Today, we're diving into staking NFTs in our game's smart contract. This strategy helps manage market prices by locking NFTs in the contract. Imagine setting an unstaking period of 3 to 30 days for added control.

Staking NFTs simplifies ownership tracking, crucial for rewarding owners periodically, even per blockchain block. This method avoids the need for centralized systems to track ownership, a common challenge with alternatives that rely on transaction history or external APIs.

Staking NFTs in our game is a straightforward process:

1. The player picks an NFT to stake.
2. They send this NFT to our contract.
3. Our contract acknowledges and processes the transfer.
4. Finally, the contract logs the player's staked NFT in a table, ready for future interactions.

This process ensures a seamless and efficient staking experience, integral to the game's dynamics.

Now lets dig into whole staking source code and example

Main file game.hpp

#include <eosio/eosio.hpp>
#include <eosio/singleton.hpp>
#include <eosio/asset.hpp>
#include "atomicassets.hpp"

using namespace eosio;

At the top of the file, we connect all the necessary libraries and namespaces

class [[eosio::contract]] game : public contract
{
  public:
    using contract::contract;
  private:
};

This is what an empty class called a game looks like, in it we will implement all the functions needed for staking.

The first step is to add a function for listening to the transfer, make it public:

 // listening atomicassets transfer
    [[eosio::on_notify("atomicassets::transfer")]]
    void receive_asset_transfer
    (
      const name& from,
      const name& to,
      std::vector <uint64_t>& asset_ids,
      const std::string& memo
    );

Regarding eosio::on_notify you can check more about it here  https://developers.eos.io/welcome/v2.0/smart-contract-guides/payable-actions/#the-on_notify-attribute

In this function, we configure it to listen to the Atomic Assets contract and its transfer function. Here's a brief rundown:

• from: This represents the player sending the NFT.
• to: This should be set to our contract.
• asset_ids: These are the gaming NFTs involved in the transaction.
• memo: A message included with the transfer. Future memos will be specified to guide our contract on how to process the data.

This setup is crucial for correctly handling NFT transfers in our game environment.

//scope: owner
  struct [[eosio::table]] staked_j
  {
    uint64_t              asset_id; // item
    std::vector<uint64_t> staked_items; // farming items

    uint64_t primary_key() const { return asset_id; }
  };
  typedef multi_index< "staked"_n, staked_j > staked_t;

In this part, we've set up a table to keep track of staked NFTs:

• Scope: Defined by the player's nickname.
• asset_id: Identifies the specific NFT (item).
• staked_items: An array containing the staked NFTs (farming items).
• primary_key: A necessary function in all tables, determining the search key for records.

Additionally, we've crafted helper functions to enhance the code's readability within the contract.

 void stake_farmingitem(const name& owner, const uint64_t& asset_id);
  void stake_items(const name& owner, const uint64_t& farmingitem, const std::vector<uint64_t>& items_to_stake);

  // get mutable data from NFT
  atomicassets::ATTRIBUTE_MAP get_mdata(atomicassets::assets_t::const_iterator& assets_itr);
  // get immutable data from template of NFT
  atomicassets::ATTRIBUTE_MAP get_template_idata(const int32_t& template_id, const name& collection_name);
  // update mutable data of NFT
  void update_mdata(atomicassets::assets_t::const_iterator& assets_itr, const atomicassets::ATTRIBUTE_MAP& new_mdata, const name& owner);

Now, we're diving deeper into the game.cpp file to detail the implementation of the function that monitors atomic transfers. This is where the magic happens in handling NFT transactions within our game's framework.

void game::receive_asset_transfer
(
  const name& from,
  const name& to,
  std::vector <uint64_t>& asset_ids,
  const std::string& memo
)
{
  if(to != get_self())
    return;

  if(memo == "stake farming item")
  {
    check(asset_ids.size() == 1, "You must transfer only one farming item to stake");
    stake_farmingitem(from, asset_ids[0]);
  }
  else if(memo.find("stake items:") != std::string::npos)
  {
    const uint64_t farmingitem_id = std::stoll(memo.substr(12));
    stake_items(from, farmingitem_id, asset_ids);
  }
  else
    check(0, "Invalid memo");

}

First, we verify if the NFT was sent to our contract using get_self(). Depending on the memo, we distinguish between staking a farming item and other items.

For a farming item, we confirm that only one NFT is sent, adhering to our game rule of staking one item at a time. Then, we invoke stake_farmingitem.

