When it comes to building decentralized applications (dApps) on top of blockchain networks or layer-2 solutions developed to scale layer-1 blockchains, things can become specific and complicated.
As a means of making this procedure a bit easier for developers, Polygon introduced a framework known as Polygon Edge.
Today, we are going to go over just about everything you need to know about this modular and extensible framework.
Key Points:
- Polygon Edge is a modular framework specifically created to enable the process of building private or public, Ethereum-compatible blockchain networks.
- Users are fully able to interact with industry-standard wallets by utilizing JSON-PRC and developed with Solidity and Vyper, with full Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) support.
- Polygon Edge also features a streamlined UX when cross-chain operations are conducted.
- Through NOWNodes, anyone can connect to an Ethereum node and get access to any blockchain data they require whilst developing with Polygon Edge.
What is Polygon Edge Technology?
Polygon Edge technology is a modular and extensible framework specifically created to enable developers the opportunity to build Ethereum-compatible blockchain networks alongside sidechains and general scaling solutions.
Polygon Edge enables developers to run their own blockchain network that is filled with customizable features alongside being guided by the principles of a modular architecture.
The primary use-case for this technology is to bootstrap new blockchain networks whilst also providing full compatibility with Ethereum smart contracts as well as transactions.
The main way through which it functions is through the usage of IBFT, short for Istanbul Byzantine Fault Tolerant, which is a consensus mechanism. It comes in two forms, and these include:
- Proof-of-Authority (PoA)
- Proof-of-Stake (PoS)
Alongside this, Polygon Edge also provides support for communication across a multitude of different blockchain networks, which in turn enable transfers of both ERC-20 as well as ERC-721 tokens through the usage of a centralized bridge solution.
Furthermore, industry-standard wallets are enabled to connect and interact with the Polygon Edge through the JSON-PRC endpoints, where node operators can simply perform a variety of different actions through the usage of the gPRC protocol.
The Polygon Edge modules essentially cover the entire blockchain stack and are specifically designed with developer experience in mind.
Due to the fact that Polygon, and as such, Polygon Edge is developed to run on top of the Ethereum blockchain network, if you want to gain access to the blockchain data, you will be required to use and have an Ethereum Node.
NOWNodes is a blockchain-as-a-service provider that will easily let you connect to an Ethereum node through a secure PRC connection, just by using a free API key that you can get from the official NOWNodes website.
Pros and Cons
Pros of Polygon Edge
- Polygon Edge provides a modular and extensive network on top of which developers can create Ethereum-compatible blockchain networks.
- Users can interact with wallets through a JSON-RPC connection.
- Developers are provided access to Ethereum tooling, libraries, and development tools.
- It is a completely trustless and decentralized built-in Ethereum Bridge Solution that is compatible with EVM.
Cons of Polygon Edge
- Polygon is not an autonomous blockchain but a layer-2 solution, which means that Polygon Edge is still reliant on Ethereum.
- If Ethereum experiences a disruption or manages to overcome its scaling issues with the ETH 2.0 upgrade, Polygon could lose some of its utility within the network.
- Polygon Edge does require some technical know-how and prior experience with EVM development.
Conclusion
Hopefully, now you have a higher level of understanding of what Polygon Edge actually is, how it works, and how developers can utilize it for a variety of different use cases.
Remember to connect to an Ethereum node with NOWNodes if you require additional data on any blockchain activities within that specific network.
