Design a Gradual Path Towards Immutability
Achieving perfect, bug-free smart contracts at launch is nearly impossible. Instead, treat immutability as a gradual process, building resilience through extensive testing, community review, and real-world use.
By starting with upgradeable contracts and gradually transitioning key components to immutability, you can ensure a balance between security and adaptability as your system matures.
Why Gradual Immutability?
Flexibility: Allows for fixes and improvements in the early stages.
Risk Mitigation: Reduces the impact of unforeseen vulnerabilities.
Progressive Security: Confidence in the code grows over time as it is battle-tested.
Staged Approach to Immutability
Start with Upgradeable Contracts
Design most contracts to be upgradeable at launch, especially those with:
Complex or novel logic.
Dependencies on other upgradeable components.
Frequent interactions with external systems.
Identify Candidates for Immutability
Mature contracts with:
Simple, self-contained logic.
Code derived from trusted libraries.
Extensive audits and real-world use.
Transition Gradually
As confidence builds, evaluate contracts for immutability using these factors:
Code Maturity: Proven stability over time.
Usage: Widespread adoption and testing by the community.
Isolation: Minimal interaction with upgradeable components.
Examples
1. Good Candidate for Immutability
Token Contracts: Based on trusted libraries like OpenZeppelin and with self-contained logic.
2. Better Suited for Upgradeability
New AMM Models: Complex or experimental algorithms that may require adjustments post-deployment.
Best Practices
Leverage a Security Council: Regularly assess which components are ready to transition to immutability.
Audit Thoroughly: Ensure each contract has undergone rigorous testing and review before making it immutable.
Document the Process: Maintain a clear record of which components are upgradeable and which are immutable.
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