[MS] DOT #1639 - Papi Simulator: Developer Tool and Playground for Polkadot
TerminatedΒ 
terminated
Description

https://polkadot.subsquare.io/referenda/1639

  • Project: Interactive PAPI Console for Polkadot developers
  • Goal: Make Polkadot easier for new developers
  • Cost: $75,000 for 10 weeks
  • Problem: Developers need simpler tools (73% struggle with setup)
  • Solution: Visual tools to build apps faster (already working demo)
  • Team: Experienced developer with past successful grants
  • Plan: Add templates, tutorials, and community features
  • Impact: Faster onboarding (hours instead of weeks)
Appendants
1
#1
1mo ago

🟒 0 β€’ πŸ”΄ 4 β€’ βšͺ️ 3
5-member quorum not met.
Vote #1: NAY
10 available members.
No CoI reported. DV delegation exercised.
https://polkadot.subscan.io/extrinsic/26880113-3
https://polkadot.subsquare.io/referenda/1639#8

Optionssingle

VotesΒ·10

1xzc...1bX6
1xzc...1bX6
1xzcLSwo7xBFkJYZiL4EHaqFpuPTkH641E3V43W4cuk1bX6
Nay
Nay
Why DOT?
1ZSP...vx6w
1ZSP...vx6w
1ZSPR3zNg5Po3obkhXTPR95DepNBzBZ3CyomHXGHK9Uvx6w
Abstain
Abstain
I'd like to see a more in depth explanation of this claim: "4-8 weeks β†’ 2-4 hours" especially in light of the advent of Polkadot Hub. In addition it would be great to understand the ROI here especially with an annualized spend of $375K.
12s6...nE8h
12s6...nE8h
12s6UMSSfE2bNxtYrJc6eeuZ7UxQnRpUzaAh1gPQrGNFnE8h
Nay
Nay
Payment in stables would make more sense here.
12Kt...DCoJ
12Kt...DCoJ
12KtA8mtfsK1CyQb4utLiwG3ao22z77w2cM2GqnaL2RiDCoJ
Nay
Nay
The $7,500 weekly ask feels a bit steep to me. Should be stables, not DOT. Also, $9k for marketing focused on "developer acquisition" doesn’t seem likely to make a noticeable impact.
14gM...deVb
14gM...deVb
14gMJV95zwxUsFEZDSC8mtBVifS6SypKJkfBKANkMsLZdeVb
Abstain
Abstain
The marketing request doesn't make sense to me.
14Gn...YLEh
14Gn...YLEh
14Gn7SEmCgMX7Ukuppnw5TRjA7pao2HFpuJo39frB42tYLEh
Abstain
Abstain

It can be an interesting tool to develop, but I really share the concern of many here with certain elements of the budget.

15fT...yBzL
15fT...yBzL
15fTH34bbKGMUjF1bLmTqxPYgpg481imThwhWcQfCyktyBzL
Nay
Nay

I held the office hour with the proposer, so I'll echo my suggestions on the call. The request should be made in stable coins, and rather than scheduled payments, the proposer should start out with smaller asks, and keep on delivering as he continues with further asks to build up trust with the community. I'm looking forward to future proposals and deliveries!

13ED...KQbF
13ED...KQbF
13EDmaUe89xXocPppFmuoAZaCsckaJy3deAyVyiykk1zKQbF
Nay
Nay

Agree with Polkadotters on this one. Stables would make far more sense.

167Y...TY9F
167Y...TY9F
167YoKNriVtP4Nxk9F9GRV7HTKu5VnxaRq1pKMANAnmmTY9F
Aye
Aye

I am ok with paying with dot at this levels, stables would have been better though.

12Hi...E9N3
12Hi...E9N3
12His7t3EJ38tjdBbivUzWQeaNCLKfMqtKp1Ed3xHMyCE9N3
Nay
Nay

I agree with fellow DAO members, move the funding to stables, start small and shape the future proposals based on the needs of the project.

DiscussionsΒ·1

Thank you all for your feedback. I appreciate the detailed concerns and want to address each one directly.

Why DOT Payment? (@PolkaBiz_Voting, @Polkadotters, @FlezSoHot)

I specifically chose DOT payment because I'm genuinely committed to Polkadot's success. When I accept DOT, my financial interests align directly with the ecosystem's growth. If my platform succeeds in bringing more developers to Polkadot, we both benefit from increased adoption and network value.

I've already delivered 2/2 Fast Grants successfully - this isn't about extracting value to stablecoins. It's about investing in our shared future. However, I'm open to a hybrid approach: 80% DOT, 20% stables for operational expenses if that addresses concerns about volatility.

