Core blockchain developer: plans and supervises blockchain projects, builds blockchain architecture Blockchain software developer: designs and develops APIs to facilitate blockchain integration, app performance testing, tech support Smart contract developer: develops and audits smart contracts (self-executing lines of code to record transactions on the blockchain), consults and interacts with users and buyers, executes product testing
In terms of political mindset, this movement has been fairly libertarian from the outset. Cryptocurrency enthusiasts tend to favor small, limited governments that intervene minimally (if at all) in people’s lives. [4] X Research source You don’t have to share these political views to be a good blockchain developer, but understanding them will help you understand why blockchain developed as it has.
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The Ethereum developer portal has loads of resources to help you get started with Solidity. Stay up to date through the Solidity blog or on Twitter. Follow the Solidity Github project to keep track of new features as this language develops.
As an experienced coder, you’re likely already members of a lot of tech forums—it’s just a matter of finding the blockchain groups on those platforms and jumping into them. Talk to people you know as well—if you know someone who’s also trying to transition into blockchain, the two of you can share resources.
Blockchain projects are open source, so it’s easy to jump into a project on GitHub or through the Hyperledger Foundation. You might also start by taking a project you’ve already done and seeing if you can adapt it to work on the blockchain.
Most major tech companies require new hires to have a degree, so if your goal is to work for one of those, you definitely need a degree—even though it’s not specifically required to be a blockchain developer generally.
Play around on different platforms to build hands-on experience. The more practice you have with the languages you know, the more versatile and fluent you’ll become.
All blockchain developers need a solid understanding of common data structures and how they factor into a blockchain—which, at its core, is simply a network of replicated databases.
Stanford University offers a free course on Coursera that will give you a solid foundation in cryptography without getting bogged down in a lot of math.
Start with the blockchain communities on Reddit, GitHub, and StackExchange. Telegram and Discord are also popular with blockchain developers. Don’t just lurk—be active! Ask questions, offer advice or help where you can, and build connections with others.
As a core blockchain developer, you’ll need to know a lot about databases, networking, and cryptography. Core blockchain developers are responsible for blockchain architecture. As a blockchain software developer, you’ll build apps that run on blockchain. Most of the work here involves building the app itself—a lot of coding that isn’t necessarily blockchain-specific. You can also specialize in writing smart contracts, the code that sets the rules for recording data and completing transactions on the blockchain.
GitHub and StackExchange are both great forums to look for active projects where you can contribute.
At its core, a blockchain is a database for electronic information. The difference between it and other database structures? Blockchain guarantees the security and fidelity of the data it stores. All data entered in a blockchain is permanent and unchangeable, so blockchain transactions are irreversible once they’re recorded. Blockchains use smart contracts (self-executing lines of code) to record and execute transactions. [13] X Research source
CryptoZombies Space Doggos edX courses from IBM, The Linux Foundation, Berkeley, and other leading global universities Coursera cryptocurrency course from Princeton University
Blockchain: The Blockchain for Beginners Guide to Blockchain Technology and Leveraging Blockchain Programming, by Josh Thompsons The Business Blockchain: Promise, Practice, and Application of the Next Internet Technology, by William Mougayar Blockchain: Blueprint for a New Economy, by Melanie Swan
To get started, check out the Beginner’s Guide to Game Theory by Michael Karnjanaprakorn, posted on the website HackerNoon. It’s written for beginners and is pretty easy to understand.
Crypto is what first draws many aspiring blockchain developers to the field, so chances are you already have plenty of experience in this realm. But if you don’t, there’s never been a better time to take the leap! Read Satoshi Nakamoto’s bitcoin white paper to learn more about blockchain in the bitcoin context.
If you want advice or help on specific projects you’re working on, post on GitHub or StackExchange. You can also help others with their projects, which can give you some practical experience. Remember the political mindset behind blockchain. Blockchain professionals and enthusiasts tend to congregate on forums that value privacy and anonymity.
