Add Hedera EVM configuration and utilities for Sentinel Protocol

[Copilot]

Overview

This PR implements comprehensive Hedera EVM configuration settings for the Sentinel Protocol, enabling the project to seamlessly connect to and interact with Hedera's EVM-compatible network. The implementation provides both frontend and backend configuration with developer-friendly utilities and extensive documentation.

What is Hedera EVM?

Hedera is a public distributed ledger that supports EVM-compatible smart contracts through its JSON-RPC relay service (HashIO). This allows developers to use familiar Ethereum tools (MetaMask, Web3.js, Ethers.js) while benefiting from Hedera's high throughput, low fees, and enterprise-grade security.

Changes Made

Frontend Configuration (frontend/)

• .env.example: Environment variable template with Hedera network configuration

  • Testnet (Chain ID: 296) and Mainnet (Chain ID: 295) settings
  • RPC endpoints using HashIO relay
  • Contract address placeholders
  • Optional WalletConnect and API configurations

• src/lib/hedera.js: Utility library for Hedera interactions

  • Network detection and automatic switching in MetaMask
  • Wallet connection helpers with network validation
  • Event listeners for account and network changes
  • Address formatting utilities
  • Support for both testnet and mainnet configurations

• README.env.md: Comprehensive frontend configuration documentation with examples and usage instructions

Backend Configuration (reputation_layer/)

• .env.example: Environment variable template for Python backend

  • Hedera RPC endpoint configuration
  • Smart contract settings (address, ABI path)
  • Wallet credentials (private key, owner address)
  • API keys for data sources (CoinGecko, Covalent, Etherscan)
  • Rate limiting configuration

• validate_config.py: Configuration validation script that verifies:

  • All required environment variables are set
  • Network connectivity to Hedera
  • Contract configuration is valid
  • Wallet setup and balance
  • Provides clear diagnostic messages for troubleshooting

• requirements.txt: Python dependencies (web3, pandas, numpy, requests, python-dotenv)

• README.env.md: Detailed backend configuration documentation with security best practices

Documentation

• HEDERA_SETUP.md: Comprehensive 200+ line setup guide covering:

  • Introduction to Hedera EVM
  • Step-by-step setup instructions for both testnet and mainnet
  • MetaMask configuration guide
  • Smart contract deployment instructions
  • Cost estimation and fee information
  • Troubleshooting common issues
  • Security best practices
  • Links to official Hedera resources

• README.md: Updated main README with:

  • Quick start instructions for both frontend and backend
  • Links to detailed configuration guides
  • Architecture overview with Hedera integration

Key Features

✅ Complete Network Support: Full configuration for both Hedera Testnet and Mainnet
✅ Automatic Network Switching: Frontend automatically prompts users to switch to the correct Hedera network
✅ Configuration Validation: Backend validation script to verify setup before deployment
✅ Developer Experience: Clear documentation, examples, and troubleshooting guides
✅ Security: All code passes linting and CodeQL security checks (0 vulnerabilities)
✅ Minimal Changes: No modifications to existing functionality, only configuration additions

Usage Example

Frontend

import { connectWallet, switchToHederaNetwork } from '@/lib/hedera';

// Connect wallet and ensure correct network
const { address, isCorrectNetwork } = await connectWallet();
if (!isCorrectNetwork) {
  await switchToHederaNetwork();
}

Backend

# Validate configuration
python validate_config.py

# Run reputation engine
python engine.py

# Sync to blockchain
python sync_reputation_to_chain.py

Testing

• ✅ All JavaScript code passes ESLint validation
• ✅ All Python code passes syntax checks
• ✅ CodeQL security scan: 0 vulnerabilities found
• ✅ Configuration validation script tested

Network Information

Hedera Testnet:

• Chain ID: 296 (0x128)
• RPC: https://testnet.hashio.io/api
• Explorer: https://hashscan.io/testnet

Hedera Mainnet:

• Chain ID: 295 (0x127)
• RPC: https://mainnet.hashio.io/api
• Explorer: https://hashscan.io/mainnet

Resources

• Hedera Documentation
• Smart Contracts on Hedera
• HashIO JSON-RPC Relay
• Hedera Portal (for testnet accounts)

Security Considerations

• Environment files (.env, .env.local) are properly gitignored
• Private keys and sensitive data are documented but never committed
• Security best practices are documented in all README files
• Configuration validation helps prevent misconfigurations

This PR provides everything needed to configure and deploy the Sentinel Protocol on Hedera's EVM-compatible network, with comprehensive documentation to guide developers through the process.

