Shadowlands

Shadowlands is a python-based platform for writing Ethereum Dapps without a web browser.

Tutorial

To start your own Dapp, open the dapps menu by pressing ‘d’ or ‘D’ within the shadowlands application.

Dapps Menu

Next, set the local dapp directory to your desired location.

Change Local Dapp directory

Inside your chosen local dapp directory, create a new subdirectory with the name of your dapp. Inside, create a file called __init__.py.

Create __init__.py

Your first SLDapp

For our example, let’s become Trogdor the Burninator, the wingaling dragon. We will burninate peasants in the kingdom of peasantry. In our case, peasants will be BRNT (Burninator tokens) visible at token.burninator.eth)

from shadowlands.sl_dapp import SLDapp
from shadowlands.sl_frame import SLFrame
from shadowlands.sl_contract import SLContract

class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        # Define any variables that will be useful to you, such as contracts.
        # Any other setup steps go here

        # add a frame to begin the user interface
        self.add_sl_frame(MyMenuFrame(self, height=5, width=40, title="Trogdooooor!"))

class MyMenuFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_divider()
        self.add_button(self.close, "Close")

Import SLDapp at the top of your __init__.py file in your dapp’s subdirectory. We’ll also import SLFrame and SLContract.

Create a class named Dapp that subclasses SLDapp. The class must be named Dapp in order for the shadowlands plugin system to detect your dapp. Override the SLDapp.initialize() method, and do any necessary preperation within. Then, add an SLFrame subclass (which you need to provide) with SLDapp.add_sl_frame(). This step begins the user interface.

The line self.add_sl_frame(MyMenuFrame(self, height=5, width=40, title="Trogdooooor!")), referenced from initialize(), will load an SLFrame instance with the listed parameters when the dapp loads.

Like SLDapp instances, SLFrame instances execute initialize() when they are created, and you must implement this abstract method. Our SLFrame will add a one-line divider with self.add_divider() and then add a close button with self.add_button(self.close, "Close"). The first parameter to self.add_button is a function to be executed upon the button press action, in this case self.close().

Now, let’s run our first dapp. Open the dapps menu and choose to run a local dapp:

Run local dapp menu

Now, choose your dapp from the list:

Run dapp

And this is the output:

Running Trogdor

Debugging

Now, let’s make a few changes.

from shadowlands.sl_dapp import SLDapp
from shadowlands.sl_frame import SLFrame
from shadowlands.sl_contract.erc20 import Erc20
from shadowlands.tui.debug import debug, end_debug
import pdb

class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        # Define any variables that will be useful to you, such as contracts.
        # Any other setup steps go here
        debug(); pdb.set_trace()

        PEASANT_ADDRESS = '0x8B654789353b0B622667F105eAEF9E97d3C33F44'
        peasant_contract = Erc20(self.node, address=PEASANT_ADDRESS)
        self.add_sl_frame(MyMenuFrame(self, height=5, width=40, title="Trogdooooor!"))

        # add a frame to begin the user interface

class MyMenuFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_divider()
        self.add_button(self.close, "Close")

Here you can see we’ve set up some debugging tools with a few import statements. The functions debug() and end_debug() will give us a way to escape from the curses library that’s controlling the screen and let pdb work.

You can also see I defined PEASANT_ADDRESS which is the ethereum mainnet address of a simple ERC20 contract. We load the contract with the Erc20(self.node, address=PEASANT_ADDRESS) constuctor. self.node is a reference to the Node object that the Dapp object has access to.

The important line debug(); pdb.set_trace() is something you should become familiar with when writing a shadowlands app. Running pdb without escaping from the user interface will be a maddening experience, so don’t forget to run debug() before you get pdb running.

Now, when you run your dapp, you’ll see:

Debugging Trogdor

Here you can see some of the methods that the Erc20 class provides. You can also access the underlying web3.py contract object by accessing peasant_contract._contract.

To escape from the debug session and get back to your app, type end_debug();; continue. This incantation will restore control of the screen to the curses library and end the session.

Requirements File

You can include a requirements.txt file in your dapp directory to import modules that you might need. They will be installed into Shadowlands’ python virtual environment at ~/.shadowlands when the dapp runs on the host system.

There’s no library dependancy in this tutorial, I just wanted to mention it.

Handling user input

Let’s get some user input and do something, er… useful?

from shadowlands.sl_dapp import SLDapp
from shadowlands.sl_frame import SLFrame
from shadowlands.sl_contract.erc20 import Erc20
from decimal import Decimal
from shadowlands.tui.debug import debug, end_debug
import pdb

class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        PEASANT_ADDRESS = '0x8B654789353b0B622667F105eAEF9E97d3C33F44'
        self.peasant_contract = Erc20(self.node, address=PEASANT_ADDRESS)
        self.peasants = self.peasant_contract.my_balance() / Decimal(10**18)
        self.add_sl_frame(MyMenuFrame(self, height=10, width=70, title="Trogdooooor!"))

class MyMenuFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_label("Trogdor the wingaling dragon intends to burninate peasants.")
        self.add_label("Trogdor has {} peasants in need of burnination.".format(self.peasants_str))
        self.text_value = self.add_textbox("How many?")
        self.add_divider()
        self.add_button_row([
            ("Burninate!", self.burninate, 0),
            ("Close", self.close, 1)
        ])

    @property
    def peasants_str(self):
        return "{:f}".format(self.dapp.peasants)[:8]

    def burninate(self):
        try:
            peasants_to_burninate = Decimal(self.text_value())
        except:
            self.dapp.add_message_dialog("That number of peasants doesn't make sense.")
            return

        if peasants_to_burninate > self.dapp.peasants:
            self.dapp.add_message_dialog("You don't even *have* that many peasants!")
            return
        elif peasants_to_burninate < 0.5:
            self.dapp.add_message_dialog("This will not satisfy Trogdor.")
            return

We’ve add some height and width to our SLFrame on line 13, added labels and a textbox on lines 17 - 19, and traded in our simple button for add_button_row() on line 21. All of the widgets available to display are documented on the SLFrame page.

