[Documentation] Updated the new contributor learning guide

docs/learning/README.md

@@ -1,42 +1,87 @@
-# Learning Pocket
+# Learning Pocket <!-- omit in toc -->
 
 _This is a live document on how to get ramped up on all the knowledge you need to contribute to the Pocket Protocol._
 
-## Where to Start?
+- [🏁 Where to Start?](#-where-to-start)
+- [🏗️ Technical Foundation](#️-technical-foundation)
+  - [Github Development](#github-development)
+  - [Golang](#golang)
+- [📚 Technical References](#-technical-references)
+  - [Pocket Specific](#pocket-specific)
+  - [Consensus](#consensus)
+  - [Merkle Trees](#merkle-trees)
+  - [Ethereum](#ethereum)
+  - [Cryptography](#cryptography)
+  - [P2P](#p2p)
+  - [Blogs](#blogs)
+    - [Specific Article Recommendations](#specific-article-recommendations)
+    - [General Subscription Recommendations](#general-subscription-recommendations)
+- [❌ Non-suggested reads](#-non-suggested-reads)
+
+## 🏁 Where to Start?
 
 This is a general set of steps we have found to help new core team members onboard to Protocol development.
 
-1.  Watch our [2022 Infracon presentation on v1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJoZyzQuJVc) to get a general idea of how everything works.
-2.  Run a LocalNet by following the instructions [here](https://github.com/pokt-network/pocket/blob/main/docs/development/README.md).
+1. Watch our [2022 Infracon presentation on v1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJoZyzQuJVc) to get a general idea of how everything works. _(43 mins)_
 
-    **Pro tip**: Did you know there are a bunch of `make` commands? Run `make` from the root repo to see what’s available.
+   - This will help you understand the core building components of a Pocket V1 Node
 
-3.  Get an understanding of the the V1 spec summaries by reading about the 4 modules [here](https://docs.pokt.network/home/learn/future).
-4.  If you’re interested in the _OG v0 Pocket whitepaper_, check out [this link](https://pocket-network-assets.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/pdfs/Pocket-Network-Whitepaper-v0.3.0.pdf).
-5.  Over time, **and not all at once**, you can start making your way through and updating the V1 specs: https://github.com/pokt-network/pocket-network-protocol.
+2. Run a **LocalNet** by following the [development guide](https://github.com/pokt-network/pocket/blob/main/docs/development/README.md). _(1-2 hours)_
 
-    **Tip**: We hope to publish it with V1 benchmarks on arxiv one day, so this is your change to contribute 🙂
+   - This will get you set up to start contributing
+   - Reach out to the core team in the [#v1-dev](https://discord.com/channels/553741558869131266/986789914379186226) discord channel if you hit any issues
+   - _TIP: Once you clone the Github repo, you can `cd pocket` and run `make` from to see all the available commands._
 
+3. Get an understanding of the the V1 spec summaries by reading about the [4 modules in our docs](https://docs.pokt.network/home/learn/future). _(3-5 hours)_
+
+   - This will get you understand the spec foundations for Pocket V1
+
+4. **Optional**: If you’re interested, you can view the [_OG v0 Pocket whitepaper_](https://pocket-network-assets.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/pdfs/Pocket-Network-Whitepaper-v0.3.0.pdf). _(10-12 hours)_
+
+   - This can provide both valuable and interesting historical context into Pocket
+
+5. Over time, **and not all at once**, you can start making your way through and updating the [V1 specifications](https://github.com/pokt-network/pocket-network-protocol). _(30 hours)_
+
+   - Mastering these concepts won't be easy but will make you an expert on Pocket V1
+   - _TIP: We hope to publish it with V1 benchmarks on arxiv one day, so this is your change to contribute 🙂_
+   - **Optional**: If you're a core team member or heavily involved in the project, reach out to the team about getting access to the V1 specification research documents.
     <!-- For internal use only. If you're external and are reading this, reach out to the team.
        These decks from October 2021 might also help:
-       - [Utility](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1NU0PnegtBm5ioLu0VQMiluWT4usHnavDKrGvS3p8QdM/edit)
-       - [Persistence](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qDA-pRMT1KV9byUAU49bvd_5seaILPAh6i3vA7j5l8o/edit)
-       - [P2p](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CLeAcGJbM_iP76vnCoHreU1chB9vFWIYWAwQHa-MPbc/edit)
-       - [Consensus](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18CtSxxLLHY1N7HEJtja633mVF1_a9blaE2fe2-WgGAo/edit)
-    -->
+         - [Utility](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1NU0PnegtBm5ioLu0VQMiluWT4usHnavDKrGvS3p8QdM/edit)
+         - [Persistence](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qDA-pRMT1KV9byUAU49bvd_5seaILPAh6i3vA7j5l8o/edit)
+         - [P2P](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CLeAcGJbM_iP76vnCoHreU1chB9vFWIYWAwQHa-MPbc/edit)
+         - [Consensus](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18CtSxxLLHY1N7HEJtja633mVF1_a9blaE2fe2-WgGAo/edit)
+   -->
 
