If You Are Interested In The World Of Cryptocurrencies And Programming, In This Article, We Are Going To Talk About Coding Methods In The Blockchain Field.
Blockchain programming, Various businesses have started using blockchain technology as a valuable tool for their business activities. This fascinating technology is used in multiple fields, such as finance, entertainment, real estate, and many other sectors. As the technology continues to grow, the demand for people who can create and manage such networks is increasing; Those who are called blockchain developers.
According to the Blockchain Council, the global demand for engineers in this field has increased by more than 517% in the last two years; therefore, if you are interested in becoming a blockchain developer, in this article, the first steps and the path you should take. We will explain it to you.
What is blockchain development?
Blockchain represents a ledger of information stored on thousands of computers worldwide. One of the essential features of this technology is that it is impossible to manipulate the information on any computer without special permission. This feature increases the security of blockchain networks. Programmers who can create and maintain projects based on this technology are known as blockchain developers.
What exactly does a blockchain developer do?
Blockchain developers plan, test, and develop the software and systems required for this spring. There are two types of blockchain developers:
- Blockchain core developers: Programmers who develop and maintain the architecture of blockchain systems are called. These people build protocols and security patterns and support the entire network.
- Blockchain software developers: programmers who build blockchain applications on existing platforms. The task of these people is to develop, maintain and troubleshoot blockchain applications.
How to become a blockchain developer?
1. Acquiring skills
Blockchain developers need a combination of technical and soft skills, which we will mention below.
Technical skills
- Understanding cryptography
- Mastery of different programming languages
- Familiarity with data structures
- Familiarity with blockchain architecture
Soft skills
- Strong communication skills
- Seamless interoperability
- Familiar with problem-solving methods
- Familiar with time management techniques
2. Taking blockchain online courses and related bootcamps
You can take advantage of many online courses about blockchain and train the skills needed to work in this field.
3. Understand the basics of blockchain
Take the time to study blockchain training courses and watch videos and lectures about this technology and its workings.
4. Mastery of Cryptonomicon
The world of cryptocurrencies is based on blockchain technology. Study cryptocurrency-related programs and increase your understanding of the said technology.
5. Research and learn about Ethereum and Decentralized Applications (DApps).
Decentralized applications, or DApps, run on decentralized blockchain networks like Ethereum. Learning about DApps can help you understand the different applications that can take advantage of said technology.
6. Research and learn about smart contracts and Solidity
Solidity is one of the programming languages used in developing intelligent contracts, Self-executing agreements that work on the blockchain.
7. Networking with others in the industry
As a blockchain developer, you need to connect with others to learn new things from them and meet potential employers.
8. Asking for guidance from others
A mentor can be beneficial for someone entering the blockchain field. These people can help you better understand the technology and when you encounter common problems.
Blockchain programming languages
Blockchain refers to security; Because it is almost impossible to manipulate its blocks, this feature makes the mentioned technology very suitable in fields such as banking and finance. Blockchain first gained popularity when it was used to implement Bitcoin.
People always want their money and assets to be as secure as possible, so there is currently a massive demand for blockchain developers. Learning powerful programming languages to work in this field will give your advantages compared to other developers. The following will introduce the blockchain field’s best and most functional programming languages.
1. C Plus Plus (C++)
C++ is very popular throughout the tech world, and this is even true in the blockchain space. This language is considered one of the most popular options for blockchain programming; Because its numerous capabilities, including motion semantics, basic controls on memory, advanced multi-threaded mode, and support for object orientation, are instrumental in this field.
These features allow blockchain developers to format data more efficiently and combine functionality in a single module, just as blockchain formats blocks with cryptographic chains. The interesting point is that Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency and blockchain, this project was initially written in C++ language. C++ is as popular as Bitcoin in the blockchain industry.
2. Python
Python is quickly becoming the most popular programming language in the world, and if you’re new to it, it might be the best choice for learning blockchain development. The problem with Python is that it is considered an interpreted language; For this reason, it faces difficulties when performing complex cryptographic operations on the blockchain. However, the referenced language supports object orientation, which improves handling many of its performance overheads.
Another advantage of Python is that developers can quickly prototype their ideas without requiring lengthy coding. The language also benefits from extensive open-source support, making it an ideal choice for blockchain programming. Many Python libraries, plugins, and other resources are available online, and there is an online solution to almost any problem you’re likely to encounter while programming.
3. Java
Java has very tough competition with C++ in terms of popularity and practicality, and this issue also applies in the field of blockchain between the two mentioned languages. In addition, one of the most attractive advantages of Java in the blockchain is its portability. Java has an extensive Application Programming Interface (API) that includes many classes, packages, interfaces, etc., which help build programs without knowing their internal implementation.