On line 12, we divide the number of peasantcoins by (10 ** 18) to account for the 18 decimal places of precision of this coin.

We’re doing some simple input sanitization here, as well as some restrictions as to how many peasants can be burninated in one go.

Note that add_message_dialog() is a method belonging to Dapp, which is always accessible from an SLFrame instance via self.dapp.

So, let’s see how we did.

Running Trogdor

Below we see the result of failing the input validation.

Input validation fail

Transactions

Let’s get on to burninating some peasants.

from shadowlands.sl_dapp import SLDapp
from shadowlands.sl_frame import SLFrame
from shadowlands.sl_contract.erc20 import Erc20
from decimal import Decimal
from shadowlands.tui.debug import debug, end_debug
import pdb

class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        PEASANT_ADDRESS = '0x8B654789353b0B622667F105eAEF9E97d3C33F44'
        self.peasant_contract = Erc20(self.node, address=PEASANT_ADDRESS)
        self.peasants = Decimal(self.peasant_contract.my_balance() / (10 ** 18))
        self.add_sl_frame(MyMenuFrame(self, height=10, width=70, title="Trogdooooor!"))

class MyMenuFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_label("Trogdor the wingaling dragon intends to burninate peasants.")
        self.add_label("Trogdor has {} peasants in need of burnination.".format(self.peasants_str))
        self.text_value = self.add_textbox("How many?")
        self.add_divider()
        self.add_button_row([
            ("Burninate!", self.burninate, 0),
            ("Close", self.close, 1)
        ])

    @property
    def peasants_str(self):
        return "{:f}".format(self.dapp.peasants)[:8]

    def peasants_validated(self):
        try:
            self.peasants_to_burninate = Decimal(self.text_value())
        except:
            self.dapp.add_message_dialog("That number of peasants doesn't make sense.")
            return False

        if self.peasants_to_burninate > self.dapp.peasants:
            self.dapp.add_message_dialog("You don't even *have* that many peasants!")
            return False
        elif self.peasants_to_burninate < 0.5:
            self.dapp.add_message_dialog("This will not satisfy Trogdor.")
            return False

        return True


    def burninate(self):
        if not self.peasants_validated():
            return

        peasantcoins_to_burninate = self.peasants_to_burninate * Decimal(10 ** 18)

        burn_fn = self.dapp.peasant_contract.transfer(
            '0x00000000000000000000000000000000DeaDBeef',
            int(peasantcoins_to_burninate)
        )

        self.dapp.add_transaction_dialog(
            burn_fn,
            title="Trogdor burninates the peasantcoins",
            gas_limit=56000
        )

        self.close()

I’ve refactored our input validation to the method peasants_validated on line 30.

So, the time has come for the peasants to meet their final, fiery farewell at the nostrils of the mighty Trogdor.

Note on line 56 that peasant_contract.transfer() returns a method, which we will feed into add_transaction_dialog() on line 61.

Let’s see how this looks in practice.

Running Trogdor

And so, we see there are a few less peasants in the kingdom of peasantry.

Running Trogdor

Subclassing Erc20 and SLContract

Trogdor is distraught to discover that the peasants have not actually been burninated, but only banished to the cave of 0xdeadbeef. He demands true burnination.

Luckily, the PSNT contract supports burn(), although this is not a standard Erc20 function. Let’s subclass Erc20 and use some of the features of SLContract to make our lives easier.

from shadowlands.sl_contract.erc20 import Erc20

class PeasantCoin(Erc20):
    MAINNET='0x8B654789353b0B622667F105eAEF9E97d3C33F44'
    ABI='''
        [
                {
                        "constant": true,
                        "inputs": [],

        ..(ABI truncated for brevity)...


        ]
        '''

First we create a file called peasant_coin.py in our trogdor directory to house our subclass.

PeasantCoin subclasses Erc20. The default ABI for the Erc20 subclass doesn’t understand burn(), so we need to supply our own ABI.

Subclassing SLContract (the superclass of Erc20) works the same way - you can define MAINNET, KOVAN, and other network names that are defined by Node.NETWORK_DICT, and set these to the deployment address of the contract.

We also can paste the ABI here. See the documentation for SLContract and Erc20 to fully understand everything they provide.

from shadowlands.sl_dapp import SLDapp
from shadowlands.sl_frame import SLFrame
from trogdor.peasant_coin import PeasantCoin
from decimal import Decimal
from shadowlands.tui.debug import debug, end_debug
import pdb

class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        self.peasant_contract = PeasantCoin(self.node)
        self.peasants = Decimal(self.peasant_contract.my_balance() / (10 ** 18))
        self.total_peasants =  Decimal(self.peasant_contract.totalSupply() / (10 ** 18))
        self.add_sl_frame(MyMenuFrame(self, height=12, width=70, title="Trogdooooor!"))

class MyMenuFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_label("Trogdor the wingaling dragon intends to burninate peasants.")
        self.add_label("There are {} peasants (PSNT) in the world.".format(
                self.peasant_decorator(self.dapp.total_peasants)
        ))
        self.add_label("Trogdor has {} peasants in need of burnination.".format(
                self.peasant_decorator(self.dapp.peasants)
        ))
        self.text_value = self.add_textbox("How many?")
        self.add_divider()
        self.add_button_row([
            ("Burninate!", self.burninate, 0),
            ("Close", self.close, 1)
        ])

    def peasant_decorator(self, peasants):
        return "{:f}".format(peasants)[:12]

