Tag: solidity

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Crypto Guides

‘Blockchain Coding’ – The Different Programming Languages That Are Being Used!

Introduction

Introduction

Introduction

In the nineties, when the internet was evolving, it sometimes used to take hours to connect to the internet. When the visionaries were betting on the internet that it would change the world, most of them wondered if it has that transforming effect? Now we cannot imagine a world without the internet. The same is going to happen with blockchain. Blockchain is going to create the internet of value. To build that work, we need developers in blockchain, and different languages used in developing the technology.

To understand which languages should be used in blockchain coding, let us see the challenges the tech offer to understand and select a language for development.

✰ Security

If we talk about public blockchains, the code is open source and public. Anyone can check the code, find vulnerabilities, and take away millions in dollars. Hence the development is very slow in general.

✰ Resource Management

Networks grow in size pretty soon, and hence the maintenance should be appropriate. Local queries should be addressed at the earliest.

✰ Performance

The language chosen should be extremely versatile. Blockchain has specific tasks that can be checked parallelly while some cannot. Signature verification can be checked parallelly, while transaction verification should be done to avoid double-spending.

✰ Deterministic behavior

A smart contract should behave in the same way, no matter in which machine you run them. In the same way, a transaction should hold good at any point in time. Hence, they should operate in Isolation. Hence, we should isolate smart contracts and transactions from non-deterministic elements.

Let us see the languages which overcome these challenges below:

C++

The bitcoin blockchain is written in C++. C++ has been developed as an extension of the C language, and it is an object-oriented language (OOP). OOP means, when an object is created with functions and data, it can be called upon for use any number of times further, thus reducing coding time. Let see the features of C++ below, which aides in blockchain coding.

Memory

C++ takes complete control over CPU and memory usage. We have seen that blockchain requires effective resource management and the platform itself to integrate with lots of untrusted endpoints still giving quick service.

Threading

A thread is a set of instructions that can be executed simultaneously. C++ not only supports multithreading but also optimizes single-thread performance. As we discussed before, blockchain needs both parallel and non-parallel tasks to be performed; hence threading functionality helps in this requirement.

Move Semantics

Move Semantics helps in getting copies of particular data only when required. This reduces data redundancy and boosts performance.

Code Isolation

Code isolation is possible in C++ due to its usage of classes. The language itself is so mature that it is frequently updated, which helps use the latest features.

Solidity

The most common language used in Ethereum to write smart contracts is Solidity. Anyone interested in developing DAPPs or get into the ICO games, Solidity, is a must learn. Most of the Ethereum founders contributed to the development of Solidity. Solidity is a slimmed-down language explicitly designed to develop smart contracts with a syntax very similar to Javascript.

Python and Javascript are used as well in blockchain coding as they have the required properties as well. Go Lang, developed by Google, is used as well due to its faster speeds. The need for blockchain developers is very high, and going forward will only increase. Hence, for programmers, if they can learn what blockchain is, they have a high tide to ride and make their name in the blockchain world.

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Crypto Guides

Smart Contracts – A Brief Introduction

What are Smart Contracts?

What are Smart Contracts?

What are Smart Contracts?

Smart contracts are nothing but deals that are digitally stored using digitization to enable digitalization of the business process. The smart contracts can be touted as one of the best applications of blockchain. Blockchain eliminates the middlemen in whichever industry the technology is leveraged, and smart contracts do the same. One doesn’t have to rely on a third-party player to authenticate the deal but pay some money to build the code which is suitable for all the parties involved and deploy the contract in the blockchain to make it active.

How do they work?

Smart contracts in real is a piece of code which can be written in any language that the blockchain platform may support. The code is written in such a way that when predefined parameters are met, the contract execution triggers automatically, and the conditions are met without any human intervention. This makes it very easy to handle and execute smart contracts.

Are they reliable?

Immutability is one of the essential characteristics of blockchain, as we have seen in our previous articles. Since the blockchain works on the concept of distributed ledgers, a copy of the contract will be available with every party involved. Smart contracts deployed in the blockchain network are immutable; once used, they cannot be changed. All the predefined terms should be met as agreed and signed by all the involved parties. Payments, if any concerned, will be done automatically as well without any human involvement. Thus, not delaying the cash, which makes all the parties happy about the work done. Hence the smart contracts are considered very reliable.

The real-life example of Smart Contracts

There are infinite real-life scenarios where smart contracts can be used. We all have booked tickets for our most awaited events, say concerts, movies, sports and so on. We always use a third-party website/app to book the tickets. Here the audience, as well as the event organizers, are trusting this third-party service provider with their money.

Instead of a third-party service provider, if one can deploy smart contracts in these scenarios, it would be easy to manage money. People buy their passes for the event, and this money is stored in the escrow linked to the contract. The money is not credited to the event organizers’ account unless the event is completed. If the event is completed, the funds will be automatically transferred to the organizers of the game. If not, the amount will be refunded to the audience account as per the terms and conditions of the event.

In this case, we do not depend on a third party for the refund of the amount, which may delay in case of any eventualities. We are also not paying any other extra fee to book the ticket as no third party is involved—this the best real-life example where once can use smart contracts.

Conclusion

The new technologies in our lives have come to make our life easy, and smart contracts come under such a category. We not only save money using them but also get rid of concept terminology of terms and conditions which lawyers use to cash the loopholes when something goes wrong. In this case, we use straightforward language to code the words and get them triggered as required, thus making them comfortable and very reliable to use.

