Learn Web3 Stack for Beginner : Exploring the Web3 Stack for Development
Introduction to Web3 and Blockchain Development
As an experienced full-stack developer, you’ve likely witnessed the incredible evolution of technology over the past few decades. From the internet’s emergence to the excitement surrounding languages like Java, the tech landscape has undergone significant changes. Now, with the rise of web3 and blockchain, you’ve decided to embark on a new adventure.
Web3, also known as the decentralized web, is a collection of technologies and protocols that aim to decentralize the internet and give individuals more control over their digital lives. It revolves around blockchain technology, which provides a secure and transparent way to store and manage data.
While you may have had initial skepticism about web3 and blockchain, delving deeper into the current state of Web3 has likely revealed its potential. Despite the market’s fluctuations in their views on web3, you’ve probably noticed that numerous projects and companies are diligently working on groundbreaking components of the web3 stack.
In this article, we’ll explore the web3 developer stack, highlighting some of its most intriguing facets. Additionally, we’ll discuss how you can utilize the web3 stack as a starting point to transition into web3 and blockchain development. Let’s dive in!
The Web3 Stack
First, let’s look at the layout of the stack and the general categories.
Breakdown of the Web3 Developer Stack
To better understand the web3 developer stack, we’ll use the logical breakdown provided in the Infura Guide to the Web3 Stack, which is new and well-organized:
Layer One Blockchains:
Layer one blockchains, such as Ethereum, are the foundation of web3 development. They provide the secure and decentralized infrastructure needed to create decentralized applications (dApps).
Smart Contracts:
Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code. They are typically written in solidity and executed on layer one blockchains.
Languages:
Solidity is the most popular programming language used for writing smart contracts, but several others, such as Vyper, exist as well. For front-end web3 development, JavaScript is a commonly used language.
Front-End Libraries:
Front-end libraries such as React and Vue.js make web3 development easier by providing pre-built components that can be utilized in building dApps.
Node Providers:
Node providers enable developers to connect to a blockchain network without having to run their own node. Infura and Alchemy are popular providers for Ethereum.
APIs:
APIs provide a standard way for developers to interact with blockchain networks. Ethereum provides a range of APIs, including JSON-RPC and Web3.js.
Dev Environments:
Developers require a specialized environment to build and deploy dApps. Tools like Remix and Truffle make it easier to develop, compile, deploy and test smart contracts.
Testing:
Testing is crucial to ensure smart contracts function as intended. Tools like Solidity testing frameworks (Truffle and Brownie) and JavaScript testing frameworks (Mocha and Chai) can be used for testing.
Oracle:
Oracles provide external data and events to the blockchain network. They can be used to trigger smart contracts.
Identity:
Identity solutions can be used to authenticate users in a decentralized environment. Solutions like uPort and Civic offer decentralized identity management.
This breakdown covers the main components of the web3 developer stack and highlights the critical tools and technologies used in web3 development.
pragma solidity ^0.8.0;
contract HelloWorld {
string greeting;
constructor() {
greeting = "Hello, world!";
}
function getGreeting() public view returns (string memory) {
return greeting;
}
function setGreeting(string memory _newGreeting) public {greeting = _newGreeting; }}In this example, we have a simple smart contract written in Solidity. It has a state variable greeting which stores a string, a constructor to initialize the greeting, and two functions - getGreeting() to retrieve the current greeting, and setGreeting() to update the greeting.
Front-end Libraries
Once you have your smart contracts deployed, you'll likely want to build a user interface to interact with them. This is where front-end libraries come into play. Some popular libraries for web3 front-end development include:
- Web3.js: A JavaScript library that allows you to interact with Ethereum and other web3-enabled blockchains.
- ethers.js: Another JavaScript library for interacting with Ethereum, known for its clean and simple API.
- Drizzle: A front-end library specifically designed for building dapps on Ethereum using React.
- Truffle suite: A development framework that provides tools for compiling, deploying, and testing smart contracts, as well as integrating with front-end frameworks like React.
Node Providers
To interact with the blockchain and deploy smart contracts, you'll need a node provider. Node providers are services that provide access to a blockchain node, allowing you to read from and write to the blockchain. Some popular node providers include:
- Infura: A popular Ethereum node provider that offers a user-friendly API for interacting with the Ethereum network.
- Alchemy: Another Ethereum node provider that provides developer-friendly APIs, with features like historical data and webhook support.
- QuickNode: A node provider that supports multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Polygon.
Dev Environments
Just like with traditional web development, having a good development environment is crucial. Some common tools and technologies used in web3 development include:
- Remix: A powerful web-based IDE for writing, testing, and deploying Solidity smart contracts.
- Hardhat: A development framework for Ethereum that provides tools for compiling, deploying, and testing smart contracts.
- Ganache: A personal Ethereum blockchain for local development and testing.
- Metamask: A browser extension that allows users to interact with Ethereum and other web3-enabled blockchains.
Testing
Testing is an important aspect of web3 development to ensure the correctness and security of your smart contracts. Some frameworks and tools for testing smart contracts include:
- Truffle: A popular development framework that provides built-in testing capabilities for smart contracts.
- Hardhat: Another development framework that allows for testing smart contracts using popular testing libraries like Mocha and Chai.
- Waffle: A testing library specifically designed for Solidity smart contracts, with a focus on readability and ease of use.
Identity
Identity management is a crucial aspect of many web3 applications. Users need a way to securely authenticate and authorize actions on the blockchain. Some frameworks and protocols for identity management in web3 include:
- uPort: A self-sovereign identity protocol built on Ethereum that allows users to control their own identities and share verified credentials.
- The Graph: A decentralized protocol for indexing and querying blockchain data, which can be used for identity resolution and verification.
- Ethereum Name Service (ENS): A system that allows users to register and manage human-readable names (like domain names) on the Ethereum blockchain, which can be used for identity purposes.
There are a lot of smart contract languages. Some are based on Rust, some on JavaScript, some on Python, some entirely new paradigms. Here are a few examples below:
Start Building with the Web3 Stack
As you can see, web3 development is nascent but extensive. The web3 development stack introduces many new technologies, all with decentralization and composability at the foundation.
If you are coming from web2, you are already at an advantage. Many of the frontend technologies you already use are directly applicable in web3. Knowing how these technologies work together with the new web3 stack will bolster your skills at developing applications for the web3 ecosystem.
Developing smart contracts involves a steeper learning curve, but you can take advantage of many resources aimed at reducing learning difficulties for new web3 developers. ConsenSys Academy offers multiple online programs for those who thrive in structured learning environments.
Regardless of how you learn best, the key is to start and stay persistent — try the #30DaysOfWeb3 challenge or start building some projects. web3 is a revolution, but your journey to becoming a part of this revolution is in your control.
At ConsenSys, we believe web3 can create a trustless, open-source, and decentralized foundation for the digital economy of tomorrow. This is why we continue to invest in infrastructure to help developers and enterprises build the next generation of web3 apps.
Ready to start building on the web3 stack? Check out offerings from the ConsenSys product suite family, including Linea, Infura, Hal, Quorum, Truffle, MetaMask, and Diligence.
Happy buidling!