We import PeasantCoin on line 3 and instantiate it on line 10. We also grab the totalSupply() on line 12. Some refactoring into a decorator on line 31 makes things a little nicer.

def burninate(self):
    if not self.peasants_validated():
        return

    peasantcoins_to_burninate = self.peasants_to_burninate * Decimal(10 ** 18)

    burn_fn = self.dapp.peasant_contract.functions.burn(
        int(peasantcoins_to_burninate)
    )

    self.dapp.add_transaction_dialog(
        burn_fn,
        title="Trogdor burninates the peasantcoins",
        gas_limit=56000
    )

    self.close()

On line 7, we access the underlying function generated by web3.py with the functions() method. Now when we burn PSNT tokens, they will be taken out of the totalSupply().

Uniswap Integration

Uh-oh, Trogdor has run out of peasants to burninate. What to do?

Shadowlands has native API integration with Uniswap, so let’s add a button to acquire more PeasantCoin.

class MyMenuFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_label("Trogdor the wingaling dragon intends to burninate peasants.")
        self.add_label("There are {} peasants (PSNT) in the world.".format(
            self.peasant_decorator(self.dapp.total_peasants)
        ))
        self.add_label("Trogdor has {} peasants.".format(
            self.peasant_decorator(self.dapp.peasants)
        ))
        self.text_value = self.add_textbox("How many?")
        self.add_divider()
        self.add_button_row([
            ("Burninate!", self.burninate, 0),
            ("Get More Peasants", self.get_peasants, 1),
            ("Close", self.close, 2)
        ], layout=[30, 40, 30]
        )

    def get_peasants(self):
        self.dapp.add_uniswap_frame(self.dapp.peasant_contract.address)
Running Trogdor Running Trogdor

The Hall of Maximum Burnination

What’s the use of burninating peasants if nobody knows you did it? Let’s create a leaderboard to show off our incindiary exploits.

There are a lot of additions here, but focus on lines 9 and 10, which checks for the victory condition upon startup.

We define the VictoryFrame class on line 98.

class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        self.token = PeasantCoin(self.node)
        self.peasants = Decimal(self.token.my_balance() / (10 ** 18))
        self.total_peasants =  self.token.totalSupply() / (10 ** 18)
        self.my_burninated_peasants = self.token.burninatedBy(self.node.credstick.address) / (10 ** 18)
        self.add_sl_frame(MyMenuFrame(self, height=24, width=74))

        if self.token.victorious():
            self.add_sl_frame(VictoryFrame(self, height=9, width=62, title="Victory!!!"))


class MyMenuFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_label("The Hall Of Maximum Burnination", add_divider=False)
        self.add_divider(draw_line=True)
        self.add_label("Rank    Peasants           Hero", add_divider=False)

        for heroes in self.top_burninators_decorator():
            self.add_label(heroes, add_divider=False)
        self.add_divider(draw_line=True)

        self.add_label("Trogdor the wingaling dragon intends to burninate peasants.", add_divider=False)
        self.add_label("There are {} peasants (BRNT) in the world.".format(self.peasant_decorator(self.dapp.total_peasants)))
        self.add_label("Trogdor has {} peasants, and has burninated {}".format(self.peasant_decorator(self.dapp.peasants), self.peasant_decorator(self.dapp.my_burninated_peasants)))
        self.text_value = self.add_textbox("How many to burninate?", default_value=' ')
        self.add_button_row([
            ("Burninate!", self.burninate, 0),
            ("Get More Peasants", self.get_peasants, 1),
            ("Close", self.close, 2)
        ], layout=[30, 40, 30]
        )


    def top_burninators_decorator(self):
        burninators = self.dapp.token.top_burninators()
        i = 0
        heroes = []

        #debug(); pdb.set_trace()
        for hero in burninators:
            hero_name = self.dapp.node._ns.name(hero[0])
            if hero_name is None:
                hero_name = hero[0]
            heroes.append("{}       {:14s}     {}".format(i, self.peasant_decorator(hero[1]), hero_name))
            i += 1

        if len(heroes) < 10:
            for x in range(len(heroes), 10):
                heroes.append(
                    "{}       Unclaimed".format(str(x)))

        return heroes

    def peasant_decorator(self, peasants):
        return "{:f}".format(peasants)[:14]


    def get_peasants(self):
        self.dapp.add_uniswap_frame(self.dapp.token.address)

    def peasants_validated(self):
        try:
            self.peasants_to_burninate = Decimal(self.text_value())
        except:
            self.dapp.add_message_dialog("That number of peasants doesn't make sense.")
            return False

        if self.peasants_to_burninate > self.dapp.peasants:
            self.dapp.add_message_dialog("You don't even *have* that many peasants!")
            return False
        elif self.peasants_to_burninate < 0.5:
            self.dapp.add_message_dialog("This will not satisfy Trogdor.")
            return False

        return True



    def burninate(self):
        if not self.peasants_validated():
            return

        tokens_to_burninate = self.peasants_to_burninate * Decimal(10 ** 18)

        burn_fn = self.dapp.token.burninate(
            int(tokens_to_burninate)
        )

        self.dapp.add_transaction_dialog(
            burn_fn,
            title="Trogdor burninates the tokens",
            gas_limit=56000
        )

        self.close()

class VictoryFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_label("Congratulations!  You have racked up a truly impressive", add_divider=False)
        self.add_label("count of {} burninated peasants, as well".format(self.peasant_decorator(self.dapp.my_burninated_peasants)), add_divider=False)
        self.add_label("as several incinerated thatched roof cottages and various", add_divider=False)
        self.add_label("counts of petty theft and vandalism.  Your throne in the", add_divider=False)
        self.add_label("Hall of Maximum Burnination awaits your Dragonly Personage!")
        self.add_button_row(
            [("Claim Victoriousness", self.claim_victory, 0),
            ("Back", self.close, 1)],
            layout=[50, 50],
        )

    def claim_victory(self):
        self.dapp.add_transaction_dialog(
            self.dapp.token.claimVictory(),
            title="Claiming victory",
            gas_limit=100000
        )
        self.close()

    def peasant_decorator(self, peasants):
        return "{:f}".format(peasants)[:14]

A closer look at the peasantcoin contract

The Erc20 class and its SLContract base class give you a great deal of functionality for free, but it’s often useful to add on some extra methods that have close connection to our contract calls.

The self.functions() is an easy way to get at the underlying function of the web3.py contract class.

Erc20 subclasses also provide passthrough methods to all standard erc20 functions, as well as helper methods like my_balance()

from shadowlands.sl_contract.erc20 import Erc20
from shadowlands.tui.debug import debug, end_debug
from decimal import Decimal
import pdb


class PeasantCoin(Erc20):

    ### Passthrough calls to contract

    # Similar to balanceOf, but keeps track of burninated peasants
    def burninatedBy(self, address):
        return self.functions.burninatedBy(address).call()

    def topBurninators(self):
        return self.functions.topBurninators().call()


    ### Helper methods

    def my_burninated_peasants(self):
        return self.burninatedBy(self.node.credstick.address)


    def top_burninators(self):
        '''
        Returns a sorted list of lists of integers and addresses,
        representing the top burninators. Maximum 10 results.
        '''
        burninators = set(self.topBurninators())
        burninators.remove('0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000')
        if len(burninators) == 0:
            return []

        burninators = [[x, Decimal(self.burninatedBy(x)) / (10 ** 18)] for x in list(burninators)]
        burninators.sort(key=lambda x: x[1], reverse=True)
        return burninators

    def victorious(self):
        '''
        Returns True or False.
        True only if user is not currently in the hall but is
        allowed to take a spot.
        '''
        if self.my_burninated_peasants() == 0:
            return False

        # Are we already in the hall of max burnination?
        if self.node.credstick.address in [self.topBurninators()]:
            return False

        if len(top) < 10:
            return True

        # Weakest burninator first
        top = self.top_burninators()
        top.sort(key=lambda x: x[1])

        if top[0][1] < Decimal(self.my_burninated_peasants()) / 10 ** 18:
            return True
        return False


    ### TXs
    def burninate(self, peasants):
        return self.functions.burn(peasants)


    def claimVictory(self):
        return self.functions.claimVictory()

    ABI='''
    [{"name":"Transfer","inputs":[{"type":"addre...
    '''

Here is the hall of Maximum Burnination, in all its glory:

Running Trogdor

And so, 133 fiery peasants later (and after restarting the dapp)…

Running Trogdor

And so, after the transaction is run and we restart the app…

Running Trogdor

Huzzah! We are immortal - for the time being.

Making your dapp update dynamically

It’s hella lame that we have to keep restarting the app in order to react to changes on the blockchain. Luckily, help is on the way.

The label widgets on shadowlands can take either a string, or a function reference (or lambda) that returns a string. That will let us make the displays dynamic, but it also can make your dapp VERY SLOW.

To help solve this performance problem, the SLDapp and SLFrame classes will automatically expire the cache on any @cached_property when a new block appears.

Using lambdas to cached properties as input to labels combines the best of both worlds - any function reference you pass to a label will be both dynamic and reasonably performant.

In addition, SLDapp and SLFrame will both trigger the new_block_callback() which you can override for your own purposes. This callback will be called immediately after the cached properties are expired,

Let’s put our informational display strings in cached properties to let the app update dynamically. We can also implement new_block_callback() to make the victory frame pop up when appropriate.

from shadowlands.sl_dapp import SLDapp
from shadowlands.sl_frame import SLFrame
from burninator.peasant_coin import PeasantCoin
from decimal import Decimal
from cached_property import cached_property
from shadowlands.tui.debug import debug, end_debug
import pdb

class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        self.token = PeasantCoin(self.node)
        self.add_sl_frame(MyMenuFrame(self, height=24, width=74 ))

        self.victory_notification_has_been_seen = False
        self.victory_check()

    def victorious_check(self):
        if self.victory_notification_has_been_seen:
            return

        if self.token.victorious():
            self.add_sl_frame(VictoryFrame(self, height=9, width=62, title="Victory!!!"))
            self.victory_notification_has_been_seen = True


    def new_block_callback(self):
        self.victory_check()

    @cached_property
    def total_peasants(self):
        return self.token.totalSupply() / (10 ** 18)

    @cached_property
    def my_burninated_peasants(self):
        return self.token.burninatedBy(self.node.credstick.address) / (10 ** 18)

    @cached_property
    def peasants(self):
        return Decimal(self.token.my_balance() / (10 ** 18))

    def peasant_decorator(self, peasants):
        return "{:f}".format(peasants)[:14]

Here we implement new_block_callback() and use it to call victory_check(). It may be useful to know that new_block_callback() is called immediately after the cache is expired.

On line 5 we import the cached_property decorator.

