ACADEMY
Smart Contracts & dApps: Building on Qubic’s Blockchain
What Is Bare-Metal Deployment?
Bare-metal deployment refers to running Qubic’s blockchain software directly on hardware, without any operating system (OS) or virtual machines in between.
Why This Matters
Removes unnecessary layers that slow down performance.
Maximizes security and efficiency, reducing vulnerabilities.
Optimizes transaction speed, making Qubic one of the fastest blockchain networks.
Analogy: Traditional Stack vs. Bare-Metal
A traditional blockchain runs like a car with extra weight—it has an OS, middleware, and various software layers slowing it down.
Qubic’s bare-metal approach is like a race car—stripped down for maximum speed and efficiency.
How Do Computors Achieve Consensus?
Qubic uses a quorum-based consensus mechanism known as the Quorum to validate transactions and computational results.
How It Works:
The Tick Process: Time in Qubic is divided into small intervals called ticks. During each tick, Computors process transactions and vote on their validity.
Quorum Threshold: At least 451 out of 676 Computors must agree for a decision to be accepted.
Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT): The network can function even if up to one-third of Computors act maliciously or fail.
Analogy: Quorum Consensus in Action
Imagine a group of friends deciding on a movie. A vote is taken, but at least 2/3 of the group must agree before a decision is final.
This prevents a small group from manipulating the decision, even if some members act unfairly.
💡 Another way to think about it:
A jury of 676 people must decide if a case is valid. If at least 451 agree, the decision is final, ensuring fairness.
The Role of Tick Votes
Every Computor casts something called a tick vote, which:
Confirms transactions within a tick.
Indicates agreement with the current state of the blockchain.
Helps decide whether the network should proceed or skip a tick if there is disagreement.
Becoming a Computor
Anyone can become a Computor, but there are some basic requirements:
Dedicated hardware – Computors must run on bare-metal servers for maximum speed and security.
Commitment – Computors must actively participate in consensus and network governance.
Rewards for Computors
Computors are paid in QUBIC coins for their work.
The better a Computor performs (e.g., reliability, speed), the higher their rewards.
Why the Quorum Matters
Computors are essential for Qubic’s decentralization and scalability. Without them:
Transactions wouldn’t be verified properly.
The network wouldn’t be secure against malicious actors.
Qubic’s vision of decentralized AI (Aigarth) wouldn’t be possible.