Blockchain technology has evolved considerably since the creation of Bitcoin in 2009. The ecosystem itself invites developers from all over the globe to join in and create their own software applications. From the perspective of a developer – and an amateur developer at that – there might be a lot of information to take in. Subsequently, this could cause a sense of confusion that will lead to resistance. Fortunately, there are tools that exist to help ease these worries and guide you in the ways of blockchain development.



Overview of Blockchain, Bitcoin, and Ethereum



Before getting into what these tools are, let’s first begin with a brief explanation of what blockchain technology is.



Blockchain is a digital chain of blocks, wherein information (the “block”) stores on a public database (the “chain”). At its most basic level, it is a list of records that connect together with cryptography. It also allows for the distribution of digital data without giving anyone the ability to copy it.The crytpocurrency transactions recieve maintenance through a series of computers connected together in a peer network of nodes.



Bitcoin is the principal cryptocurrency that was responsible for both the creation and the rising popularity of blockchains. Because of its power to control a decentralized payment system, it has moved to the forefront. Over the years, blockchain technology has seen a much wider adoption by other platforms. Projects such as Ethereum illustrated the fact that a person can use a public blockchain to conceive new decentralized applications.



Private Blockchain Development Service

In a similar vein, there are other companies that might prefer the usage of a private blockchain service, which includes Hyperledger. The Linux Foundation created Hyperledger, a globally collaborative open source system. Essentially, they built it to advance cross-industry technologies. Their chief goals are to provide users with a community-driven infrastructure whilte creating technical groups to develop shared ledger POCs.



As an amateur developer, you should be familiar with how platforms like Hyperledger, Bitcoin, and Ethereum function. We have only scratched the surface of Hyperledger, so from there let’s take a quick and concise look at Bitcoin and Ethereum.



Bitcoin in a Nutshell

The anonymous Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin, a type of digital currency, which they described clearly in the bitcoin whitepaper. It is an independent system that functions on a peer-to-peer network. Also, it maintains records of transactions and new units of currency that generate based on the solution of complex mathematical problems. It harnesses the use of:

Public keys (akin to a bank account number and serves as the address published to the world), and;

Private keys (akin to an ATM PIN number for authorizing Bitcoin transactions) to preserve the balance of the system.

Ethereum is a decentralized software platform that facilitates smart contracts. Additionally, it’s a place where blockchain startups can create DApps (Decentralized Applications). Moreover, these applications function without any interference or control from middlemen and other third parties. The platform also runs its own digital currency, called Ether. Lastly, Ethereum encompasses a programming language that runs on a blockchain. As such, developers recieve help when they want to create and publish DApps.



We’ve just sumamrized the definitions of blockchain , Bitcoin, and Ethereum. Now it’s time to move forward and discuss the best tools needed for blockchain development.



#1 – Geth



Geth is a multipurpose command line tool that is also an implementation of an Ethereum node in the programming language called “Go.” It offers three interfaces:



The command line options and subcommands A Json-rpc server A console that is interactive

By using Geth, users have the ability to do the following things:



Mine for Ether tokens

Transfer Tokens in between addresses

Create smart contracts and then later enact them on the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine)

Explore the history of the blocks

What systems support Geth?

Linux, Mac, and Windows all support the Geth system. Likewise, Scripted and Binary support the two installations. Once you launched Geth, you have the option to either connect to the live blockchain that already exists or create a different blockchain. The latter option depends heavily on the provided settings. If for any reason you do not set any default values, then Geth with automatically link to the Ethereum mainnet .



Geth also functions as a console for loading specific commands and executing certain objectives.



It is important to note that by running Geth, it will immediately download the entirety of the Ethereum blockchain, which is a process that can take a long time to complete; it can run from several hours to even days. For this reason, it would be wise to use an external hard drive to store all the data.



#2 – Mist

A key ingredient when it comes to using Ethereum is a place – a ‘wallet’. Importantly, developers of new DApps need a place for their users to safely store their Ether tokens. Also, Mist enables them to carry out smart contracts.





The same team that forged Ethereum in the first place is behind Mist, which is the official wallet of Ethereum. It is easy to jump on board and use it. But something that should be kept in mind is that it is a full node wallet. This means that the only way you can access it, let alone use it, is if you’ve downloaded the entire Ethereum blockchain. For perspective, this takes up roughly 1 TB. It is a system that is available to use on Windows (both 32 bit and 64 bit), Linux (also 34 bit and 64 bit), and Mac.