We declare most of the dapp variables as @cached_property now - this will let them update dynamically, as well as keeping performant when any other classes in the dapp need to reference them.

class MyMenuFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_label("The Hall Of Maximum Burnination", add_divider=False)
        self.add_divider(draw_line=True)
        self.add_label("Rank    Peasants           Hero", add_divider=False)

        for i in range(10):
            self.add_label(self.burninator_hero(i), add_divider=False)
        self.add_divider(draw_line=True)

        self.add_label("Trogdor the wingaling dragon intends to burninate peasants.", add_divider=False)
        self.add_label(lambda: self.total_peasants_string)
        self.add_label(lambda: self.my_peasant_status_string)
        self.text_value = self.add_textbox("How many to burninate?", default_value=' ')
        self.add_button_row([
            ("Burninate!", self.burninate, 0),
            ("Get More Peasants", self.get_peasants, 1),
            ("Close", self.close, 2)
        ], layout=[30, 40, 30]
        )

    @cached_property
    def total_peasants_string(self):
        return "There are {} peasants (BRNT) in the world.".format(self.dapp.peasant_decorator(self.dapp.total_peasants))

    @cached_property
    def my_peasant_status_string(self):
        return "Trogdor has {} peasants, and has burninated {}".format(self.dapp.peasant_decorator(self.dapp.peasants), self.dapp.peasant_decorator(self.dapp.my_burninated_peasants))

    def burninator_hero(self, index):
        return lambda: self.top_burninators_decorator[index]

    @cached_property
    def top_burninators_decorator(self):
        burninators = self.dapp.token.top_burninators()
        i = 0
        heroes = []

        for hero in burninators:
            hero_name = self.dapp.node._ns.name(hero[0])
            if hero_name is None:
                hero_name = hero[0]
            heroes.append("{}       {:14s}     {}".format(i, self.dapp.peasant_decorator(hero[1]), hero_name))
            i += 1

        if len(heroes) < 10:
            for x in range(len(heroes), 10):
                heroes.append(
                    "{}       Unclaimed".format(str(x)))

        return heroes

The magic happens on lines 12 and 13, where we send a lambda: self.property_name into the labels. I had to get a little bit fancy at line 8 and call a function to return lambdas that index the array returned by the cached property top_burninators_decorator.

And now our app updates live.

Tutorial Source Code

The source code for the Burninator app is available on github at https://github.com/kayagoban/burninator

Deploying your dapp

Shadowlands has a package management contract at sloader.shadowlands.eth that allows you to deploy your dapp so you can share it with the world.

Once registered, anyone can run your dapp by using the ethereum address you used to register the software (they can also reference your ENS, which is much nicer). If you want to register more than one dapp, use a different address to register each.

In this example, I am using address 0x4c37BFF7B29F38bb9f34E2345220190Fa03f5ccC which is is resolved by the ENS name burninator.eth.

Select the Deploy local dapp to network from the Dapps menu.

Deploying dapp Deploying dapp Deploying dapp Deploying dapp Deploying dapp

Now, copy the zip file to some place on the internet. Do not use the zip files generated by github releases - for some reason the ZipImporter class does not accept them as legit zip files. You can add the shadowlands-generated zip file to a github release though - this is an easy way to get free hosting.

Deploying dapp

Now you will register this URL and checksum. Once the TX is mined, anyone can run your app:

Deploying dapp Deploying dapp

And there we are!

Deploying dapp

Disclaimer

No peasants were harmed during the writing of this tutorial.

SLDapp

class SLDapp

Abstract

SLDapp is the class which defines a Shadowlands Dapp. It provides many useful properties and methods to make writing dapps easier.

See the Tutorial to get started quickly.

Example
from shadowlands.sl_dapp import SLDapp

class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_message_dialog("Hello world!")

Properties

SLDapp.w3

Read-only property. A web3 object as provided by the web3.py framework.

SLDapp.node

Read-only property. An instance of Node.

# Find your address
my_address = self.node.credstick.address
SLDapp.config_key

A string to use as a key for storing config properties. Defaults to the name of your dapp module.

Feel free to change this to something very unique at the top of your initialize() method.

SLDapp.config_properties

Read-only property. A persistent dictionary of properties specific to your dapp. To load a single property, use SLDapp.load_config_property.

Methods

SLDapp.initialize()

An abstract callback that you must implement. It will fire upon the initialization of the SLDapp object. Do your setup here and add SLFrames or other dialogs.

SLDapp.new_block_callback()

An optional callback that you may implement. It will be fired when new blocks appear.

SLDapp.add_sl_frame(sl_frame)

Display a custom frame. Takes an instantiated subclass of SLFrame as the sole argument.

from shadowlands.sl_dapp import SLDapp
from shadowlands.sl_frame import SLFrame

class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        myframe = MyFrame(self, 5, 50, title="frame title")
        self.add_sl_frame(myframe)

class MyFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_button(self.close, "Select")
Add SL Frame
SLDapp.add_message_dialog(message, **kwargs)

Display a message dialog with the string supplied by message. You may pass in kwargs which apply to asciimatics.Frame.

from shadowlands.sl_dapp import SLDapp
from shadowlands.sl_frame import SLFrame

class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_message_dialog("Hello, world")
Add msg dialog
SLDapp.add_transaction_dialog(tx_fn, tx_value=0, gas_limit=300000, title="Sign & Send Transaction", destroy_window=None, **kwargs)

Display a transaction dialog, which allows the user to select gas price and gives a gas cost estimate.

You must pass in a transaction function to tx_fn as the first argument. Instances of Erc20 have many build-in methods which return transaction functions. You can also access the underlying function generators of any SLContract instance with SLContract.functions().

