Want to be a Blockchain Developer? Here’s everything that you might be looking for. A complete roadmap for learning Blockchain Development. You don’t have to look anywhere else to know about blockchain development after reading this article. One by one I’ll be answering all of the most commonly asked questions about Blockchain Development. So let’s start with our very basic question What is Blockchain?
What is Blockchain?
Basically, blockchain is a chain of blocks, and what’s inside those blocks? Blocks contain data that is similar to other databases like MongoDB, SQL database, etc. So the difference is that the data is not just stored in your node or system but in peer-to-peer connected networks. That means every node or system involved has a complete copy of the data stored. And whenever new data is added it is synced and added to every node. So in this way, if anybody wants to hack the data or change the database he has to hack all the computers present in a node. Which is almost impossible. That’s why it’s often said that the data stored in a blockchain is not hackable and also immutable.
If we’ll get deeper into the block then it basically has 3 components i.e. Data, Hash, and Hash of the previous block. So because of this, it makes a chain of blocks. Consequently if one ever tries to change the data of a block then the hash of the previous block stored in the next block will be changed. This will disturb the connectivity of the next block with the second one.
So it’s mostly used wherever we need a very robust and secure database. For instance, in the case of cryptocurrency, we want that the transaction once processed should be saved and not be accessible to anybody else later on. Though primarily boomed with Bitcoins, blockchain technology has multiple applications in various tech companies today. The major tech users of this technology are Microsoft, The World Bank, Tencent, Nvidia, Amazon, etc.
What exactly does a Blockchain Developer do?
Now let’s talk about what exactly a Blockchain Developer does? So mainly there are two types:
1. Core Blockchain Developer
A Core Blockchain Developer is the one who makes the Blockchain Client. There are thousands of Blockchain Clients like Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc. So those working on their protocols, their proof of works, the tech or the actual core coding involved which is often done in various languages like C++, Golang, Rust, etc. are called Core Blockchain Developers.
2. Blockchain Application Developer
The second type is Blockchain Application Developer. More than 90 percent of today’s Blockchain Developers are of this type. Their primary function is to make an application over the existing Blockchain which is also known as Decentralized Applications. This is an application that is not hosted on a centralized computer but has decentralized access to all its nodes.
So whenever a company is recruiting a Blockchain Developer they are actually looking for a Blockchain Application Developer.
Which companies hire a Blockchain Developer?
So now if we talk about the companies that hire a Blockchain Developer. There are multiple companies that require Blockchain Developers. From Banking to Service Sectors there are so many small and big companies who require these developers. Some of them are as follows:
- Deloitte
- IBM
- KPMG
- EY
- Accenture
- Cisco
- JP Morgan Chase
- Microsoft
- Conduent
- ConsenSys
How much a Blockchain Developer can earn?
Every company, from big to small, pays a good amount to hire a blockchain developer. So if we compare a normal Developer who’s is not having the knowledge of blockchain vs a Blockchain Developer, a Blockchain Developer often earns two or three times of them. Though it’s subjective to the quality. The primary reason behind this is that the difference in demand and supply of a Blockchain Developer. Most people are not aware of it when they pursue their careers.
Other than the job a Blockchain Developer has many other options for earning. For example Flash Loans, making Trading Bots, Defi, and many more.
How long does it take to become a blockchain developer?
Learning Blockchain Developer can take around 3 to 6 months if you want to be a good one. It will take three months if you already know about the frontend Web Development otherwise it can you around 6 months. Though it depends upon how much time you can devote towards learning as well as making projects regarding Blockchain Development.
Prerequisites to Start Learning Blockchain Development?
So let’s now talk about all are the pre-requirements that you must already have for being a Blockchain Developer. First of all, if your mathematics is strong and your knowledge about cryptography is strong then it will benefit you a lot. Otherwise, you can also learn it from elsewhere.
Moreover, you must have knowledge about the fundamentals of Blockchain or the basic functioning of a blockchain and the mathematics underlying this. Though we don’t get too far into mathematics a certain level of it can be enough.