Getting Started with Mist

Once you install Mist, you will have a short wait time. This allows the software to sync up to date with either the Ethereum blockchain or the main blockchain. Shortly after the syncing, you will choose a password. Two things that should be kept in mind during this step are:



Once you set the password up, you will never be able to change or modify it in any way. You should conjure up a very strong password. Most importantly, write it down and store it safely. You will have to enter in your password as one final confirmation every single time you wish to send Ether.

#3 – Solc



Stability is something that we are all entitled to when it comes to developing on Ethereum. It is an especially mandatory component as far as smart contracts are concerned.



Solidity is a trimmed down language that is loosely-typed and object-oriented. It uses a syntax that is very similar to that of ECMAScript, which standardizes JavaScript. This digital structure is perfect for the formulation of smart contracts that reside on the Ethereum blockchain.



How ‘solc’ plays into this is that it allows developers to convert the solidity script into a format that the EVM can easily read and understand. Additionally, solc is a “solidity compiler” of which there are two principal types:



solc, which has been coded in C++ solc-js, which harnesses the use of Emscripten in order to cross-compile from solc C++ source code straight to JavaScript

Though these two breeds of solidity compilers are technically manufactured from the same source code, they actually tend to come up with results that are slightly different. As such, there is also the differing factor that is their command line interfaces. With all that being said, when comparing the two, solc -js is a little bit slower than solc .



A good chunk of the Ethereum nodes intrinsically include an implementation of solc . But it is additionally packaged as its own, standalone module that is used for offline compiling. This arrangement gives you the option to either use web3.eth.compile.solidity() to collect all of your Solidity files using your node. Alternatively, you can even start using a solc.compile() that does not rely on any external node to function.



#4 – Remix



Remix is a system that was written in JavaScript. It’s considered to be a great choice for a compiler to use for small contracts, and even better to use if you wish to learn about solidity. When you go to the website’s default screen, you will be given a side screen that allows you to write code. On another side screen, you can deploy your code onto the blockchain. This second side screen will also let you interact with the functions you have inscribed.



It supports handlings that are either done in the browser or locally. Moreover, it upholds the testing, debugging, and later distribution of smart contracts, and so much more. The incorporated code analyzer makes absolutely certain that the developers create their best code. Lastly, the general system connects to the Ethereum blockchain through Metamask (something that we will cover later in this article).



#5 – Blockchain Testnet



If you wish to write a program for the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), then there are a couple of things for you to consider:



First of all, you will need to pay for the launch and gas usage. The cost of gas usage in Ethereum has always been a glaring issue. This is due to the fact that you are pouring a good chunk of money into a project that has not even been tested out yet.

Second of all, a program that is untested might have a bug of some kind hidden within its code. As such this could potentially create chaos to the Ethereum blockchain. Keep in mind that the Ethereum blockchain is designed to be unchangeable. So, whatever may happen to it is permanent and cannot be modified.

With the probability of a DApp backfiring, it is only logical that you would want to test it out first. For the procedure, you will want to use a testnet before moving on to using the mainnet to deploy the DApp . Testnets as a whole are copies of the Ethereum blockchain that closely resemble the Mainnet. Except for the fact that the Ether on a tesnet is worthless, as is the software that has been deployed on them. Using this system, you can run tests on your DApp without any worry of real consequences.



There are two different kinds of testnets:



The public test. These are widely available for those who are connected to the internet. With the use of wallet interfaces such as MyEtherWallet or Metamask, anyone can hook up to them. The current public testnets that are ready for use are Rinkeby, Ropsten , and Kovan. The private test. If you would prefer not to use a public blockchain, you always have the option of getting your own personal test network.

To build this particular blockchain, a genesis file that you have generated will use a tool – one that is similar to Geth – to create a new chain just for you to use. This newly produced chain will then be inspected and collaborated by utilizing tools like MyEtherWallet, Mist, Metamask, etc.

The appeal of private testnets is actually quite straightforward. Blockchain teams that are developing ‘sensitive’ types of projects use these testnets to simulate mining. Additionally, they use them to check the functionality of transactions without making themselves vulnerable to hacks and other attacks.

While these testnets are free to build, there are two costs that are required:

A small portion of the CPU (Central Processing Unit) power.

Disk space in the developer’s computer.

In addition, once a private test network has grown enough, then the developers can finally expose the system to the public online.

