by Mike Goldin



This article is the sequel to Just Enough Bitcoin For Ethereum . Check that out first if you haven’t already. All the background you need (and neither more nor less!) to begin understanding Ethereum is there.



Remember the first time you began using objects in a programming language? Or made your first attempt at functional programming? Remember how badly it spun your head around on a conceptual level before becoming intuitive? Developing blockchain orientation is much like developing object and functional orientations: initially disorienting, but eventually obvious. In part one of this series we learned how blockchains work in general by figuring out the Bitcoin blockchain. In this article we’ll begin reasoning about the Ethereum blockchain to start developing your blockchain orientation. Nurturing an intuition for how to structure blockchain interactions will pay dividends for a long time to come!



To get started, read the three sections in the Ethereum white paper on accounts, transactions and messages. Read the rest as well if you like, but if you read Just Enough Bitcoin For Ethereum then you already understand the basic technical underpinnings. Just like when you read the Bitcoin white paper, don’t sweat it if something doesn’t make sense on your first read-through. We’ll get there.