-6.  To start getting acquainted with the code, look at the [README on the shared architecture](https://github.com/pokt-network/pocket/tree/main/shared).
+6. Start getting acquainted with the code structure by looking at the [docs on the shared architecture](https://github.com/pokt-network/pocket/tree/main/shared). _(1 hour)_
 
-7.  Want to get a sense of all the open issues and tickets? [Check out this page](https://github.com/orgs/pokt-network/projects/142/views/12) or ask for a starter task in the [#v1-dev](https://discord.com/channels/553741558869131266/986789914379186226) discord channel if you don’t have one.
+   - This will help you understand the code architecture of Pocket V1
 
-8.  Jump on a call and pair code!
+7. View our [V1 Roadmap](https://github.com/pokt-network/pocket/blob/main/docs/roadmap/README.md). _(10 mins)_
+
+   - This will give you insight into our development & release timelines
+
+8. Get a sense of all the open issues and tickets [in out Github project](https://github.com/orgs/pokt-network/projects/142/views/12). _(1 hour)_
+9. If you don't already have a starter task, pick one from [Dework](https://app.dework.xyz/pokt-network), our [open issues](https://github.com/pokt-network/pocket/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+sort%3Aupdated-desc) or ask the team in the [#v1-dev](https://discord.com/channels/553741558869131266/986789914379186226) discord channel. _(1 hour)_
+
+10. Jump on a call and pair code! _(∞ and beyond)_
 
 - If you need a walk-through of the code and some pointers before getting started, **jump on a call!**
 - If you need to take your time to understand the problem and the code first, do so, and then **jump on a call!**
 - If you don't need help, **when you’re about 33% of the way done**, show your draft work and get some feedback, so **jump on a call!**
 - Just leave a message in the [#v1-dev](https://discord.com/channels/553741558869131266/986789914379186226) discord channel and someone from the core team will respond.
 
-## Technical References
+## 🏗️ Technical Foundation
+
+### Github Development
+
+If you're not familiar with the Github workflow, you can reference the [First Contributions](https://github.com/firstcontributions/first-contributions) repository.
+
+### Golang
+
+If you're not familiar with Go, consider taking [The Way To Go](https://www.educative.io/courses/the-way-to-go) course on educative.io
+
+## 📚 Technical References
 
 _We're trying not to make this a link dump, so please only add more references if it was actually helpful in clarifying your understanding._
 
@@ -98,8 +143,15 @@ This is a general set of technical links and recommended reading our team has fo
 - [How Schnorr signatures may improve Bitcoin](https://medium.com/cryptoadvance/how-schnorr-signatures-may-improve-bitcoin-91655bcb4744)
   - A gentle introduction to Schnorr signatures
 
+### P2P
+
+- [Eclipsing Ethereum Peers with False Friends](https://arxiv.org/pdf/1908.10141.pdf)
+  - A detailed explanation of how Kademlia (DHT for P2P networks) works, accompanying a deep dive into peer management and peer discovery in Geth, with the goal of outlining several attack vectors and their countermeasures.
+
 ### Blogs
 
+#### Specific Article Recommendations
+
 - [Aptos engineering blog](https://aptoslabs.medium.com/)
   - [The Evolution of State Sync](https://medium.com/aptoslabs/the-evolution-of-state-sync-the-path-to-100k-transactions-per-second-with-sub-second-latency-at-52e25a2c6f10)
 - [Olshansky's blog](https://olshansky.substack.com/)
@@ -108,9 +160,20 @@ This is a general set of technical links and recommended reading our team has fo
   - [5P;1R - Bitcoin's Elliptic Curve Cryptography](https://olshansky.substack.com/p/5p1r-bitcoins-elliptic-curve-cryptography)
   - [5P;1R - Jellyfish Merkle Tree](https://olshansky.substack.com/p/5p1r-jellyfish-merkle-tree)
 
-#### General Blogs
+#### General Subscription Recommendations
 
 - [Pocket Network Blog](https://www.blog.pokt.network/)
 - [OG Pocket Network Blog](https://medium.com/@POKTnetwork)
 - [Vitalik's blog](https://vitalik.ca/categories/blockchains.html)
 - [Mike's blog](https://morourke.org/)
+- [Joachim Neu](https://www.jneu.net/)
+  - See the articles under the **Technical reports** section
+
+## ❌ Non-suggested reads
+
+The papers in this list were read by our team and would not be recommended to become more productive to contributing to Pocket.
+
+We do not consider them bad, but time is limited so it is important to focus on what will bring the most learning value.
+
+- [Blockchains Meet Distributed Hash Tables: Decoupling Validation from State Storage](https://arxiv.org/abs/1904.01935)
+  - An "extended abstract" of how Authenticated Data Structures (i.e. Merkle Trees) could be _"sharded"_ across nodes using Distributed Hash Tables (DHTs) to reduce the state required to be maintained and synched by each node.