1  # AlphaVM Simplification Plan
  2  
  3  ## Overview
  4  
  5  Simplify AlphaVM for single-token private economy (AX credits) by removing/disabling unused functionality. ALPHA chain only needs to run `credits.alpha` - no third-party smart contracts.
  6  
  7  **Key Discovery**: Credits.alpha circuits are ALREADY pre-compiled and embedded in `alphavm/parameters/`. The lazy-loading pattern in `Stack::get_proving_key()` handles this automatically.
  8  
  9  ---
 10  
 11  ## Phase 1: Disable Program Deployment (HIGH IMPACT)
 12  
 13  **Goal**: Prevent any new program deployments; only `credits.alpha` is allowed.
 14  
 15  ### 1.1 Disable Feature Flags
 16  
 17  **File**: `/mnt/c/Users/MarcoAniballi/Claude-Code/BlockBlox-MD/alphavm/Cargo.toml`
 18  
 19  Remove from default features:
 20  ```toml
 21  default = [
 22    "algorithms",
 23    "circuit",
 24    "console",
 25    "ledger",
 26    "parameters",
 27    "synthesizer",
 28    "utilities",
 29    # REMOVE: "package",
 30    # REMOVE: "file",
 31  ]
 32  ```
 33  
 34  This disables:
 35  - `vm/package/` module (deployment handling)
 36  - `vm/file/` module (program file handling)
 37  
 38  ### 1.2 Reject Deploy Transactions at VM Level
 39  
 40  **File**: `/mnt/c/Users/MarcoAniballi/Claude-Code/BlockBlox-MD/alphavm/synthesizer/src/vm/verify.rs`
 41  
 42  Add early rejection in `check_transaction()` (around line 183):
 43  ```rust
 44  Transaction::Deploy(..) => {
 45      bail!("Program deployment is disabled. Only credits.alpha is supported.");
 46  }
 47  ```
 48  
 49  ### 1.3 Remove Deployment from Finalization
 50  
 51  **File**: `/mnt/c/Users/MarcoAniballi/Claude-Code/BlockBlox-MD/alphavm/synthesizer/src/vm/finalize.rs`
 52  
 53  In `atomic_speculate()` (lines 386-443), replace deploy handling with error:
 54  ```rust
 55  ConfirmedTransaction::AcceptedDeploy(..) | ConfirmedTransaction::RejectedDeploy(..) => {
 56      bail!("Program deployment is disabled");
 57  }
 58  ```
 59  
 60  ### 1.4 Skip Deployment Loading on Startup
 61  
 62  **File**: `/mnt/c/Users/MarcoAniballi/Claude-Code/BlockBlox-MD/alphavm/synthesizer/src/vm/mod.rs`
 63  
 64  In `load_existing_deployments()` (lines 190-220):
 65  - Keep loading `credits.alpha` (required)
 66  - Skip all other programs or log warning
 67  
 68  **Estimated Impact**: ~500 lines disabled, eliminates entire deployment code path
 69  
 70  ---
 71  
 72  ## Phase 2: Restrict Instruction Set (MEDIUM IMPACT)
 73  
 74  **Goal**: Only allow instructions used by `credits.alpha`.
