The Cardano Roadmap has been updated! 
NEW
OPTIMISED BLOCK STORAGE
Optimised block storage will significantly reduce the space needed to store the blockchain on a user’s machine. Except for the most recent history of the blockchain, a single file will be needed to store each epoch, instead of a single file for each block produced. This will reduce the number of files needed to store the blockchain for a year from about 1.5 million to 200 files.
More efficient storage will bring significant performance improvements for operations that use locally stored blockchain data, especially wallet restoration and blockchain synchronization. Optimisation will also reduce the amount of hard drive space on a user’s device that is required to store the blockchain. This improvement will be part of the Cardano SL 1.4 release.
User Benefits
Fewer files on a user’s device means less hard drive space is required. Blockchain synchronisation and restoration performance is improved.
CARDANO TESTNET
A test environment of Cardano will be available as a public, alternative blockchain, running code that is at least one release iteration ahead of the production code base. Cardano users – such as exchanges and developers and the regular community – will have the opportunity to test new features in a production-like environment off the main blockchain. This testnet will contain the same functionality, integration capabilities, and properties as the Cardano production environment.
We will receive valuable pre-release feedback from users to help us to make improvements.
User Benefits
Users can try new features of Cardano and Daedalus in a test environment without using real Ada and familiarise themselves with the improvements being introduced. Cardano core developers will be able to safely test new features and protocol enhancements to the Cardano blockchain.
DAEDALUS FOR LINUX
IOHK listened to requests for access to Cardano from the Linux users and has been working to fully release Daedalus to the open source community. Daedalus has been available for Linux as a public beta release since the Cardano 1.1 software update, and after extensive testing and many improvements, the full release of Daedalus for Linux will be included in Cardano 1.4.
User Benefits
Linux users will be able to use Daedalus on their machines, as Daedalus becomes available on another major operating system.
CARDANO RUST PROJECT
The Rust programming language is lightweight, portable and compiles to platforms used by third party developers, such as web, iOS and Android. Complementary to Cardano SL, the Cardano Rust project will act as an open source sandbox that will allow developers to build and integrate their own products, including those on mobile devices. The project currently comprises a CLI wallet, and a software development kit developers can use to build their applications. The Cardano Rust repository is currently open and the aim is for the project (known internally as Prometheus) to develop into a thriving open source community. More information on the Cardano Rust Project will be made available in the coming weeks and months.
User Benefits
This open source library opens up Cardano development to a wider range of third parties. They will be able to build wallet applications, integrate new or existing products into the platform, and this will further decentralise the ecosystem.
SHELLEY TESTNET
Before Cardano moves from a federated to a decentralized network, a testnet will be available for users. The aim of this testnet is to allow users to experiment with the features of stake delegation and stake pools and provide their feedback to us on the usability and ease of integration of the decentralized environment.
User Benefits
An opportunity for Cardano users to experiment with the key features of decentralization such as stake pools and delegation of stake.
UPDATED
OPEN OUROBOROS DELEGATION RESEARCH PAPER completed
OPEN OUROBOROS DELEGATION IMPLEMENTATION early development
Key to decentralisation is the ability of stakeholders to delegate stake. In a proof-of-stake system such as Cardano, stakeholders have an obligation to take part in the protocol. To make this practical, stakeholders are able to delegate their obligations to others — so-called stake pools — which are able to fulfill the obligations. Stake pools operate core nodes that are online at all times and take part in the protocol and produce blocks in the blockchain. The team have begun work on this implementation in code.
PROGRESSED ITEMS
CARDANO TESTNET +45% DEVELOPMENT
WALLET BACKEND +10% REVIEW
HUMAN FRIENDLY ADDRESSES +10% IMPLEMENTATION NETWORKING +5% IMPLEMENTATION
SHELLEY TESTNET +15% EARLY DEVELOPMENT
PLUTUS CORE +1% EARLY DEVELOPMENT
MARLOWE +5% DEVELOPMENT
