You’ve heard of zero-knowledge proofs.
You’ve heard of SNARKs and PLONK and zkRollups.
But you haven't gotten started, because you don’t have a spare brain dedicated to learning cryptography.
That all changes today.
Introducing Noir, the universal language of zero knowledge.
You’ve heard of SNARKs and PLONK and zkRollups.
But you haven't gotten started, because you don’t have a spare brain dedicated to learning cryptography.
That all changes today.
Introducing Noir, the universal language of zero knowledge.
Noir is a Rust-based domain specific language (DSL) for creating and verifying zero knowledge proofs.
It’s the easiest way to write zk applications compatible with any proving system.
> Read our blog post
medium.com/@aztecnetwork/…
> Get started with Noir docs.aztec.network/developers/noir
It’s the easiest way to write zk applications compatible with any proving system.
> Read our blog post
medium.com/@aztecnetwork/…
> Get started with Noir docs.aztec.network/developers/noir
The need:
The current zk stack is cumbersome and hard to understand.
Circuit-building languages require knowledge of cryptographic concepts, creating a barrier to widespread developer adoption.
The current zk stack is cumbersome and hard to understand.
Circuit-building languages require knowledge of cryptographic concepts, creating a barrier to widespread developer adoption.
To build in zk right now, you need two brains:
1. a cryptography brain that understands proving systems, trusted setups, and some low-level cryptography; and
2. an app developer brain that can reason intuitively about public and private state to create novel applications
1. a cryptography brain that understands proving systems, trusted setups, and some low-level cryptography; and
2. an app developer brain that can reason intuitively about public and private state to create novel applications
Put simply: not many people have two brains!
And that means number of zk app developers today is a small subset of the total number of blockchain devs.
And that means number of zk app developers today is a small subset of the total number of blockchain devs.
The simplicity of Noir means that having one brain is enough.
By abstracting away cryptographic complexity while retaining the power and flexibility of other circuit-building languages, Noir allows any developer–not just those with cryptography knowledge–to build zk apps.
By abstracting away cryptographic complexity while retaining the power and flexibility of other circuit-building languages, Noir allows any developer–not just those with cryptography knowledge–to build zk apps.
Noir is a leap forward for three reasons:
1) Simple, familiar syntax
Noir’s likeness to Rust makes it simple, familiar, and easy to understand.
1) Simple, familiar syntax
Noir’s likeness to Rust makes it simple, familiar, and easy to understand.
Creating a conditional is as simple as writing “if.”
Using other zk circuit writing languages entails downloading circuit libraries, reading them to understand their underlying logic, and then calling library implementations of basic features.
Using other zk circuit writing languages entails downloading circuit libraries, reading them to understand their underlying logic, and then calling library implementations of basic features.
2. Standard crypto library
Noir also possesses a standard library of highly optimized functions commonly used in circuit development.
Noir also possesses a standard library of highly optimized functions commonly used in circuit development.
The stdlib gives developers access to widely used, complex algorithms that are hand-written and tightly optimized by the Aztec team.
The standard library grants developers a high level of circuit efficiency while interacting with a simple, easy to use abstraction layer.
The standard library grants developers a high level of circuit efficiency while interacting with a simple, easy to use abstraction layer.
3. Proving system agnostic
Because Noir doesn’t compile directly to circuits but to an intermediary representation, it is compatible with multiple back-end proving systems.
We call this intermediate representation an ACIR (Abstract Circuit Intermediate Representation).
Because Noir doesn’t compile directly to circuits but to an intermediary representation, it is compatible with multiple back-end proving systems.
We call this intermediate representation an ACIR (Abstract Circuit Intermediate Representation).
We’ve created some sample implementations of circuits in Noir to show you what they look like against common reference code:
> Mastermind in Circom github.com/vezenovm/week3…
> Mastermind in Noir github.com/vezenovm/maste…
> Mastermind in Circom github.com/vezenovm/week3…
> Mastermind in Noir github.com/vezenovm/maste…
> Tornado Cash in Circom github.com/tornadocash/to…
> Tornado Cash in Noir github.com/vezenovm/simpl…
> Tornado Cash in Noir github.com/vezenovm/simpl…
But wait--there's more!
Alongside today’s release, we’ve developed and published Barretenberg.js–a Typescript wrapper for Aztec’s crypto back-end.
It allows for in-browser proof construction, allowing zk developers to quickly and easily create full-stack Noir programs.
Alongside today’s release, we’ve developed and published Barretenberg.js–a Typescript wrapper for Aztec’s crypto back-end.
It allows for in-browser proof construction, allowing zk developers to quickly and easily create full-stack Noir programs.
Noir can be used today to build zk games much faster than was previously possible.
Implementations of simple games like Wordle, Battleships, and Mastermind can be done in an afternoon.
Implementations of simple games like Wordle, Battleships, and Mastermind can be done in an afternoon.
More complex applications are made possible with the Barretenberg.js library:
Developers can now create proofs of membership and identity, blind auctions, and proofs of action on Aztec Connect that can enable private airdrops.
Developers can now create proofs of membership and identity, blind auctions, and proofs of action on Aztec Connect that can enable private airdrops.
We are convinced that Noir is a transformational step for practical zk development.
As such, we’re currently working toward rewriting Aztec’s core circuits using Noir, and we’re continuously working to improve its usability.
As such, we’re currently working toward rewriting Aztec’s core circuits using Noir, and we’re continuously working to improve its usability.
Writing zk applications is intimidating, confusing, and time-consuming.
That all changes today.
Here’s how to install Noir, compile your first zk program, and verify it in a Solidity contract, all in 15 minutes:
> Getting started with Noir docs.aztec.network/developers/noir
That all changes today.
Here’s how to install Noir, compile your first zk program, and verify it in a Solidity contract, all in 15 minutes:
> Getting started with Noir docs.aztec.network/developers/noir
Once you’ve gotten off the ground, show us what you’ve built.
If you’re interested in actively participating in Noir development as a paid early tester, check out our Grants page aztec.network/grants for more information.
If you’re interested in actively participating in Noir development as a paid early tester, check out our Grants page aztec.network/grants for more information.
We’ll be publishing more guides on development with Noir and adding to the tooling infrastructure behind it, with a singular goal :
Making Noir the universal language of zero knowledge.
Read our full announcement here: medium.com/@aztecnetwork/…
Making Noir the universal language of zero knowledge.
Read our full announcement here: medium.com/@aztecnetwork/…
After you get started at docs.aztec.network/developers/noir, we welcome you to contribute to the language and Barretenberg library.
And join us on Discord to talk directly to the Noir team: discord.gg/aztec
And join us on Discord to talk directly to the Noir team: discord.gg/aztec
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