Goblin Plonk aims to enhance the efficiency of recursive proofs by employing a lazy field arithmetic computation approach, potentially reducing costs significantly.
Noir functions as a platform-agnostic high-level ZK programming language, simplifying ZK program development across different crypto backends like Plonk or Arxiv.
Aztec is pioneering the development of Noir as an open-source ZK programming language to benefit the wider ZK community and facilitate the adoption of ZK technology.
Deep dives
Goblin Plonk: Solving the Efficiency Problem in Recursive Snarks
Goblin Plonk is a groundbreaking recursion scheme aimed at significantly improving the efficiency of recursive proofs. By introducing a lazy and efficient approach to field arithmetic computations during recursion, Goblin Plonk aims to reduce the complexity and cost of proofs, potentially resulting in a tenfold improvement in constraints. The idea is to create a low-cost primitive for recursion, making it easier and more intuitive for developers to implement private smart contracts.
Noir: The High-Level ZK Programming Language
Noir is designed to be a high-level ZK programming language that compiles down to an intermediate representation called abstract circuit intermediate representation (ACIR). This platform-agnostic language acts as a front end for developing ZK programs, abstracting the complexities of various crypto backends, such as Plonk or Arxiv, and allowing for easier and more flexible ZK program development. Noir's modularity and abstraction aim to simplify ZK program creation and deployment on various ZK platforms.
Aztec's Motives Behind Developing Noir
Aztec is driving the development of Noir with the goal of creating a public good and open-source ZK programming language. Their primary focus is on establishing Noir as an independent tool that benefits the wider ZK community, even if it does not directly serve Aztec's specific systems or platforms. By fostering transparency and accessibility, Aztec aims to contribute to the broader ZK ecosystem and facilitate the adoption of ZK technology.
Aztec's Vision for Layer 2 ZK Smart Contracts with Aztec ArcWorks
Aztec's overarching vision involves creating a layer-2 ZK smart contract platform that offers private state as a primary feature. This platform, facilitated by Aztec ArcWorks, aims to revolutionize the smart contract ecosystem by allowing developers to seamlessly integrate private data into their program logic. By providing fast EK streaming systems and innovative privacy solutions, Aztec is paving the way for a new era of private and efficient smart contracts on layer 2.
Aztec 3 as a Smart Contract Programming Language
Aztec 3 aims to become the smart contract programming language for Aztec 3, focusing on creating a developer-friendly ecosystem to facilitate the writing of contracts. By using NWA as a general purpose language for ZK programming, developers are enabled to easily write ZK programs, streamlining the process of developing Aztec 3 programs and smart contracts. The goal is to bridge the gap between JavaScript and Aztec, building a layer two architecture coded with EK SNARKs and a language for efficient contract programming.
Utilizing Aztec 3 Architecture and Noire Contracts
Aztec 3 architecture involves utilizing Noire contracts, defining public and private functions to modify public and private states stored, encrypted on the rollup. Noire focuses on ensuring an intuitive abstraction layer for developers, unifying code for constraints and witness assignments, offering a user-friendly approach to ZK programming. The system incorporates recursion for composability between multiple contracts, implementing a call stack to process function calls, enabling the execution of private functions with privacy-preserving properties.
In this week’s episode, host Anna Rose sits down with Zac Williamson, the CEO of Aztec. Anna and Zac dive deep into the history of Plonk, one of the most important proving systems to emerge in the last 5 years. Zac explains how the initial ideas came to be, how it was developed with co-author Ariel Gabizon, and how the system has evolved over time, branching out into many different iterations of Plonk, leading up to his recent work on Goblin Plonk.
The conversation also touches on Aztec's cutting-edge technology stack, including their Noir zkDSL and their planned private programmable L2, Aztec 3. Zac shares his insights on the state of ZK applications and folding schemes, and provides a glimpse into the future of the ZK space.
Check out the ZK Jobs Board here: ZK Jobs. Find your next job working in ZK!
Aleo is a new Layer-1 blockchain that achieves the programmability of Ethereum, the privacy of Zcash, and the scalability of a rollup.
Interested in building private applications? Check out Aleo’s programming language called Leo that enables non-cryptographers to harness the power of ZKPs to deploy decentralized exchanges, hidden information games, regulated stablecoins, and more. Visit http://developer.aleo.org.
