Execution Sidecars
Underlying our expressive compute precompiles—which enable any type of heterogeneous compute, including AI inference, ZK proof verification, TEE code execution, and beyond—are our optimized execution sidecars.
Ritual Chain features two sets of precompiles: (1) native precompiles implemented as EIP extensions directly into the execution client and (2) heterogeneous compute precompiles, implemented via optimized execution sidecars exposed through the EVM precompile interface.
These sidecars run and scale parallel to the Ritual execution client, invoked through abstraction via the EVM precompile interface. By default, these sidecars are purpose-built for execution and proof generation avoiding blockchain-specific overhead, run as an isolated process or remote to an execution client, and can be selectively enabled by node operators based on their available infrastructure, underlying hardware, or firewalled preferences.
Because of their generic architecture, sidecars enable Ritual to easily service heterogeneous compute across any supported execution environment by connecting to their precompile-like interfaces (EVM precompiles, SVM precompiled programs, MoveVM system modules, etc.).
Looking forward
Sidecars today are stateless, but will soon be extended to being stateful, allowing for a minimally invasive approach to enabling asynchronous execution on our chain for long-running compute precompiles.