concepts

Explains core Ethereum mental models covering state machines, incentives, and randomness for onchain system design.

Updated Sep 9, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/m-faran/genie-markets --skill concepts-m-faran
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: concepts
Source: https://github.com/m-faran/genie-markets/tree/main/.agent/skills/ethskills/concepts
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/m-faran/genie-markets --skill concepts-m-faran

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? New onchain builders and AI assistants repeatedly make the same design mistakes: assuming smart contracts run automatically, adding admin-operated steps, and using insecure randomness. This Skill corrects those misconceptions before they become broken protocol designs. ## Core Features & Use Cases - State Machine & Incentive Framework: Teaches that every state transition needs a caller with a reason to pay gas, with good examples (liquidations, LP fees, arbitrage) and bad patterns to avoid. - CROPS Principles: Covers Censorship Resistance, Open Source, Privacy, and Security as evaluation lenses for Ethereum architecture reviews. - Randomness Guidance: Explains why block.timestamp and blockhash fail, and when to use commit-reveal versus Chainlink VRF. - Use Case: When designing a prediction market or DeFi protocol, use this Skill to audit whether every phase transition is permissionless and incentive-backed rather than admin-triggered. ## Quick Start Explain how to design the settlement and payout flow for my onchain prediction market so it runs without an operator.

Frequently Asked Questions about concepts

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do smart contracts execute functions automatically on a schedule?▼

Smart contracts cannot execute themselves; every function requires an external caller who pays gas. To automate behavior, make the function callable by anyone and attach a reward, as liquidation bots and harvest callers do.

How to generate secure randomness in Solidity smart contracts?▼

Use commit-reveal for simple cases or Chainlink VRF for provable randomness in lotteries and gaming. Never use block.timestamp or blockhash, since validators can manipulate or withhold them.

What is the difference between commit-reveal and Chainlink VRF?▼

Commit-reveal has no external dependency but requires users to reveal within 256 blocks. Chainlink VRF provides provably unbiased randomness verified onchain but costs LINK tokens per request.

Why is using an admin account to trigger contract phases a bad design?▼

Admin-triggered phases create a single point of failure: if the key is lost or the operator disappears, the system halts. The fix is permissionless, time-based or condition-based transitions with incentives for callers.

What does CROPS mean in Ethereum development?▼

CROPS stands for Censorship Resistance, Open Source and Free, Privacy, and Security. It is a checklist for evaluating whether a design has admin kill switches, proper licensing, exposed user data, or overclaimed audit guarantees.