Exploring Developer Roles in Web3
Building for the Future: Developer Roles in Web3
Looking to be part of the industry of the future? You’re in the right place. With unprecedented growth and opportunities aplenty, many companies are now looking to hire Web3 developers. For developers looking to transition to web3, here are some of the roles you can consider exploring.
TLDR
- Blockchain Fundamentals
- What is Web3
- Types of Developers
- Core Blockchain Developers
- Solidity Developers
- Blockchain Application Developer
- Blockchain Architect
- Smart Contract Developer
- DevOps Engineer
Blockchain Fundamentals
To become a web3 developer, one must first understand the blockchain’s basics. It’s essential to comprehend this technology to efficiently build and optimize smart contracts.
Quick Summary:
A blockchain is a public, decentralized, and immutable database owned by its users. Data is stored in blocks that are chained together, hence the name “Blockchain.” Each block contains its hash, data, and the previous block’s hash.
The hash is a unique string generated from the data and changes with every alteration. If someone alters a block, the chain breaks, and the following blocks become invalid.
To restore the chain, one must recalculate all blocks, which takes a considerable amount of time (about ten minutes per block). Copies of the blockchain are stored on nodes worldwide.
To perform this process, access to a majority of computers is necessary since a single computer is too slow to go unnoticed by the network.
What is Web3
Web3, the latest iteration of the internet, is distinguished by its decentralized networks and utilization of blockchain technology. In contrast to the static nature of Web 1.0 and the more user-centric features of Web 2.0, Web3 raises the bar by offering autonomy, transparency, and security. It represents not just a technological advancement, but a fundamental shift in paradigm. With any application built on Web3, users have ownership and play a crucial role in creating and maintaining decentralized applications (dApps), which are the future of the tech industry.
To become a competent Web3 developer, one needs to possess a thorough understanding of the concept of Web3, the relevant programming languages, and the appropriate tech stack.
Developer Roles in Web3: Building Decentralized Systems for the Future
As the Web3 ecosystem continues to grow, so does the demand for skilled developers who can design and build these systems. In this article, we will explore the various developer roles in Web3 and their responsibilities in building decentralized systems for the future. From smart contract developers to protocol engineers, we will dive into the technical skills required for these roles and the impact they have on shaping the Web3 landscape. So, whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting your journey in Web3, this article will provide valuable insights into the world of decentralized development and the exciting possibilities it holds.
Core blockchain developer
What they do:
Creating the architecture, design, and security of the blockchain system. These developers are responsible for designing blockchain protocols, as well as security patterns and consensus protocols for the network. Additionally, they are tasked with supervising the entire blockchain network, ensuring that it is operating smoothly and securely.
Required Hard skills:
Distributed systems, cryptography, algorithms, P2P networking, blockchain technologies (e.g., Ethereum, Hyperledger), database design and optimisation
A variety of programming languages: Finally, blockchain developers should have experience working with multiple programming languages.
- Python
- C++
- C#
- PHP
- JavaScript
- Go
- Simplicity
- SQL
Soft Skills:
- Commitment to and passion for the Web3 landscape
- Interest in learning more about blockchain technologies
- Client and project management skills
- The ability to meet deadlines ahead of time
- The ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams
Solidity Developers
What they do: Write and test smart contracts using Solidity programming language, integrate them with the blockchain, and ensure their security and functionality.
Required Hard Skills:
- Blockchain fundamentals knowledge
- Ethereum platform knowledge
- Previous experience with any programming language like C, Python, or JavaScript
- Basic knowledge of programming concepts
- Familiarity with the command line to create new directories.
- Solidity programming language, Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), web3.js, Truffle, Ganache, Remix, Metamask, IPFS, and other blockchain tools and technologies
Soft Skills:
Attention to detail, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, communication, time management, willingness to learn.
Blockchain Application Developers
What they do:
Blockchain software developers build applications in existing blockchains. They handle front-end and back-end development and maintenance. Most suitable for developing applications in DeFi, Exchange (CEX/DEX), Metaverse & NFT, GameFi & Play-to-earn, and Cross-Chain Bridge.
Required skills:
- Experience in building complex on-chain interactions and systems (e.g., multi-contract calls, oracles, DeFi protocol functionality)
- Proficiency in one or more modern programming languages
- Experience with one or more front-development frameworks (e.g., React, Angular)
- Experience with cloud infrastructure services (e.g., Amazon, Google, Microsoft)
- Distributed computing experiences (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ, etc)
- Knowledge of using Docker and Vagrant
Soft Skills:
Attention to detail, problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, communication, time management, adaptability, customer service
Blockchain Architect
What they do:
Design and develop the blockchain architecture, including the overall system structure, data management, security protocols, and integration with other systems.
