What is this proposal about?

We’re planning to improve an existing tool - the Cardano Test Wallet - and make it even more useful for developers creating apps (called DApps, or decentralized applications) on Cardano. Right now, this tool works with automation software like Playwright (which mimics how people use websites), but we want to take it further by adding a private, single-computer test network. This upgrade will let developers test their apps quickly and reliably on their own machines, without needing to use Cardano’s public test networks or wait for free test funds.

What will we do?

Here’s the plan in simple steps:

Add a Private Test Network: We’ll build a mini version of the Cardano network that runs on a developer’s own computer. This means they can test their DApps locally, without delays or outside help.

Improve Automation Support: We’ll make the wallet work even better with tools like Playwright, so developers can run realistic, automated tests easily.

Share It for Free: The upgraded tool will be open-source, free for anyone to use, modify, or improve and shared with the community.

Create Guides and Tutorials: We’ll write clear instructions and examples to help developers get started and use the tool effectively.

Spread the Word: We’ll connect with Cardano developers to let them know about the tool and encourage them to try it.

Why does this matter? Developers building DApps on Cardano need a fast, dependable way to test their work. Right now, they rely on public test networks, which can be slow and limiting. Our solution gives them a local testing setup, similar to a popular tool called Ganache used on Ethereum so they can work more efficiently and build better DApps. This will save time, improve app quality, and support Cardano’s growth as a developer-friendly platform.

In short, we’re upgrading a tool that’s already working, adding features developers need, and sharing it openly to benefit the whole Cardano community.

There’s a key issue in the Cardano ecosystem that this proposal aims to fix: developers don’t have a strong, easy-to-use test wallet for building and testing their DApps. Here’s why this matters and what’s missing:

No Full Testing Support: Current wallets on Cardano don’t work well with automated testing tools - like Playwright, which acts like a robot to simulate users interacting with a website. This makes it hard for developers to test their DApps in a realistic, repeatable way from start to finish (end-to-end testing). Without this, it’s tough to ensure Dapps work as intended before they go live.

Delays from Public Test Networks: Developers rely on Cardano’s public test networks to try out their DApps. These testnets need “faucets” to provide free test funds mostly for testing smart contracts with a limited number of users, these faucets are limited in funding and insufficient for certain scenarios which causes requests being handled manually which is a slow process. This creates delays and frustration, slowing down the process of building and improving DApps.

Inefficient Workflow: Right now, developers face external roadblocks, like waiting for testnet access or hitting limits on free funds especially in case of running tests for many users as with AI agents. This slows their work and makes it harder to quickly test ideas or fix problems.

What’s Needed: Cardano developers need a better tool, a test wallet that works fast, runs locally (on their own computers), and doesn’t depend on public networks or limited resources. This would let them test their DApps smoothly and efficiently, without bottlenecks holding them back.

In short, the lack of a proper test wallet is a gap that’s slowing down Cardano’s growth. Fixing this would help developers build better apps, faster.

What will this proposal do, and who will it help?

If this proposal is funded and built, it will deliver a new tool - a test wallet paired with a private, single-computer test network that makes it easier and faster for developers to create and test decentralized apps (DApps) on Cardano.

Here’s how it benefits the community and why it’s worth the investment:

Faster Testing for Developers: Developers won’t need to wait for public test networks or free test funds (from “faucets”) anymore. This tool lets them test their DApps quickly on their own computers, saving time and effort.

Works with Automation Tools: The test wallet connects smoothly with tools like Playwright, which mimics how real users interact with apps online. This makes testing more realistic and efficient.

Better, More Reliable DApps: By testing locally (on their own systems), developers can catch and fix problems early, leading to higher-quality DApps that work well for Cardano users.

Free and Open for Everyone: This tool will be open-source - meaning it’s free for anyone in the Cardano community to use, improve, or adapt. It’s a gift to all developers, not just a few.

Value to the Cardano Community:

• For Developers: They’ll work faster, launch DApps sooner, and spend less time dealing with delays.
• For Users: Better-tested DApps mean fewer bugs and a smoother experience on Cardano.
• For the Ecosystem: More high-quality DApps will attract new people and projects, growing Cardano’s strength and reputation.

This proposal supports Cardano’s goal of being an easy-to-use, growing, and developer-friendly platform. It’s an investment in tools that lift up the whole community by making development quicker, simpler, and more reliable.

