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| 1 | +# OpenMina Webnode Implementation |
| 2 | + |
| 3 | +This document covers the WebAssembly (WASM) build target of OpenMina located in |
| 4 | +`node/web/`. |
| 5 | + |
| 6 | +## Overview |
| 7 | + |
| 8 | +The webnode compiles the full OpenMina node to WebAssembly for browser |
| 9 | +execution. It includes block production, transaction processing, SNARK |
| 10 | +verification, and WebRTC-based P2P networking. |
| 11 | + |
| 12 | +### Design Goals |
| 13 | + |
| 14 | +- Run the full node stack in browsers without plugins |
| 15 | +- Maintain compatibility with the main OpenMina implementation |
| 16 | +- Support block production with browser-based proving |
| 17 | +- Provide JavaScript API for web applications |
| 18 | + |
| 19 | +## Architecture |
| 20 | + |
| 21 | +### WASM Target |
| 22 | + |
| 23 | +Builds as both `cdylib` and `rlib` crate types. Code is conditionally compiled |
| 24 | +with `#[cfg(target_family = "wasm")]` guards. |
| 25 | + |
| 26 | +#### Build Process |
| 27 | + |
| 28 | +```bash |
| 29 | +cd node/web |
| 30 | +cargo +nightly build --release --target wasm32-unknown-unknown |
| 31 | +wasm-bindgen --keep-debug --web --out-dir ../../frontend/src/assets/webnode/pkg ../../target/wasm32-unknown-unknown/release/openmina_node_web.wasm |
| 32 | +``` |
| 33 | + |
| 34 | +Requires nightly toolchain and generates bindings for |
| 35 | +`frontend/src/assets/webnode/pkg/`. |
| 36 | + |
| 37 | +For complete setup instructions including circuit downloads and frontend |
| 38 | +configuration, see [local-webnode.md](../local-webnode.md). |
| 39 | + |
| 40 | +### Threading |
| 41 | + |
| 42 | +Browser threading constraints require specific adaptations: |
| 43 | + |
| 44 | +#### Rayon Setup |
| 45 | + |
| 46 | +`init_rayon()` in `rayon.rs` configures the thread pool using |
| 47 | +`num_cpus.max(2) - 1` threads. Must be called before SNARK verification. |
| 48 | + |
| 49 | +#### Task Spawning |
| 50 | + |
| 51 | +- `P2pTaskSpawner`: Uses `wasm_bindgen_futures::spawn_local()` |
| 52 | +- `P2pTaskRemoteSpawner`: Routes tasks to main thread via |
| 53 | + `thread::start_task_in_main_thread()` because WebRTC APIs are main-thread only |
| 54 | + |
| 55 | +## Features |
| 56 | + |
| 57 | +Provides the same functionality as the native node: |
| 58 | + |
| 59 | +- Transaction validation and application |
| 60 | +- Ledger state management |
| 61 | +- SNARK verification using browser-compiled circuits |
| 62 | +- Consensus participation |
| 63 | +- RPC interface for web applications |
| 64 | + |
| 65 | +### Block Production |
| 66 | + |
| 67 | +Supports block production with: |
| 68 | + |
| 69 | +- Plain text or encrypted private keys (parsed in `parse_bp_key()`) |
| 70 | +- Custom coinbase receivers |
| 71 | +- Browser-based SNARK proving via `BlockProver::make()` |
| 72 | + |
| 73 | +### Networking |
| 74 | + |
| 75 | +#### WebRTC P2P Layer |
| 76 | + |
| 77 | +- **Transport**: WebRTC DataChannels for browser-to-browser communication |
| 78 | +- **Protocol**: Pull-based networking (see [P2P README](../p2p/readme.md)) |
| 79 | +- **Default Peer**: |
| 80 | + `/2bjYBqn45MmtismsAYP9rZ6Xns9snCcNsN1eDgQZB5s6AzY2CR2/https/webrtc3.webnode.openmina.com/443` |
| 81 | +- **Channels**: 8 distinct DataChannels for different protocol types (see |
| 82 | + [P2P README](../p2p/readme.md#channels)) |
| 83 | + |
| 84 | +#### Network Configuration |
| 85 | + |
| 86 | +```rust |
| 87 | +initial_peers: Vec<P2pConnectionOutgoingInitOpts> |
| 88 | +peer_discovery: !self.p2p_no_discovery |
| 89 | +max_peers: Some(100) |
| 90 | +``` |
| 91 | + |
| 92 | +## Implementation Details |
| 93 | + |
| 94 | +### Key Files |
| 95 | + |
