A description language for enhancing transparency and interoperability in blockchain smart contracts

Abstract

Smart contracts are self-executing programs designed to automate contractual agreements without the need for a third party. However, most existing smart contracts lack well-structured metadata that describes their technical and business level aspects, making it difficult for consumers to understand and discover them. To address this need, we propose the Blockchain-based Smart Contract Description Language (BSCDL), a novel decentralized description language for smart contract metadata. BSCDL introduces on-chain metadata storage with bidirectional linking, ensuring tamper-proof, transparent, and structured descriptions that include both technical (functions, events, parameters) and business-oriented metadata (provider details, SLAs, pricing, and cost information). Unlike previous smart contract description languages, which often rely on the JSON format to store the description metadata, BSCDL embeds descriptive metadata on-chain while supporting off-chain and JSON formats to maintain compatibility with them. BSCDL consists of three core elements: BSCDL metadata, Smart Contract Profile (SCP), and Smart Contract Model (SCM). The BSCDL metadata connects the description contract to its corresponding main contract; the SCP provides an overview of the technical and business environment; and the SCM outlines the contract’s functional features. BSCDL supports decentralized and flexible storage options, facilitates efficient contract interaction, and enables real-time metadata updates by standardising the way smart contracts are described. It also promotes business-oriented discovery and selection and supports Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) with adaptable structures tailored to evolving business requirements. This article details the architecture, components, and operations of BSCDL and includes a case study focusing on its application in a global supply chain. Additionally, we introduce the BSCDL portal, a user-friendly interface for creating, managing, and generating smart contract description scripts. Our findings demonstrate how BSCDL improves business processes by enhancing smart contracts’ discoverability, transparency, and interoperability and supporting the ability to compose complex smart contracts.