You can provide a tx_value - Decimal value denominated in Ether.

You may pass in an integer gas_limit, which defaults to 300000. It is best practice to always set this.

A string title can be set.

If there is a frame which needs to be programmatically destroyed upon the exit of the transaction dialog, pass the object into destroy_window.

You may pass in kwargs which apply to asciimatics.Frame.

Example
    from shadowlands.sl_dapp import SLDapp
    from shadowlands.sl_frame import SLFrame
    from shadowlands.sl_contract.erc20 import Erc20

    class Dapp(SLDapp):
        def initialize(self):
            token = Erc20(
                self.node,
                address='0x89d24A6b4CcB1B6fAA2625fE562bDD9a23260359'
            )
            tx_fn = token.transfer(
                self.node.credstick.address, 1 * (10 ** token.decimals())
            )
            # we send ourselves 1.0 token
            self.add_transaction_dialog(tx_fn)
Add tx dialog
SLDapp.add_uniswap_frame(ec20_address, action='buy', buy_amount='', sell_amount='')

Adds a Uniswap dialog if there exists a Uniswap exchange for the Erc20 token which resides at erc20_address.

If no Exchange exists, a dialog will be displayed, informing the user of this.

Example
    from shadowlands.sl_dapp import SLDapp
    from shadowlands.sl_frame import SLFrame

    class Dapp(SLDapp):
        def initialize(self):
            address='0x89d24A6b4CcB1B6fAA2625fE562bDD9a23260359'
            self.add_uniswap_frame(address, buy_amount='3')
Add uniswap frame
SLDapp.show_wait_frame(message)

Display a wait message frame with string message.

Use in case you have a thread doing work which will take time. Call this right before you start your new thread. The user will not be able to remove this frame; it needs to be programmatically removed by calling SLDapp.hide_wait_frame()

Example
    from shadowlands.sl_dapp import SLDapp
    from shadowlands.sl_frame import SLFrame
    import threading
    from time import sleep

    class Dapp(SLDapp):
        def initialize(self):
            self.show_wait_frame("Please wait 10 seconds for... reasons")
            threading.Thread(target=self._my_thread).start()

        def _my_thread(self):
            sleep(10)
            self.hide_wait_frame()
Add uniswap frame
SLDapp.hide_wait_frame()

Remove the wait message frame. If it is not currently displayed, this method is a no-op.

This should be called inside your new thread, as the last thing it does.

SLDapp.save_config_property(property_key, value)

Save a serializable object to the persistent data store.

SLDapp.load_config_property(property_key, value)

Load a serializable object from the persistent data store.

SLFrame

class SLFrame

Abstract

SLFrame provides a ‘window’ for interacting with users in your SLDapp. Create a subclass of SLFrame and then add Widgets to it in the initialize`() method.

Example
from shadowlands.sl_dapp import SLDapp
from shadowlands.sl_frame import SLFrame

class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_sl_frame(
            MyFrame(self, 5, 20)
        )

class MyFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_button(self.close,"Push Me")

Constructor

SLFrame(dapp, height, width, title=None)

SLFrame is not meant to be directly instantiated. Subclass it and instantiate the subclass.

The constructor’s first argument should be an instance of SLDapp. Integer height and width parameters are also required. An optional title string will be displayed at the top of the frame.

Example
MyFrame(self.dapp, 5, 20, title="frame title")
Dapps Menu

Properties

SLFrame.dapp

The instance of SLDapp which the SLFrame belongs to.

Methods

SLFrame.initialize()

An abstract callback that you must implement. It will fire upon the initialization of the object. Do your setup here and add widgets.

SLFrame.close()

Call to close the current frame. In your dapp, be sure to open a new frame or dialog before calling close() on the current one.

Widgets

SLFrame.add_button(fn, text, layout=[100], layout_index=0, add_divider=True)

Add a single button to your SLFrame. fn is a function to run (lambdas are useful for this) when the button is pressed. You can place a string within the button by setting text. The optional layout and layout_index variables follow the asciimatics widget layout rules (see AsciimaticsLayout docs for details)

Example
class MyFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_button(self.close,"Push Me")
Button
SLFrame.add_button_row(buttons, layout=[1, 1, 1, 1], add_divider=True)

A row of buttons. The argument buttons is an array of (string, function, index) tuples. layout is an AsciimaticsLayout array, which defines the indices available for the buttons.

Example
class MyFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        my_buttons = [
            ("Say hello", self.say_hi, 0),
            ("Say bye", self.say_bye, 2),
            ("Close", self.close, 3)
        ]
        self.add_button_row(my_buttons)
Button Row
SLFrame.add_checkbox(text, on_change=None, default=False, **kwargs)

Add a checkbox for boolean input. A string variable text will appear alongside the checkbox. You can supply a function to on_change which will be executed when the checkbox changes state. The function returns a method which you can call later, to retrieve the value in the checkbox.

Example
    class MyFrame(SLFrame):
        def initialize(self):
            self.boxvalue = self.add_checkbox("sometext", on_change=self.show_value, default = True)
            self.add_divider()
            self.add_button(self.close, "close")

        def show_value(self):
            self.dapp.add_message_dialog(str(
                self.boxvalue()
            ))
Checkbox
SLFrame.add_qrcode(data)

Displays a QRCode from the data given.

Example
class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        myframe = MyFrame(self, 20, 40)
        self.add_sl_frame(myframe)

class MyFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_qrcode(self.dapp.node.credstick.address)
        self.add_button(self.close, "close")
QRcode
SLFrame.add_textbox(label_text, default_value=None, add_divider=True, on_change=None, **kwargs):

Diplays a textbox for input. on_change takes a function that is run when the textbox changes value.

