The Graph Unveils Exciting New Roadmap for Web3’s Future

• The Graph roadmap emphasizes a robust infrastructure, with enhancements such as Indexer scaling supported by Kubernetes.

• Innovations such as new cost frameworks and reduced fees with Arbitrum strengthen the network, driving scalability and efficiency.

The Graph, a mainstay in web3 support since 2018, embarks on a new era with an innovative roadmap. This roadmap lays out a comprehensive vision to meet the ever-evolving demands of web3, focusing on expanding data services, empowering developers, improving protocol resiliency, optimizing Indexer performance, and creating an interconnected data graph.

Recognizing data as the core strength of web3, The Graph aims to move beyond subgraphs by introducing new query languages, diverse data sources and support for LLMs (Large Language Models).

Other languages highlighted, include Firehose and Substreams for faster data flow, a verifiable Firehose for historical retrieval of Ethereum data, and a dynamic file sharing marketplace for Indexers. This expansion envisions a diverse marketplace of natively accessible data services, empowering data scientists and improving accessibility.

A new roadmap. A New Era of The Graph 🗺️

The Graph’s new roadmap introduces a bold and transformative vision for the future of The Graph! The new R&D roadmap details an expansion of The Graph’s ability to serve web3’s growing demands for data access, while better serving… pic.twitter.com/PtdBLZeBkx

— The Graph (@graphprotocol) November 7, 2023

Expansion Beyond Subgraphs

The Graph’s vision expands considerably with the pursuit of a “World of Data Services”, going beyond the limitation of subgraphs. The proposal includes:

• New Data Sources: Introduction of diverse sources to enrich the diversity and relevance of data available on the web.
• Innovative Query Languages: Exploration of new query languages to enable data scientists and analytics consumers to perform more advanced queries.
• Support for LLMs: Implementation of large language models (LLMs) to improve the ability to process more complex queries.
• Firehose and Substreams Integration: Ensure a more efficient and modular data flow with full integration of crucial services such as Firehose and Substreams.
• Dynamic Marketplace for Indexers: The creation of a dynamic marketplace for indexers promises healthy competition and increased opportunities for developers.

This approach seeks not only to broaden the data offering but also to enable more advanced queries and facilitate access to a variety of services, reinforcing The Graph’s position as a complete web3 platform.

Continuous Development Experience Enhancement (DevEx)

The Graph recognizes that the heart of any platform is its developer community. The goal of “Developer Empowerment” translates into substantial improvements in the development experience, including:

• Simplified Billing: A clearer and more transparent billing structure that makes it easier to understand the costs associated with using the platform.
• Transparent Pricing Models: The introduction of pricing models that remove ambiguities and provide developers with a clear understanding of their costs.
• New Free Consultation Plan: The inclusion of a free consultation plan to improve accessibility to the platform.
• Reduced Gas Tariffs: The implementation of measures to reduce gas tariffs, improving the profitability and efficiency of network operations.

These improvements not only refine current workflows, but also lay the groundwork for a more accessible and efficient ecosystem.

Protocol Evolution and Resilience: Strengthening the Foundations

The roadmap focuses on “Protocol Evolution and Resiliency,” recognizing the importance of a robust protocol for the continued success of the platform. Planned enhancements include:

• New Payment System (Timeline Aggregation Protocol – Scalar): A new system that reduces trust assumptions between gateways and Indexers, improving economic efficiency.
• Graph Horizon: An evolution of the protocol to make it more decentralized, simple and cost-effective, with specific improvements in delegation and modular support for new data chains and services.
• Arbitration Support: The introduction of arbitration mechanisms for new data services and chains in a modular fashion.
• Dedicated User Interface for New Data Services: The creation of dedicated user interfaces to facilitate the integration of new data services, especially targeted at developers and data scientists.

Optimized Indexer Performance

The fourth pillar, “Optimized Indexer Performance,” focuses on improving network efficiency and reliability. Key initiatives are:

• Scaled Indexer Stack with Kubernetes: The implementation of a scaled Indexer stack supported by Kubernetes for large-scale operations.
• New Cost Modeling Frameworks: Development of specific cost modeling frameworks for new data services, giving Indexers a clear understanding of the associated costs.
• Automated Divergence Checks: Implementation of automated checks for divergence, improving reliability and operational efficiency.
• Reduced Gas Rates with Arbitrum: Adoption of Arbitrum to reduce gas rates for both developers and Indexers, improving operational efficiency.

Scaled Indexer Stack supported by Kubernetes: The most important of the optimized

This initiative involves the implementation of an Indexer infrastructure that operates in a scale-out fashion and is supported by Kubernetes. Kubernetes is a platform that facilitates the management and scalability of containerized applications. In this context, a scale-out stack suggests an optimized and efficient structure to handle large-scale operations.

These optimizations will not only strengthen the underlying infrastructure, but also contribute to a more scalable, efficient and cost-effective network.

Interconnected Data Network

The last pillar, “Interconnected Data Graph,” aims to create an organized global knowledge fabric. Planned actions include:

• Enhanced Data Curation and Data Governance Mechanisms: introducing improvements in data curation and data governance to ensure information quality and reliability.
• Support for Natural Language Processing (LLMs): Enabling support for LLMs to improve the ability to process and understand natural language data.
• Unified Access to All Data Services: Creation of a system that enables unified access to all data services, facilitating interoperability and efficient use of available information.

These initiatives lay the foundation for a more robust and coherent global knowledge graph, serving as a platform for an informed and healthy society.

What is The Graph?

The Graph is positioned as the primary indexing and querying layer in the web3 environment. Developers build open APIs called subgraphs, usable by applications using GraphQL. Its scope extends to more than 40 networks, including Ethereum, NEAR, Arbitrum, Optimism, ZkSync, Polygon, Avalanche, Celo, Fantom, Moonbeam, IPFS, Cosmos Hub and PoA.

Currently, more than 88,900 subgraphs have been deployed on the hosted service. The Graph is widely adopted in key applications such as Uniswap, Synthetix and Gnosis. Overseen by The Graph Foundation and supported by the Technical Council, this ecosystem is essential to the emerging infrastructure of the decentralized digital era.