Block Explorer

The block explorer is the main window for visualizing on-chain data. It records and statistics every block, transaction, and address information from different blockchain networks. The essence of a block explorer is to reasonably present native and derived data to various users based on the actual situation of the blockchain network. Among them, chain data, block data, contract data, token data, and address data together form the basic data architecture of the blockchain explorer.
For example, when you upload and store files using DeShare on the CESS Network, you can see more detailed data and records through the CESS blockchain explorer.

Why Choose CESS Scan

CESS Scan is a lightweight blockchain explorer that has received a Polkadot Grant. Lightweight refers to both the optimized access speed of CESS Scan and its user-friendly design for developers and users, specifically reflected in the optimization of corresponding functions based on the usage habits of most users and the needs of most developers.

Choosing CESS Scan to develop a blockchain explorer also reflects its optimization for user experience. Currently, the most influential block explorer in the Polkadot ecosystem is the native Polkadot explorer. It provides a comprehensive block explorer that any blockchain network built on Substrate can apply to connect, and it supports one-click switching between multiple chains, making it the primary option for CESS at the beginning of blockchain explorer development.

However, the vast functionality is a double-edged sword; the comprehensiveness often comes at the cost of performance: if the volume of interactive data is bloated, it inevitably leads to high network latency. For ordinary users, scenarios such as retrieving transactions, checking wallet address balances, and viewing basic network status require speed rather than comprehensiveness. To ensure that CESS users can have a faster experience when using the blockchain explorer and can efficiently query the corresponding data information, CESS Scan serves as a blockchain development framework.

Not only is it about user experience, but from a development perspective, CESS Scan differs from the native Polkadot explorer by providing lightweight components that reduce network dependency and offering customizable data display features. It also supports building backend and database services to expand more data processing capabilities. Additionally, it has added more display charts based on the usage habits of most users and the needs of most developers.

Overview of CESS Scan Advantages

CESS Scan has optimized various processes to reduce unnecessary workloads for developers and improve efficiency. For example, it supports custom data retrieval; it achieves data read-write separation through a caching queue; it supports various types of data retrieval methods: full node RPC communication, peer-to-peer P2P protocols, etc. Compared to other blockchain explorers in the Polkadot ecosystem, CESS Scan offers the following series of developer-friendly features:

- On-chain Data Caching and Retrieval

Compared to Polkadot.js App, which directly retrieves large amounts of data from on-chain nodes, CESS Scan caches on-chain data and provides users with stable and flexible data retrieval services, greatly improving retrieval speed and flexibility.

- Data Processing Module

CESS Scan builds a processing station between users and the blockchain network, which includes a caching (database) layer and a computing (data processing) layer. The caching layer is responsible for pulling on-chain data to the local database for storage. The computing layer processes the on-chain data in the database, allowing it to be combined into more meaningful data for users, such as historical data statistics and overall network computing power rankings. The design philosophy is to preprocess and process data rather than displaying the vast and complex on-chain data in its entirety. We hope to allow users to find the data they are interested in more intuitively and quickly. In addition, CESS Scan also allows developers to expand more statistical data and charts.

- Modular UI Components

CESS Scan has modularized the various UI components, ensuring that there are no interdependencies between them. Developers can avoid cumbersome code development and UI design, easily building customized visual presentations for the browser.

- Lower Development Costs

CESS Scan can achieve one-click deployment and startup with minimal configuration files. These improvements in technical details significantly reduce development time costs.

- Open Source and Security

CESS Scan provides fully open-source code without backend hosting and operation services. All services are deployed and maintained by the project team, avoiding trust costs.

Implementation Principles of CESS Scan

1. Node services synchronize block data from the blockchain network. This includes full nodes of the network, third-party data retrieval services, etc.
2. The data crawling module retrieves block data from blockchain nodes. CESS Scan supports integration with various types of node services, including full nodes, P2P nodes, and local databases, while also supporting custom data reading interfaces.
3. The block data crawled from node services is written into a buffer pipeline. The buffer pipeline separates the crawling data from the parsing data process and supports data integrity checks and exception handling.
4. The block data is extracted from the buffer pipeline and sent in order to the parser.
5. The parser processes the block data and writes it into the database in a timely manner. The parsing process is accelerated through concurrency.
6. For general block data, CESS Scan provides usable database table structures, allowing developers to use it out of the box. For customized Pallet data, developers need to define the relevant table structures.
7. Frontend components periodically read relevant data from the database via HTTP API to render web pages.

Choose CESS Scan with CESS

CESS Scan is more aligned with ordinary users' needs for speed and interactive experience in terms of functionality and performance design. If you are looking for a blockchain explorer development framework for your project team, and like CESS, care about user experience and needs, CESS Scan will be a great choice.