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Crypto Daily Topic

What Does It Take to become a Blockchain Developer? [Updated]

In the crypto world, blockchain technology is essentially a ledger system on which cryptocurrency transaction data is recorded. Every entry is permanent and immutable, meaning it can’t be altered in any way. The data is then verified through consensus by multiple nodes, which are basically computers, making the technology secure and reliable. 

In the crypto world, blockchain technology is essentially a ledger system on which cryptocurrency transaction data is recorded. Every entry is permanent and immutable, meaning it can’t be altered in any way. The data is then verified through consensus by multiple nodes, which are basically computers, making the technology secure and reliable. 

In the crypto world, blockchain technology is essentially a ledger system on which cryptocurrency transaction data is recorded. Every entry is permanent and immutable, meaning it can’t be altered in any way. The data is then verified through consensus by multiple nodes, which are basically computers, making the technology secure and reliable. 

Given its benefits, virtually all industries, from banking, real estate, health-care, music, to logistics, are working towards integrating blockchain technology into their framework. As technology permeates across industries, there is a rising demand for skilled blockchain developers to help optimize the protocol to suit the needs of a specific industry. 

Considering that the technology is still in its budding stage, starting a career as a blockchain developer places you at the front seat to drive its growth. For those working in the tech field, chances are, they have the necessary foundation required to start a career as a blockchain developer. However, if you have no tech skills whatsoever, it’s still possible to become a blockchain developer, but it’ll take a bit more work and dedication to learn the basics. A good place to start is first understanding the most common programming languages used in most cryptocurrency projects. These languages include; Java, Python, JavaScript, Swift, and Solidity. 

Regardless of your skills level here’s are the essential skills required to kick-start your career as a Bitcoin developer: 

Understand the Principles of Blockchain 

Since most of the developer’s work involves interacting with blockchain technology, it makes sense to have a good grasp of how the entire protocol works. You also need to understand the foundational concepts of blockchain architecture such as; cryptographic hash functions, consensus, and distributed ledger technology. 

To understand these concepts, it’s advised to read through the Bitcoin Whitepaper. However, you’ll need a little bit of guidance to direct your learning curve, which is signing up for short-term certification courses on the same will be helpful. 

Data Structures Proficiency 

Data structures are an integral part of development. In the case of blockchain development, it becomes even more important since blockchain relies on data structures to build scalable and tamper-proof records. 

Besides, as a blockchain developer, you’ll spend most of your time working with data structures such as Merkle trees and petricia trees, among others, as you try to configure the network to meet specific needs. 

Smart Contract Development 

Smart contracts are one of the key components of blockchain technology, especially in a business-focused environment. The concept came into the spotlight after Ethereum used it in its protocol. Since then, almost all upcoming blockchain projects are striving to incorporate smart contracts in their functionality. Solidity, Viper, and Chaincode; are among the top programming languages used to develop smart contracts. So, it pays to invest time in learning these languages. 

Cryptography 

In a blockchain network, cryptography and data structures complement each other, to establish the integrity of the network. Asymmetric cryptography, in particular, is used in blockchain to generate digital signatures for verifying transactions. Also, cryptography algorithms help secure data on the blockchain. 

Web Development 

The majority of blockchain developers end up working in designing decentralized applications. Additionally, blockchain technology uses a huge variety of web-based services and APIs. As a blockchain developer, this demands that you understand both front-end and back-end development, which involves creating an intuitive user interface, request handling for the decentralized apps, and API handling. 

Once you have a good understanding of the concepts above, you need to know that there are two main types of blockchain developers. These are core blockchain developers and blockchain software, developers. Let’s look at what each one of them entails: 

i) Core Blockchain Developers

Core blockchain developers focus on developing the blockchain technology itself, including designing the consensus protocols. They can also advise companies on how to structure their Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) as well as supervise and plan blockchain projects. 

ii) Blockchain Software Developers

Blockchain software developers use the blockchain protocol to build or design decentralized apps. As such, they can work together with the core developers to come up with unique software based on the protocol developed by the core developers. It is also the role of a blockchain software developer to design smart contracts and the other web development roles, as mentioned earlier.

Currently, most job opportunities lie in decentralized app development, as various industries and businesses strive to incorporate blockchain into their processes. 

Self-taught or Formal Education for Blockchain Developers 

Deciding to become a blockchain developer is one thing, choosing a mode of learning is a whole different thing. 

For starters, taking the self-taught route is appealing to those who already have a career in the tech industry. There are numerous online courses to guide you, so you only learn the required content. You can sign up for Coursera or Udemy courses or checkout GitHub repositories for guided content. Online learning platforms on the same, can also help sharpen your self-taught skills as you interact with other blockchain developers. 

If you are completely new to the tech world and possess no skills, formal education focused on basic concepts such as programming and software development is your best bet if you want to start a career as a blockchain developer. Some colleges these days even offer blockchain development courses as certification programs. So, once you enroll in such a college, you’ll not only learn the basic tech skills but also become a blockchain developer at the end of your program.

Nonetheless, you can as well learn the basic tech skills from online courses and other dedicated pages. Once you have mastered the concepts, including those mentioned above, you can then transition to become a blockchain developer by taking up courses on the same. 

Whether you sign up for online courses or enroll for formal education, remember the only way to perfect your skills and boost your resume is by getting hands-on experience. So, try working on solo projects or collaborating with like-minded developers. There are various online open-source projects you can contribute to sharpen your skills and get the much-needed experience. 

Conclusion

Blockchain is considered the next wave of tech innovation. This explains why well-established tech companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and Samsung are showing interest in this revolutionary technology, as they look to be at the forefront of the growing innovation. Moreover, as the technology is maturing and finding its roots across various industries, this is the best time to start your career as a blockchain developer.