Deliverables

• Test Wallet with private network support
• Integration with Playwright for full automation
• Full documentation, setup guides, and troubleshooting
• Tutorials and real-world DApp testing examples
• Public repository with Allure test reports and video demos

Definition of Done

• A developer can run local tests using a Cardano single-node network.
• The wallet can be injected into Playwright tests.
• All documentation is published and understandable by third parties.
• Code and test cases are publicly available and open source.

• Development (Core Engineering) 100,000 ADA or 50,000 USD
• Documentation 17,000 ADA or 8,500 USD
• Project Management 14.000 ADA or 7,000 USD
• Promotion and outreach within the DApp ecosystem 11,000 ADA or 5,500 USD
• Maintenance & Support (for 12 months) 20,000 ADA or 10,000 USD
• Infrastructure costs 3,000 ADA or 1,500 USD

Total 165.000 ADA or 82,500 USD

Team Size: 3-4 members (project management, marketing, developers, and documentation)
Duration: 6 months

What experience does our team bring to this project?

Dquadrant website

This proposal is led by the Kuber team at Dquadrant, a team with a solid history of building tools and supporting the Cardano network.

Here’s what we’ve done that prepares us for this work:

Past Projects We’ve Delivered:

• Mempool Explorer: A tool funded by Catalyst that helps track Cardano transactions, like a window into what’s happening on the network.
• Cardano Autonomous Agent Testing: Another Catalyst-funded project, testing governance on Cardano, ensuring everything works correctly.
• KuberIDE: A web-based workspace we built to help developers write and test Cardano Plutus smart contracts from a browser without having to know anything about the underlying infrastructure.

Support for Cardano’s Growth:

• GovTool Quality Assurance Testing: We created the setup to test GovTool, a key tool for Cardano’s governance, making sure it’s reliable for the community.
• Hard Fork Quality Assurance Testing: We helped test major network upgrades—like Vasil and Chang—to ensure Cardano runs smoothly and securely during big changes.

The Starting Point for This Proposal:

We’ve already built the Cardano Test Wallet, the tool this project will improve. It’s been used in real Cardano projects, proving it works and showing we know how to deliver.

In summary, the Kuber team at Dquadrant has hands-on experience building practical tools, testing critical Cardano systems, and supporting developers. We’ve done this before, and we’re ready to make this project a success too.

How will this tool be kept up and running after it’s built?

Once we finish developing the Cardano Test Wallet, we won’t just walk away, we’ll keep it working and useful for the community.

Here’s how:

Shared and Free for All: The tool will be released under the Apache License 2.0, a common rule that means it’s free for anyone to use, change, or share. The code will live on GitHub, a website where developers store and manage projects so anyone can see it or help improve it.

Support for One Year: Our team will take care of the tool for 12 months after it’s launched. This includes fixing problems (bugs) and making updates based on what users tell us they need. We’ll be listening to the community to keep it running smoothly.

Community Help Welcome: We’ll invite Cardano developers and users to contribute, whether by suggesting ideas, reporting issues, or even adding their own improvements. This way, the tool can grow with the community’s input, not just rely on us.

In short, we’re committing to a year of active support, sharing the tool openly, and encouraging others to join in so it stays valuable for Cardano long-term.

We don’t have formal endorsements from groups like a Technical Working Group or a CIP discussion yet, but this project already has real-world use and recognition within the Cardano community. Here’s the evidence of support so far:

Built on a Working Prototype: This proposal expands a tool we’ve already created - a prototype test wallet - that’s actively being used to test important Cardano projects like GovTool (a governance tool for the network). It’s a proven starting point, not just an idea.

Available and Used by Developers: The prototype is shared openly on GitHub (a website where developers store and collaborate on code) cardano-test-wallet-GIT and published on the NPM registry (a public library for software tools) cardano-test-wallet-NPM. This means developers can already access and use it.

Trusted in Past Projects: The tool has been part of successful Catalyst-funded projects, like Mempool Explorer (a tool to track transactions) and Cardano Autonomous Testing (a testing framework). This shows it’s valued by developers working on Cardano.

Created by a Proven Team: This project will be built by our Kuber team at Dquadrant, which has a strong history of supporting Cardano. We’ve done quality testing for major updates like Cardano’s latest hard forks (big network upgrades), GovTool, and the Constitutional Voting Tool. We’ve also delivered solutions like Autonomous Agent Testing and KuberIDE (a workspace for Cardano developers). Our track record shows we’re trusted to deliver useful, high-quality tools.

Why This Matters: The community’s use of our prototype in real projects and Dquadrant’s history of contributing to Cardano - shows there’s already practical support for what we’re building. It’s not just talk. it is a tool developers are relying on, and we’re ready to make it even better.

There are no dependencies.