WTM
White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd.
stock NYSE

**Source:** [https://x.com/solana\_devs/status/2065013015137890744](https://x.com/solana_devs/status/2065013015137890744)
https://preview.redd.it/7bsn7vomyn6h1.png?width=680&format=png&auto=webp&s=7a849dbcef533c597b011fa1a26ecc0158e761a1
This is a weekly newsletter on the latest Solana engineering news from the past week. If you want to stay updated on Solana tech, follow the Solana Changelog at [@solana\_devs](https://x.com/solana_devs) and [@readylayerone](https://x.com/@readylayerone).
# Releases
New versions
* Agave [v4.1.0-beta.3](https://github.com/anza-xyz/agave/releases/tag/v4.1.0-beta.3) , [v4.0.2](https://github.com/anza-xyz/agave/releases/tag/v4.0.2)
* Firedancer [Testnet v0.1002.40103](https://github.com/firedancer-io/firedancer/releases/tag/v0.1002.40103) , [Mainnet v0.911.40002](https://github.com/firedancer-io/firedancer/releases/tag/v0.911.40002)
* Solana Go [v1.21.0](https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-go/releases/tag/v1.21.0)
* Surfpool [v1.3.1](https://github.com/solana-foundation/surfpool/releases/tag/v1.3.1)
# Ecosystem work
SIMDs
* A proposal was made to create a new Sysvar account with [details about the upcoming leader](https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-improvement-documents/discussions/558)WTM (what this means) - Solana’s Sysvar accounts allow read-only internal cluster state that other Solana programs can call. Things like the current epoch and slot, reward parameters, stake activations, etc., all have Sysvar accounts. This proposal creates a new account to store the slot numbers and addresses of the current and next validator leaders.
Validator clients (Agave, Firedancer)
* Agave is preparing to [scale down validator costs per epoch](https://github.com/anza-xyz/agave/pull/12990) as shorter slot times get adopted by the network WTM - With shorter slot times come more frequent epochs. Validators will be voting more often, and the voting cost is roughly 1.6 SOL per epoch (about every 2 days at the time of writing). This change makes sure that validators don’t pay more in the given time frame when slot times go down.
* Agave will add support for [tagging in VLAN interfaces](https://github.com/anza-xyz/agave/pull/12920) in its XDP implementation WTM - Agave already supports most network interfaces when routing data through XDP. These include normal ethernet, GRE, etc. An additional change is proposed here so that Agave can work with network hardware with VLAN interfaces. This means more adoption for more potential validators with different network hardware
* Mithril is working to [implement Replay](https://github.com/Overclock-Validator/mithril/pull/243) from Solana Turbine WTM - Replay is the section of Turbine where validators take the block they’ve assembled from shreds and replay the transactions in the block to see if it’s valid. Mithril is implementing its own version of this service.
Web/Rust solana clients (solana/kit, kit-plugins, solana-sdk, codama, solana-go)
* Solana is working on creating [standards](https://github.com/anza-xyz/wallet-standard/pull/92) and [implementations](https://github.com/anza-xyz/agave/pull/12965) , and [changes to the current signing hooks](https://github.com/anza-xyz/wallet-standard/pull/93) for offchain message signing. WTM - Offchain message signing allows for users to sign. There is a [public roadmap that is available for viewing](https://app.notion.com/p/solanafoundation/Solana-Off-Chain-Message-Signing-OCMS-374d36dad52d80bf981ddbcebfeca5f0) that is a big effort on the part of Anza, Solana Mobile, Wallet Applications, and Solana Foundation
Solana program frameworks (anchor, pinocchio, steel, quasar)
* Pinocchio will be using [direct account pointers](https://github.com/anza-xyz/pinocchio/pull/421) to take advantage of [SIMD-0449](https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-improvement-documents/pull/449) WTM - Direct account pointers allow for programs to easily read instruction accounts from memory. This standardizes the instruction memory layout and improves performance with decreased CU usage. This is both a developer experience and a performance improvement on the part of Pinocchio.
* Pinocchio putting [error conversion on the cold path](https://github.com/anza-xyz/pinocchio/pull/422) . WTM - Converting error codes to error messages is not an operation that should be prioritized when the CPU runs the program. Putting errors on the cold path allows the compiler to put “hot” operations (like actually running program instructions) ahead. This improves program performance and reduces CU usage.
