Tendermint – Blockchain applications in any programming language

https://tendermint.com/

Tindermint provides interface for different types of blockchains including their own custom blockchain, using any programming language. Tendermint provides its own unique proof of stake consensus algorithm which it claims to be more fault tolerant than Bitcoin consensus algorithm.  It provides tools and services for the same. Also provides UI for managing different types of blockchains which includes Ethereum Template, Bitcoin Template , Tendermint Template or Custom Template. Tendermint tolerates up to one third of your machines failing arbitrarily. This includes explicitly malicious behavior.

Tindermint is an opensource project on Github. Tindermint provides a ABCI (Application BlockChain Interface) that defines the boundary between the replication engine (the blockchain), and the state machine (the application).

Tindermint also has launched Basecoin. Basecoin is an ABCI application designed to be used with the Tendermint consensus engine to form a Proof-of-Stake cryptocurrency. It also provides a general purpose framework for extending the feature-set of the cryptocurrency by implementing plugins.

Tindermint is a completely different blockchain, which allows you to write blockchain smart contracts in any language of your choice. Its a language agnostic blockchain technology.

The good:

• Tendermint tolerates up to one third of your machines failing arbitrarily. This includes explicitly malicious behavior.
• Faster transaction speed.
• Basecoin is similar to Ethereum ERC-20 token template.
• Able to write decentralized applications in any language that is supported by Tindermint.
• Tindermint will provide more granular control since now 3rd parties can deploy their own private blockchains.
• Basecoin is a valuable addition to Tindermint’s blockchain.
• Unlike Proof-of-Work, the light-client protocol does not need to download and check all the headers in the blockchain – the client can always jump straight to the latest header available, so long as the validator set has not changed much.

The bad:

• Tendermint custom blockchain has smaller developer community working on it as compared to Ethereum or Bitcoin.
• Using Tendermint for Ethereum development, might be an overkill, especially since underlying consensus algorithm is same.
• Using Tendermint for Ethereum development,  might add extra added layer of abstraction which is good and bad.
• Basecoin is currently uses plain-text private keys for transactions and is otherwise not production ready.
• Security might be a problem with Tendermint. The stack is still new and under development.
• Basecoin is not a ERC-20 token , so trading and integration with exchanges might require extra work.
• Ethereum will be switching to proof of stake algorithm soon, which might undermine Tindermint’s  proof of stake differentiation.