Blockchain Inception: Scheduling and Caching Optimizations for supporting a PoW Blockchain on the Internet Computer (Industry Track)

Abstract

The Internet Computer (IC) is a secure, fast and efficient decentralized blockchain-based platform for the execution of general-purpose applications. It has been operational since May 2021, running over 900K smart contracts and serving over 1M users.; AB@Over time, the IC has grown significantly in the number of smart contracts, their size, and the application scope, including social media, messengers and even games. In contrast, most other blockchain platforms focus on simple applications related to token transfers and Decentralized Finance (DeFi). In Fall 2024, a proof-of-work (PoW) blockchain was deployed on the IC. This blockchain grew quickly and reached over 20,000 miners in just days, creating operational challenges for other applications on the IC.; AB@Initial operational data showed degraded performance, but in a few weeks, the IC execution layer was fine-tuned and enhanced such that the PoW blockchain and other unrelated applications can now be supported in tandem with good quality of service. The IC's modular design allowed for targeted changes without protocol modifications. The changes concerned the operating system optimizations and scheduling algorithm tweaks. This article presents the journey navigating these with insights from operational data.