Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)
What is the EVM?
The Ethereum Virtual Machine or EVM is a piece of software that executes smart contracts and computes the state of the Botanix network after each new block is added to the chain.
The EVM sits on top of Botanix's hardware and node network layer. Its main purpose is to compute the network's state and to run and compile various types of smart contract code into a readable format called 'Bytecode.'
This makes it possible for smart contracts deployed on EVM-compatible chains like Polygon, Avalanche or Botanix to be recognized by the nodes, and allows developers to port their dapps or tokens over from Ethereum to other EVM-compatible chains with relative ease.
Solidity smart contracts benefit from the Lindy effect and experience higher levels of trust and familiarity. From a programming language perspective, Solidity has a strong footing in the crypto world and Botanix has therefore opted to leverage the tools that already exist in the EVM ecosystem.
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So why did we choose the EVM for Botanix?
The Ethereum Foundation has led the way as a composable smart contract blockchain. It developed a new smart contract programming language called Solidity. Ethereum has created an ecosystem and achieved a big head start regarding the number of applications and developers.
After Ethereum, multiple layer one chains have optimized for different properties in their choice of programming language. For example, Solana has made the design choice to go with Rust. This enables Solana to attract the software engineers already familiar with the Rust programming language to develop in the Solana ecosystem.
Also in the layer two ecosystem different chains have chosen to optimize for different reasons. For example starkware (ZK Rollup on Ethereum) has opted to design a new programming language Cairo.
Overall the programming language battle is fought in terms of composability, ecosystem and transportability. While composability in the newer chains might be bigger, there is a head-start of an ecosystem of (proven) applications that will be difficult to beat. Especially because of the associated dollar amounts on-chain, Solidity smart contracts benefit from the Lindy effect and experience a higher trust level of security.
From a programming language perspective, Solidity seems to have set a stronghold in the crypto world and Botanix has therefore opted to build an EVM.
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