Spiral Grant Application: Programming Lightning

SpiralGrantApplication.md

Spiral Grant Application: Programming Lightning

Applicant: Austin Krauss

Proposal Overview Education has a multiplier effect. A single book or class can help thousands, or even millions, enter a new domain. This Programming Lightning proposal aims to have a multiplier effect on the Bitcoin ecosystem by teaching developers the core concepts of the Lightning Network and how to apply them using the Lightning Development Kit (LDK).

Proposal Goals The primary objective of this proposal is to produce the following two resources:

1. Programming Lightning Workshop: A multi-day in-person workshop to teach developers how the Lightning protocol works and equip them with skills to build Lightning applications using LDK. Participants will spend most of their time coding and completing exercises. Coding will likely take place within Replit, thus reducing technical overhead and enriching the learning experience.
   • If bandwidth allows, a teaching handbook or video series will be developed so that others can learn how to administer the workshop themselves, further amplifying the reach and impact of this educational material.
2. Programming Lightning Book: As a stand-alone resource or follow-up to the workshop, a “Programming Lightning Book” will be developed so that students can learn on their own or reference material as they build their Lightning applications.

Learning Objectives Upon completing the book and/or workshop, students should:

• Have a substantive comprehension of the Lightning Network protocol.
• Understand how the components of the Lightning Network interact with each other.
• Be able to build a lightning node and wallet utilizing LDK components.

Timeline and Methodology

• Phase 1 (Month 1): Workshop Development, Research, and Initial Course Outline
  • The first month will be dedicated developing the beggining of the workshop and conducting technical/pedagogical research. This will include activities such as hosting mini-workshops for feedback on the overall flow of the workshop, gathering course outline feedback from the Bitcoin Lightning community, and deepening my understanding of LDK components by building a full node with advanced features.
• Phase 2 (Months 2 - 5): Workshop Development
  • During months 2 - 5, I’ll focus on developing workshop material. I’ll take advantage of working in the San Francisco Bay Area by running periodic Lightning mini-workshops with local developers, allowing me to gather feedback on the lessons and material. Toward the end of this period, I’ll begin testing the entire workshop.
• Phase 3 (Months 6 - 9): Book Development
  • Months 6 - 9 will focus on expanding upon the workshop content in the form of a book. This book will act as an extensive guide for developers to learn how Lightning works by programing individual components and, ultimately, building a full node with LDK.
• Phase 4 (Months 10 - 11): Finalizing Content
  • Months 10 - 11 will focus on additional workshop testing, proofreading, and finalizing content.
• Phase 5 (Month 12): Publication, Marketing, & Launch
  • Month 12 will focus on publishing the book and marketing/scheduling live workshops.

Conclusion As an open-source educational resource empowering developers worldwide to start building Lightning Network applications, this proposal aligns with Spiral’s aim of advancing Bitcoin.

Thank you for considering my application,

Austin Krauss