Fluent simplifies the complexities of blockchain technology with its recently announced "blended execution" technology, combining Wasm, EVM, and SVM applications on a single platform to ensure that smart contracts and applications run smoothly. In this article, we will discuss what Fluent is, the key features it offers, its architecture, and its blended execution technology.

First of all, what is Fluent?

Fluent is a platform that simplifies blockchain technology, enabling different applications to work together seamlessly. As a general-purpose Layer-2, it brings WebAssembly (Wasm) to Ethereum, the most permissionless blockchain of Web3. This allows developers to build scalable applications in programming languages such as Rust, Solidity, and TypeScript. Additionally, Fluent guarantees Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility, allowing easy interaction with tools like MetaMask and supporting established standards such as native Account Abstraction.

Let's take an example from daily life: Fluent is like Google Translate (this is not an advert :D). It enables applications speaking different languages (Wasm, EVM, SVM) to communicate seamlessly. Imagine a meeting where everyone speaks different languages and has difficulty understanding each other. Fluent translates everyone's speech, enabling smooth and effective communication. This way, developers and users can easily work with applications written in different programming languages, creating a unified and efficient experience.

Key Features of Fluent

Wide Programming Language Support: Fluent allows the creation of scalable applications in various programming languages such as Rust, Solidity, and TypeScript. This gives developers the freedom to build blockchain applications using their favorite languages.

Application Deployment Models: Fluent supports two types of application models: Shared and Sovereign.

• Shared Applications: These are smart contracts deployed in Fluent's smart contract environment, and the programming experience is the same as Ethereum, where applications can be created concurrently. All shared applications in Fluent can interact with each other, even if they are written in different programming languages (e.g., Rust and Solidity).

• Sovereign Applications: These are customizable, independent state machines that rely on Fluent's proof aggregation and verification service. Developers can customize sovereign application runtimes, modular layers (e.g., DA, sequencing), and more.

EVM Compliance: Fluent is compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) standards. This ensures support for built-in standards such as native Account Abstraction and enables easy interaction with popular tools such as MetaMask.

Developer-Friendly Environment: Through the use of Wasm, Fluent allows developers to build applications in general-purpose programming languages. This also enables developers to work with Web2 libraries and frameworks.

Fluent's Architecture

Fluent is designed as a general-purpose rollup on Ethereum, enabling developers to build scalable blockchain applications in their favorite programming languages like Rust, TypeScript, and Solidity. The key components of this architecture include zkWasm VM, rWasm, and EVM compatibility.

Here are the details of these components and how they interact:

zkWasm VM

At the heart of Fluent is zkWasm, a specialized virtual machine that enables smart contracts to run faster and more securely. zkWasm uses WebAssembly (Wasm) technology, specifically developed for Fluent as rWasm (Reduced-WebAssembly). rWasm is compatible with the original Wasm and simplifies program execution, enhancing security and performance.

rWasm (Reduced-WebAssembly)

rWasm, a modified version of Wasm, is an integral part of the zkWasm VM. It provides a flattened representation of the Wasm binary instruction format, which simplifies and secures program execution. rWasm is backward compatible with Wasm, making it easier to prove the correctness of programs and offering a more predictable and direct execution flow, thereby easing the verification process.

EVM Compatibility

Fluent is fully compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) standards. This compatibility ensures that developers can work seamlessly with tools and standards widely used in the Ethereum ecosystem, such as Solidity smart contracts and MetaMask.

Component Interaction

Fluent's architecture ensures that these components work together harmoniously. zkWasm VM provides efficient and secure execution of smart contracts, while rWasm further simplifies this process. EVM compatibility allows developers to build applications on Fluent using existing tools and standards. Together, these components provide developers with a robust, flexible, and secure blockchain platform.

What is Blended Execution Exactly?

Fluent is the first blended execution network, integrating Wasm, EVM, and SVM applications within a unified execution environment. As a Layer-2 solution, Fluent supports real-time composable applications built with Solidity, Rust, and Vyper smart contracts. This versatile approach allows developers to use the best tools for each component of their applications, leveraging familiar cryptographic tools and millions of open-source libraries. It facilitates seamless interaction and real-time composability across multiple VMs, eliminating the need for bridging and reducing complexity for developers and users.

Blended execution addresses the limitations of single execution environments in existing blockchains. Traditionally, blockchains support applications targeting only one virtual machine (VM), which requires users to bridge between networks and manage various wallets and token standards. This process introduces user friction and security concerns. Fluent’s blended execution paradigm unifies VMs, enabling seamless interaction and real-time composability. This approach simplifies the development process and enhances the user experience by removing the need for bridging and reducing complexity.

Blended Execution in Daily Life

Let's think of blended execution as a large international airport. Each airline has its own check-in, baggage, and boarding operations, and each uses different systems. Normally, passengers would have to move between different counters and terminals for each airline, which would be time-consuming and confusing. But imagine that at this airport, all airlines share a unified check-in, baggage claim, and boarding system. Passengers can easily perform all their transactions through a single system and seamlessly transition between flights. Similarly, Fluent enables applications written in different programming languages (Wasm, EVM, SVM) to interact seamlessly on a single platform, providing a unified and efficient experience for users.

How Fluent Provides Blended Execution?

Fluent ensures that interactions between EVM, Wasm, and SVM-based smart contracts occur both atomically and synchronously in the background. For example, a Solidity program can call a Solana Rust program in a single transaction without bridging. Each virtual machine (VM) is represented by a Wasm-based system contract that defines its execution environment (EE) standards and provides access to these functions. Consequently, all VMs in Fluent are emulated at the execution layer and compiled down to Fluent's rWasm (Reduced-WebAssembly) VM, which is optimized for zero-knowledge (zk) operations. This setup allows developers to build high-performance, secure applications with minimal friction and maximum interoperability.

Conclusion

Fluent represents a significant advancement in blockchain technology by addressing the complexities and limitations of current execution environments. With its innovative blended execution technology, it unifies Wasm, EVM, and SVM applications into a single, seamless platform, enabling developers to leverage the best tools and languages for their projects. By eliminating the need for bridging and simplifying interactions across different VMs, Fluent enhances both the development process and the user experience. As the first blended execution network, Fluent paves the way for a more integrated and efficient blockchain ecosystem, promising a future where diverse applications can operate harmoniously and securely on one unified platform.

To explore and learn more about Fluent, I suggest you join the Discord, check out Fluent Documentation and Fluent Mirror.