Required skills:
Distributed systems, cryptography, algorithms, P2P networking, blockchain technologies, database design and optimization, software engineering
Soft Skills:
Leadership, problem-solving, analytical thinking, communication, project management, teamwork, attention to detail, decision-making
Smart Contract Developers
What they do:
Develop, test, and deploy smart contracts on the blockchain, integrate them with dApps and other applications, and ensure their security and functionality.
Required skills:
- Over four years of full-stack web development (client-facing apps and APIs)
- Programming languages such as Solidity, NodeJS, and JavaScript
- Experience in at least one non-smart contract language for testing and integration (e.g., JavaScript, Rust, Java)
- Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), web3.js, Truffle, Ganache, Remix, Metamask, IPFS, and other blockchain tools and technologies
- Cryptography
- Experience in creating, developing, deploying, and testing smart contracts for all four blockchain architectural types
- Experience with patterns that will make their Solidity code more readable and improve performance, such as:
- Oracles
- Pull over Push
- Eternal Storage
- Tight Variable Packing
- Guard Check
- Emergency Stop
Soft Skills:
Attention to detail, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, communication, time management, willingness to learn
DevOps Engineer
What they do
DevOps in web3 aims to improve the collaboration and communication between development and operations teams, and to make it easier to build, test, and deploy dApps on the decentralized web. They also work on deploying and maintaining the blockchain infrastructure, managing the servers, networks, and databases, and ensuring the system’s availability and reliability.
Required skills:
- Strong understanding of Web3 protocols, decentralized networks, and distributed systems.
- Experience with containerization technologies like Docker and container orchestration tools like Kubernetes.
- Experience with automated deployment tools like Ansible, Terraform, and Puppet.
- Familiarity with cloud computing services like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
- Proficiency in scripting languages like Python, Bash, or Perl.
- Knowledge of network security and security best practices, including encryption, authentication, and authorization.
- Understanding of continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines and tools like Jenkins, GitLab, and Travis CI.
- Experience with monitoring tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and Nagios for tracking performance, uptime, and availability.
- Experience with version control systems like Git.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work closely with developers, QA engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure smooth deployment and maintenance of Web3 applications.
- Linux administration, cloud computing, network security, distributed systems, database management, scripting, automation tools, containerization
Developer Relations
What they do:
Developer relations, or “DevRel” for short, describes a cluster of activities that share a common end goal: To encourage third-party developers to build software and applications for a specific technical ecosystem.
The role and aims of DelRel in Web3 are very similar to those in Web2. In both cases, DevRel professionals have to deal with disparate open-source communities, each with its own distinct culture. The challenge for Web3 DevRel practitioners is the lack of tooling to track the right metrics and simplify low-level engineering tasks.
Required skills:
Strong technical background in web3 development and related technologies.
- Familiarity with blockchain infrastructure and its components like smart contracts, wallets, and nodes.
- Experience in project management and agile methodologies.
- Ability to create and deliver technical presentations and demos.
- Proficiency in using developer tools like GitHub, GitLab, and Truffle.
Soft skills:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with developers, community members, and other stakeholders.
- Ability to empathize and understand the needs and pain points of developers.
- Strong problem-solving skills to provide technical solutions and recommendations.
- Capacity to build and maintain relationships with developers and other stakeholders.
- Adaptability and willingness to learn new skills and technologies.
- Teamwork and collaboration skills to work with cross-functional teams.
- Experience in organizing and executing developer meetups, hackathons, and other community events.
- Ability to drive community engagement and participation, through social media, forums, and other channels.
- Knowledge of community management best practices, and ability to manage and moderate online communities.
- Familiarity with metrics and analytics tools to measure and track community engagement and growth.
All types of Web3 developers should have a good understanding of encryption and security, as one of the strongest points of blockchain is increased system security. Finding a developer who can both build and protect is both challenging and expensive. After all, they must have a proven track record of implementing secure hash algorithms, encryption, and decryption techniques, public and private key concepts, and identifying rapidly changing vulnerabilities.
About OKC
OKX Chain is an EVM- and IBC-compatible L1 built on Cosmos with a focus on true interoperability and maximized performance. At high scalability, developers can build and scale with low gas fees. The OKX Chain ecosystem and infrastructure, including the all-in-one multi-chain Web3 interface, enables a seamless experience for both developers and users.
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