For staking other items, the memo must include the ID of the farming item where the NFTs are to be staked, formatted as "stake items:id", with the actual ID of the farming item.

std::stoll(memo.substr(12));

Here we parse the id from the string (memo) and then we call the internal function for item staking:

else
    check(0, "Invalid memo");

If the transfer to the contract doesn't match the specified memos for staking, the contract will flag an error. This ensures only valid transactions are processed. Next, we'll explore additional functions used in this process, further detailing how the contract operates.

void game::stake_farmingitem(const name& owner, const uint64_t& asset_id)
{
    auto assets       = atomicassets::get_assets(get_self());
    auto asset_itr    = assets.find(asset_id);

    auto farmingitem_mdata = get_mdata(asset_itr);
    if(farmingitem_mdata.find("slots") == std::end(farmingitem_mdata))
    {
        auto farmingitem_template_idata = get_template_idata(asset_itr->template_id, asset_itr->collection_name);
        check(farmingitem_template_idata.find("maxSlots") != std::end(farmingitem_template_idata),
            "Farming item slots was not initialized. Contact ot dev team");
        check(farmingitem_template_idata.find("stakeableResources") != std::end(farmingitem_template_idata),
            "stakeableResources items at current farming item was not initialized. Contact to dev team");

        farmingitem_mdata["slots"] = (uint8_t)1;
        farmingitem_mdata["level"] = (uint8_t)1;

        update_mdata(asset_itr, farmingitem_mdata, get_self());
    }

    staked_t staked_table(get_self(), owner.value);
    staked_table.emplace(get_self(), [&](auto &new_row)
    {
        new_row.asset_id = asset_id;
    });
}

Following is explanation of this function:

auto assets       = atomicassets::get_assets(get_self());
    auto asset_itr    = assets.find(asset_id);

This part covers how we retrieve a record of our contract's balance from the atomicassets table and locate the specific NFT the user wishes to stake. We'll be using functions from the atomicassets namespace. These are detailed in the header files included with the article, providing a straightforward tutorial on working with the atomic assets standard. No deep diving into the code is required; it's designed to be user-friendly for those implementing the atomic assets standard in their projects.

auto farmingitem_mdata = get_mdata(asset_itr);

Here we extract the metadata of the NFT for further work with the data located in the NFT:

atomicassets::ATTRIBUTE_MAP game::get_mdata(atomicassets::assets_t::const_iterator& assets_itr)
{
  auto schemas = atomicassets::get_schemas(assets_itr->collection_name);
  auto schema_itr = schemas.find(assets_itr->schema_name.value);

  atomicassets::ATTRIBUTE_MAP deserialized_mdata = atomicdata::deserialize
  (
    assets_itr->mutable_serialized_data,
    schema_itr->format
  );

  return deserialized_mdata;
}

this is our data extraction function, this is where the schema(category) is taken:

 auto schemas = atomicassets::get_schemas(assets_itr->collection_name);
 auto schema_itr = schemas.find(assets_itr->schema_name.value);

The process involves passing data to the atomic data deserialization function in atomicdata. We'll include these files with the code for easy reference. Regarding staking, when we receive the metadata of the NFT, we follow specific steps to ensure accurate processing and recording within the contract.

if(farmingitem_mdata.find("slots") == std::end(farmingitem_mdata))
    {
        auto farmingitem_template_idata = get_template_idata(asset_itr->template_id, asset_itr->collection_name);
        check(farmingitem_template_idata.find("maxSlots") != std::end(farmingitem_template_idata),
            "Farming item slots was not initialized. Contact ot dev team");
        check(farmingitem_template_idata.find("stakeableResources") != std::end(farmingitem_template_idata),
            "stakeableResources items at current farming item was not initialized. Contact to dev team");

        farmingitem_mdata["slots"] = (uint8_t)1;
        farmingitem_mdata["level"] = (uint8_t)1;

        update_mdata(asset_itr, farmingitem_mdata, get_self());
    }

When staking an NFT for the first time, we check for a 'slots' field. If it's absent, we follow the game's requirements to initialize fields, setting up slots and the farming item's level. This initialization is crucial only for the first-time staking of an NFT.

 staked_t staked_table(get_self(), owner.value);
    staked_table.emplace(get_self(), [&](auto &new_row)
    {
        new_row.asset_id = asset_id;
    });

Next, we record the staked NFT in our table, using the owner.value as the scope. This ensures that the entry is user-specific. The emplace function then takes over, where the first parameter is the account authorized to pay for the RAM, and the second parameter is a lambda function for adding a new record to the table.

