Imagine you’re a Cardano developer working hard to build a decentralized application (DApp) - maybe it’s a voting tool, a marketplace, or a smart contract system. You want it to work perfectly when it launches, but testing it under real-world conditions on Cardano’s blockchain is tough. There’s no easy way to see how it holds up with thousands of users, network hiccups, or even bad actors trying to break it. That’s where this proposal comes in.

We’re introducing the Autonomous Agent Testing SDK (AAT SDK), a toolkit designed to make testing DApps on Cardano simpler, faster, and more reliable for developers everywhere.

Here’s the main point: the AAT SDK lets developers create and run tests using “autonomous agents”, think of them as virtual users that act like real people or systems on the network. These agents can do things like send transactions, vote, or interact with smart contracts, all while mimicking the messy, unpredictable conditions of a live blockchain. Want to see how your DApp handles slow connections, crashing nodes, or even malicious attacks? This toolkit can simulate it all in a distributed setup that mirrors Cardano’s real network.

The goal is to give developers a ready-to-use, “plug-and-play” platform so they can spot and fix problems before their DApp goes live - saving time, cutting costs, and boosting quality.

We’re not starting from zero. This project builds on a foundation we’ve already laid through a previous Catalyst-funded effort focused on governance testing (specifically tied to CIP-1694, Cardano’s governance framework). That base infrastructure is built, tested, and proven - it worked so well that we’re now ready to take it to the next level.

Our plan is straightforward and practical:

• Build an SDK: A simple toolkit developers can use to write and run their own tests.
• Add Documentation and Tutorials: Clear guides to help developers of all skill levels get started fast.
• Share Example Projects: Open-source samples so anyone can see how it works and adapt it for their own DApps.

This isn’t just for tech wizards, it’s for every Cardano developer, from seasoned pros to newcomers. Everything we’re creating will be open source (under the Apache 2.0 License), meaning it’s free to use, transparent, and open to community input. You’ll find it all on GitHub - code, results, and examples - ready for anyone to dive in.

Why should DReps care?

Because this benefits the whole Cardano ecosystem. Developers get a tool to make their DApps stronger and more reliable, which means fewer buggy launches and more trust in the applications we all use. The community gets higher-quality DApps faster which ultimately saves money from the treasure, and Cardano’s reputation as a developer-friendly blockchain grows.

Dquadrant, a trusted Cardano team, is backing this proposal with their expertise - think QA testing for the last two hard forks and work on tools like GovTools and the Constitutional Voting App. This isn’t a risky experiment, it’s a proven concept ready to scale up and deliver real value.

In short, the AAT SDK is about empowering developers with a practical, powerful testing solution, rooted in past success and aimed at making Cardano’s future even brighter. For DReps from all backgrounds, this is a chance to support a project that strengthens our network, one DApp at a time.

What problem are we trying to solve ?

The problem this proposal aims to solve is straightforward: building and testing decentralized applications (DApps) on Cardano is currently a challenging, slow, and costly process.

Right now, developers lack a dedicated tool - whether it’s a platform, software development kit (SDK), or framework - that lets them mimic real-world conditions, such as how a DApp would perform with many users interacting across the network at once or under heavy stress. Instead, most testing happens in simplified, centralized environments that don’t capture the complexities of Cardano’s decentralized blockchain, where multiple parties and unpredictable factors come into play.

This limitation creates a serious bottleneck. Without a way to simulate these realistic scenarios, developers can’t easily spot critical bugs, weaknesses, or rare edge cases early on, issues that might only show up once the DApp is live.

As a result, they face delays in launching their applications and risk releasing products that aren’t fully reliable or secure. This proposal seeks to bridge that gap by providing a solution that makes testing faster, more affordable, and more effective, ultimately helping Cardano developers deliver stronger, higher-quality DApps for the community.

If this proposal is implemented, the benefits to the Cardano community would be clear and impactful, especially for developers and, by extension, everyone who uses DApps on the network.