Thirdly we are talking about the knowledge of Web Development. In Web Development you should have a well understanding of node and edge. Because in Blockchain Development you are basically doing a service site coding where Blockchain is a backend network. So you should also be aware of the frontend or the User Interface part of it which is usually Web Development. So making a Website or Web Development is a required skill for them.
In most cases, the companies hiring a Blockchain Developer clearly mention in their descriptions that they require a full-stack Blockchain Web Developer. So that they can handle both frontend and backend. That means they can handle the interaction between the backend blockchain and its frontend.
Required Tools
Moving ahead I’ll now share with you step by step the tools that you require or should have knowledge of.
Solidity
First of all, the code of Blockchain is called Smart Contracts or the piece of code written in a Blockchain are Smart Contracts. So the work of a Blockchain application Developer that involves making decentralized applications is writing codes over Smart Contracts. Those Smart Contracts are hosted over Blockchains. In other words, Smart Contracts are hosted over the decentralized network. And the language used for coding Smart Contracts is Solidity. So you must learn Solidity language which is a little similar to JavaScript.
If a condition is triggered in Smart Contracts they are executed. Like if you want to code a condition that after X time the Y amount must be transferred into a Z account and that can’t be changed. This you can easily code in Smart Contracts and then host it over your Blockchain Network. It will then be executed after satisfying the condition. Suppose if you have set the date to the 30th of every month, then whenever the date comes the code or condition affiliated to it will be executed. So this is how Smart Contracts work. Smart Contracts are the backbone of our Blockchain Development.
Ganache
Now as we have learned to make smart contracts, what are we supposed to do next? So we now have to host or deploy it over the Blockchain Network. We can do it through Ethereum Blockchain Network or Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). But you do not host it directly over the Main Ethereum Blockchain Network because whenever you create a code or do development you first try to host it over a Testing Network. And after getting satisfied with its functioning then you proceed towards publishing it over the MAIN NET. As the Main Net costs some Ethers i.e. a certain amount.
So the tool you need for this purpose is Ganache. This tool helps you to make a small Local Network within your system for trials and testing. This is separate from the Main Ethereum Net. You will get around 10 Testing Accounts and 100 Ethers (Non-real) for simply trial and testing in Ganache. So you can easily test your Smart Contracts by hosting it over your local network created in Ganache.
Truffle
So before you directly host your Contracts in Ganache you first have to change or build them. This you can do from Truffle. Truffle basically sets a complete coding environment. Which will help you to build and deploy your Smart Contracts.
Web3.js
Now after making and deploying we will proceed towards User Interface. As the user requires a frontend for interfacing we will be making a Website. For example, if you have made a frontend for Voting Polls. So in order to connect the Blockchain with Frontend, a library is required. The name of that library is Web3.js. Using this your frontend can communicate directly with your Blockchain to perform operations. To call or execute any function Web3.js library is required irrespective of whether your backend is hosted locally or over the Main Net.
MetaMask
Now, how your end-user can connect to the frontend and do transactions? Any work that you perform in Blockchain is a transaction. Even after successfully hosting and running your website your user can’t perform transactions directly. The reason is that the browsers don’t directly support the transactions on Ethereum Blockchain. For this, we require a gateway which is MetaMask. It’s basically a wallet that allows you to do Etherreum transactions within your browser. Metamask Extension can be installed in your browser. Every user has to install this extension to do transactions.
So as we have looked at how the user will interact? how the frontend will work? how the interface will work? and how the complete backend will work. After getting satisfied now it’s hosted over the Main Ether Network which costs Ethers as we to pay the transaction fees as well. So the code has now become permanent there. In case of any changes, we have to do Migration of a completely new coding which will be saved in a new block. The previous one will be deleted.
Learning Resources
Primarily I can provide you with two resources which are hereunder:
Free course: Coursera
Youtube: Dapp University
Using this technology you can make multiple applications. For example in Real Estate, Banking Sector, Finance Sector, Medical records, Music records, etc. Any information where we find that middlemen should be removed, this technology is used. So it’s a fascinating technology that you can definitely choose to learn.
