African Web3 Developers Volume #13
Keep up with the latest advancements in Web3 technology and become a developer in 2023! Use these tools and resources to get started:
The way we use the internet is changing. With the advent of blockchain technology, we are seeing a new era of the internet, often referred to as Web 3.0. This new internet is more secure, decentralized and efficient, and it is changing the way we interact with the internet and each other.
As we move into the next phase of the internet, it’s important to be prepared for the changes that will come with it. Web3 is the next evolution of the internet, and it’s important to know the basics of how it works before you can become a developer for it.
If you’re looking to get ahead of the curve and become a Web3 developer, there are a few things you need to know. In this article, we will guide you through the basics of computer science, blockchain and introduce you to key Web3 concepts. We will also recommend some programming languages, tell you how to set up your development environment and introduce you to some essential SDKs. By the end of this article, you will have all the tools and resources you need to become a Web3 developer in 2023.
Now, let’s go over the outline you need to follow to guarantee your success. These includes but is not limited to:
- The basics of computer science
- The basics of blockchain
- Web3 and blockchain terms
- Programming languages
- Interacting with blockchain
- Development environment
- SDKs
- Testing
- Building projects and,
- Applying for a job.
Computer Science Basics
If you want to become a web3 developer, it’s important to have a strong foundation in computer science. This means understanding how computers work, how to code, and the different types of programming languages that are out there. You don’t need to be a computer science major to become a web3 developer, but it will give you a leg up if you have this background.
Blockchain Basics
Similarly, if you want to become a web3 developer, you should have a basic understanding of blockchain. Blockchain is the underlying technology that powers web3, and it’s important to understand how it works before you can start coding for it. Again, you don’t need to be a blockchain expert to become a web3 developer, but it will help you in your career if you have a basic understanding of the technology.
Use this video to gain more insights.
Web3 and Blockchain Terms
There are a few key terms that you should know before you start your journey to becoming a web3 developer.
Find a curated list here
Programming languages
Programming languages are the backbone of any Web3 developer. They are what allow developers to create innovative applications and develop new technologies.
Some of the best programming languages for Web3 developers and what they have to offer.
- Solidity:
This is a high-level language that uses JavaScript-like syntax, which makes it easy to read, write, and understand. It is also very powerful, so it can be used to create smart contracts on Ethereum’s blockchain network. It is not Turing complete but offers a rich set of features that make it suitable for developing decentralized applications on Ethereum.
Here are the 3 best resources that can help you learn Solidity.
This is the place to go if you’re a developer who’s interested in crypto but doesn’t know where to begin. Buildspace is a great place to start learning and creating some cool projects.
CryptoZombies is an interactive school that teaches you all things technical about blockchains. It teaches you about Solidity and Ethereum blockchain.
It is a great collection of more practical examples, incl. source code and supporting videos.
2. NodeJS:
NodeJS is one of the most popular programming languages for developing with web3. It is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that executes code outside of a browser while also providing various libraries to help developers build server applications using JavaScript. It is also very popular among developers because it is easy to learn, has a large community, and can be used for both front-end and back-end development.
3. Rust:
This is a programming language created by Mozilla to solve the problems of C and C++. It has been designed with safety and speed in mind. Rust is an open-source project that needs contributions from developers all over the world, which means it will be continuously evolving as it grows.
Rust is also a systems programming language, meaning that it can be used for developing operating systems, drivers, compilers and other low-level software where high performance or efficiency are critical. This makes it an attractive option for Web3 developers who are looking for tools to build decentralized applications on blockchain platforms like Ethereum or EOS.
4. Kotlin:
Kotlin is an open source programming language developed by JetBrains in 2010. It was designed with Java Virtual Machine in mind as well as Android platforms and has been gaining popularity over the last few years due to its excellent features like null safety and inferencing along with its expressive type system.
Interacting with Web3
It’s time to connect your smart contracts to the application’s front end now that you have a better understanding of how to create them.
There are various libraries that achieve that, but Web3.js, Ethers.js, and Web3.py are the most commonly used.
These libraries all strive to be a comprehensive and small library for dealing with the Blockchain.
- The Web3.js: library is the most popular tool for interacting with Ethereum nodes. It is a JavaScript library that can be used for developing DApps and smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain.
- Ether.js: is a full-stack solution for building Ethereum-based applications, including an implementation of the Web3 API, which allows users to interact with their smart contracts and decentralized applications (Dapps).
- Web3.py: provides a Python interface to interact with the Ethereum blockchain via JSON-RPC.
