Shardeum Evolves: Advanced EVM with eth_estimateGas and eth_feeHistory

The Update Unveiled

Salutations, Shardians! We’re thrilled to announce the integration of two essential RPC methods on Shardeum: eth_estimateGas and eth_feeHistory towards the end of 2023. Both of these RPC methods improve the experience of users interacting with the EVM and wider network in multiple ways and also show our continued commitment to the completion of key components that will make developers life easier building dApps on Shardeum. Every addition brings us one step closer to realizing the full Shardeum vision towards and beyond the mainnet!

Don't miss to read our blog that explains Shardeum's integration of all the necessary Ethereum JSON-RPC methods like the two methods we will be discussing in this blog.

What is eth_estimateGas?

eth_estimateGas is a JSON-RPC method used to estimate the amount of gas that would be required to execute a specific transaction on Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible networks. Basically, eth_estimateGas provides a forecast of how much gas a particular transaction might require. It’s like getting a gas gauge reading before setting off on a road trip!

What is eth_feeHistory?

On the other hand, eth_feeHistory is a JSON-RPC method introduced as part of the EIP-1559 which was activated in the London hard fork in August 2021. eth_feeHistory gives insights into the past fee behavior on Shardeum, offering a clear picture of how transaction fees will evolve over time. Integrating these methods means our network is more transparent and user-friendly.

Benefits of eth_estimateGas on Shardeum

1. Know Your Gas Before You Go

Utilizing eth_estimateGas lets users forecast gas needs with precision, meaning improved accuracy for users and dApps! This helps in ensuring transactions are neither overpaying nor running out of gas prematurely.

2. Delight for Developers

Developers can better structure and optimize their dApps by having an accurate gas estimation tool and can use this method to provide users with feedback on potential transaction costs, ensuring smoother user experiences.

3. Gas-Efficient Smart Contracts

Developers can use eth_estimateGas to understand how changes to their smart contract code might increase or decrease gas consumption. This can be particularly useful when trying to optimize a contract to be more gas-efficient.

4. Delight for Wallet Services

Wallets can provide users with real-time, accurate fee suggestions. This enhances the user experience by removing the guesswork and offering clear transaction cost insights.

5. Great User Experience

By providing a good estimate of the required gas, users can ensure they provide enough gas for their transactions. If a transaction is sent with too little gas, it will fail, and the gas provided will be consumed without the intended operation being completed. It’s worth noting that while eth_estimateGas provides a good approximation, it is still an estimation and not infallible!

Benefits of eth_feeHistory on Shardeum

1. Informed Decision Making

eth_feeHistory provides a transparent lens into past transaction fees. It’s like having a financial history book of the Shardeum network at your fingertips. Knowledge is power, and this tool empowers users to make more informed transaction decisions.

2. Wisdom for Wallets

Wallets can use the historical fee data to give users context about current fee rates. This helps in setting smarter, more economical transaction fees.

3. Insight for Developers

Developers gain a better grasp of transaction fee fluctuation patterns, allowing them to fine-tune their dApps for optimal performance.

4. Planning and Forecasting for the Industry

By studying past fee trends, network enthusiasts and analysts can gain insights into Shardeum’s global usage patterns, aiding in strategic planning and forecasting.

5. Offers Transparency

It offers a transparent way to verify and understand how fees have been changing over time. Users can ensure that they are not overpaying and get a better sense of what to expect for future transactions.

6. Great User Experience

By integrating fee history data, user interfaces can provide better feedback and visualizations about expected transaction costs, leading to a more informed and improved user experience.

7. Boost for EVM Users

Adopting eth_feeHistory would make sense for consistency and to allow easy integration with existing tools. As users become familiar with EIP-1559 on Ethereum and the tools that utilize eth_feeHistory, they might expect similar functionality on other EVM-based chains. Implementing similar fee mechanisms and supporting functions can help meet these user expectations.

These benefits highlight the tangible improvements both RPC methods bring to the Shardeum network, enhancing the experience for users, developers, and the broader community.

Conclusion

Every step we take is with the vision of offering the most scalable smart contracts platform with permanently low fees. With these new integrations, we’re not just advancing on our roadmap, but we’re also ensuring that Shardeum remains at the forefront of Web3 innovation. As we navigate the cosmos of code, rest assured, the sky’s not the limit – it’s just the beginning! Onward, Shardians! Thank you for being a part of this journey and keep soaring with Shardeum! 🚀🌌

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