Troubleshooting 'Base Contract Not Supported' Error In Safe Core SDK V1.4.1

If you're encountering the "Base contract is not supported" error while deploying a Safe using the Safe Core SDK v1.4.1, you're not alone. This issue can be frustrating, but understanding the underlying causes and potential solutions can help you overcome this hurdle. This article delves into the intricacies of this error, providing a comprehensive guide to troubleshooting and resolving it.

Understanding the "Base Contract Not Supported" Error

When you're working with smart contracts, especially within the context of a Safe (a multi-signature wallet), the deployment process involves several steps. The Safe Core SDK simplifies these steps, but sometimes, compatibility issues or misconfigurations can lead to errors. The "Base contract is not supported" error typically arises when the SDK attempts to interact with a contract that it doesn't recognize or isn't properly configured to handle. This can occur due to various reasons, such as:

1. Incorrect Contract Addresses: The SDK relies on specific contract addresses for its operations. If these addresses are misconfigured or point to incorrect or unsupported contracts, the SDK will fail to deploy the Safe.
2. Version Mismatch: Using an outdated version of the Safe Core SDK or incompatible versions of related packages can lead to this error. Ensure that all your dependencies are aligned and compatible.
3. Network Issues: Interacting with the blockchain requires a stable and properly configured network connection. Network issues or incorrect network configurations can disrupt the deployment process.
4. Gas Limit Problems: Deploying smart contracts requires sufficient gas. If the gas limit is set too low, the deployment may fail, resulting in this error.
5. Contract Deployment Issues: The base contracts that Safe relies on might not be correctly deployed on the network you're using.

It's essential to systematically investigate these potential causes to pinpoint the root of the problem.

Diagnosing the Issue: A Step-by-Step Approach

To effectively resolve the "Base contract is not supported" error, a systematic approach to diagnosis is crucial. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you identify the cause:

1. Verify Contract Addresses

• Importance of Correct Addresses: The correct contract addresses are paramount for the Safe Core SDK to function correctly. The SDK needs to know the exact location of the base contracts on the blockchain.
• How to Check: Begin by verifying that the contract addresses you are using are correct for the network you are deploying to. You can usually find the official contract addresses in the Safe documentation or on the Safe website. Compare the addresses in your configuration with the official ones. A simple typo or an incorrect network ID can lead to this error. For instance, if you're deploying on the Goerli test network, ensure you're using the Goerli contract addresses, not the Mainnet or another test network addresses.
• Example: If you're using a configuration file, double-check the entries for contract addresses. Make sure there are no leading or trailing spaces, and each character is correct.

2. Check SDK and Dependency Versions

• Version Compatibility Matters: A version mismatch between the Safe Core SDK and its dependencies can often result in unexpected errors. It's crucial to ensure that you're using compatible versions of all related packages.
• How to Verify: Review your project's package.json file (if you're using Node.js) or your dependency management system's configuration to identify the versions of the Safe Core SDK and its dependencies. Compare these versions with the recommended versions in the Safe Core SDK documentation. If there are discrepancies, update or downgrade the packages as necessary.
• Example: If the documentation recommends using version 1.4.1 of the SDK with ethers.js version 5.7.0, ensure your project uses these specific versions. You can use commands like npm install @safe-global/[email protected] [email protected] to install the correct versions.

3. Review Network Configuration

• Network Settings are Key: The correct network configuration is vital for the SDK to interact with the blockchain. Incorrect settings can prevent the SDK from connecting to the network or deploying contracts.
• How to Inspect: Examine your network configuration to ensure that you are connected to the correct network and that your provider URL is valid. If you are using a local development network (like Ganache), ensure it is running and properly configured. If you are using a public test network (like Goerli or Sepolia), verify that your provider URL (e.g., Infura or Alchemy) is correct and that your API keys are valid.
• Example: If you're using Infura, make sure your Infura project ID is correctly set in your environment variables or configuration file. An incorrect or missing project ID will prevent the SDK from connecting to the network.

4. Analyze Gas Limit and Price

• Gas Considerations: Deploying smart contracts requires sufficient gas. Insufficient gas limit or gas price settings can cause deployment failures.
• How to Evaluate: Check the gas limit and gas price settings in your deployment configuration. If the gas limit is too low, the transaction may run out of gas, leading to a failed deployment. If the gas price is too low, the transaction may not be processed promptly by the network. Monitor the network's current gas prices and adjust your settings accordingly. You can also try increasing the gas limit to see if that resolves the issue.
• Example: If you are using a hardhat configuration, you can set the gas limit in the hardhat.config.js file. For instance, you might set the gas limit to 1000000 to ensure sufficient gas for deployment.

5. Check for Base Contract Deployment

• Base Contracts Must Exist: The Safe relies on a set of base contracts that must be deployed on the network. If these contracts are missing or incorrectly deployed, the SDK will not be able to deploy a new Safe.
• How to Verify: Ensure that the base contracts (like the SafeProxyFactory and the Safe contracts) are deployed on the network you are using. You can check this by looking up the contract addresses on a block explorer for the network. If the contracts are not deployed, you will need to deploy them before you can deploy a Safe.
• Example: You can use a block explorer like Etherscan (for Ethereum Mainnet and testnets) to search for the SafeProxyFactory contract address on your network. If the contract is not found, it indicates that the base contracts need to be deployed.

By systematically working through these diagnostic steps, you can identify the specific cause of the "Base contract is not supported" error and take the appropriate corrective actions.

Resolving the "Base Contract Not Supported" Error

Once you've diagnosed the issue, you can proceed with the appropriate solution. Here are some common resolutions based on the potential causes identified:

1. Correcting Contract Addresses

• Action: If you've identified that incorrect contract addresses are the issue, the solution is straightforward: update the contract addresses in your configuration to the correct ones.
• Steps:
  • Obtain Correct Addresses: Refer to the official Safe documentation or the Safe website for the correct contract addresses for the network you are using.
  • Update Configuration: Modify your configuration files or environment variables to reflect these correct addresses. Ensure there are no typos or extra spaces.
  • Verify Changes: After making the changes, double-check that the new addresses are correctly entered before attempting to deploy the Safe again.
• Example: If you found that the SafeProxyFactory address in your configuration was incorrect, replace it with the correct address from the official documentation. For example, update the address in your config.js file from `