Addressing the "4-8 weeks β†’ 2-4 hours" Claim (@W1ZSPR3)

Let me break this down specifically:

Current Reality for New Developers:

  • Week 1-2: Setting up Substrate development environment
  • Week 3-4: Understanding Polkadot-API documentation and concepts
  • Week 5-6: Writing first functional code with trial and error
  • Week 7-8: Getting something actually working and deployable

With PAPI Console (already working at https://papi-simulator.aipop.fun):

  • Hour 1: Open browser, select template, start coding immediately
  • Hour 2: Use visual XCM builder, see real-time results
  • Hour 3-4: Export to production-ready Next.js/Vite project

This isn't theoretical - I have developers already using the platform who've confirmed this timeline. The zero-setup approach eliminates the biggest friction point.

ROI Calculation: 500+ developers (6-month target) Γ— 6 weeks saved Γ— 40 hours = 120,000 hours saved. At $100/hour developer time, that's $12M in productivity gains for a $75K investment.

Marketing Strategy Clarification (@W1ZSPR3, @FlezSoHot, @OpenSquare/Yongfeng)

You're right - "developer acquisition" was too vague. Here's my specific strategy for the $9,000:

Immediate Q3 2025 Hub Strategy ($3,000)

  • Target Ethereum developers preparing for Polkadot Hub migration
  • Create "Ethereum to Polkadot in 2 Hours" content series
  • Partner with Ethereum YouTube channels for migration tutorials

GitHub Community Building ($2,500)

  • $50-200 bounties for template contributions
  • Paid integration challenges for parachain-specific templates
  • Developer rewards for platform improvements

Educational Content Pipeline ($2,000)

  • Weekly live coding sessions on YouTube
  • "Zero to Hero" course embedded in platform
  • Interactive tutorials that teach while developers build

Strategic Events & Partnerships ($1,500)

Events We're Interested In Participating:

  • Sub0 Developer Conference: Live workshops and platform demos
  • Decoded Polkadot Conference: Developer experience showcase
  • Polkadot Meetups: Local hands-on coding sessions
  • University Hackathons: Tooling for student developers

Community Event Materials:
We'll create portable presentation materials that any community member can use to showcase PAPI Simulator at local events:

  • Presentation slides with speaker notes
  • Live demo scripts and walkthroughs
  • Hands-on workshop materials
  • Setup guides for event organizers

Partnership Strategy with DotEvents:
I'm actively pursuing a partnership with https://dotevents.xyz/ to:

  • Provide PAPI Simulator as standard tooling for all hackathons
  • Create event-specific templates and challenges
  • Offer technical support for event organizers
  • Sponsor developer experience prizes

This partnership would ensure every Polkadot developer event has access to our platform, maximizing ecosystem reach and impact.

Budget Justification (@FlezSoHot)

The $7,500 weekly ask breaks down to:

  • Development (64%): $4,800/week - Senior React dev + my full-time work
  • Marketing (30.7%): $2,300/week - Targeted campaigns during critical Hub window
  • Infrastructure (5.3%): $400/week - Scaling platform for growing user base

I've already proven delivery with 2/2 Fast Grants. This isn't speculative - it's scaling what's already working.

Complementary Investment Strategy

My platform makes the existing $327K Polkadot-API investment more valuable. Instead of competing, I'm building the missing UI/UX layer that makes that excellent technical foundation accessible to everyday developers.

Synergy Effect:

  • Treasury invested $327K in robust infrastructure βœ…
  • I'm adding $75K for developer experience layer βœ…
  • Result: Developers can actually use Polkadot's superior technology βœ…

This maximizes ROI on existing treasury investments rather than duplicating effort.

Timeline Urgency

Q3 2025 is critical: Polkadot Hub launches, Ethereum developers need migration tools, and competitors are investing heavily in developer experience. My platform is already working and ready to capture this wave.

Missing this window means watching developers choose other ecosystems with better tooling.

My Commitment

I'm requesting payment in DOT because I believe in Polkadot's future. I've delivered everything I've promised before. My platform already works and has active users providing positive feedback.

This isn't about getting funded - it's about ensuring Polkadot doesn't miss the biggest developer migration opportunity in its history.

I'm asking for your AYE vote because:

  • βœ… Proven track record (2/2 deliveries)
  • βœ… Platform already working with users
  • βœ… Critical timing for Hub launch
  • βœ… Complementary to existing investments
  • βœ… Aligned incentives through DOT payment
  • βœ… Community-driven approach with portable materials
  • βœ… Strategic partnerships (DotEvents collaboration)

The future of Web3 depends on developers building apps that real users actually adopt. I'm giving them the tools to make that happen on Polkadot.


Fred (@codingsh)
Platform: https://papi-simulator.aipop.fun
Track Record: 2/2 Fast Grants Delivered
Partnership Interest: https://dotevents.xyz/

Information
Members
11
Timestamp
Created
Jun 30 2025 16:29
Start date
Jun 30 2025 00:00
End date
Aug 29 2025 00:00
Results
Voters
10
one-person-one-vote
Aye
1 VOTE
Β 
Nay
6 VOTE
Β 
Abstain
3 VOTE
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