Building a Vara-Based Token App: A Simple Guide for Developers Using React and VFT
If you’re building a DeFi project on Vara and want to integrate token functionality, there’s now a clear, working example to help you get started. The new VFT Extended DApp Frontend Integration Guide walks developers through setting up a React app that interacts with the Vara Fungible Token (VFT) program using sails-js React hooks. VFT Extended is used because it’s one of the most common contract standards for tokens on Vara. However, the same frontend setup and integration workflow can be applied to any custom Gear Program.
This article unpacks the original guide, highlighting what’s offered, why it matters, and how it helps DeFi teams get started quickly.
Get Started With a Working Frontend in Minutes
Developers often spend too much time just figuring out where to begin. This example removes that hurdle. You can access a pre-built template that comes pre-configured with wallet support, node connection, and alerts.
Once you have installed the dependencies and started the project, you will have a functioning React dApp with Gear Program integration ready. From there, you just plug in your program ID and start coding. The pre-built templates save hours for any frontend engineer working on DeFi apps that need to manage balances, display token data, or execute transfers.
View the full template setup here:
Create-vara-app template
Hooks for Everything: Transactions, Queries, Events
What makes this example especially useful is how it breaks down the actual hooks you’ll need in your app. You get reusable hooks for:
- Sending transactions (mint, burn, transfer)
- Querying token data (name, symbol, decimals, total supply)
- Checking balances
- Listening to program events (minted, burned, transferred)
These hooks connect your app to the blockchain using sails-js and @gear-js/react-hooks. All the complex tasks, such as setting up event subscriptions or decoding program responses, are handled in the background.
For detailed documentation on sails-js React Hooks and up-to-date API examples, see:
Connecting Gear Programs to Frontend Logic the Right Way
Type safety is built in. The client library for your VFT program comes pre-generated, providing a fully typed interface without additional steps.
The guide shows you how to import and use the generated code inside your hooks. You’ll know exactly what data to send and what responses to expect. This not only helps prevent bugs but also speeds up development. Since the TypeScript client is generated directly from the contract, you can create hooks for any Gear Program, not just token-related applications. That includes staking modules, DAOs, NFTs, and more.
You’ll also access a Home component that ties everything together. It demonstrates how to utilize transaction hooks with user input and manage loading states, errors, and confirmations. You’ll see how the app responds to blockchain events in real-time, how to make balance queries with user-defined addresses, and how to structure a clean and functional UI.
Features Most DeFi Teams Need, Already Covered
DeFi projects often require the same core features: minting, burning, transferring tokens, and maintaining UIs in sync with the program state. The example in the VFT Extended DApp Frontend Integration Guide shows how to start interacting with a program quickly.
Here’s why that’s valuable:
- Fast prototyping — Teams can show working demos without spending a week on setup.
- Cleaner code — With hooks abstracting away program interactions, your app code stays focused on user experience.
- Less boilerplate — Events and queries are integrated directly into components, reducing complexity and the chance of bugs.
- Better UX — Event listeners and query watchers allow for smoother, more responsive interfaces.
- More consistency — Using the standard approach helps teams collaborate, debug, and scale faster.
If you’re building anything with custom tokens, rewards, staking, or DAO voting, you’ll need a similar setup.
A Reliable Reference For Web3 Developers
The VFT Extended DApp Frontend Integration Guide is more than documentation. It’s a working model of how to build a production-ready frontend for Gear Programs on Vara. It provides real code, working UI logic, reusable hooks, and live program integration.
For teams building DeFi tools, dashboards, wallets, or any token-based interface, this is a strong starting point. Rather than building from zero or rewriting the same hooks each time, developers can fork this template and plug in their own logic.