#6 – GanacheCLI



Previously titled Testrpc, GanacheCLI is a NodeJS bundle that functions as a fast and customizable blockchain emulator. On a single computer, it replicates the Ethereum network. In addition, it grants the ability to make calls to the blockchain without any of the hassles that come from running an actual Ethereum node.



Some of the things that you are able to do on this platform include:



Near-instant mining of the transactions

Zero transaction fees

All of the accounts residing in the testnet can be recycled, reset, and instantiated with a defined amount of Ether

The gas prices and mining speed can easily be changed as much as you want and whenever you want

An extremely simple GUI (Graphical User Interface) that will give an overview of the events on your testchain

Coinbase is a San Francisco-based exchange that focuses on “fiat to crypto” trade. It has gradually been making a name for itself. On top of that, it’s become one of the most commonly used exchange systems in the world. It allows developers to construct Bitcoin apps and integrate Bitcoin into applications that already exist.



It provides the user with a diverse range of capabilities, from collecting read-only data to building new things. In addition, it supplies a system that creates Bitcoin wallets and addresses, enabling purchases, sells, sends and receives of Bitcoins worldwide. Moreover, Coinbase offers numerous client libraries and mobile SDKs (Software Development Kits) that are useful for developers. It equips its users with a simple yet effective REST API that merges Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Ethereum payments directly into your application and/or business.



#8 – EtherScripter



A challenging task for any novice developers would definitely be Ether scripting. In response to this challenge, EtherScripter presents users with an interface that someone can utilize to begin coding basic contracts.



It is an enjoyable drag and drop system where you connect various jigsaw puzzle pieces to bring life to your contract. As of now, EtherScripter can only be used with the programming language of Serpent.



#9 – BaaS



The term “Blockchain as a Service” has been making itself known in the cryptocurrency public conscious lately. As a service, BaaS “…helps integrate blockchain into businesses. In order to enable companies to enjoy its benefits, tech giants offer blockchain technology through their cloud-based platforms ‘as a service’.” It lets you use the blockchain without having to deal with any inconveniences that occur when keeping the chain operational. Essentially, this models the way in which “Software as a Service” (SaaS) works.



It is useful for individuals or companies who aspire to adopt the blockchain technology but are repeatedly brought down by the technical complexities and operational expenses. Already, many companies and startups have begun to provide BaaS services. As an example, Microsoft created Azure to offer these particular aids. It is a tool that comes in handy for developers to build DApps. With this tool, it’s a much cheaper and safer environment that supports several chains, including Eris, Storj, Multichain, and Augur.



Users pay the BaaS service provider the necessary fees for the setup and to maintain the infrastructure. This provider pretty much handles the intricate back-end for clients and their businesses.



#10 – Metamask



Metamask provides its users with a software system that not only allows them to serve Ether and other ERC-20 assets, but it also lets them interact with Ethereum DApps. A major perk is that this can all be done in their browser.



It can be effortlessly installed as an extension of Google Chrome or as a Firefox add-on. Once the app has been set up, you will have an Ethereum wallet built right into your browser that can store all of the ERC-20 tokens. For developers, this system can interact with multiple Ethereum test networks.



#11 – Ethers.js



This is a library that was built for and is primarily used by ethers.io. It was designed to make it less challenging to write client-side JavaScript-based wallets. These types of wallets perpetually keep the private key on the owner’s machine. It functions as an alternative service to web3, which is the most commonly used library for the Ethereum applications.



Some interesting blockchain development properties surrounding ether.js include the following:



You can use an ENS name as opposed to a contact address. This has proven to be very helpful for developers, like if they need to call the ENS resolver then they can simply employ “resolver.eth” instead of entering the actual contract address.

It only takes up 77kb worth of space when it is condensed.

worth of space when it is condensed. There is a lot of documentation stored on ethers.js, so any interested developers can easily look them up whenever they want to and as much as they want to.

It can – and has – been used in extensive cases. Also , i t uses Travis.ci, which means that when a new code is added to the repo at whatever time, all the tests run automatically and publicly.

t uses Travis.ci, which means that when a new code is added to the repo at whatever time, all the tests run automatically and publicly. Ether.js is licensed by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

It handles both key management and blockchain interplay in a way that provides developers with more flexibility. They do so by splitting the nodes into two roles: the wallet (to hold the keys and sign the transactions) and the provider (to work as an anonymous connection to the Ethereum network).

