Bitcoin competitor? World computer? The future of the Internet itself?

Next-generation public blockchain platform ethereum launched the first production version of its software this year, and the world is fast learning about its disruptive potential.

From leaderless companies to startups that aim to change everything from content monetization to machine-to-machine communication, the ethereum platform is now moving out of the sandbox and into the real world.

This is just a first taste of the impact Ethereum could bring, but as shown by the collapse of The DAO, the platform’s signature project, it’s far from a completed platform today.

To take the next leap, Ethereum will need to make truly radical changes, including overhauling its consensus algorithm and pushing further into experimental scaling concepts.

Our longest-ever report dives deep into one of the most exciting projects in technology today, providing 48 pages of clarity on its ecosystem, technology and path forward.

Highlights include:

A beginner’s guide to learning Solidity

A step-by-step guide to how Augur uses ethereum today

A timeline of key milestones in ethereum’s development

Easy-to-read descriptions of ethereum’s technical components

Overviews of 12 of the ecosystem’s most exciting startups

Reviews of 4 technical challenges ahead for ethereum.

Concepts covered: Casper, DAOs, ether trading, ethereum protocols, ethereum startups, mining, scaling issues, sharding, smart contracts, state channels and more.

Companies and projects mentioned: Akasha, Augur, Backfeed, BlockApps, Coinbase, Colony, ConsenSys, Digix, Ether.camp, Ethcore, Gemini, Golem Project, MakerDAO, Otonomous, Plex.ai, Provenance, Slock.it, String and more.

Image via Jonathan Bull for CoinDesk