This sets the stage for detailing the item staking function.

void game::stake_items(const name& owner, const uint64_t& farmingitem, const std::vector<uint64_t>& items_to_stake)
{
    auto assets       = atomicassets::get_assets(get_self());

    staked_t staked_table(get_self(), owner.value);
    auto staked_table_itr = staked_table.require_find(farmingitem, "Could not find farming staked item");
    auto asset_itr = assets.find(farmingitem);

    auto farmingitem_mdata          = get_mdata(asset_itr);
    auto farmingitem_template_idata = get_template_idata(asset_itr->template_id, asset_itr->collection_name);

    check(std::get<uint8_t>(farmingitem_mdata["slots"]) >= staked_table_itr->staked_items.size() + items_to_stake.size(),
     "You don't have empty slots on current farming item to stake this amount of items");

    atomicdata::string_VEC stakeableResources = std::get<atomicdata::string_VEC>(farmingitem_template_idata["stakeableResources"]);
    for(const uint64_t& item_to_stake : items_to_stake)
    {
        asset_itr = assets.find(item_to_stake);
        auto item_mdata = get_mdata(asset_itr);

        item_mdata["lastClaim"] = current_time_point().sec_since_epoch();
        auto template_idata = get_template_idata(asset_itr->template_id, asset_itr->collection_name);
        if(item_mdata.find("level") == std::end(item_mdata))
        {
            check(template_idata.find("farmResource") != std::end(template_idata),
                "farmResource at item[" + std::to_string(item_to_stake) + "] was not initialized. Contact to dev team");
            check(template_idata.find("miningRate") != std::end(template_idata),
                "miningRate at item[" + std::to_string(item_to_stake) + "] was not initialized. Contact to dev team");
            check(template_idata.find("maxLevel") != std::end(template_idata),
                "maxLevel at item[" + std::to_string(item_to_stake) + "] was not initialized. Contact to dev team");

            item_mdata["level"] = (uint8_t)1;
        }

        check(std::find(std::begin(stakeableResources), std::end(stakeableResources), std::get<std::string>(template_idata["farmResource"])) != std::end(stakeableResources),
            "Item [" + std::to_string(item_to_stake) + "] can not be staked at current farming item");
        update_mdata(asset_itr, item_mdata, get_self());
    }

    staked_table.modify(staked_table_itr, get_self(), [&](auto &new_row)
    {
        new_row.staked_items.insert(std::end(new_row.staked_items), std::begin(items_to_stake), std::end(items_to_stake));
    });
}

Now step by step

  auto assets       = atomicassets::get_assets(get_self());

here we are receiving NFTs from contract

 staked_t staked_table(get_self(), owner.value);
    auto staked_table_itr = staked_table.require_find(farmingitem, "Could not find farming staked item");

The process involves extracting the player's table and searching for the specific farming item ID mentioned in the memo. If the specified ID isn't found, the system triggers an error message.

 auto asset_itr = assets.find(farmingitem);

Next, the process involves locating the NFT in the atomic table to extract its data.

 auto farmingitem_mdata          = get_mdata(asset_itr);
    auto farmingitem_template_idata = get_template_idata(asset_itr->template_id, asset_itr->collection_name);

In this step, we extract the NFT metadata and immutable template data. The function get_template_idata is used for this purpose, functioning similarly to get_mdata. This extraction is vital for accurately understanding and utilizing the NFT's characteristics within the game.

atomicassets::ATTRIBUTE_MAP game::get_template_idata(const int32_t& template_id, const name& collection_name)
{
  auto templates = atomicassets::get_templates(collection_name);
  auto template_itr = templates.find(template_id);

  auto schemas = atomicassets::get_schemas(collection_name);
  auto schema_itr = schemas.find(template_itr->schema_name.value);

  return atomicdata::deserialize
  (
    template_itr->immutable_serialized_data,
    schema_itr->format
  );
}

In this part, we're extracting information about the NFT template. From this template data, we then pull out the specific details we need.

check(std::get<uint8_t>(farmingitem_mdata["slots"]) >= staked_table_itr->staked_items.size() + items_to_stake.size(),
     "You don't have empty slots on current farming item to stake this amount of items");

The next step involves verifying if there's sufficient space in the farming item to store new items. This check is essential to ensure that the item's capacity aligns with the game's rules and mechanics.

atomicdata::string_VEC stakeableResources = std::get<atomicdata::string_VEC>(farmingitem_template_idata["stakeableResources"]);

In this phase, we utilize a vector or array of types. This is where we'll record all the resources that the player's chosen items are set to farm.