# Other interesting things
* Kora Deploy allows you to deploy a Solana program on Devnet without SOL
https://preview.redd.it/ooyfjc3qyn6h1.png?width=554&format=png&auto=webp&s=149e9fec091cb92a9ef0788cf0b53f5a44515f75
* The Solana Developer Platform is open source
[https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-developer-platform](https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-developer-platform)
https://preview.redd.it/nr3hu1gryn6h1.png?width=680&format=png&auto=webp&s=017621c0fd56047a22a8d804e65f555b95d189e3
* [@ChiiYuen](https://x.com/@ChiiYuen) created a project comparing Rust math libraries used in Defi projects
[https://x.com/ChiiYuen/status/2064301044348449152](https://x.com/ChiiYuen/status/2064301044348449152)
https://preview.redd.it/z0z7t8mtyn6h1.png?width=550&format=png&auto=webp&s=62f694e6b1358afdb21f93ea2019ebf6a24ba504
* [@adlonymous](https://x.com/@adlonymous) wrote a technical article on SVM fundamentals
[https://x.com/adlonymous/status/2064184341593456779](https://x.com/adlonymous/status/2064184341593456779)
https://preview.redd.it/7n50jaewyn6h1.png?width=549&format=png&auto=webp&s=03ffcd7bf8989bd5221c54a0c5b131272b78fa09
* Helius goes on a technical deep dive on their archival service built on RocksDB
[https://x.com/Helius/status/2064040273307689137](https://x.com/Helius/status/2064040273307689137)
https://preview.redd.it/nv2htkd0zn6h1.png?width=561&format=png&auto=webp&s=2581ccb783c0fd724170b2c68feba628fdc19fda
* The Solana Validator Governance System is open source
[https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-governance](https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-governance)
https://preview.redd.it/be49voj1zn6h1.png?width=680&format=png&auto=webp&s=0eb57df84b276f5212d4d668be3472a5d47e0453
* Solana RPC 2.0, the initiative to standardize the RPC, has come out with two new projects - Cloudbreak and Superbank [https://github.com/solana-rpc/cloudbreak](https://github.com/solana-rpc/cloudbreak) [https://github.com/solana-rpc/superbank](https://github.com/solana-rpc/superbank)
* New performance improvements to the memo program (p-memo)
[https://x.com/0x\_febo/status/2062578486296940727](https://x.com/0x_febo/status/2062578486296940727)
https://preview.redd.it/sj5n31y3zn6h1.png?width=560&format=png&auto=webp&s=9e61edbfb04582f50e29bfbcdeb6c19f96131375

**Source:** [https://x.com/solana\_devs/status/2065013015137890744](https://x.com/solana_devs/status/2065013015137890744)
https://preview.redd.it/7bsn7vomyn6h1.png?width=680&format=png&auto=webp&s=7a849dbcef533c597b011fa1a26ecc0158e761a1
This is a weekly newsletter on the latest Solana engineering news from the past week. If you want to stay updated on Solana tech, follow the Solana Changelog at [@solana\_devs](https://x.com/solana_devs) and [@readylayerone](https://x.com/@readylayerone).
# Releases
New versions
* Agave [v4.1.0-beta.3](https://github.com/anza-xyz/agave/releases/tag/v4.1.0-beta.3) , [v4.0.2](https://github.com/anza-xyz/agave/releases/tag/v4.0.2)
* Firedancer [Testnet v0.1002.40103](https://github.com/firedancer-io/firedancer/releases/tag/v0.1002.40103) , [Mainnet v0.911.40002](https://github.com/firedancer-io/firedancer/releases/tag/v0.911.40002)
* Solana Go [v1.21.0](https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-go/releases/tag/v1.21.0)
* Surfpool [v1.3.1](https://github.com/solana-foundation/surfpool/releases/tag/v1.3.1)
# Ecosystem work
SIMDs
* A proposal was made to create a new Sysvar account with [details about the upcoming leader](https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-improvement-documents/discussions/558)WTM (what this means) - Solana’s Sysvar accounts allow read-only internal cluster state that other Solana programs can call. Things like the current epoch and slot, reward parameters, stake activations, etc., all have Sysvar accounts. This proposal creates a new account to store the slot numbers and addresses of the current and next validator leaders.
Validator clients (Agave, Firedancer)
* Agave is preparing to [scale down validator costs per epoch](https://github.com/anza-xyz/agave/pull/12990) as shorter slot times get adopted by the network WTM - With shorter slot times come more frequent epochs. Validators will be voting more often, and the voting cost is roughly 1.6 SOL per epoch (about every 2 days at the time of writing). This change makes sure that validators don’t pay more in the given time frame when slot times go down.