 75  
 76  ### 2.1 Credits.alpha Uses Only 13 Instructions
 77  
 78  **Keep**:
 79  - Arithmetic: `add`, `sub`
 80  - Comparison: `gte`, `gt`, `lte`, `lt`, `is.eq`, `is.neq`
 81  - Bitwise: `and`, `or`, `nor`
 82  - Control: `ternary`, `async`
 83  - Type: `cast`
 84  - Finalize: `contains`, `get`, `get.or_use`, `set`, `remove`, `position`, `branch.eq`
 85  
 86  **Remove** (85+ instructions):
 87  - All hash operations (35+): `hash.bhp*`, `hash.keccak*`, `hash.ped*`, `hash.psd*`, `hash.sha3*`
 88  - All commit operations (6): `commit.bhp*`, `commit.ped*`
 89  - All ECDSA operations
 90  - Serialization operations
 91  - Unused math: `pow`, `sqrt`, `inv`, `abs`, `double`, `neg`, `square`
 92  - Unused bitwise: `xor`, `nand`, `not`, `shl`, `shr`
 93  
 94  ### 2.2 Add Instruction Whitelist
 95  
 96  **File**: `/mnt/c/Users/MarcoAniballi/Claude-Code/BlockBlox-MD/alphavm/synthesizer/process/src/stack/register_types/initialize.rs`
 97  
 98  Add validation at instruction check (around line 347):
 99  ```rust
100  fn is_allowed_instruction(opcode: &Opcode) -> bool {
101      matches!(opcode,
102          Opcode::Add | Opcode::Sub |
103          Opcode::Gte | Opcode::Gt | Opcode::Lte | Opcode::Lt |
104          Opcode::IsEq | Opcode::IsNeq |
105          Opcode::And | Opcode::Or | Opcode::Nor |
106          Opcode::Ternary | Opcode::Async | Opcode::Cast
107      )
108  }
109  ```
110  
111  **Estimated Impact**: Prevents execution of 85+ unused instruction types
112  
113  ---
114  
115  ## Phase 3: Simplify Type Validation (MEDIUM IMPACT)
116  
117  **Goal**: Reduce type system to credits.alpha requirements.
118  
119  ### 3.1 Credits.alpha Uses Only 5 Literal Types
120  
121  **Keep**: `address`, `u64`, `u32`, `u8`, `boolean`
122  
123  **Can Disable** (12 types):
124  - Signed integers: `i8`, `i16`, `i32`, `i64`, `i128`
125  - Large unsigned: `u16`, `u128`
126  - Cryptographic: `field`, `group`, `scalar`
127  - Other: `signature`, `string`
128  
129  ### 3.2 Add Type Whitelist (Optional - Lower Priority)
130  
131  **File**: `/mnt/c/Users/MarcoAniballi/Claude-Code/BlockBlox-MD/alphavm/console/program/src/data_types/literal_type/mod.rs`
132  
133  Add validation helper:
134  ```rust
135  impl LiteralType {
136      pub fn is_credits_compatible(&self) -> bool {
137          matches!(self,
138              LiteralType::Address |
139              LiteralType::Boolean |
140              LiteralType::U8 |
141              LiteralType::U32 |
142              LiteralType::U64
143          )
144      }
145  }
146  ```
147  
148  **Note**: This is lower priority since credits.alpha is the only program and already validated.
149  
150  ---
151  
152  ## Phase 4: Code Cleanup (LOW IMPACT - Optional)
153  
154  **Goal**: Remove dead code paths for cleaner codebase.