Warning

Firewall rules blocked me from connecting to one or more addresses (expand for details)

I tried to connect to the following addresses, but was blocked by firewall rules:

• fonts.googleapis.com
  • Triggering command: /usr/local/bin/node /home/REDACTED/work/Sentinel-Protocol/Sentinel-Protocol/frontend/node_modules/next/dist/compiled/jest-worker/processChild.js (dns block)

If you need me to access, download, or install something from one of these locations, you can either:

• Configure Actions setup steps to set up my environment, which run before the firewall is enabled
• Add the appropriate URLs or hosts to the custom allowlist in this repository's Copilot coding agent settings (admins only)

Original prompt

implement this.

[Chronological Review: The conversation began with the user greeting "hi," followed by a request to "implement this." The context indicates that the user is currently working on the .env file in the Sentinel-Protocol repository, specifically on the frontend branch.]

[Intent Mapping: The user explicitly requested to "implement this," indicating a desire to make changes or additions to the .env file, although the specific implementation details were not provided in the messages.]

[Technical Inventory: The conversation involves the Sentinel-Protocol repository, which is managed by the user csking101. The current working branch is frontend, and the default branch is main. The .env file is likely related to environment variables for the project.]

[Code Archaeology: The only file mentioned is /workspaces/Sentinel-Protocol/vincent/.env. No specific functions or code changes have been detailed yet.]

[Progress Assessment: The conversation has not progressed beyond the initial greeting and the request to implement changes in the .env file. No tasks have been completed or are in progress beyond this point.]

[Context Validation: The context for continuation is captured, focusing on the user's intent to implement changes in the .env file.]

[Recent Commands Analysis: The last agent command was the user's request to "implement this." There were no tool results to summarize as no specific implementation details were provided.]

1. Conversation Overview: - Primary Objectives: The user requested to "implement this," indicating a desire to modify the .env file. - Session Context: The conversation has been brief, consisting of a greeting and a request for implementation without specific details provided. - User Intent Evolution: The user's intent remains focused on implementing changes to the .env file.

2. Technical Foundation:

• Repository Name: Sentinel-Protocol
• Current Branch: frontend
• Default Branch: main
• File in Focus: /workspaces/Sentinel-Protocol/vincent/.env

3. Codebase Status:

• File Name: .env
• Purpose: Likely contains environment variables for the project.
• Current State: No modifications have been discussed or implemented yet.

4. Problem Resolution:

• Issues Encountered: None reported.
• Solutions Implemented: None reported.
• Debugging Context: No ongoing troubleshooting efforts have been mentioned.
• Lessons Learned: No insights have been shared yet.

5. Progress Tracking:

• Completed Tasks: None.
• Partially Complete Work: The request to implement changes in the .env file is pending.
• Validated Outcomes: No features or code have been confirmed working.

6. Active Work State:

• Current Focus: The user is focused on implementing changes in the .env file.
• Recent Context: The last exchanges involved a greeting and a request for implementation.
• Working Code: No specific code snippets have been discussed.
• Immediate Context: The user is looking to implement unspecified changes in the .env file.

7. Recent Operations:

• Last Agent Commands: The user requested to "implement this."
• Tool Results Summary: No specific results to summarize as no implementation details were provided.
• Pre-Summary State: The agent was awaiting further instructions on how to implement changes in the .env file.
• Operation Context: The command was executed in the context of modifying the .env file, aligning with the user's goal of making changes.

8. Continuation Plan:

• Pending Task: The user needs to specify what changes to implement in the .env file.
• Priority Information: Clarifying the specific implementation details is crucial for moving forward.
• Next Action: The immediate next step is for the user to provide details on what needs to be implemented in the .env file.

TITLE: Implementing Hedera EVM configuration settings

Created from VS Code via the GitHub Pull Request extension.

---

💬 We'd love your input! Share your thoughts on Copilot coding agent in our 2 minute survey.