* Agave will add support for [tagging in VLAN interfaces](https://github.com/anza-xyz/agave/pull/12920) in its XDP implementation WTM - Agave already supports most network interfaces when routing data through XDP. These include normal ethernet, GRE, etc. An additional change is proposed here so that Agave can work with network hardware with VLAN interfaces. This means more adoption for more potential validators with different network hardware
* Mithril is working to [implement Replay](https://github.com/Overclock-Validator/mithril/pull/243) from Solana Turbine WTM - Replay is the section of Turbine where validators take the block they’ve assembled from shreds and replay the transactions in the block to see if it’s valid. Mithril is implementing its own version of this service.
Web/Rust solana clients (solana/kit, kit-plugins, solana-sdk, codama, solana-go)
* Solana is working on creating [standards](https://github.com/anza-xyz/wallet-standard/pull/92) and [implementations](https://github.com/anza-xyz/agave/pull/12965) , and [changes to the current signing hooks](https://github.com/anza-xyz/wallet-standard/pull/93) for offchain message signing. WTM - Offchain message signing allows for users to sign. There is a [public roadmap that is available for viewing](https://app.notion.com/p/solanafoundation/Solana-Off-Chain-Message-Signing-OCMS-374d36dad52d80bf981ddbcebfeca5f0) that is a big effort on the part of Anza, Solana Mobile, Wallet Applications, and Solana Foundation
Solana program frameworks (anchor, pinocchio, steel, quasar)
* Pinocchio will be using [direct account pointers](https://github.com/anza-xyz/pinocchio/pull/421) to take advantage of [SIMD-0449](https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-improvement-documents/pull/449) WTM - Direct account pointers allow for programs to easily read instruction accounts from memory. This standardizes the instruction memory layout and improves performance with decreased CU usage. This is both a developer experience and a performance improvement on the part of Pinocchio.
* Pinocchio putting [error conversion on the cold path](https://github.com/anza-xyz/pinocchio/pull/422) . WTM - Converting error codes to error messages is not an operation that should be prioritized when the CPU runs the program. Putting errors on the cold path allows the compiler to put “hot” operations (like actually running program instructions) ahead. This improves program performance and reduces CU usage.
# Other interesting things
* Kora Deploy allows you to deploy a Solana program on Devnet without SOL
https://preview.redd.it/ooyfjc3qyn6h1.png?width=554&format=png&auto=webp&s=149e9fec091cb92a9ef0788cf0b53f5a44515f75
* The Solana Developer Platform is open source
[https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-developer-platform](https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-developer-platform)
https://preview.redd.it/nr3hu1gryn6h1.png?width=680&format=png&auto=webp&s=017621c0fd56047a22a8d804e65f555b95d189e3
* [@ChiiYuen](https://x.com/@ChiiYuen) created a project comparing Rust math libraries used in Defi projects
[https://x.com/ChiiYuen/status/2064301044348449152](https://x.com/ChiiYuen/status/2064301044348449152)
https://preview.redd.it/z0z7t8mtyn6h1.png?width=550&format=png&auto=webp&s=62f694e6b1358afdb21f93ea2019ebf6a24ba504
* [@adlonymous](https://x.com/@adlonymous) wrote a technical article on SVM fundamentals
[https://x.com/adlonymous/status/2064184341593456779](https://x.com/adlonymous/status/2064184341593456779)
https://preview.redd.it/7n50jaewyn6h1.png?width=549&format=png&auto=webp&s=03ffcd7bf8989bd5221c54a0c5b131272b78fa09
* Helius goes on a technical deep dive on their archival service built on RocksDB
[https://x.com/Helius/status/2064040273307689137](https://x.com/Helius/status/2064040273307689137)
https://preview.redd.it/nv2htkd0zn6h1.png?width=561&format=png&auto=webp&s=2581ccb783c0fd724170b2c68feba628fdc19fda
* The Solana Validator Governance System is open source
[https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-governance](https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-governance)
https://preview.redd.it/be49voj1zn6h1.png?width=680&format=png&auto=webp&s=0eb57df84b276f5212d4d668be3472a5d47e0453
* Solana RPC 2.0, the initiative to standardize the RPC, has come out with two new projects - Cloudbreak and Superbank [https://github.com/solana-rpc/cloudbreak](https://github.com/solana-rpc/cloudbreak) [https://github.com/solana-rpc/superbank](https://github.com/solana-rpc/superbank)
* New performance improvements to the memo program (p-memo)
[https://x.com/0x\_febo/status/2062578486296940727](https://x.com/0x_febo/status/2062578486296940727)
https://preview.redd.it/sj5n31y3zn6h1.png?width=560&format=png&auto=webp&s=9e61edbfb04582f50e29bfbcdeb6c19f96131375