Example
class MyFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.textbox_value = self.add_textbox("Value:", default_value="1000000")
        self.add_button_row([
            ("show value", self.show_value,0),
            ("close", self.close, 3)
        ])

    def show_value(self):
        self.dapp.add_message_dialog(str(
            self.textbox_value()
        ))
Textbox
SLFrame.add_divider(draw_line=False, **kwargs)

Add a horizontal spacer. draw_line will cause a line to be drawn across the space.

SLFrame.add_radiobuttons(options, default_value=None, layout=[100], layout_index=0, add_divider=True, on_change=None **kwargs)

Radiobuttons widget. Returns a function which, when executed, gives the value chosen. options is an array of tuples, filled with (label, value). layout follows the layout rules described in AsciimaticsLayout. You can provide an optional on_change function.

Example
class MyFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        options = [
            ("Option one", 1),
            ("Option two", 2),
            ("Option three", 3)
        ]
        self.options_value = self.add_radiobuttons(
            options,
            default_value = 2,
            on_change=self.useful_fn
        )
        self.add_button(self.close, "close")

    def useful_fn(self):
        self.dapp.add_message_dialog(self.options_value())
Radiobuttons
SLFrame.add_listbox(height, options, default_value=None, on_select=None, layout=[100], layout_index=0, **kwargs)

Returns a function which, when executed, gives the value chosen. height is the number of lines high the listbox reaches. If the length of the options array exceeds height, the user will be able to scroll to see all the options. options is an array of tuples, filled with (label, value). layout follows the layout rules described in AsciimaticsLayout. You can provide an optional on_change function.

Example
class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        myframe = MyFrame(self, 8, 25, title="frame title")
        self.add_sl_frame(myframe)

class MyFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        options = [
            ("Option one", 1),
            ("Option two", 2),
            ("Option three", 3)
        ]
        self.options_value = self.add_listbox(
            options,
            default_value = 2,
            on_change=self.useful_fn
        )
        self.add_button(self.close, "close")

    def useful_fn(self):
        self.dapp.add_message_dialog(self.options_value())
Listbox
SLFrame.add_label(label_text, layout=[100], layout_index=0, add_divider=True)

Display the string label_text.``layout`` follows the layout rules described in AsciimaticsLayout.

Example
class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        myframe = MyFrame(self, 8, 60, title="frame title")
        self.add_sl_frame(myframe)

class MyFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.add_label("HELLOOO")
Label
SLFrame.add_label_row(self, labels, layout=[1, 1, 1, 1], add_divider=True)

Add multiple labels. labels is an array of tuples of format (string, index) where index is the layout index. layout follows the layout rules described in AsciimaticsLayout.

Example
class MyFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        labels = [
            ("Hiiiii", 0),
            ("Heeeeey", 2),
            ("HELLOOO", 3)
        ]
        self.add_label_row(labels)
Label row
SLFrame.add_label_with_button(label_text, button_text, button_fn, add_divider=True, layout=[70, 30])

A label on the left and button on the right. button_fn will be executed upon button press. layout follows the layout rules described in AsciimaticsLayout.

Example
class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        myframe = MyFrame(self, 20, 70, title="frame title")
        self.add_sl_frame(myframe)

class MyFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        labels = [
            ("Hiiiii", 0),
            ("Heeeeey", 2),
            ("HELLOOO", 3)
        ]
        self.add_label_row(labels)
Label row
SLFrame.add_file_browser(path='/', height=15, on_change_fn=None)

Creates a file browser to select directories and files.

Returns a function that returns the selected filepath.

path is the default filepath to start at. height is an integer number of how many files to display. You can scroll through the rest.

on_change_fn will fire whenever the filepath is changed.

Example
class Dapp(SLDapp):
    def initialize(self):
        myframe = MyFrame(self, 20, 70, title="frame title")
        self.add_sl_frame(myframe)

class MyFrame(SLFrame):
    def initialize(self):
        self.file_value = self.add_file_browser(path='/chaindata')
        self.add_button(self.useful_fn, "Select")

    def useful_fn(self):
        self.dapp.add_message_dialog(self.file_value())
File Browser File Browser

SLContract

class SLContract

Abstract

This is a helper and wrapper around the w3 contract class.

Constructor

SLContract(node, address=None, provided_abi=None)

Initialize an SLContract by passing it the Node object.

The SLContract must be fed an address and the abi, but you have options for how to do this:

You can pass the string keyword arg address to the constuctor, or optionally you can subclass SLContract and assign the address to constants such as MAINNET, ROPSTEN, KOVAN, and other etherum network names.

You can pass the the string keyword arg provided_abi to the constructor, or optionally you can subclass SLContract and assign the JSON abi string to the ABI constant.

Example 1
abi = '''[{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"name":"owner_", "type":"address"}]
,"name":"setOwner","outputs":[], "payable":false,"stateMutability":"nonpayable",
"type":"function"}'''
contract_address='0x89d24A6b4CcB1B6fAA2625fE562bDD9a23260359'

''' then, get the node and...'''
contract = SLContract(node, address=contract_address, provided_abi=abi)
Example 2
from shadowlands.sl_contract import SLContract

class SaiPip(SLContract):

    KOVAN='0xa944bd4b25c9f186a846fd5668941aa3d3b8425f'
    ABI='[{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"name":"owner_","type":"address"}],
    "name":"setOwner","outputs":[],"payable":false,
    "stateMutability":"nonpayable","type":"function"}'

''' then, later, import SaiPip, get the node and...'''
sai_pip = SaiPip(node)

Properties

SLContract.w3

The w3 object as provided by the web3.py library

SLContract.node

The Node object

SLContract.functions

This is an autogenerated object that contains the contract function generators as described in the ABI the SLContract was initialized with.

