Overview of Tools Landscape for Blockchain and Web3.0

Blockchain development is among the fastest-growing technology framework and with the explosion of projects built on blockchains (DeFi, NFTs, DAOs), demand for blockchain developers has skyrocketed. Blockchain is not easy and with the advancement in Web3.0 it is meant to change the way we look at various day to day applications. How would you master web3.0 and Blockchain? I have tried to cover some of the tools for creating blockchain applications. Let’s get going!

Let us first categorised the tools based on their usuage as:

1. Smart Contract Programming
2. Development Framework
3. Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
4. SDKs & APIs
5. Frontend Interaction with Blockchain
6. Testing
7. Blockchains
8. File storage
9. Security and Audit
10. Analytics

We will go in the detail with each one of these and few of the selected tools from each area and why they are the recommended ones. I will still recommend you run your research and see which one is most useful to you before you get going.

1.??????Smart Contract Programming: These languages allow you to create smart contract code that functions as the backend for your application. Decentralized applications are mostly built using Solidity and Rust and there are many more like Vyper.

• Solidity: The language was created by participants of the Ethereum project when it was proposed in 2014. It is a high-level, object-oriented language that borrows several elements from other languages, notably C++, used for creating smart contracts on the blockchain that automate transactions. Solidity's popularity means you can access useful tutorials, guides, and documentation designed to onboard beginners. Solidity programs can also work on other blockchains if they are compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Which means you can deploy projects on EVM-compatible blockchains, such as Binance Smart Chain, Avalanche, Polygon, Matic Network, etc.
• Vyper: A popular alternative is Vype, a Python-based and EVM-compatible language. Drawback of Vyper is, it does not have as much functionality or popularity as Solidity, still it can be ideal for developers familiar with Python and more so, Vyper's simple architecture reduces software errors and eases smart contract auditing.
• Rust: Rust is an ideal smart contract language as it is type-safe, memory safe, and free of undefined behaviours. It is a low-level language for writing smart contracts and is prized for its memory efficiency, simplicity, and reliability. Drawback is that Rust is non-EVM compatible, so you cannot deploy projects on Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains. But newer chains like Solana, Terra, NEAR, Polkadot, and Elrond use Rust, so you will still gain if you learn this language.

2.??????Development Framework: Software frameworks that provide plug-and-play infrastructure for creating dApps easily and they will provide resources (libraries and tools) useful for creating, testing, and deploying code. Now Coding your dApp from the ground up is unnecessary since you can take a ready-made package and add extra functionality.

• Truffle: Truffle (most popular framework in the Blockchain developer community) is a JavaScript-based framework for developing, testing, and deploying smart contracts. ?Consist of resources you need to create a fully functional dApp, from built-in smart contract creation tools to test blockchain environments. And provides out-of-the-box with libraries that make building your Ethereum dApp’s frontend easier.
• Hardhat: Another popular one against Truffle with many developers. Like Truffle, Hardhat is a JavaScript-based framework for creating, testing, deploying, and debugging applications on Ethereum. Comprehensive tooling platform that abstracts away most of the low-level, generic functions associated with blockchain software development and thus, you can focus on more important tasks like building core infrastructure for your dApp.
• Embark: is a full-stack development framework that allows you to build your dApp’s frontend and backend simultaneously. It offers resources for dApp data storage, real-time code testing, and smart contract deployment and you’ll get access to important plugins like Etherscan, Solc, Solium, and many more.
• Brownie: If you are a python developer, then you will love this. Brownie is a Python-based development and testing framework for smart contracts targeting the Ethereum Virtual Machine. It is a very robust and easy-to-use framework for developing Ethereum smart contracts

3.??????Integrated Development Environments (IDEs): Sometimes these tools are categorised as developer framework as well. IDE aids in application development by combining core developer tools into one Graphic User Interface (GUI). Most IDEs come with code compiling, editing, syntax highlighting, build automation, and debugging capabilities, among others (see the similarities to framework?)

• Remix IDE: Remix is a great choice as it is considered as industry standard by developer community. It allows you to compile, test, and debug smart contracts, all from one intuitive interface just from your browser. Written in JavaScript and you can use it from any browser, although you can also run it locally on your computer (as a desktop application). It offers a comprehensive suite of libraries, plugins, and other features to supercharge smart contract development. It also has dark mode and a rich set of plugins with intuitive GUIs.
• Ethfiddle: Another browser-based IDE for writing and debugging Solidity code. Developed by the Loom Network. EthFiddle lets you compile your Solidity code directly in the browser, so you can quickly test & debug smart contract code, and share a permalink to your code in a click and also collaborate with others on a project. Easy to edit, find, and share code snippets with others for feedback. It offers well-designed testing and prototyping capabilities, making it a good tool for any blockchain developer.
• Ethcode: A vscode extension for Ethereum Smart Contract development. It provides a developer friendly environment to compile, deploy and execute Solidity and Vyper Smart Contracts on Ethereum Main Network, Goerli test network and other experimental test networks. The code is open-source, and new developers can ask for support when needed.