155  
156  ### 4.1 Files That Can Be Removed/Gated
157  
158  Under `#[cfg(feature = "deployment")]` or removed entirely:
159  
160  | File | Lines | Purpose |
161  |------|-------|---------|
162  | `synthesizer/process/src/deploy.rs` | 69 | Process::deploy() |
163  | `synthesizer/process/src/verify_deployment.rs` | 85 | Process::verify_deployment() |
164  | `synthesizer/process/src/stack/deploy.rs` | 223 | Stack::deploy/verify |
165  | `synthesizer/src/vm/deploy.rs` | 105 | VM::deploy() |
166  | `vm/package/` directory | ~400 | Package handling |
167  | `vm/file/` directory | ~300 | File handling |
168  
169  **Total**: ~1,200 lines can be removed or feature-gated
170  
171  ### 4.2 Cost Calculation Simplification
172  
173  **File**: `/mnt/c/Users/MarcoAniballi/Claude-Code/BlockBlox-MD/alphavm/synthesizer/process/src/cost.rs`
174  
175  - Remove `deployment_cost_v1()`, `deployment_cost_v2()` (not needed)
176  - Keep only `execution_cost()` for credits.alpha functions
177  - Can be simplified to static lookup table for 15 known functions
178  
179  ---
180  
181  ## Implementation Order
182  
183  | Phase | Effort | Impact | Priority |
184  |-------|--------|--------|----------|
185  | 1.1 Feature flags | Low | High | **P0** |
186  | 1.2 Reject deploy TX | Low | High | **P0** |
187  | 1.3 Remove finalization | Low | High | **P0** |
188  | 1.4 Skip loading | Low | Medium | P1 |
189  | 2.1-2.2 Instruction whitelist | Medium | Medium | P1 |
190  | 3.1-3.2 Type whitelist | Medium | Low | P2 |
191  | 4.1-4.2 Code cleanup | Medium | Low | P3 |
192  
193  ---
194  
195  ## Testing Strategy
196  
197  1. **Unit Tests**: Verify deployment rejection returns proper error
198  2. **Integration Tests**: Ensure credits.alpha still executes correctly
199  3. **Regression Tests**: Run full test suite after each phase
200  4. **Devnet Test**: Start devnet and verify transfers/staking work
201  
202  ---
203  
204  ## Rollback Plan
205  
206  All changes are additive guards. To rollback:
207  1. Re-enable `package` and `file` features
208  2. Remove transaction rejection checks
209  3. No data migration needed
210  
211  ---
212  
213  ## Files to Modify (Phase 1 - Immediate)
214  
215  1. `/mnt/c/Users/MarcoAniballi/Claude-Code/BlockBlox-MD/alphavm/Cargo.toml` - Remove features
216  2. `/mnt/c/Users/MarcoAniballi/Claude-Code/BlockBlox-MD/alphavm/synthesizer/src/vm/verify.rs` - Reject deploy TX
217  3. `/mnt/c/Users/MarcoAniballi/Claude-Code/BlockBlox-MD/alphavm/synthesizer/src/vm/finalize.rs` - Remove deploy finalization
218  4. `/mnt/c/Users/MarcoAniballi/Claude-Code/BlockBlox-MD/alphavm/synthesizer/src/vm/mod.rs` - Skip non-credits loading
219  
220  ## Success Criteria
221  
222  - [x] `cargo check -p alphavm --no-default-features` compiles
223  - [x] Deploy transactions are rejected with clear error
224  - [ ] credits.alpha transfers work correctly (pending devnet test)
225  - [ ] credits.alpha staking/bonding works correctly (pending devnet test)
226  - [ ] Devnet starts and produces blocks (pending devnet test)
227  
228  ---
229  
230  ## Implementation Progress
231  
232  ### Phase 1: COMPLETED (2025-12-27)
233  
234  **Commits:**
235  - `alphavm` @ e772e90: "feat(vm): Disable program deployment - credits.alpha only"
236  - `adnet` @ 3d57b2a: "feat(delta): Alpha-triggered startup and graceful degradation"
237  
238  **Changes Made:**
239  1. ✅ Disabled `package` and `file` features in alphavm/Cargo.toml
240  2. ✅ Added deployment rejection in verify.rs (check_transaction + check_fee)
241  3. ✅ Added deployment rejection in finalize.rs (AcceptedDeploy + RejectedDeploy)
242  4. ✅ Added warning log for non-credits deployments in mod.rs
243  5. ✅ All 21 adnet tests pass
244  6. ✅ ~270 lines of deployment verification code removed
245  
246  **Additional Work (adnet):**
247  - Added Alpha-triggered DELTA startup (waits for first attestation)
248  - Added graceful degradation (503 when Alpha unavailable)
249  - Deposit/withdraw endpoints check alpha_available flag
250  
251  ### Phases 2-4: PENDING
252  
253  These phases are lower priority and can be implemented later:
254  - Phase 2: Instruction set restriction (medium impact)
255  - Phase 3: Type system simplification (low impact)
256  - Phase 4: Dead code cleanup (optional)