How Can You Develop and Deploy Smart Contracts Like a Pro?

Ethereum made its mark in 2015, crafted by the brilliant Vitalik Buterin, opening doors to decentralized wonders called dApps. Yet, the real star behind Ethereum’s triumph is the smart contract technology.

Although often seen as new, smart contracts have deeper roots. Back in 1996, tech pioneer Nick Szabo coined the term. He described them as:

“Smart” contracts transcend their paper predecessors, bearing unparalleled functionality. Not reliant on artificial intelligence, these digital promises encapsulate protocols guiding their faithful execution.

A symphony of inspiration ensued, capturing the minds of fellow scholars and visionaries, including the likes of Vitalik, the mastermind behind Ethereum.

In this blog, we will cover how you can develop, test, and deploy smart contracts for your projects. But, before delving into the captivating realm of Ethereum’s smart contract development, it is imperative to unveil the intricate tapestry of the Ethereum platform and its enigmatic mechanics. 

What is Exactly a Smart Contract?

Smart Contracts serve as the digital architects guiding every Blockchain transaction. This intricate business logic orchestrates a symphony of transactions, aiming to fulfill contract terms, even developing tokens on Ethereum. Crafting such contracts is an art, particularly crucial for our token’s calculations.

A standalone Solidity script, transformed into JSON, takes center stage. Deployed onto a specific blockchain address, it mirrors invoking RESTful APIs by injecting precise data along with Ethereum. This dance of data triggers compiled Solidity functions within the deployed contract.

These contracts grace the decentralized database, and their deployment cost proportional to code size. Imagine them as code vaults, defining consensus terms binding all parties.

In our journey ahead, we’ll delve into creating Ethereum smart contracts using Solidity. But first, let’s embrace the essence of Solidity itself.

Why are Smart Contracts Important?

Blockchain platforms act as fertile ground for the birth and execution of smart contracts, weaving code into tangible actions. Ethereum, a prominent member of this blockchain platform, boasts the prowess to execute intricate algorithms.        

Ethereum’s blockchain tapestry unfurls as a dynamic and distributed infrastructure, a canvas for turning concepts into reality through the magic of smart contracts. Following are some of the applications of smart contracts to understand their importance:

Ethereum’s landscape is a playground for innovators, where smart contracts conduct symphonies of creativity and potential.

How Smart Contracts Work on the Ethereum Platform?

The journey of comprehending smart contract execution within the Ethereum Blockchain Platform demands a foundational grasp of its mechanics. Let’s see how smart contracts work on the Ethereum blockchain:

Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)

Central to this narrative is the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), an ethereal realm where Ethereum’s smart contracts come alive. Imagine it as a global computational supermachine, breathing life into every contract’s code.

EVM, although virtual, operates with limitations—it refrains from delayed internet calls or generating random numbers. EVM embodies simplicity, akin to a state machine. Recognizing the impracticality of programming directly in assembly language, Ethereum sought a suitable programming language for EVM’s interface.

The Power of Gas

In the Ethereum Virtual Machine, the unit of measurement known as gas quantifies the fees attached to each transaction involving a smart contract. Every computation executed within the EVM demands a corresponding gas allocation. Complexity drives gas consumption; intricate computations necessitate augmented gas reserves for the contract’s execution.

Transaction cost = Total gas used * Gas price

The Art of Creation Using Solidity: 

Solidity emerges as the eloquent vernacular of Ethereum’s smart contract programming. Nestled upon the EVM, Solidity mirrors object-oriented programming with its class and method constructs. Though capable of diverse computations, Solidity predominantly facilitates token transfers and state storage. Drawing inspiration from C++, Python, and Javascript, Solidity employs a syntax familiar to developers.

Mastery of the Solidity programming language bestows the ability to compose Ethereum Smart Contracts, translating concepts into functional realities.

What You Should About Solidity?

Solidity, akin to Javascript, emerges as a tailor-made tapestry for fashioning smart contracts. This statically typed language boasts libraries, inheritance, and intricate user-defined types, setting the stage for elegant contract creation.

The Solidity compiler metamorphoses code into EVM bytecode, seamlessly ushering it into the Ethereum network through deployment transactions.

How to Develop and Deploy Smart Contracts?

