In our previous lesson on Caldera, we introduced the powerful technology that enables high-speed scalability zkSync and gave a brief overview of its components. Now, to help you gain a clearer and deeper understanding of how Caldera truly works, we’re going to break down and explain the zkSync components one by one, in a simple and beginner-friendly way. This will help you grasp the full picture of the technology behind the scenes. •WHAT IS ZK Stack? The ZK Stack is a developer-friendly, modular, open-source framework designed for building your own Zero-Knowledge (ZK) rollup chains on Ethereum. The ZK Stack provides pre-built components like sequencers, provers, and bridges so developers can pick and configure what they need. • CALDERA+ZK STACK zkSync is the technology, ZK stack is the tool used in building the technology (zkSync) while Caldera is the platform that offers and makes this tool closer to Builders (me and you). Caldera complements ZK Stack by offering a one-click deployment platform, with dev toolkits, monitoring, bridges, and explorer... all packaged together This means: 1) Deploy confidently without spinning up infrastructure yourself 2) Integrate essential services (wallets, oracles, bridges) seamlessly 3) Save on proving costs and improve performance thanks to enhancements like ZK Sync’s "Airbender" prover. Projects like XPLA, Kinto, Manta Pacific, and others are already adopting ZK Stack via Caldera to build app-specific, high-performance rollups. • WHY IT MATTERS Imagine you’re building a new DeFi app or blockchain game: 1)You don't want your app slowed by Ethereum’s high fees and congestion. 2)With ZK rollups, you can achieve Ethereum-level security and cheaper, faster transactions. 3)Using ZK Stack, you get a bespoke blockchain that fits your app perfectly complete with bridges and ecosystem tools. 4) As adoption grows, you can launch multiple chains for different regions or user segments, all connected and secure. think of it as your blockchain-building toolkit giving you the freedom to design a fast, feature-rich, cost-effective chain for your app, all backed by Ethereum’s security. And with Caldera powering the deployment, you get a polished, ready-to-go experience from testnet to mainnet in a fraction of the time. @Calderaxyz is here to make ethereum Great again. SCALE EVERYTHING GMERA