Development environment
The first thing you need to know is that there are two types of development environments: local and remote.
Local development environments run on your computer or laptop while remote ones run on external servers accessed over the internet. The most popular type of remote environment is called an IDE (integrated development environment). This type of environment lets you edit your code in one place while it runs remotely on another server.
Another is REMIX IDE
SDKs
Since creating functions from scratch can take some time, we can leverage Web3 SDKs to speed up the development process.
The popular SDKs are thirdweb and Moralis.
- Thirweb
Thirdweb makes it easy for developers to build using the tools of Web3 — from blockchain games to NFT drops — without having to learn a new coding language or hire other specialist developers. It’s basically a developer toolkit that lets developers easily build products on top of different blockchains.
- Alchemy:
Alchemy is a powerful blockchain developer platform providing a suite of developer tools. Developers building apps which interact with Ethereum can use Alchemy’s powerful APIs to supercharge their apps, and leverage features not available in vanilla nodes.
- Moralis
Moralis provides world-class APIs to developers across the globe, allowing companies and projects of all sizes to seamlessly integrate blockchain into their solutions stack and scale with ease.
Find a Guide Here on how to get started
Testing
An important part of the blockchain is testing.
You must test your code before deploying because smart contracts are not changeable.
- Ethereum Tester: It is an open-source testing library available as a Github repo. Its setup is pretty easy with a manageable API support for various Testing requirements.
- BitcoinJ: It is a Java-based framework built for Bitcoin-based apps that enables you to interact with the real BTC network and various testing activities. In order to use it, you don’t have to download the standard BTC Core files from Bitcoin.com. You can even approach a user forum in case you need clarification or are facing hiccups in the testing process. It is an open network available for assistance.
- Populus: This framework has the testing functionality of Ethereum embedded in the form of a set of features for test contract deployment. It’s developed around the py.test framework. Hence, it is relatively easy to implement.
- Truffle: It’s a commonly referred name for Ethereum developers, which brings in good testing features, such as automated contract testing. The framework holds capabilities beyond just testing functionality within the Blockchain application.
- Embark: It is a testing framework that focuses on developing decentralized applications (dApps) that run on various systems or nodes. It has integrations with Ethereum blockchain, IPFS, and a decentralized communication platforms such as Whisper and Orbit.
6. Chai Assertion Library : Chai is a BDD / TDD assertion library for node and the browser that can be delightfully paired with any javascript testing framework.
Building Projects
The time has come to start projects.
Start with a simple project, like making our own coin, and then create bigger and bigger initiatives from there.
You can create an NFT collection, a DeFi, or you can clone an existing Web2 application and create a Web3 version of it. The Web3 ecosystem is extremely large.
Applying for a job
Start working on your resume and cover letter after you finish building your projects, make them live, and push your code to GitHub. Yup, Go for it!
You can apply to be a blockchain/Web3 developer if you believe you are qualified for the position.
If you’re unsure about where to apply, check here .
📗 Media Resources:
⚒ The Home for BUIDLs
“ Submit your project to DoraHacks to share your ideas with more hackers and investors. Let’s change the world with code.”
Video 📺 : Watch, discover and learn: A web3 Journey
Video 📺 : Learn Blockchain, Solidity, and Full Stack Web3 Development with JavaScript — 32-Hour Course
Video 📺 : Solidity, Blockchain, and Smart Contract Course — Beginner to Expert Python Tutorial
It offers a free program that will turn you into web3 developers. From the basics to advance concepts, they cover everything. They also have an active community on discord.
This is among the best YouTube channels that teach you about Web3 & Blockchain and building cool Web3 projects.
📘 useWeb3
useWeb3 is a learning platform for developers to explore and learn about Web3. It has a lot of the latest resources, tutorials, challenges, tools, courses, and boilerplates that can help you in your Web3 journey.
Subscribe to keep up with us and be the first to hear about Web3 opportunities and resources.
🌟 Find awesome Web3 resources here.
🌠 Join our communities:
- Discord: African Web3 Community ⬅️
- Reddit: African Web3 Community ⬅️
🌠 Follow us on :
- GitHub for more resources and open source projects: Bridge Labs ⬅️
- Twitter so you do not miss any valuable updates on Web3 trends we post:
- AfricanWeb3Dev⬅️
Thank you for following up on our volumes, hope you find them valuable.
We do this enormously for your edification and appreciation.
Ubuntu — we are because you are!
Happy New Year 2023!!!