Passed through from the web3.py Contract object.

Example 1
abi = '''[{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"name":"owner_", "type":"address"}]
,"name":"setOwner","outputs":[], "payable":false,"stateMutability":"nonpayable",
"type":"function"}'''
contract_address='0x89d24A6b4CcB1B6fAA2625fE562bDD9a23260359'

''' then, get the node and...'''
contract = SLContract(node, address=contract_address, provided_abi=abi)
set_owner_fn = contract.functions.setOwner(node.credstick.address)
SLContract.address

The string address of the SLContract.

Methods

SLContract.sha3(data)

The sha3 function as used in ethereum contracts.

SLContract.bytes32(an_int)

Turns an int into bytes32 value for use in an ethereum contract.

SLContract.to_sol_addr(address)

Removes the ‘0x’ and hex decodes an address for use in an ethereum contract.

SLContract.toWei(amount, from_denomination)

Equivalent of amount * 10 ** 18

SLContract.fromWei(amount, to_denomination)

Equivalent of amount / 10 ** 18

Erc20

class Erc20

Abstract

A subclass of SLContract specialized to handle contracts which conform to the Erc20 standard.

Integer vs. Decimal values

Integer values are the base denomination of a token, similar to Wei. Decimal values are the human readable denomination of a token, similar to Ether.

You can convert using Erc20.convert_to_decimal() or Erc20.convert_to_integer()

Constructor

Erc20(node, address=None)

Initialize an Erc20 by passing it the Node object.

The Erc20 must be fed an address, but you have options for how to do this:

Usually you will pass the string keyword arg address to the constuctor, or optionally you can subclass Erc20 and assign the address to constants such as MAINNET, ROPSTEN, KOVAN, and other etherum network names.

Example 1
contract_address='0x89d24A6b4CcB1B6fAA2625fE562bDD9a23260359'
''' then, get the node and...'''
token = Erc20(node, address=contract_address)

Properties

Erc20.decimal_balance

Returns the current address holder’s token balance, normalized in a human-readable Decimal. This is like getting the balance in Ether instead of in Wei.

Methods

Erc20.my_balance()

Returns the current address holder’s token balance, as an integer. This is like getting the balance in Wei instead of in Ether.

Erc20.totalSupply()

Returns integer value of the total supply.

Erc20.allowance(owner, proxy)

Returns integer value of tokens that address proxy is allowed to access on behalf of address owner.

Erc20.self_allowance(proxy)

Returns integer value of tokens that address proxy is allowed to access on behalf of the user’s current address.

Erc20.symbol()

Returns string symbol of token.

Erc20.decimals()

Returns integer number of decimals supported by token.

Erc20.balanceOf(target)

Returns integer value of tokens owned by address target.

Erc20.my_balance()

Returns integer value of tokens owned by user’s current address.

Erc20.convert_to_decimal(amount)

Returns decimal token value of integer amount

Erc20.convert_to_integer(amount)

Returns integer token value of decimal amount

Erc20.my_balance_str(length=18)

Returns string interpretation of user’s decimal token value, truncated to length characters.

Tx function generators

Erc20.approve(proxy_address, value)

Returns Tx function that will approve proxy_address to spend integer value amount of tokens on behalf of the current user address.

Erc20.approve_unlimited(proxy_address)

Returns Tx function that will approve proxy_address to spend an unlimited amount of tokens on behalf of the current user address.

Erc20.transfer(target, value)

Returns Tx function that will transfer integer value amount of tokens to address target

Node

class Node

The Node class provides ethereum networking functions and other useful properties.

Obtaining the Node object

You do not need to instantiate the Node object. You can get it by calling SLDapp.node, SLContract.node or Erc20.node.

Properties

Node.ens

Returns the Web3.ens object. Useful for calling ens.resolve(name) to perform a lookup or ens.name(address) to perform reverse lookup.

Node.best_block

Returns the highest known block.

Node.blocks_behind

Returns the number of blocks behind, or None if synced.

Node.eth_price

Returns the current eth price in USD, as listed in the Maker contract oracle used by the CDP/DAI system.

Node.network_name

Returns the uppercase network name string. Returns a string value of the network ID if not recognized.

Node.eth_balance

Returns the decimal ether value of the user’s current address.

Node.ens_domain

Return reverse lookup ENS domain of the user’s current address, or None.

Low Level Methods

These are low level methods that do not generate any UI.

Node.push(contract_function, gas_price, gas_limit=None, value=0, nonce=None)

Pushes a Tx function directly to the credstick for signing and publishing on the network.

value is the integer-value of wei to send with Tx. gas_price is an integer wei value. You need to set gas_limit on this method. If nonce is not set, it will be automatically calculated for the next valid nonce on the current user address.

Node.send_ether(destination, amount, gas_price, nonce=None)

Requests an ether send for credstick signing and publishing on the network.

destination is a string ethereum address. amount is the ether value in decimal format. gas_price is an integer wei value. If nonce is not set, it will be automatically calculated for the next valid nonce on the current user address.

Node.send_erc20(token, destination, amount, gas_price, nonce=None)

Requests an Erc20 send for signing and publishing on the network.

token is an Erc20 or SLContract object which has an Erc20 compatible transfer() function.

destination is an address. amount is a human-friendly decimal amount. gas_price is an integer wei value. If nonce is not set, it will be automatically calculated for the next valid nonce on the current user address.

Indices and tables