Modular Golang Node

The Modulax node is written in Golang and follows a modular design that separates responsibilities into clearly defined layers. This ensures stability, scalability, and long-term maintainability for both validators and developers building on the chain.

"Modularity means every component can evolve independently without breaking the chain."

Core Responsibilities

The Golang-based node manages the following essential responsibilities:

  • Consensus execution to validate blocks and secure the chain

  • EVM runtime for smart contract deployment and transaction execution

  • Networking for peer-to-peer communication

  • State management including account balances and contract storage

  • Storage layer for persistent data and historical blocks

  • CLI interface for node operators and developers

Directory Structure

The repository is organized into modules that mirror the node’s core responsibilities.

Directory
Purpose

evm/

Ethereum Virtual Machine logic

crypto/

Signature schemes and hashing

network/

Peer-to-peer layer using libp2p

miner/

Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanisms

core/

State machine and transaction processor

storage/

LevelDB backend for persistence

cmd/

CLI commands and node entrypoints

"A clear separation of concerns means developers can contribute to specific modules without touching the entire codebase."

Running a Node

Clone the repository and build the binary:

git clone https://github.com/Modulax-Labs/go-modulax.git cd go-modulax go build -o modulax ./cmd/modulax

Start a node on the mainnet:

./modulax run --network mainnet

This will expose a JSON-RPC interface on localhost:8545.

Development and Test Networks

For development, Modulax provides a testnet environment where contracts and dApps can be deployed without risking mainnet funds.

Checklist for developers:

  • Use testnet faucets to obtain MDX for gas

  • Deploy contracts using Hardhat or Foundry with the testnet RPC

  • Validate smart contracts through the Blockscout instance connected to the testnet

Why Golang

  • Performance: Golang provides low-level efficiency while remaining easy to maintain

  • Concurrency: Built-in goroutines simplify handling high throughput of network events

  • Ecosystem: Mature libraries for cryptography, networking, and databases

  • Maintainability: Clear syntax encourages contribution from a wide range of developers

"By choosing Golang, Modulax balances speed, security, and accessibility for contributors worldwide."

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