#12 – Tierion



Tierion is a system that enables the ability to construct a valid database of any information or process on the Bitcoin blockchain by providing developer tools and API to distribute data to the ledger. It created ChainPoint, which is used for recording data and producing receipts that consist of all the information required to verify the data without the reliance on intermediates.



“We see a future where the blockchain is used to verify everything from medical records to online purchases”, they state on their website. “We’re building technology and products that reduce the cost and complexity of trust.”



The central part of Tierion’s digital foundation is the ChainPoint Proof protocol. This is used whenever a user includes something into the data store. ChainPoint and the Tierion API hold the data to the chain so that it can generate a timestamp proof. It is capable of producing many proofs – millions, even – per second because of its extensive architecture. It also adds accuracy to the proofs by:

Assembling data from the Network Time Protocol (NIP) servers

Making available data from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Connecting anchors to the Bitcoin blockchain and the Ethereum blockchain.



#13 – Embark



Embark is a blockchain development framework for Ethereum DApps. What this means is that it will allow you to seamlessly create and later deploy DApps. Alternatively, it enables you to create an independent html5 application that harnesses decentralized technologies. It enables users to build new smart contracts and make them accessible in JS code. Embark watches for changes and if you ever update the contract, then Embark will instantly modify the contracts and its accompanying DApp . Finally, it deals with smart contract migration if there are a number of contracts. Embark also immediately redeploys contracts if need be and keeps watch for any changes.



If you wish to interact with the Embark platform, you can utilize any traditional web development language including React, Angular, Meteor, and many others. You are also given the option to build any pipeline you want.



#14 – Truffle



Like Embark, Truffle is an Ethereum framework that provides users with a blockchain development environment and asset pipelines for Ethereum progression. It includes support for the library that unites complex Ethereum apps and offers custom dispositions. These features help to transform the coding of new contracts into something much easier.



The features that are provided by Truffle that users will benefit from are listed below:



Incorporated smart contract assemblage, linking, deployment, and also binary management.

Automated contract testing carried out with Mocha and Chai.

Configurable build pipeline with the additional support for custom build procedures.

Scriptable deployment and shifts groundwork.

Network governance for deploying to numerous public and private networks.

Interactive console for straight contract communication.

The immediate reconstruction of assets during development.

External script runner that enact scripts within a Truffle environment.

Using a proper paper wallet is a sure fire way to safely store any form of cryptocurrency. In blockchain development, you want to be absolutely sure to save your crypto earnings in a secure fashion.



There are two types of storage systems you can use:



Hot storage: this makes spending crypto so much simpler. It is linked to the internet, however, so more vulnerable to hacks Cold storage: here, you save all of your crypto revenue offline. So while it is admittedly not easy to spend, it is safe from hackers

The aforementioned ‘paper wallet’ is a form of cold storage and is really the safest way to keep your crypto secure. This involves printing out your public and private keys onto a piece of paper (ergo the name “paper wallet”) which you can then store and save into a secure place. You print the keys in the style of QR (Quick Response) codes that you can later scan.



The primary reason as to why this is so safe is that it gives you, the user, complete control. Additionally, you do not have to worry about the welfare of a piece of hardware. You also need not worry about any hackers or forms of malware. Your responsibility lies solely on protecting a piece of paper. Some people have it laminated for longer shelf life.



Conclusion



There is no shortage of tools and devices that can assist in the process of blockchain development. It helps that you already have a basic knowledge of the technology itself beforehand. But the tools listed here are sure to aid you in your blockchain adventures. The decision as to which of these digital appliances is most suitable is entirely subjective. This article was not written in order to dictate which tools are better and which ones you should probably avoid. Rather, it is to provide a list of options. A long list, in fact, so that you do not feel restricted to a chosen few. We also felt it was important to illustrate the perks and drawbacks of each.



As previously touched upon, it is a good idea to do some research before you dive into blockchain development. These tools will help with the complex sections of the procedures, but pre-existing knowledge of the subject – however limited and elementary it may be – also goes a long way.

Be sure to join our community and stay up to date with the latest in blockchain development, including our own HedgeTrade DApp .

Sources:

https://www.hyperledger.org/about

http://www.talkcrypto.org/blog/2018/01/23/what-is-geth/ https://solidity.readthedocs.io/en/v0.5.3/

https://cryptovest.com/features/baas-solution-bringing-blockchain-to-the-masses/

https://tierion.com/about

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/ethereum.asp