that needs to be collected and matched along the supply chain.

The next step is preparing the data structure to enable the data from different ERP systems to be exchanged in the common format. To utilize the OriginTrail protocol to showcase its full potential, the communication from ERP systems of at least two entities within a supply chain towards ODN needs to be established.

The implementation kit on our GitHub includes Data Structure Guidelines. The data structure is based on GS1 standards which are the designed for data sharing across global supply chains (EPCIS). You can also find an example XML file there. Having the data structured is prerequisite for the next step — testing data exchange on alpha nodes.

Step 2: Installing the Test Node

Our GitHub allows developers to focus on installing and testing the node. We have dedicated instructions for them. You can find tutorial videos on each page that will guide you through the process. Videos are made for a basic/intermediate IT professional audience.

Example of a Node Installation Guide — Find more tutorials on our GitHub

We are currently providing test alpha tokens for testing the nodes. These tokens can be obtained by request from our team at support@origin-trail.com. Send us your Rinkeby wallet addresses and our team will forward you the test tokens. For future versions, we plan on implementing a simple token faucet.

Even if you are not an IT professional, you can find some interesting materials on our GitHub. For example, freebies for our community.

Please keep in mind that we are currently in an intensive development phase, so, some parts of the documentation or instructions on our GitHub might not fully correspond to the current version of the protocol. If you are experiencing any issues, we ask you to report them on GitHub, so our team can review them.

Trace Alliance — Your Partnership for Pilot Implementations

The OriginTrail solution is an open source protocol, which means anybody can start creating their own personalized solution and user interface that fits the needs of a particular supply chain. In this sense, OriginTrail’s vision is to become a fully non-interfacing solution that anybody can use. The OriginTrail team is currently fully focused on developing the OriginTrail protocol solution, and therefore limited with IT resources and implementation capabilities.

This is why we created the Trace Alliance to make the OriginTrail solution scalable, efficient and faster to implement. The Trace Alliance is a collaboration hub that connects businesses which would like to use OriginTrail in their supply chains to companies with resolution capabilities. These companies (service providers) include IT vendors, consulting companies, knowledge centers like universities, and many more.

With the Implementation Kit on our GitHub repository, users get all the resources they need and step-by-step instructions for protocol integration to different service providers. These companies will act as protocol integrators on the market and offer OriginTrail integration as part of their services.

Hoan Vu laboratory from Vietnam is already implementing a pilot project with OriginTrail protocol — pictured with OriginTrail founders Tomaz Levak & Ziga Drev and advisor John G. Keogh

We encourage companies who want to implement OriginTrail to their supply chains to join the Trace Alliance. Within the Alliance, they will be able to find a quick, effective and comprehensive solution for their business models and collaborate on the code from OriginTrail’s GitHub repository. In addition, different resources will be available to members, such as videos, publications, Blockchain showcase, IT instructions, use cases, etc.

Here are some existing pilot projects that are already integrating OriginTrail protocol:

If you want to join the Trace Alliance, send us an email request to alliance@origin-trail.coml. You can find more information in this blog post.

Onward to the Testnet Launch!

In the following development cycles, we’ll be adding more functionalities with each new release. The releases are scheduled for every other week. We recently updated our roadmap with exact specifications for each sprint.

In June, the testnet will be ready for live use cases with select business partners. The first beta version of the testnet protocol will implement all the features set for development.

Follow our development, get involved on GitHub and give feedback to our development team there or on our official chat.