The Autonomous Agent Testing SDK (AAT SDK) would give DApp developers a powerful, user-friendly tool to test their applications in realistic, decentralized conditions - something they can’t easily do today. By using autonomous agents to mimic real-world usage, like how thousands of users might interact with a DApp or how it holds up under stress, developers can catch and fix bugs, slowdowns, and security weaknesses before they become problems.

This means DApps on Cardano will be more reliable, launch faster, and cost less to build because developers won’t have to spend as much time or money troubleshooting issues after release.

The SDK isn’t just a tool, it comes with clear documentation and tutorials, making it accessible to all Cardano developers, no matter their experience level. This empowers the entire developer community to bake robust testing into their workflow, raising the bar for DApp quality across the board.

For the broader Cardano ecosystem, this translates to better applications, a stronger network, and a clear return on investment: more efficient development and higher trust in the DApps we all rely on.

Deliverables

• SDK for writing autonomous agent tests.
• Tutorials and developer documentation.
• Example DApp projects using the SDK.

Definition of Done

• SDK is published and installable (e.g., via NPM or GitHub).
• At least two example projects and complete documentation are available.
• Community members can write and run their own tests using the SDK with minimal setup.

SDK Development 170,000 ADA or 85,000 USD
Infrastructure & Hosting 6,000 or ADA 3,000 USD
Example Project Implementation 12,000 ADA or 6,000 USD
Documentation & Tutorials 17,000 ADA or 8,500 USD
Community Support 10,000 ADA or 5,000 USD Project Management 24,000 ADA or 12,000 USD
Promotion and outreach within the DApp ecosystem 11,000 ADA or 5,500 USD

Total 250.000 ADA or 125.000 USD

Team size: 3–4 members (project management, marketing, developers, and documentation)
Duration: 5 months total
Month 1: SDK design and module abstraction
Month 2–3: Development of core SDK components
Month 4: Documentation and tutorials
Month 5: Example DApp test projects and final polishing and promotion within the Cardano DApp developer ecosystem

Dquadrant website

This proposal is led by the Kuber team from Dquadrant, a team with a strong track record of delivering projects and contributing to the Cardano ecosystem, making us well-prepared to complete this proposal successfully. Here’s what we’ve done that relates directly to this work:

Proven Success with a Similar Project: We previously built and delivered the Autonomous Agent Testing Framework as part of a Catalyst-funded proposal. This tool focused on testing governance scenarios—how decisions are made and managed on the Cardano blockchain. Completing that project shows we can handle complex development tasks and meet deadlines with funding support.

Expertise in Key Technologies: Plutus v2/3: We’re skilled in writing smart contracts (automated agreements on the blockchain) using Plutus, Cardano’s programming language, in its latest versions. Haskell and TypeScript among other languages: These are coding languages we use to build reliable and efficient software.

Cardano Node Infrastructure: We know how to set up and manage the systems (nodes) that keep the Cardano network running.

Custom Tool Development: We created the Kuber IDE, a specialized software tool designed to help developers write and test Cardano Plutus smart contracts more easily from within a browser without the need of installing any infrastructure. Think of it as a tailor-made workspace for building on Cardano. This shows we can design practical tools for real users.

Active Contributions to Cardano: Dquadrant doesn’t just build projects, we actively support the Cardano community:

• Node and Hard Fork Testing: We help test the network’s core systems and major updates (hard forks) to ensure they work smoothly and securely.
• Governance: We contribute to discussions and solutions for how Cardano is run, ensuring it stays fair and effective for everyone.

In summary, the Kuber team at Dquadrant brings hands-on experience with Cardano-specific tools, a history of delivering funded and self-funded projects, and a commitment to improving the network. This mix of skills and contributions makes us ready to succeed with this proposal.

Once the Autonomous Agent Testing SDK (AAT SDK) is built, we’re committed to keeping it alive, useful, and up to date for Cardano developers - and we’ve got a clear plan to make that happen. First, the SDK will live on GitHub under an open-source license (Apache 2.0), which means it’s free for anyone to use, tweak, or improve. This isn’t just our project, it’s the community’s too. Developers and enthusiasts can jump in, suggest fixes, or add features by contributing directly on GitHub, ensuring it evolves with Cardano’s needs.

