Hyperledger Aries 2023Q2 Quarterly Report to the TOC

project-reports/2023/2023-Q2-Hyperledger-Aries.md

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+---
+layout: default
+title: 2023 Q2 Hyperledger Aries
+parent: 2023
+grand_parent: Project Updates
+has_children: false
+has_toc: false
+nav_exclude: true
+---
+
+# Project Health
+
+Hyperledger Aries is healthy, seeing lots of activity overall, especially in the
+[Aries Framework
+JavaScript](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-framework-javascript), [Aries
+Bifold](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-mobile-agent-react-native) (mobile
+wallet), and [Aries VCX](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-vcx) communities.
+Lots of progress being made in those projects!
+
+# Questions/Issues for the TOC
+
+None.
+
+# Releases
+
+The following Aries releases occurred in the last quarter:
+
+-   Aries Cloud Agent Python -- 0.8.0-rc0, 0.8.0
+-   Aries Framework JavaScript -- v0.3.2, v0.3.3, 0.3.4-alpha0 to 0.3.4-alpha17, 0.4.0-alpha18 to 0.4.0-alpha95
+-   Aries Askar -- v0.2.8
+-   Aries VCX Releases -- v0.3.4, v0.4.0-dev1 to v0.4.0-dev12
+-   Aries Framework Go -- v0.1.9
+
+Of the 28 Aries repositories, all but 3 have been updated in 2023.
+
+Interoperability status can be seen
+here: [https://aries-interop.info](https://aries-interop.info).
+
+# Overall Activity in the Past Quarter
+
+Per the [Aries Activity Dashboard](https://insights.lfx.linuxfoundation.org/projects/hyperledger%2Faries/dashboard;subTab=technical?time=%7B%22from%22:%222023-01-01T07:00:00.000Z%22,%22type%22:%22absolute%22,%22to%22:%222023-03-31T07:00:00.000Z%22%7D) for the first three months of 2023, Aries
+codebases had 442 PRs (up 11%) from 81 contributors (up 21%).
+
+-   Lots of activity towards integrating [Hyperledger AnonCreds] into
+    all of the Aries Frameworks to enable ledger-agnostic implementations.
+    - Aries Bifold using [Hyperledger AnonCreds] has been demonstrated, as
+    has deployments of [Aries Framework JavaScript] using AnonCreds objects
+    rooted in [cheqd.io] and [Cardano].
+    - BC Gov published an [AnonCreds Code With Us Opportunity] to integrate
+    [Hyperledger AnonCreds] into [Aries Cloud Agent Python]. [Indicio]
+    won that Opportunity and is working on the implementation.
+- An implementation of [OpenID4VCs] (issuance) with [Aries Framework JavaScript]
+has been completed. This is the first experiment in using [OpenID4VCs] with Aries.
+The community is also considering the feasibility of issuing and presenting [ISO
+mdocs] verifiable credentials using Aries Frameworks.
+-   The effort to move off the Indy SDK continued this quarter with the
+    following results:
+    - BC Gov published an [Askar Code With Us Opportunity] to create a
+    conversion script from Indy SDK to [Aries Askar] storage. [Indicio]
+    won that Opportunity, completed that implementation, and the
+    result has been used to convert a production system.
+    - [Animo Solutions] won a similar [AFJ Askar Code With Us Opportunity] and
+    has demonstrated a deployment of [Aries Bifold] using Aries Askar storage.
+-   After being awarded a BC Gov [Mobile Verifier Code With Us] opportunity, [DSR]
+    implemented in the Aries Bifold wallet the ability for one wallet to request
+    a presentation from another wallet, and for two wallets to establish a connection
+    and communicate (messaging and presentation requests).
+-   Discussions continue on Aries Interop Profile (AIP) v3.0, which extend
+    AIP 2.0 to be based on DIDComm V2, and a number of Aries community
+    members contributed to a DIDComm V2.0 Connect-a-thon at IIW.
+-   Continued good progress was made in the community on the use of [Overlays
+    Capture Architecture](https://oca.colossi.network/) (OCA) to power the
+    on-screen display of credentials, as mentioned in previous reports. An Aries
+    RFC has been proposed and gone through a couple of iterations, with good
+    feedback -- [OCA for Aries RFC
+    PR](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-rfcs/pull/755), [OCA for Aries RFC
+    (proposed)](https://github.com/swcurran/aries-rfcs/tree/oca4aries/features/0755-oca-for-aries)
+    and [OCA for Aries Style Guide
+    (proposed)](https://github.com/swcurran/aries-rfcs/tree/oca4aries/features/0756-oca-for-aries-style-guide).
+    -   OCA has been implemented in [Aries Bifold]. However, we have had a
+    challenge in figuring out the best way to distribute OCA Bundles. As a short
+    cut around the problem the community has created a GitHub [OCA Bundles
+    repository], with a governance model allowing anyone to submit a (valid) OCA
+    Bundle for their credential type. The repo is currently in the BC Gov
+    GitHub organization, but may be moved as OCA Bundles become more prevalent in the
+    community. A tool, the [OCA Explorer] has been built to make it easy to see
+    and evolve OCA Bundles implementations. Check it out!