4.??????SDKs & APIs: Building functionalities from scratch can be a little time-consuming, therefore APIs and SDKs are amongst the most important tools for Web3 developers and help blockchain developers solve specific issues faced during built and aid dApp development.

An Application Programming Interface (API) is designed to simplify the interaction between different software. SDK is short for "Software Development Kit" and refers to a collection of software products for building applications for a particular platform.

• Alchemy NFT API: Alchemy is a powerful blockchain developer platform providing a suite of developer tools. Developers building apps which interact with Ethereum can use Alchemy’s powerful APIs to supercharge their apps, and leverage features not available in vanilla nodes. They also provide services like analytics, monitoring, alerting, logging and debugging. It would help you display metadata for different NFTs in a user-friendly interface and works across multiple chains (Ethereum, Polygon, Flow, etc.), The NFT API abstracts away most technical tasks involved in interacting with NFTs. With the NFT API integrated into your platform, buyers do not have to read smart contracts before verifying and buying NFTs.
• Thirdweb: Useful for building Web3 apps or integrating Web3 features into an existing application. It supports many blockchains such as Fantom, Avalanche, Ethereum, and Polygo and promises support for more chains in the future. You can build NFT projects, marketplaces, tokens, NFT drops, and much more. For example, you can add a "Connect Wallet" feature to your application without needing to write code. While smart contracts are free to use, Thirdweb makes money by charging a 5% fee on future royalties earned from token contracts.
• Moralis APIs and SDKs: Moralis provides most comprehensive and easy to use APIs, SDKs and Data for building high performance dapps. Integrate Web3 into any tech stack. The Moralis SDK provides ready-made functionality such as: Authenticating users, Sending and fetching transactions, listening to smart contract events, pulling user balances, Interacting with smart contracts. Moralis' cross-chain Web3 API can also aggregate comprehensive information about account balances, tokens, on-chain transactions, and more. It supports the most popular chains, including Avalanche, Polygon, Ethereum, and Binance Smart Chain.

5.??????Frontend Interaction with Blockchain: How would you connect to the front-end applications; you can use many libraries to help you do so. The most popular are Web3.js, Ethers.js, and Web3. py.

• Web3.js: is a JavaScript library that let you use an HTTP or IPC connection to communicate with a local or distant Ethereum node. You would use web3.js in your frontend app to do things like connect to a user’s wallet, grant access to a smart contract, and call functions on the smart contract. Smart contracts can be accessed through the CLI or through a UI, so web3.js is what helps you work with smart contracts from the UI.
• Ethers.js: Like Web3.js, Ether.js is a JavaScript library aims to be a complete and compact library for interacting with the Ethereum Blockchain and its ecosystem. It was originally designed for use with ethers.io and has since expanded into a more general-purpose library.
• Web3.py: is a Python library for interacting with Ethereum. It is commonly found in decentralized apps (dapps) to help with sending transactions, interacting with smart contracts, reading block data, and a variety of other use cases. The original API was derived from the Web3.js Javascript API but has since evolved toward the needs and creature comforts of Python developers.

6.??????Testing: Testing plays a vital role in the blockchain. Since smart contracts are non-editable, you have to test your code before deploying.

• Testnet: Are test blockchain networks that act and perform similarly to the main networks (also called as mainnets) they are associated with. Since they operate on separate ledgers from the mainnet), the coins on a testnet have no connection to transactions and value on the mainnet. This allows developers to deploy, test, and execute their projects on a functioning blockchain freely.
• Chai: is a BDD / TDD assertion library for node and the browser that can be delightfully paired with any javascript testing framework. Chai has several interfaces that allow the developer to choose the most comfortable. The chain-capable BDD styles provide an expressive language & readable style, while the TDD assert style provides a more classical feel.
• Mocha: is a feature-rich JavaScript test framework running on Node.js and in the browser, making asynchronous testing simple and fun. Mocha tests run serially, allowing for flexible and accurate reporting, while mapping uncaught exceptions to the correct test cases.

7.??????Blockchains: Way too much information on this, still it is a system for recording information so that it is immutable, distributed, decentralized, public ledger that exists across a network. Few of my favourites (I like Corda and Sawtooth but they are not here at the moment).

• Ethereum: is the most popular and most used blockchain. Works on a Proof-of-work basis and is open source. Ethereum is a permissionless blockchain, it can be used by anyone, anywhere. The strength of Ethereum is that it allows any developer to write and distribute next-generation non-centralized applications using the Ethereum virtual machine environment.
• Tron: Like Ethereum, lets developers use complete protocols through smart contracts on the blockchain. Tron can handle 2000 transactions per second, which is more than enough for most payment processors like PayPal. Furthermore, there are no transaction costs with Tron. Tron’s primary feature is its high scalability, which allows it to support thousands of transactions per second. Tron was designed with high-scale capabilities in mind and used the Delegated Proof of Stake consensus mechanism for enhanced blockchain security.
• Polygon: it measures on web3.0 and is a decentralised Ethereum scaling platform that enables developers to build scalable user-friendly dApps with low transaction fees without ever sacrificing on security.
• Hyperledger Fabric: Building apps or solutions with a modular architecture, the goal of Hyperledger Fabric is to provide a framework for creating such software. Components like membership services and consensus may be connected in a plug-and-play manner. It features a wide range of modular and adaptable designs that cater to several industrial use cases. Establishing a network of networks is one of the key characteristics of Hyperledger Fabric. Members of the Fabric network collaborate, but since firms want to keep some of their data private, they generally maintain distinct ties within their networks.
• Solana: is a decentralized blockchain built to enable scalable, user-friendly apps for the world. It implements a new, permissionless and high-speed layer-1 blockchain. While Solana is a proof-of-stake blockchain, the network also uses proof-of-history (PoH) as a consensus algorithm.

