Cross-organizational, blockchain-based distributed ledger networks in general, and those based on Hyperledger Fabric in particular, have an architecture which can be adapted to specific application requirements. However, network design can be a particularly challenging task, as the connection between architectural and deployment decisions and extra-functional properties can be subtle and the requirements may contradict each other, requiring trade-offs.
In this paper, we propose a model-based distributed ledger architecture design approach which enables expert exploration of design options. We capture key requirements and define architecture fragments using partial modelling. We enumerate qualitatively different architectural candidates by graph generation. We evaluate and rank order candidates in logic solver tooling. As a result, our approach provides generative architectures for distributed ledger networks by enabling efficient exploration of design alternatives.
