* __Privacy__ - Quorum supports private transactions and private contracts through public/private state separation, and utilises peer-to-peer encrypted message exchanges (see [Constellation](https://github.com/jpmorganchase/constellation) and [Tessera](https://github.com/jpmorganchase/tessera)) for directed transfer of private data to network participants
* __Alternative Consensus Mechanisms__ - with no need for POW/POS in a permissioned network, Quorum instead offers multiple consensus mechanisms that are more appropriate for consortium chains:
The above diagram is a high-level overview of the privacy architecture used by Quorum. For more in-depth discussion of the components, refer to the [wiki](https://github.com/jpmorganchase/quorum/wiki) pages.
The quickest way to get started with Quorum is by following instructions in the [Quorum Examples](https://github.com/jpmorganchase/quorum-examples) repository. This allows you to quickly create a network of Quorum nodes, and includes a step-by-step demonstration of the privacy features of Quorum.
* [Istanbul BFT Consensus Documentation](https://github.com/ethereum/EIPs/issues/650): [RPC API](https://github.com/getamis/go-ethereum/wiki/RPC-API) and [technical article](https://medium.com/getamis/istanbul-bft-ibft-c2758b7fe6ff). <spanstyle="background-color: #ffffbf">Please note</span> that updated istanbul-tools is now hosted in [this](https://github.com/jpmorganchase/istanbul-tools/) repository
* [Clique POA Consensus Documentation](https://github.com/ethereum/EIPs/issues/225) and a [guide to setup clique json](https://modalduality.org/posts/puppeth/) with [puppeth](https://blog.ethereum.org/2017/04/14/geth-1-6-puppeth-master/)
The following Quorum-related libraries/applications have been created by Third Parties and as such are not specifically endorsed by J.P. Morgan. A big thanks to the developers for improving the tooling around Quorum!
* [Quorum Blockchain Explorer](https://github.com/blk-io/blk-explorer-free) - a Blockchain Explorer for Quorum which supports viewing private transactions
* [Quorum-Genesis](https://github.com/davebryson/quorum-genesis) - A simple CL utility for Quorum to help populate the genesis file with voters and makers
* [Apache Camel](http://github.com/apache/camel) - an Apache Camel component providing support for the Quorum API using web3j library. Here is the artcile describing how to use Apache Camel with Ethereum and Quorum https://medium.com/@bibryam/enterprise-integration-for-ethereum-fa67a1577d43
Quorum is built on open source and we invite you to contribute enhancements. Upon review you will be required to complete a Contributor License Agreement (CLA) before we are able to merge. If you have any questions about the contribution process, please feel free to send an email to [quorum_info@jpmorgan.com](mailto:quorum_info@jpmorgan.com).