8.??????File Storage: As we know decentralized applications (or Dapps) are server-less applications that can be run jointly on the client side and within a blockchain based distributed network, such as Ethereum. The client device manages the front-end and user credentials, while the back end runs within a distributed network of computers that provide for the processing and storage requirements. Business logic is stored in this distributed blockchain network, thereby providing clear transparency and auditability of client generated interactions with the Dapp. And the data is stored in decentralized file systems, such as:

• IPFS: is currently one of the most talked-about technology in the DApps ecosystem because it can replace HTTP. It is a content-addressed storage system which means for every object (example files, pictures, video) stored, a unique cryptographic hash is created, and the same hash is required to fetch these objects. It is a distributed file system that seeks to connect all computing devices with the same system of files. It is inspired by previous successful peer-to-peer systems, including DHTs, BitTorrent, Git, and SFS
• Swarm: is also a distributed storage platform and content distribution service. It is a part of the Ethereum ecosystem for the decentralized web that consists of three components Whisper for Messaging, Ethereum for the computation power and Swarm for storage. It is like IPFS in terms of using hash-based content addressing but has a built-in incentive layer. The incentive layer uses peer-to-peer accounting for bandwidth, deposit-based storage incentives, and allows trading resources for payment.
• Storj: is a robust object store that encrypts, shards, and distributes data to nodes around the world for storage. Its core technology is an enforceable peer-to-peer storage contract such as a way for two people to agree to exchange some amount of storage for the money. The contract has a time duration over which the renter (storage consumer) periodically checks that the farmer (storage provider) is still available. Storj aims to replace Amazon S3, which is currently one of the most widely used centralized cloud storage solutions, and hence, uses S3 compatible APIs.
• Arweave: is a new type of storage that backs data with sustainable and perpetual endowments, allowing users and developers to truly store data forever and for the very first time. As a collectively owned hard drive that never forgets, allows us to remember and preserve valuable information, apps, and history indefinitely and prevents others from rewriting it.

9.??????Security and Auditing Tools: If a security flaw exists on the blockchain network where a smart contract operates, hackers may be able to steal money from users' wallets. ?Strengthening smart contract security should be the critical success criteria of your new dApp. For context, here are some of the biggest exploits this year: ?Axie Infinity (hacked for $615 million), Inverse Finance (hacked for $15 million), Elephant Money (hacked for $22.5 million)

• Securify: Securify can detect up to 37 different software vulnerabilities and implements context-specific analysis for Solidity-based smart contracts. It is a security scanner for Ethereum smart contracts supported by the Ethereum Foundation and ChainSecurity. The core research behind Securify was conducted at the Secure, Reliable, and Intelligent Systems Lab at ETH Zurich.
• Mythril or Mythx: is a security analysis tool for EVM bytecode. It detects security vulnerabilities in smart contracts built for Ethereum, Hedera, Quorum, Vechain, Roostock, Tron and other EVM-compatible blockchains. It uses symbolic execution, SMT solving and taint analysis to detect a variety of security vulnerabilities. It's also used (in combination with other tools and techniques) in the MythX security analysis platform.
• Octopus: Octopus is a security analysis framework for WebAssembly module and Blockchain Smart Contract (BTC/ETH/NEO/EOS). The purpose of Octopus is to provide an easy way to analyze closed-source WebAssembly module and smart contracts bytecode to understand deeper their internal behaviours.

10.??Analytics: Tracking on-chain activity is difficult but there are tools to help you with that, in most of the cases you would be looking for application information like real-time usage information, user adoption rates, and token metrics.

• Alchemy Monitor: helps developers proactively prevent issues through real-time dashboards and automated alerts containing critical information about their app’s overall health. Developers can also rely on Alchemy Monitor for driving growth and scaling efficiently as the tool provides deep insights into user behavior and real-time methods for optimizing performance. Like the rest of the Alchemy developer platform, it’s fast and simple to set up. No code, no configuration — it works out of the box.
• Alchemy Notify: Receive automated notifications whenever apps hit rate limits or make invalid requests. ?Provides real-time information about dApp activity for example if a transaction executed within the dApp was successful.

Blockchain and Web3.0 is very exciting isn't? You need to make sure you have right set of tools and you know what they are meant for (and there are so many out there). The ultimate aim should be fool proof, robust applications that can stand the test of quality, security, scalability and security. This article covered few of the the top developer tools that you can choose to start building blockchain applications.