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Blockchain technology has many uses. To master any of them, it’s essential to master basic development tools. Such solutions are also an effective method to improve and systematize your knowledge in this area.
Top 9 Blockchain Development Tools
Basic services for Blockchain development will be useful for novice developers or freelance developers who are just mastering this technology and creating their network. In this review, we will consider the main technological features of each service and the options for their use.
- Solidity
Solidity is an object-oriented programming language that is used to implement smart contracts that run on Ethereum. People can use it to conduct open auctions/polls, launch ICOs, issue their own currency, buy and sell any valuables, etc.
The language is syntactically similar to JavaScript, the environment is run on Ethereum and designed for its virtual machine. Solidity has statistical typing which developers can use to create self-sufficient apps with business logic.
Solidity contracts necessarily include the following elements:
- Pragma directives;
- Functions;
- Events;
- State variables.
A developer can use Solidity to write and promote distributed applications and smart contracts, as well as generate ERC-20 tokens or launch ICOs.
- Geth
Geth (Go Ethereum) is the Ethereum client and a command-line interface that allows devs to run full Ethereum nodes, mine cryptocurrency, and execute smart contracts. Developers can also use it to create their own blockchains according to the provider’s settings, or create new chains.
The main features of Geth are:
- Ethereum mining;
- Studying the history of each block;
- Transfer of tokens from one e-wallet to another;
- Creation and further execution of smart contracts in EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine).
Geth is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
- Mist
Mist is the official Ethereum wallet and is developed by Ethereum Virtual Machine. It’s used to store tokens, as well as created and executed smart contracts. It is a full-node wallet. Therefore, to use it, you will need to download the entire Ethereum blockchain to your computer, which means you will need at least 1 terabyte of storage space and a separate hard drive.
The advantages of the Ethereum blockchain wallet are as follows:
- Easy setup;
- The entire blockchain can be stored on a single computer;
- Adapts to all modern operating systems.
When creating your Ethereum Mist wallet account, it’s highly important to remember your password because you will not be able to change it.
- Truffle
Truffle is a world-class development environment based on Ethereum. It’s also testing framework and asset pipeline for compiling/deploying smart contracts and blockchain apps with a simplified design.
The main benefits of Truffle are as follows:
- One-stop solution for building DApps;
- One of the most popular tools for blockchain application development;
- Automated testing of smart contracts using Mocha or Chai;
- Full cycle of smart contract creation (including binding, deployment, and compilation);
- Custom build pipeline for bootstrapping and configuring your apps;
- Scripting assistance for customization.
The system also has an extensive library needed for complex deployments when writing smart contracts.
- My EtherWallet
My EtherWallet (MEW) is a free, open-source, dedicated interface designed to generate Ethereum wallets, buy and store Ethereum cryptocurrency, manage ERC20 and NFT tokens, and interact with decentralized applications (DApps). It supports 2 types of storage: “cold storage” and “hot storage.”
“Cold” wallets are designed for secure offline storage of cryptocurrency. They’re not connected to the Internet and, therefore, are immune to cyberattacks. In turn, “hot” wallets are connected to the Internet, which means they are better for instant bitcoin transactions and provide faster ways to send funds on demand. However, they can also be subject to security problems.
The advantages of My EtherWallet are as follows:
- Open source;
- Easy “transitional” interface;
- Support for all ERC-20 fungible tokens;
Registration of this wallet and its use is completely free. MEW also supports the Paper Wallet feature. This means that your private and public keys can be printed or written out on a physical piece of paper, then stored in a safe place.
- Blockchain Testnet
Blockchain Testnet is a special test network for developers to test a project they create without harming the original network. It’s an alternative blockchain to be used for testing.
A testing network is embedded into any blockchain solution for easy operation, providing a way to safely test your DApp. The solution allows you to detect serious errors without having to spend cryptocurrency from your wallet. Coins that are used to test the network do not participate in the overall emission.
Blockchain Testnet advantages are as follows:
- Low level of complexity within the network (even weak hardware can be used);
- The ability to create an unlimited number of records, coins;
- No financial costs (the coins appearing in the test network have no real value).
Testing is possible in several ways: API, scripts, RPS, or CLI. Blockchain Testnet can be used not only when launching a new project but for any changes in the network.
- BaaS
Blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) is a feature-rich third-party service that allows businesses to use cloud solutions to deploy their blockchain apps and smart contracts on a blockchain. In fact, such an off-the-shelf cloud service can be used for a multitude of blockchain network operations.
BaaS will provide tools to help you create backend code and speed up your development process. It has ready-to-use features such as scalable databases, API interfaces, cloud code features, social media integration, file storage, and push notifications.
The advantages of the service are as follows:
- Fast initialization;
- Relatively inexpensive access to blockchain technology;
- High data security;
- Easy cost control;
- Ability to integrate with IAM platforms;
- Consensus mechanisms based on identity;
- Easy blockchain monitoring.
BaaS is a platform that automates internal development and takes care of the cloud infrastructure. Using BaaS, you will outsource the responsibility of running and maintaining servers to a third party and focus on interface development or the client side. There’s also operational support to help your applications run smoothly.
- Remix IDE
Remix IDE is another blockchain application for creating smart contracts. It’s an open-source Solidity IDE with flexible access to a large number of productive plugins. The JavaScript-based tool is designed to create, debug, test, and deploy Solidity contracts. It’s available as a desktop version, browser app, and VSCode extension.
In its essence, Remix IDE is an open-source application with flexible access to many productive plugins and intuitive graphical interfaces, which can also serve as a promising platform for developing expertise in Ethereum.
The advantages of Remix IDE are as follows:
- Nested/persistent layouts (each open root is nested, you can immediately insert these components inside the parent page);
- Error handling (built-in error indicator in the Remix component or built-in root);
- Automation (Remix IDE will automatically download the latest updates in the background);
- Auto-completion, code highlighting.
The basic prerequisites for working with Remix IDE are pre-installed Node.js and Visual Studio Code, or any other IDE. Practical knowledge of React will also be required.
- Parity
Parity is an Ethereum client for secure connections and interaction with the Ethereum blockchain. The digital wallet has a high level of anonymity and can be integrated directly into the web browser to sell and buy cryptocurrency. Parity users can have access to all basic functions of ETH and any tokens.
At the same time, it’s an Etherium web browser with a user-friendly graphical interface, which provides access to all functions of the network, including dApps. The wallet has quite complex functionality as it’s designed for tech-savvy users.
The advantages of Parity are as follows:
- User-friendly graphical interface;
- Minimal storage space;
- Improved warp-sync performance;
- Pluggable consensus engines;
- Secure private keys and transactions;
- Open-source code.
Parity can be used on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS.
Conclusions
Blockchain development tools are needed not only for novice developers but also for experienced specialists. Our list of popular solutions includes digital wallets for Etherium (e.g. My EtherWallet, Parity, and Mist). Moreover, the list also has tools for compiling and deploying smart contracts (e.g. Solidity and Remix IDE).
