Getting Started with Ethereum Development

 ๐Ÿš€ Getting Started with Ethereum Development

Ethereum is one of the most popular blockchain platforms for building decentralized applications (dApps) using smart contracts. If you're new to Ethereum development, this guide will walk you through the basics.


๐Ÿง  What You’ll Learn

What Ethereum is


Key components of Ethereum development


Tools and languages used


How to build and deploy your first smart contract


๐Ÿ”— What is Ethereum?

Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain that supports smart contracts — programs that run on the blockchain and execute automatically when conditions are met.


Unlike Bitcoin (a currency-only blockchain), Ethereum can run applications like:


Decentralized Finance (DeFi)


Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)


Voting systems


Supply chain trackers


๐Ÿ› ️ Key Tools for Ethereum Development

Tool Purpose

Solidity Programming language for smart contracts

Remix IDE Online editor for writing and testing contracts

Hardhat Local Ethereum development environment

Ganache Personal blockchain for testing

MetaMask Wallet browser extension to interact with dApps

Ethers.js / Web3.js JavaScript libraries to connect frontend to smart contracts


๐Ÿงฑ Basic Components

1. Smart Contract

A self-executing code stored on the Ethereum blockchain. It controls the logic of your app.


2. dApp (Decentralized App)

Frontend (usually in React) + smart contracts that interact with users via a wallet like MetaMask.


๐Ÿ’ป Getting Started: Step-by-Step

✅ Step 1: Install the Required Tools

Install Node.js and npm if not already installed.


Then install Hardhat (for local development):


bash

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Edit

npm install --save-dev hardhat

✅ Step 2: Create a New Project

bash

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npx hardhat

Choose "Create a basic sample project", then follow the prompts.


✅ Step 3: Write a Smart Contract (Solidity)

In contracts/Greeter.sol:


solidity

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Edit

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT

pragma solidity ^0.8.0;


contract Greeter {

    string public greeting;


    constructor(string memory _greeting) {

        greeting = _greeting;

    }


    function setGreeting(string memory _greeting) public {

        greeting = _greeting;

    }


    function greet() public view returns (string memory) {

        return greeting;

    }

}

✅ Step 4: Compile the Contract

bash

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npx hardhat compile

✅ Step 5: Deploy the Contract Locally

In scripts/deploy.js:


javascript

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async function main() {

  const Greeter = await ethers.getContractFactory("Greeter");

  const greeter = await Greeter.deploy("Hello, Ethereum!");

  await greeter.deployed();

  console.log("Greeter deployed to:", greeter.address);

}


main().catch((error) => {

  console.error(error);

  process.exitCode = 1;

});

Run the script:


bash

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npx hardhat run scripts/deploy.js --network localhost

✅ Step 6: Run a Local Blockchain

In a new terminal:


bash

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npx hardhat node

Then re-run the deploy script with the local network running.


✅ Step 7: Connect with MetaMask

Add a custom RPC in MetaMask (http://127.0.0.1:8545)


Import a private key from Hardhat to use test ETH.


๐ŸŒ Going Beyond Local: Testnets

Deploy your contract to a public Ethereum testnet like:


Goerli


Sepolia


To do that:


Get test ETH from a faucet.


Configure your Hardhat network settings.


Deploy using:


bash

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npx hardhat run scripts/deploy.js --network goerli

๐Ÿ“š Learning Resources

Solidity Documentation


Hardhat Docs


Ethereum.org


Remix IDE


✅ Conclusion

Getting started with Ethereum development is easier than ever. With tools like Hardhat, Solidity, and MetaMask, you can quickly:


Build smart contracts


Test them locally


Deploy them to real or test networks


Build dApps on top of Ethereum

Learn Blockchain Course in Hyderabad

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