Hyperledger's 'open' policy: creating a blockchain browser that allows anyone to browse its 80 member blockchain projects

Hyperledger, a business blockchain consortium, is creating an open-source tool that will allow anyone to browse the distributed ledger projects created by its members.

The proposal to create a blockchain browser, originally conceived by an intern at the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), gained immediate traction when it was informally presented to Hyperledger members last month. However, other prominent contributors to the Linux-led group found themselves with similar efforts already underway.

But rather than launch competing open-source services, DTCC, IBM and Intel have chosen to merge their blockchain explorers into one another. The collaborative project has been dubbed the ‘Hyperledger Explorer’.

Similar to block explorers already available for other public blockchains, the tool makes it easier to gain an insider’s view of the Hyperledger project while still protecting the privacy that many of the nonprofit’s members value.

Brian Behlendorf, the newly appointed CEO of Hyperledger, said:

“Instead of having three different projects working on the same purpose, and having them compete with each other as three different code bases, [we thought] why not partner up? Combine the three projects into one, use a common code base, take the best of all three, and use that as an opportunity to talk about standards for different systems.”

When the blockchain explorer is completed, it is expected to allow Hyperledger developers and non-technical users to access block information, transaction data, network information (such as node lists), and chain code.

Since its creation in late 2014, Hyperledger has grown to include a number of large companies (Chicago Exchange Group, Hitachi and JPMorgan Chase) and blockchain startups (Blockstream, Bloq, itBit) as members.

Connections between blockchain standards

The project could end up being the first real-world test of the open-source collaboration, according to some of the people involved.

Behlendorf responded to the proposal with support for it shortly after DTCC intern Konrad Pabjan submitted the code, noting at the time that IBM was working on a similar product that would uncouple existing browsers from its Bluemix app development platform.

Dan Middleton, director of blockchain and distributed ledger technology at Intel, noted that his company is also working on similar things, and rather than duplicating the same work, he proposed jointly creating a ‘unified Hyperledger browser’.

Middleton wrote in the original email chain:

“This could be the first interesting example of distributed ledger interaction across the Hyperledger family of blockchains.”

At the end of the day, Chris Ferris, IBM's CTO for open technologies, called the project the 'Hyperledger Blockchain Explorer,' which was later shortened to 'Hyperledger Explorer.'

The project’s code is being developed under the Apache Software License, created by the Apache Foundation, the nonprofit open-source software company founded by Behlendorf. Under the terms of the license, anyone can use the browser, even if they are not a member of Hyperledger.

By creating a single blockchain explorer that everyone can use to browse the project, participants will continue the process of standardization, the ISITC told CoinDesk last month, which could lead to some unintended network effects.

Deepening mutual trust

But as more companies, such as Bank of America and HSBC, begin rolling out proofs of concept using the Hyperledger protocol, a standardized way to search data is just one part of the work they will do to expand.

When Behlendorf was appointed in May, one of his goals was to make it easier to onboard new members and to make Hyperledger’s open-source software available to everyone, including non-members.

By switching the group’s communication method from primarily conference calls to Slack, and its development tools from GitHub to Gerrick, he said they took the first step toward that goal.

Since Behlendorf’s appointment, the Hyperledger Consortium has doubled its membership from fewer than 40 to 80 members today, some of which have not been publicly announced.

There are now 160 code contributors in total, including individuals who do not represent any company.

Protecting the future

The Hyperledger Explorer Project’s approach has raised other concerns, such as how to handle ownership issues in a collaborative setting.

To help ensure that companies building on the code don't suddenly find themselves in violation of intellectual property laws, Behlendorf said every code contributor signs an Apache license to prove they have the legal right to contribute the code.

The Hyperledger Collection is copyrighted by the Linux Foundation.

To further formalize its increasingly entangled relationship, Hyperledger will hold an election starting Thursday to appoint 11 members to its technical steering committee.

Behlendorf said the new browser is part of their efforts to further build the trusting relationships that he believes make for a successful open source community.

Behlendorf concluded:

“We’re moving toward the idea that Hyperledger can be the home for a number of different projects that have different focuses, different priorities, different agendas, but are all connected by the concepts of blockchain, distributed ledgers, and smart contracts.”