Leap v5.0.0 is designed to improve performance, efficiency, and reliability. Notable achievements of this release include:
System contracts (including EOS EVM) execute 5 times faster
Atomic API calls are 4x faster and more reliable through non-blocking serialization
System memory consumption of the state database has been reduced by 20%
High-scale read-only transactions, processing up to 128 parallel threads
Relaxed restrictions to support larger transactions
By optimizing the block start time and reducing the delay between rounds, more reliable block generation is achieved
Endpoints can be customized to provide greater control over the network.
The new "mapped_private" database mode combines the low memory usage of the "mapped" mode with the reduced disk wear of the "heap" mode.
The highly anticipated Leap 5.0 stable version is now available, bringing a series of enhancements in speed, efficiency, control, and flexibility to developers, API providers, and node operators alike. This reflects our commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology while meeting rigorous engineering standards.
Leap is a free, open-source C++ implementation of the community-led Antelope framework developed by EOS Network Foundation engineers, our incredible partners, and community contributors from around the world. Currently supporting over fourteen blockchains and nine testnets, Leap represents the continued evolution of truly scalable and performant public and private blockchains, and the enterprise-grade applications they enable.
Leap 5: A symphony of technological progress
Leap 5 is expected to significantly optimize the EOS network and lay a solid foundation for the long-awaited Leap 6 consensus upgrade. The update is centered around four main themes: loosening restrictions, increasing speed, improving efficiency, and increasing control.
Initially planned for this release, instant finality and the major new consensus upgrades that were part of it are now expected to ship with Leap 6. We look forward to sharing these exciting advances in the coming months.
Relaxation of restrictions
Leap 5 significantly adjusts two parameters that previously limited the operation of smart contracts.
The first parameter is max-nonprivileged-inline-action-size, which was removed in Leap 5, so that the size limit of inline actions comes only from the objective limit managed on-chain (max_inline_action_size).
In practice, this change means that smart contracts can send larger payloads through inline operations when communicating with other contracts. For example, the new call operation of the EOS EVM can be used to deploy EVM contracts larger than 4 KiB from an EOS smart contract.
The second parameter is max-transaction-time, whose default value has been modified so that the actual time limit for a transaction is actually driven by an objective limit managed on-chain (max_transaction_cpu_usage).
In practice, this means that transactions can complete more work in the longer time allotted to them. For example, the EOS EVM can take advantage of the relaxed transaction time limit to successfully execute a more computationally intensive EVM transaction that might have previously been rejected.
Speed up
Leap 5 promises a 4x speedup for ABI-intensive requests through non-blocking deserialization. It also scales read-only transactions by parallelizing them on up to 128 threads.
Additionally, selected smart contracts can now be better optimized using EOS VM OC to significantly shorten the time window for executing the same smart contract code. Currently, this optimization is limited to trusted smart contracts deployed on accounts prefixed with "eosio."
EOS EVM smart contracts are deployed on accounts prefixed with "eosio.", which means that the EOS EVM can take advantage of speed improvements from optimizations. This provides more ways for computationally expensive EVM transactions to fit within the constraints imposed by the actual time limit of transactions.
Improved efficiency
Thanks to features such as smooth synchronization and memory-optimized chainbase, the Antelope network has become more cost-effective with Leap 5, with state memory consumption reduced by approximately 20%.
Enhanced control
Node operators gain enhanced control options, including customizing node settings, resolving peer challenges with Prometheus logs, and benefiting from efficient, secure local connectivity.
Key enhancements in Leap 5
With the introduction of Leap 5, we celebrate significant enhancements designed for developers, API providers, and node operators to further advance the EOS network. This latest release brings a balanced blend of performance, scalability and efficiency, thoughtfully tailored to meet the diverse needs of our user community.
Developer:
Developers will find themselves in a more flexible and capable environment, with expanded transaction limits facilitating complex computations and more dynamic contract interactions.
API Providers:
Leap 5 redefines performance for API providers. Enhanced read capabilities mean APIs are faster, more robust, and more scalable, ensuring every interaction is smooth and efficient, reflecting our commitment to speed and reliability.
Node Operators:
Leap 5 improves transaction efficiency and network control, reduces memory usage, and provides more granular network control. These improvements provide operators with more powerful, intuitive and responsive tools.
Leap 5's future-ready features
Some of the enhancements in Leap 5, while already present in the software, are protocol-level features awaiting activation with the anticipated Leap 6, a consensus-level upgrade (hard fork) scheduled for the second half of 2024. However, these enhancements are ready for early adoption by any Antelope chain, especially test chains.
New cryptographic primitives
The new host function allows smart contracts to perform mathematical operations using the BLS12–381 elliptic curve, which once activated can support applications such as zero-knowledge proof systems.
Disable Deferred Transactions
In terms of handling delayed transactions, Leap 5 continues the process of disabling them. Initially, we modified the node configuration to reject new delayed transactions. Now, Leap 5 enforces this behavior in code, and in future protocol activations, will prevent any new delayed transactions from being added and ensure that existing delayed transactions are quickly canceled. These steps are part of a broader strategy that will culminate with the release of Leap 6.
Moving forward: A look at Leap's continued evolution
We highlighted the significant improvements that Leap 5 brings to developers, API providers, and node operators. These developments signal our enduring dedication to the growth and improvement of the EOS network, striving to strike a balance between robustness, efficiency, and user accessibility.
Our approach is one of continuous evolution. We are committed to innovating while maintaining the standards of reliability and performance that the EOS network is known for. As part of these efforts, we are embarking on a journey to reimagine network consensus itself with mathematical clarity and precision. The next stage in our network evolution is expected to be released with Leap 6 during the regular Fall consensus upgrade cycle.
Developers, API providers, and node operators
Get started now with Leap 5.0 Release Notes
Keep an eye out for new articles diving deeper into each of the features in Leap 5. Our goal is to provide clear, in-depth, and comprehensive information to keep our community informed and actively involved in the evolution of the EOS network.
EOS Network
The EOS network is a third-generation blockchain platform powered by EOS VM, a low-latency, high-performance, scalable WebAssembly engine for deterministic execution of nearly feeless transactions; built for the best Web3 user and developer experience. EOS is the flagship blockchain and financial hub of the Antelope framework, serving as a driver of tools and infrastructure for multi-chain collaboration and public goods funding, through the EOS Network Foundation (ENF).
EOS EVM
The EOS EVM is an emulation of the Ethereum EVM, hosted in an EOS smart contract. It provides the same functionality as other EVMs in the space, but with unparalleled speed, performance, and compatibility. The EOS EVM connects the EOS ecosystem with the Ethereum ecosystem by allowing developers to deploy Solidity-based digital assets and innovative dApps on EOS. Developers can leverage the EOS EVM while taking advantage of Ethereum's battle-tested open source code, tools, libraries, and SDKs, and the superior performance of EOS.
EOS Network Foundation
The EOS Network Foundation (ENF) was founded on a vision of a prosperous and decentralized future. Through our key stakeholder engagement, community projects, ecosystem funding support, and support for an open technology ecosystem, ENF is changing Web3. Founded in 2021, ENF is at the center of the EOS network, a leading open-source platform with a stable set of frameworks, tools, and libraries for blockchain deployments. We are bringing community-building innovation and are committed to building a stronger future for all.
