Metamask: Unable to estimate gas when calling the “withdraw” function in a Solidity contract on the Polygon network
As a blockchain-based smart contract developer, it is essential to consider factors that can affect the performance and efficiency of your contracts. One critical aspect is estimating gas usage, especially when calling the “withdraw” function. In this article, we will explore why Metamask may struggle with estimating gas usage when withdrawing funds from your Solidity contract on the Polygon network.
Why Metamask Struggles
Metamask is a popular platform that allows users to manage their cryptocurrency assets across multiple networks, including Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain (BSC), and Polygon. You may encounter issues with estimating gas usage when calling the “withdraw” function in your Solidity contract on the Polygon network using Metamask.
The reason for this issue is the way Solidity contracts are built and executed on the Polygon network. The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is the virtual machine that runs Solidity code, but it is not the same as the EVM used on the Polygon network.
Gas Estimation vs. EVM Compatibility
Estimating gas consumption for a smart contract involves several factors, including:
- Instruction Set: The instruction set architecture (ISA) of your contract, which defines the possible instructions that can be executed.
- Code Optimization: How well your code is optimized for performance, including loop unrolling and constant folding.
- Gas Cost: The estimated cost of each unit of gas in your local currency.
In Solidity, most functions are called with a call instruction, which executes the function directly on the EVM. However, when using Metamask to call the “pull” function on the Polygon network, you need to consider the following:
- Instruction Set: The Ethereum Instruction Set (EIS) is used on the Polygon network, but it is not identical to the EVM ISA.
- Gas Cost: Gas consumption estimates for the “pull” function differ from those on the EVM.
Limitations of Metamask
To overcome these issues, Metamask presents several solutions:
- Using a custom gas estimator
: You can use a third-party service that provides accurate gas estimation for Solidity contracts.
- Optimizing Code with Smart Contract Templates: Some services offer pre-optimized templates for common Solidity contracts that can help reduce gas consumption.
- Calling
withdrawfunction directly from Metamask: You can use theeth_sendRawTransactionmethod to send a transaction to the Polygon network and call thewithdrawfunction on the contract.
Conclusion
While it is possible to overcome these challenges using third-party tools or by optimizing your code, Metamask may have issues estimating gas usage for withdrawing funds from your Solidity contract on the Polygon network. If you are having trouble estimating gas, consider exploring alternative solutions or contacting the Polygon network support team for assistance.
Recommendations
To increase your chances of success, make sure to:
- Use a reliable gas estimation tool: Choose a service that provides accurate estimates for your Solidity contract.
- Optimize your code with smart contract templates: Take advantage of pre-optimized templates to reduce gas usage.
- Call the
pullfunction directly from Metamask: Use theeth_sendRawTransactionmethod to send the transaction and call thepullfunction on the contract.
By following these recommendations, you can increase your chances of success when calling the pull function in your Solidity contract on the Polygon network.
