Canton Network 3.4→3.5 Transition Update
Summary
Canton Network announces the transition from Canton 3.4 to 3.5 across DevNet TestNet and MainNet. The phased rollout includes Splice 0.5.x pauses, Daml model activations (Mar 31, Apr 15, May 5), Splice 0.6.x with Logical Synchronizers (Apr 27), and critical validator upgrade deadlines. This update details timelines and features that affect validators and application traffic costing.
ENTERING CANTON 3.4 TO CANTON 3.5 TRANSITION PERIOD
Starting this week, Canton Network enters a period of transition from Canton 3.4 to Canton 3.5. This will introduce a series of significant new features on DevNet, TestNet and MainNet.
The transition will take place in multiple phases:
Phase 1: Splice 0.5.x releases pause, and multiple new Splice Daml models go into effect
Splice 0.5.18 is expected to be available on DevNet on Monday, April 6th.
- This will be the final feature release of the Splice 0.5.x release line. If issues are found in this release, Splice 0.5.19 will contain patches.
- Splice releases will pause starting either Monday, April 6th (if no patches are required on 0.5.18) or Monday, April 13th (if a patch release is required).
Daml Models and configuration settings going live on MainNet in Phase 1:
- March 31st: Daml models from Splice 0.5.11 go live
- April 15th: Development Fund Manager Party changes from null to a value
- May 5th: Daml models from Splice 0.5.16 go live on MainNet. All Validators must upgrade to Splice 0.5.16 on MainNet before this date.
- Mid-May: API support for precise traffic costs per transaction (as used for application reward attribution) goes live
Phase 2: Splice 0.6.x Release line. Splice 0.6.x begins to introduce features from Canton 3.5 as part of the standard bundle. Protocol-breaking changes remain behind feature flags.
- Most important: Splice 0.6.x will introduce Logical Synchronizers, along with the ability to upgrade between two physical synchronizer nodes while preserving the same Logical SynchronizerID
- This will allow protocol-changing upgrades to take place without pausing Daml transactions. Topology transactions, like adding new nodes, onboarding parties, and vetting Daml models, do pause during protocol-changing upgrades.
__Major Milestones for Splice 0.6.x: __
- April 27th: Splice 0.6.0 goes live on DevNet. Logical Synchronizer introduced
- Late May: Super Validators practice an upgrade using a Logical Synchronizer (aka Logical Synchronizer Upgrade / LSU) on DevNet. No actual protocol changes will be introduced in this practice.
Phase 3: Upgrade Global Synchronizer networks to Canton Protocol 35
- After proving out Logical Synchronizer upgrades on Splice 0.6.x, all three Global Synchronizer networks will perform a Logical Synchronizer upgrade to Canton protocol Version 35.
- Final timing and numbering of this upgrade, and the specific Canton 3.5 features to be included along with it, is still TBD. New features will roll out over time, relying on LSUs to minimize impact on Node Operators and App Providers.
Major Milestones for Phase 3:
Early June: LSU on DevNet introduces protocol upgrade and major new features. TestNet LSU follows one week later.
Mid-June: LSU on MainNet introduces protocol upgrade. New features introduced, following the same feature flags and upgrade procedures introduced on DevNet and TestNet.
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