---

for(const uint64_t& item_to_stake : items_to_stake)
    {
        asset_itr = assets.find(item_to_stake);
        auto item_mdata = get_mdata(asset_itr);

        item_mdata["lastClaim"] = current_time_point().sec_since_epoch();
        auto template_idata = get_template_idata(asset_itr->template_id, asset_itr->collection_name);
        if(item_mdata.find("level") == std::end(item_mdata))
        {
            check(template_idata.find("farmResource") != std::end(template_idata),
                "farmResource at item[" + std::to_string(item_to_stake) + "] was not initialized. Contact to dev team");
            check(template_idata.find("miningRate") != std::end(template_idata),
                "miningRate at item[" + std::to_string(item_to_stake) + "] was not initialized. Contact to dev team");
            check(template_idata.find("maxLevel") != std::end(template_idata),
                "maxLevel at item[" + std::to_string(item_to_stake) + "] was not initialized. Contact to dev team");

            item_mdata["level"] = (uint8_t)1;
        }

        check(std::find(std::begin(stakeableResources), std::end(stakeableResources), std::get<std::string>(template_idata["farmResource"])) != std::end(stakeableResources),
            "Item [" + std::to_string(item_to_stake) + "] can not be staked at current farming item");
        update_mdata(asset_itr, item_mdata, get_self());
    }

Next, we iterate through the items the player wants to stake, extracting NFT data for each, similar to earlier steps.

item_mdata["lastClaim"] = current_time_point().sec_since_epoch();

We then record the 'last time stamped' field for each item, crucial for future resource farming calculations. This timestamp defaults to the moment the item is processed.

if(item_mdata.find("level") == std::end(item_mdata))
        {
            check(template_idata.find("farmResource") != std::end(template_idata),
                "farmResource at item[" + std::to_string(item_to_stake) + "] was not initialized. Contact to dev team");
            check(template_idata.find("miningRate") != std::end(template_idata),
                "miningRate at item[" + std::to_string(item_to_stake) + "] was not initialized. Contact to dev team");
            check(template_idata.find("maxLevel") != std::end(template_idata),
                "maxLevel at item[" + std::to_string(item_to_stake) + "] was not initialized. Contact to dev team");

            item_mdata["level"] = (uint8_t)1;
        }

At this point, we verify if the item is being staked for the first time. If it's the first staking instance and the 'level' field is missing, it indicates that we need to add this field to the NFT. Additionally, we check other mandatory fields in the template to ensure they're properly initialized.

 check(std::find(std::begin(stakeableResources), std::end(stakeableResources), std::get<std::string>(template_idata["farmResource"])) != std::end(stakeableResources),
            "Item [" + std::to_string(item_to_stake) + "] can not be staked at current farming item");

In this step, we assess if the farming item can accommodate the staking of an item that mines a specific resource. This involves checking the array of resources that the farming item can mine and ensuring that the items the player wants to stake align with the capabilities of the corresponding farming item.

update_mdata(asset_itr, item_mdata, get_self());

Once we confirm that everything is in order, we proceed to update the NFT metadata as described in the previous steps. This ensures that the NFT is correctly modified to reflect its new status and capabilities within the game's ecosystem.

void game::update_mdata(atomicassets::assets_t::const_iterator& assets_itr, const atomicassets::ATTRIBUTE_MAP& new_mdata, const name& owner)
{
  action
  (
    permission_level{get_self(),"active"_n},
    atomicassets::ATOMICASSETS_ACCOUNT,
    "setassetdata"_n,
    std::make_tuple
    (
      get_self(),
      owner,
      assets_itr->asset_id,
      new_mdata
    )
  ).send();
}

Next, we call the atomic function, inputting all the relevant data. After updating the NFT metadata, we also make corresponding changes to the staking table.

 staked_table.modify(staked_table_itr, get_self(), [&](auto &new_row)
    {
        new_row.staked_items.insert(std::end(new_row.staked_items), std::begin(items_to_stake), std::end(items_to_stake));
    });

Here we use modify, since such an entry already exists in the table and we just need to change it. The first parameter is an iterator that needs to be changed (an entry in the table), the second is who pays for the RAM, the third is a lambda for editing an entry in the table.

PS. The Following link leads us to a repository that corresponds everything described, so you can simply build that code and use in a way you want. Next articles will contain also past code examples, so our framework will evolve over time containing all past articles.