Smart Contracts in Java

Execution Layer Research
1

Abstract

Converting Solidity Keywords into Java Dependencies in order for a library of Smart-Contract implementations to be built in the Java programming language.

Motivation

Currently, there are 200,000 Solidity/Ethereum Developers (Worldwide) and 7.1million Java Developers (Worldwide) respectfully thus allowing Smart-Contracts to be built in Java would help onboard a plethoric number of developers into the Ethereum Ecosystem.

Specifications

Smart-Contract Storage example in Solidity:
pragma solidity >=0.4.16 <0.9.0;

contract SimpleStorage {
    uint storedData;

    function set(uint x) public {
        storedData = x;
    }

    function get() public view returns (uint) {
        return storedData;
    }
}
Smart-Contract Storage example in Java:
public class SimpleStorage {
    private Uint256 storedData;

    public void setStoredData (Uint256 storedData) {
        this.storedData = storedData;
    }

    public Uint256 getStoredData () {
        return storedData;
    }
}

Rationale

Solidity Keywords to Java Dependency conversion process:

The uint keyword in Solidity essentially represents a pre-packaged library containing a 256 bit byte. In Java, a dependency is created to suplement for the Solidity keyword as follows:

Uint256 Java Dependency (in place of uint Solidity Keyword) example:
public interface Uint256 {

    static byte[] ivBytes = new byte[256];
    static int iterations = 65536;
    static int keySize = 256;
    static byte[] uint = new byte[256];

    public default void Uint256() throws Exception {
        decrypt();
    }

    public static void decrypt() throws Exception {

        char[] placeholderText = new char[0];

        SecretKeyFactory skf = SecretKeyFactory.getInstance("PBKDF2WithHmacSHA1");
        PBEKeySpec spec = new PBEKeySpec(placeholderText, Uint256.uint, iterations, keySize);
        SecretKey secretkey = skf.generateSecret(spec);
        SecretKeySpec secretSpec = new SecretKeySpec(secretkey.getEncoded(), "AES");

        Cipher cipher = Cipher.getInstance("AES/CBC/PKCS5Padding");
        cipher.init(Cipher.DECRYPT_MODE, secretSpec, new IvParameterSpec(ivBytes));

        byte[] decryptedTextBytes = null;

        try {
            decryptedTextBytes = cipher.doFinal();
        }   catch (IllegalBlockSizeException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }   catch (BadPaddingException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }

        decryptedTextBytes.toString();
    }
}

Execution

Necessities:

  • The contract’s bytecode: this is generated through the javac git command as follows: javac MySmartContract.java
  • ETH for gas: you’ll set your gas limit like other transactions so be aware that contract deployment needs a lot more gas than a simple ETH transfer.
  • A deployment script or plugin.
  • Access to an Ethereum Node, either by running your own, connecting to a public node, or via an API key using a node service like Infura or Alchemy.

Note: This R&D project is still early in its development, so questions/contributions/conversations are heavily welcome.

The Work:

Java Smart Contract Abstraction for Ethereum R&D

Java Smart Contract Abstraction for Ethereum

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