Blockchain Development Tools
This article covers blockchain development tools, it is a continuation of my previous article.
Remix
Remix is an online IDE for developing Ethereum smart contracts. It is easy and fast to start developing smart contracts using it. It is a solidity IDE that has a menu, code editor, plugins, autocomplete, buttons, and test-net refunded with fake ETH.
Node.js and NPM
Most development tools are built with Node.js. Installing node.js comes with npm needed for the installation of blockchain development tools and dependencies. Alternatives are asdf and nvm, which are version managers.
Ganache
It is a local development environment, i.e, local Ethereum blockchain. Ganache is a simple tool, and it's made by the creators of truffle. It is a developer-friendly Ethereum client designed to run the Ethereum blockchain locally. Ganache runs on your machine, i.e, isolated test-nets, i.e, offers a safe sandbox, free to experiment, i.e, make mistakes without real-life consequences. Ethereum addresses are pre-funded with fake ETH.
Ganache CLI vs Ganache GUI
Ganache CLI & GUI versions offer a nice visual interface on top of CLI but require slightly more work to integrate into your Truffle project, which is less flexible. Installing Ganache: The version of Ganache CLI comes installed on Truffle. Install Ganache GUI using the npm package
npm install -g ganache-cli
You can also install the Ganache GUI installer for your operating system. Ganache has advanced features like chain forking.
Truffle
Truffle is a framework for developing smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. It's compatible with Solidity and Viper, which are the main languages for writing smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. Truffle is written in Node.js, and it's installed using the npm package
npm install -g truffle
truffle init
Just like Remix, Truffle can also be used to develop more advanced smart contracts, test smart contracts, and develop full decentralized applications, i.e, smart contracts & front-end, but on Truffle projects, Truffle doesn't manage the frontend.
Metamask
It's a popular Ethereum wallet. It allows user to store their ETH or other tokens that are ERC20 and ERC721 compatible. Most dApps expect users to have a Metamask wallet to interact with their smart contracts. Metamask offers users private keys that allow them to sign in order to make transactions, create accounts, and keep their wallets safe. dApps never touch private keys directly; they only ask users to confirm transactions with a pop-up. Metamask is available as a distributed browser extension and also as a mobile application.
Infura
Infura is an Ethereum API that allows:-
easy deployment of smart contracts to main-net and public test-nets
Sending transactions to these nodes: How to use Infura
Create a project in Infura
fund address faucet
Add configuration for deployment
If you're running a deployment with Truffle, create an Infura account
EtherScan
Ethercan is a blockchain explorer for Ethereum that allows users to explore what is happening in the Ethereum blockchain. It allows you to:-
Inspect the address balance
inspect transactions
Read the data of the smart contract
AM Token Tracker verifies the code of smart contracts for developers Transactions inspection feature independently verifies transactions processed on the ETH network. Standard practice once you send a transaction, your wallet, like Metamask, shows the Etherscan link of the transaction.
Thank you for reading through my article. You can leave a comment or suggestion. Next, we'll cover an introduction to smart contracts and solidity development.
