SnarkVM
SnarkVM is Aleo's execution engine, a virtual machine built for zero-knowledge computation. It takes Aleo instructions (compiled from Leo or written directly), executes them, and produces cryptographic proofs that the execution was correct. It is written in Rust and open source.
Unlike the EVM, which re-executes transactions on every node, SnarkVM shifts computation to the user or a delegated prover. The user runs the program locally, SnarkVM generates a proof, and validators verify that proof instead of replaying the computation. This is orders of magnitude faster and is what makes Aleo's off-chain private execution model work.
SnarkVM handles the full program lifecycle: compilation from Aleo instructions into R1CS, witness generation from private inputs, proof generation via Varuna, and proof verification. It also manages the on-chain finalize phase where validators execute mapping operations after verifying the off-chain proof. Most developers interact with SnarkVM indirectly through Leo and snarkos, but it can be used as a standalone Rust library for custom tooling, wallets, or proof-generation services.