Our team isn’t stepping away after launch either. We’ll stick around to keep things running smoothly, handling updates like bug fixes or compatibility with Cardano’s latest upgrades. If developers run into problems or have questions, they can flag them on GitHub’s “Issues” section, and we’ll step in to help. We’ll also keep the documentation, those user guides and tutorials up to date and clear, so everyone can make the most of the tool.

Looking ahead, if the community loves the SDK and wants more, like new features or bigger upgrades, we’ll listen. We might submit follow-up funding proposals to cover those extras, but only if DReps and the community show there’s real demand. This way, maintenance stays flexible and tied to what Cardano actually needs.

For DReps, this means you’re backing a project that’s built to last, with a team and a community working together to keep it valuable for the long haul.

This proposal isn’t starting from scratch, it’s a natural next step built on solid ground laid by a previous Catalyst-funded project that tackled governance testing using autonomous agents.

That earlier work is already a success story: the infrastructure was developed, tested, and proven to work for Cardano governance.

Now, we’re taking that foundation and expanding it into a broader, more versatile framework to help test all kinds of DApps on Cardano.

This isn’t just talk, everything from that project, including the code, test results, and detailed scenarios, is open for anyone to see. It’s all shared on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 License, meaning it’s free for the community to use, review, and build on. You can check it out yourself at Autonomous Agents

But there’s more: this proposal is by the standout Kuber team of Dquadrant, in the Cardano ecosystem known for their expertise in quality assurance (QA) and testing.

Dquadrant is not just cheering from the sidelines - but bringing skills, resources, and validation to make the Autonomous Agent Testing SDK (AAT SDK) a reality.

Dquadrant's credibility shines through an impressive track record: being a key player in QA testing for Cardano’s last two hard forks, ensuring those critical upgrades went off without a hitch. Our talents are involved in governance, tools like GovTools and the Constitutional Voting App, strengthening how our community governs itself. Our achievements prove that our team is able to deliver. This proposal and our active role within the ecosystem guarantee quality in execution and delivery that is endorsed by many that are working together with our team.

For DReps, this is a clear win: the project’s roots in a funded, completed Catalyst effort paired with open-source transparency and Dquadrant’s backing - show it’s got momentum and community trust behind it. This isn’t a shot in the dark, it is a practical, community-driven push to make DApp testing better for everyone on Cardano.

Why is the funding worth it ?

We believe the budget we’re requesting for this project is a smart investment for Cardano. Here’s why: once we finish building the Autonomous Agent Testing SDK - a unique tool to help developers test their decentralized apps (DApps) it will save them so much time and effort that the benefits will far outweigh the cost. Dapp developers will use this tool to work faster and smarter, which means they won’t need as much funding from the Cardano treasury. That saved money can then go toward other important projects for our community.

What makes this special?

This tool is giving Cardano developers an advantage and making our network stronger. We think the money is well spent, it’s an investment in a unique tool that saves time, cuts costs for DApp development and supports Cardano’s growth.

This proposal has no external dependencies, meaning it doesn’t rely on outside organizations, or tools beyond what we already have. The foundation (the "base platform") is already built and ready. The success of this phase depends entirely on our internal team’s efforts.

Here’s what that involves:

Internal Team Work:

• Packaging the SDK: Our developers need to finalize the Software Development Kit (SDK) - a set of tools that others can use to build on our platform. This means organizing the code and making it easy to share and use.
• Writing Documentation: We’ll create clear guides, like instruction manuals so users understand how to use the SDK. This could be done by developers or writers on our team.
• Showing Examples: We’ll build sample projects or demos to prove how the SDK works in real-world situations, making it easier for others to see its value.

No External Needs: Since the base platform is complete, we don’t need extra technology, partners, or resources from outside. Everything hinges on our team’s ability to finish these tasks.

What’s Left to Do:

• Developers must create the SDK and test it to ensure everything works smoothly.
• Documentation needs to be written and checked for clarity.
• Example use cases must be created and tested to show the SDK in action.
• Promotion of the solution within the Cardano DApp developer ecosystem.

In short, this proposal is self-contained.