+
+[Aries Framework JavaScript]: https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-framework-javascript
+[Aries Cloud Agent Python]: https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-cloudagent-python
+[Aries Bifold]: https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-mobile-agent-react-native
+[Aries VCX]: https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-vcx
+[Aries Askar]: https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-askar
+[Hyperledger AnonCreds]: https://github.com/hyperledger/anoncreds-rs
+[AnonCreds Code With Us Opportunity]:  https://marketplace.digital.gov.bc.ca/opportunities/code-with-us/6b720b90-133e-49a8-bb33-bb97c5d222bf
+[Askar Code With Us Opportunity]: https://marketplace.digital.gov.bc.ca/opportunities/code-with-us/5992f66c-b2ac-4b2a-a3a3-3eb3473e9eca
+[AFJ Askar Code With Us Opportunity]: https://marketplace.digital.gov.bc.ca/opportunities/code-with-us/b454a434-69fd-42fa-a90d-3ce614d5523b
+[Mobile Verifier Code With Us]: https://marketplace.digital.gov.bc.ca/opportunities/code-with-us/1b4e02e9-8a2e-4970-9f12-fb2f0a827ea1
+[OpenID4VCs]: https://openid.net/openid4vc/
+[ISO mdocs]: https://www.iso.org/standard/74910.html
+[cheqd.io]: https://cheqd.io/
+[Cardano]: https://cardano.org/
+[Animo Solutions]: https://animo.id
+[Indicio]: https://indicio.tech
+[DSR]: https://dsr-corporation.com
+
+[OCA Bundles repository]: https://github.com/bcgov/aries-oca-bundles
+[OCA Explorer]: https://bcgov.github.io/aries-oca-bundles/
+
+## Aries Framework Reports
+
+### [Aries VCX]
+
+- Rewrite of [Aries messages crate](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-vcx/tree/main/messages)
+    - Performance improvements
+    - Overall code quality improvements
+- Rewrite of NodeJS wrapper
+    - unlocked upgrade to NodeJS 18
+    - 20x FFI performance improvement
+    - significantly improved safety and maintainability
+- Enabled usage of aries-vcx with [Aries Askar] plugged-in
+- Enabled opt-in usage of credx library for proof verifier (libindy)
+- Adoption of new approach building Aries state machines
+    - fully leverages power of Rust typing system
+    - so far applied on Connection protocol (other protocols in progress/pending)
+- Interop compatibility improvements
+- 2 projects rolled into LFX mentorship program
+    - [aries-vcx based mediator service](https://wiki.hyperledger.org/display/INTERN/aries-vcx+based+message+mediator)
+    - [uniffi based mobile wrapper](https://wiki.hyperledger.org/display/INTERN/aries-vcx+next-gen+mobile+wrapper)
+- Break down of repo into smaller crates, decoupling of mediation from Connection protocol, other general refactoring
+
+[Aries VCX]: https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-vcx
+
+### [Aries Framework JavaScript]
+
+[Aries Framework JavaScript] has made significant progress in the first
+quarter of 2023. The bulk of the work has been towards implementing
+ledger-agnostic AnonCreds, with an initial implementation for Hyperleger Indy,
+and the work on [cheqd.io] integration started. The integration of the new shared
+components (Aries Askar, AnonCreds RS and Indy VDR) has been implemented.
+
+All the work has been going into preparation for the 0.4.0 release of Aries
+Framework JavaScript, which will be the first release of the framework that is
+truly ledger-agnostic. 
+
+In addition, work has been done to expand the supported exchange protocols to
+include OpenID4VCI, allowing credentials to be received and shared using different
+protocols.
+
+### [Aries Cloud Agent Python]
+
+[Aries Cloud Agent Python] v0.8.0 was released in 2023Q1, with contributions
+from 32 individuals. Work this quarter was focused on enabling upgrades
+of existing deployments to [Aries Askar], the use of ACA-Py
+as an Aries Mediator (the [Aries Mediator Service] repository), updating
+ACA-Py to use Hyperledger AnonCreds, and the launch of a new ACA-Py
+documentation site [aca-py.org]
+
+[aca-py.org]: https://aca-py.org/
+[Aries Mediator Service]: https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-mediator-service
+
+The Indy/Aries stack continues to be the global leader in SSI/verifiable
+data solutions, with AnonCreds the most used credential format.
+
+# Current Plans
+
+-   Continuing the work on eliminating the use of the Indy SDK in favor of the
+    Aries Askar/Indy VDR/anoncreds-rs across frameworks and deployments of those
+    frameworks.
+-   Continued expansion of features in mobile wallet apps, including building on
+    the wallet-to-wallet support added in Q1, and expanding support for OCA to
+    enable beautifully displayed credentials.
+-   Continue the work to adding ledger agnostic Hyperledger AnonCreds support in
+    all of the active Aries Frameworks.
+-   Promotion of a place for issuers to publish and wallets/verifiers to use
+    Overlays Capture Architecture (OCA) bundles.
+-   Rust [DID resolver, DID parser](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-vcx/pull/812) in Aries VCX
+    - Not specific to Aries
+    - Currently implementing did:sov only, did:indy, did:web will be added next
+
+# Maintainer Diversity
+
+There are currently 62 people on the 48 Hyperledger Aries teams representing at least 19 organizations.
+
+# Contributor Diversity
+
+In Q1 there were contributions from 81 individuals representing at least 16 organizations.
+
+# Additional Information
+
+Nothing
+