What is Dash Platform#

Dash Platform is a Web3 technology stack for building decentralized applications on the Dash network. It is best understood as a decentralized data storage and application layer on top of Dash: developers define schemas and submit structured state transitions instead of deploying arbitrary user-written code on-chain.

Its core components, Drive and DAPI, provide structured data storage, identity primitives, rich queries, and verifiable data access on top of the Dash network.

Tip

Dash Platform is developed in the open. For the current implementation details, package layout, and build instructions, see the Dash Platform monorepo. For a broader architectural walkthrough of the Rust codebase, see the Dash Platform Book.

Key Advantages#

Decentralized Cloud Storage#

Store structured application data on the Dash network with consensus-backed integrity and availability.

Reduced Data Silos#

Because application data is stored across the Dash masternode network, it can be shared and queried without relying on a single hosted backend.

Client Libraries#

Write code and integrate with Dash Platform using the languages that matter to your business. Don’t worry about understanding blockchain infrastructure: a growing number of client libraries abstract away the complexity typically associated with working on blockchain-based networks.

Instant Data Confirmation#

Unlike many blockchain-based networks, Platform is designed for fast finality and proof-based data verification, making it practical for light clients and user-facing applications.

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Key Components#

DAPI - A decentralized API#

DAPI is a decentralized HTTP API exposing JSON-RPC and gRPC endpoints. Through these endpoints, developers can send and retrieve application data and query the Dash blockchain.

DAPI provides developers the same access and security as running their own Dash node without the cost and maintenance overhead. Unlike traditional APIs which have a single point of failure, DAPI allows clients to connect to different instances depending on resource availability in the Dash network.

Developers can connect to DAPI directly or use higher-level SDKs and client libraries maintained in the Dash Platform monorepo. These libraries handle connection management, data serialization, and common application workflows. A major design goal of Platform is that clients can verify responses with proofs rather than trusting the node that served them.

The source for these components is available on GitHub:

Drive - Decentralized Storage#

Drive is Dash Platform’s storage component, allowing for consensus-based verification and validation of user-created data. In order for this to occur, developers create a data contract. This data contract describes the data structures that comprise an application, similar to creating a schema for a document-oriented database like MongoDB.

Data created by users of the application is validated and verified against this contract. Upon successful validation/verification, application data is submitted to Drive (via DAPI), where it is stored on the masternode network. Drive uses Dash’s purpose-built database, GroveDB, to provide efficient proofs with query responses, so you don’t have to trust the API provider to be certain your data is authentic.

The source is available on GitHub: