Module manager: Dr Evangelos Pournaras
Email: e.pournaras@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module provides a comprehensive knowledge on fundamentals and practical aspects of distributed ledgers and their applications in society. Starting from required knowledge on distributed systems and security, this module moves to the “big picture” of the different blockchain architectures that have been evolving in this dynamic technological landscape. Bitcoin is studied as a case study of a long-standing blockchain solution and is considered from a critical perspective on its limitations. Different consensus mechanisms are considered and their trade-offs, including a study of Ethereum and how to develop smart contracts to implement decentralized applications running on a blockchain. Incentive mechanisms required to initiate and maintain blockchain projects will be reviewed as well as their crypto economic models and design.
The aim of the module is for students to develop a practical understanding and skills for distributed ledgers and to design and develop decentralized applications, including smart contracts, running on a blockchain.
On completion of the year/programme students should have provided evidence of being able to:
- understand the design of distributed ledgers
- understand the context to which distributed ledgers are applied
- analyse performance trade-offs between different distributed ledgers
- design decentralised applications and implement smart contracts.
- Fundamentals of Distributed Systems and Security
- Evolution of Blockchain Architectures
- Blockchain platforms
- Consensus Mechanisms
- Smart Contracts
- Decentralized Applications
- Incentive mechanisms
- Blockchain with IoT and AI Self-governance and Future Perspectives
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 15 | 1 | 15 |
| Practical | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Private study hours | 130 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
Coursework and labs.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| In-course Assessment | Coursework 1 | 30 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 30 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated.
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Open Book exam | 2.0 Hrs 0 Mins | 70 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 70 | |
This module will be reassessed by open book exam only.
There is no reading list for this module
Last updated: 25/09/2024
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