Cross-shard Communication vs. Guaranteeing Data Independence for Each Transaction on a Shard.

A Grocery Store Checkout Lane Analogy

Execution sharding alone does not effectively address scalability if the blockchain does not ensure data independence for each transaction on a shard.

To illustrate the distinction between sharding transaction execution with cross-shard communication, the prevailing method in current sharded blockchains, and ensuring data independence for each transaction on a shard, which is the approach of PraSaga SagaChain through our Smart Asset Platform, consider a grocery store with multiple checkout lanes.

Imagine the checkout lanes at a grocery store. For traditional smart contract platforms, each lane’s register represents a Smart Contract. Lane 1 is dedicated to Fish, Lane 2 to Beef, Lane 3 to Chicken, Lane 4 to Milk, and so forth. If you are purchasing Fish, you must use Lane 1 exclusively, where the corresponding smart contract resides, regardless of the availability of other empty checkout lanes.

Contrast this with the newer approach of sharding transaction execution. In this scenario, you and others in line can choose the Beef or Chicken lane, as the cashier routes your transaction request to another lane. While the transaction can be validated, obtaining your receipt necessitates returning to the original Fish lane and waiting for your executed transaction to be sent back, received by the Smart Contract, and finalized. If your cart contains numerous items, each requiring a visit to a specific smart contract lane, the process becomes cumbersome.

Now, envision applying this concept to a Smart Asset Platform ensuring data independence for each transaction on a shard. In this model, no smart contracts are tied to specific registers; each lane represents a shard. Each item in your cart is guaranteed to have its own independent state (data), unrelated to other items. Your transaction can be executed on any register without enduring long queues. Similar to a grocery store, when lines in each lane become lengthy, new lanes are opened to reduce wait times. This is precisely what SagaChain accomplishes — it enables transactions on any shard.

SagaChain stands out as the only project addressing scalability through sharding while also facilitating more intricate transactions beyond simple token transfers between two smart contracts. This broader capability empowers industries to leverage an open, permissionless, trustless, decentralized, and immutable global ecosystem.