| 96 | +#### `lib.rs` - Main Entry Point |
| 97 | + |
| 98 | +- **`main()`**: Automatic WASM initialization |
| 99 | +- **`run()`**: Primary node startup function |
| 100 | +- **`build_env()`**: Build information export |
| 101 | +- **`parse_bp_key()`**: Block producer key parsing |
| 102 | + |
| 103 | +#### `node/builder.rs` - Node Construction |
| 104 | + |
| 105 | +- **`NodeBuilder`**: Node configuration |
| 106 | +- **Configuration Methods**: P2P setup, block production, verification |
| 107 | +- **Default Peers**: Single hardcoded WebRTC peer for bootstrap |
| 108 | + |
| 109 | +#### `node/mod.rs` - Type Definitions |
| 110 | + |
| 111 | +- **Type Aliases**: `Node = openmina_node_common::Node<NodeService>` |
| 112 | +- **Task Spawners**: P2P-specific spawning implementations for browser |
| 113 | + constraints |
| 114 | + |
| 115 | +#### `rayon.rs` - Threading Setup |
| 116 | + |
| 117 | +- **`init_rayon()`**: Required initialization for multi-threading |
| 118 | +- **CPU Detection**: Automatic core count with minimum guarantees |
| 119 | + |
| 120 | +### JavaScript Interface |
| 121 | + |
| 122 | +#### Main Entry Point |
| 123 | + |
| 124 | +```javascript |
| 125 | +const rpcSender = await run(blockProducerKey, seedNodesUrl, genesisConfigUrl); |
| 126 | +``` |
| 127 | + |
| 128 | +- `blockProducerKey`: Optional string or `[encrypted, password]` array |
| 129 | +- `seedNodesUrl`: Optional URL returning newline-separated peer addresses |
| 130 | +- `genesisConfigUrl`: Optional URL returning binary genesis config (defaults to |
| 131 | + `DEVNET_CONFIG`) |
| 132 | + |
| 133 | +#### Setup |
| 134 | + |
| 135 | +- `console_error_panic_hook` enables panic traces in browser console |
| 136 | +- `keep_worker_alive_cursed_hack()` prevents worker termination (wasm-bindgen |
| 137 | + issue #2945) |
| 138 | + |
| 139 | +### Performance |
| 140 | + |
| 141 | +- Parallel SNARK verification using `num_cpus.max(2) - 1` threads |
| 142 | +- Circuit reuse for verification operations |
| 143 | +- 100 peer connection limit configured in `P2pLimits` |
| 144 | +- Statistics collection via `gather_stats()` when enabled |
| 145 | + |
| 146 | +## Dependencies |
| 147 | + |
| 148 | +**WASM-specific**: `wasm-bindgen`, `wasm-bindgen-futures`, `js-sys`, |
| 149 | +`console_error_panic_hook`, `gloo-utils` |
| 150 | + |
| 151 | +**Core**: Standard OpenMina workspace crates plus `rayon` for threading |
| 152 | + |
| 153 | +## Known Issues |
| 154 | + |
| 155 | +- Worker lifecycle requires `keep_worker_alive_cursed_hack()` due to |
| 156 | + wasm-bindgen issue #2945 |
| 157 | +- WebRTC operations restricted to main thread |
| 158 | +- Careful initialization ordering required |
| 159 | + |
| 160 | +## Technical Debt |
| 161 | + |
| 162 | +- TODO in `setup_node()` for seed nodes refactoring |
| 163 | +- Single hardcoded default peer |
| 164 | +- Commented HTTP client and peer loading code in `builder.rs` |
| 165 | + |
| 166 | +## Usage |
| 167 | + |
| 168 | +```javascript |
| 169 | +// Basic startup |
| 170 | +const rpc = await run(); |
| 171 | + |
| 172 | +// With block producer |
| 173 | +const rpc = await run("private-key"); |
| 174 | +const rpc = await run([encryptedKey, "password"]); |
| 175 | + |
| 176 | +// With custom configuration |
| 177 | +const rpc = await run(key, peersUrl, genesisUrl); |
| 178 | + |
| 179 | +// RPC access |
| 180 | +const peers = await rpc.state().peers(); |
| 181 | +const stats = await rpc.stats().sync(); |
| 182 | +``` |
| 183 | + |
| 184 | +## Future Work |
| 185 | + |
| 186 | +- Split prover to its own WASM heap |
| 187 | + (https://github.com/openmina/openmina/issues/1128) |
| 188 | +- API for zkApp integration |
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