Following are some of the core steps that you can use to create and deploy smart contracts successfully:

Set Up Your MetaMask Account:

Begin your journey by adding the MetaMask extension to your Chrome browser and activating it. Once it’s successfully installed, spot its icon at the top-right corner of your browser window. A simple click on this icon will whisk you away to a new browser tab, where MetaMask opens its doors.

Here’s where the magic begins. Click on “Create Wallet” and embrace the journey by agreeing to the terms and conditions with a simple “I agree” click. Your next task is to craft a secure password – a key to your digital realm.

Upon password creation, MetaMask will send you a precious secret backup phrase, a key to your account’s safekeeping. Treasure it like a chest of gold, for this phrase holds the power to restore your account. Guard it as you would a priceless gem, for sharing it risks your Ether treasure.

Preserve this treasure wisely. You could write it down on paper, a fortress of security, or entrust it to an encrypted external hard drive, hidden from prying eyes.

The next step is to ensure you’re treading the right path in the “Main Ethereum Network.” A reassuring checkmark beside “Main Ethereum Network” signifies your alignment with the right course. With this compass in check, you’re prepared to venture deeper.

Choose a Test Network

As you step into the realm of test networks, you’re greeted with various options within your MetaMask wallet. Among them, you’ll encounter the following test networks:

• Robsten Test Network
• Kovan Test Network
• Rinkeby Test Network
• Goerli Test Network

These networks, though captivating, serve the purpose of testing. It’s important to note that the ethers within these networks hold no real-world value. It’s a playground for trials, where lessons can be learned without the weight of true currency.

Infuse Your Wallet with Test Ethers

In preparation for testing the smart contract, it’s essential to infuse your MetaMask wallet with practice ethers.

For instance, if you’re planning to experiment with a contract on the Robsten test network, expect an initial balance of 0 ETH in your account.

To infuse these practice ethers, simply tap into the power of the “Deposit” and “Get Ether” buttons within the Test Faucet. Your next move involves clicking “Request one ether from the faucet.” Witness the magic unfold as 1 ETH elegantly finds its place in your wallet. Feel free to repeat this process, nurturing your wallet with as many Ethers as your experimentation requires.

Craft Your Smart Contract: 

Now you can prepare to bring your smart contract to life using the Remix Browser IDE. This dynamic platform offers an array of features and a wholesome development experience, making it an ideal choice for composing smart contracts.

Remix serves as a haven for creating contracts, particularly for smaller-sized ventures. It’s equipped with a variety of tools, including:

• Warnings regarding gas costs and unsafe code
• Checks for overlapping variable names
• Determining if functions can be constant
• Syntax highlighting for clarity
• Analysis of code for static insights
• An integrated debugger for pinpointing issues
• A unified environment for testing and deployment
• Direct deployment to Mist or MetaMask wallets

Embark on your contract creation odyssey by navigating to https://remix.ethereum.org.

Paving the Way with a .sol Extension

Within the Remix Browser, set the stage for your contract by generating a .sol extension file. A simple click on the plus icon, situated on the top left side, initiates this pivotal move. Your contract’s canvas awaits, ready for your creativity to unfold.

Deploy Your Contract 

It’s time to set your creation into motion. Deploying your smart contract within the Ethereum test network is a breeze – just locate the deploy button nestled on the right-hand side of the Remix window.

Once initiated, exercise patience as the transaction unfolds. Wait for the process to conclude.

Upon a successful transaction, the smart contract’s address will gracefully emerge on the right side of the Remix window.

Initially, all ERC20 tokens find their dwelling within the deploying user’s wallet. This marks the inception of your contract’s journey.

To gain a glimpse of these tokens within your wallet, journey to the MetaMask window. There, amidst the options, find “add tokens.” Enter the smart contract address and gracefully click “ok.” Behold, the number of tokens materializes before your eyes. Your creation has taken its first steps, and the journey has only just begun.

Collaborate With Us For Professional Smart Contract Development

Our expert squad of smart contract developers is dedicated to crafting robust and streamlined smart contracts tailored to a multitude of applications. Whether it’s crowdfunding, bidding, permissions, or dApps, we’ve got you covered.

If you’re in pursuit of deploying smart contracts to empower your business endeavors, our doors are open for consultation. Reach out to us, share your vision and requirements, and let’s embark on a journey to bring your ideas to life. Your smart contract solutions are just a conversation away.