Effortless portability, and other popular Java features, make it an ideal choice for blockchain development. You can port Java programs to different platforms due to WORA (Write Once, Run Anywhere) functionality. These programs do not depend on the specific architecture of the system; Because they use Universal JVM (Java Virtual Machine) to run.
4. Solidity
Solidity is one of the fast blockchain programming languages designed to write smart contracts executable on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). The task of building this distributed computing platform based on blockchain and operating systems has been entrusted to Ethereum. Since Solidity was created with blockchain in mind, it is suitable for solving many of the problems faced by developers in this field.
This language uses a syntax structure similar to ECMAScript, But it also offers features like variable return types and typescript. Therefore, if you plan to work specifically on blockchain development, this programming language will be one of the best examples for you.
5. Viper
Viper is a new blockchain programming language derived from Python 3; Therefore, its syntax is similar to Python 3. Of course, this language does not have all the features of Python and was created as an alternative to Solidity and is usually used in the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Viper has different control structures than Solidity and handles security issues differently.
Viper also removes many of Solidity’s OOPS capabilities and other features, such as infinite loops, modifiers, and callbacks. These changes help to prevent security problems caused by these features. So, if you need a blockchain development language to write smart contracts, consider Viper.
6. GoLang
Go is an excellent programming language for building fast and efficient blockchain-based systems. This is the best language for creating hyperledger applications, which is the basis for developing these applications. Since Go is a static and compiled programming language, it will be perfect for blockchain coding.
Go is a simple language that can be quickly learned. This platform also improves other features such as performance and classes, inheritance, constructors, annotations, exceptions, etc., among its other features. More than 800,000 developers are currently working on the language network.
7. C#
C# is similar to Java and C++ in some ways; Therefore, it is an ideal blockchain programming language. While C# was created only as a language for Microsoft Corporation, it is now trendy and is considered one of the top programming platforms for blockchain. Open-source developers can easily create highly portable code in C# that runs on all devices and operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Mac, and Android.
Moreover, C# is an OOPs programming language, and blockchain developers can make the most of its advantages. Among the projects written in this language, we can mention Stratis, one of the BaaS (Blockchain-as-a-Service) providers, allowing businesses to easily create their blockchain-based applications on this platform.
8. Java Script
JavaScript is still the most popular language on the web, and thanks to NodeJS, its runtime is also prevalent among blockchain developers. They can build more creative blockchain programs with more attractive features; Because this language is already installed on most systems, and this feature is one of the essential advantages that distinguish JavaScript from other languages; Because every system on the web uses this language in some of its facilities.
Another thing is that developers don’t need to worry about integration when using JavaScript and can focus on the application logic for the blockchain. The Lisk Sidechain Development Kit (SDK) allows developers to create and publish their blockchain applications written in JavaScript.
9. Simplicity
Simplicity is an advanced blockchain development language designed to create smart contracts. This language is one of the most efficient programming languages for writing smart contracts that both professional developers and open-source programmers can benefit from. Simplicity focuses on reducing the complex and low-level understanding of Bitcoin scripting.
Since Simplicity hides the low-level logic components from Bitcoin developers and increases the working capacity of developers, it will help to make development much faster. The language is also compatible with the Elements platform, an open-source, blockchain-based platform with sidechain capabilities. Therefore, blockchain developers who build sidechains on Elements can take advantage of many of its functions and features.
10. Rolling (Rholang)
Rholang is a powerful programming language for developing smart contracts. It is considered one of the reasons for its popularity. Instead of an object-oriented approach, this language takes advantage of a functional approach that is very useful in solving many blockchain problems. Rholang programs evaluate the entire application as a series of functions and solve them sequentially.
This language is very different from C or Python, which uses variables to store data and change the value of variables with time; Therefore, instead of an object-oriented paradigm, Rowling has a functional programming paradigm, making it the most popular blockchain development language in the category.
11. Move
The Move is a new programmable platform for blockchain development. This language is designed to provide secure and verifiable transaction-oriented computations and uses a powerful system with various linear, execution, and verification resources. This programming language is an ideal tool for building user programs in which security and accuracy of performance are a priority.
As we mentioned, Move is a safe programming language with a lot of flexibility in designing and building programs. One of the first projects developed based on this language is the Diem blockchain. This programming language is still evolving and can be used in other blockchains and non-blockchain applications.
common questions
There are many jobs that blockchain developers can do. Blockchain developers are always needed by people looking to work on applications based on the latest technologies.
How much do blockchain developers earn?
According to Glassdoor, the average base salary for blockchain developers in the United States is around $1 million annually.
How long does it take to become a blockchain developer?
Depending on your type of training, you can probably become a blockchain developer in as little as three months or as many as three years with hard work and perseverance.
Is it possible to work remotely for blockchain programmers?
The coronavirus pandemic has shown that all software developers worldwide can work from home, which applies to blockchain developers.