Blockchain job postings grew 300% between 2020 and 2021 on Glassdoor alone. Blockchain developer requirements dominated these listings, and they continue to do so. As of 2021, the salary average for blockchain developers in the US is $175,000, in comparison to $77,000 for software developers. With the number of DeFi and Web3 startups increasing steadily, the demand for blockchain developers is only going to increase. As the demand-availability gap increase, the average pay for blockchain developers will also increase. The high growth potential makes blockchain a lucrative job market. But to become a blockchain developer, you must know about key fundamentals, including the blockchain development environments.
What Is A Blockchain Development Environment?
A Blockchain Development Environment (BDE) or an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a software setup that enables developers to build, test, and deploy smart contracts. A Blockchain Development Environment serves multiple purposes. It comprises the following parts:
- Code Editor: Code editor is the console where developers write code. IDEs are sophisticated programs with features like autocompletion and syntax error highlighting.
- Debugger: Blockchain Development Environments also have an in-built debugger to test the developer’s code for bugs.
- Compiler: Compiler is an in-built program that translates the high-level language or source code into machine language.
- Automation Tools: Automation Tools are there to make life easier for developers by automating repetitive tasks to save time and effort. These tasks may include calling a pre-defined Class, testing a code for different conditions, etc.
The Functions Of A Blockchain Development Environment Include:
- Compiling your codes
- Testing the smart contracts for efficiency, and
- Deploying your smart contracts to a network node
What Are The Top3 Blockchain Development Environments
- Truffle: Truffle suite is a world-class development environment, testing framework, and asset pipeline. It is used to create, test, and deploy smart contracts to the Ethereum test network, or the main network. Truffle provides a Command Line Interface for managing and creating smart contracts. The IDE also offers a personal blockchain for Ethereum development- Ganache. You can use Ganache to test, deploy contracts, and run applications privately. Ganache is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Truffle also offers developers a collection of front-end libraries called drizzle, making writing dapp front-ends more convenient. Amazon, Consensys, Microsoft, World Bank, and Starbucks are some leading companies using Truffle.
- REMIX IDE: REMIX is one of the most popular blockchain development environments. It allows developers to develop, deploy, and manage smart contracts for Ethereum-like blockchains. You can either download the desktop application or build smart contracts online on the website. REMIX is known for its world-class plugins and extremely user-friendly GUI. Beginners can also use the platform to learn the development and deployment of smart contracts. The rich set of features on Remix include an Analyzer for analyzing Solidity smart contracts for vulnerabilities, a debugger, a solidity compiler, a library for multiple modules, and URL resolvers for resolving content from an external URL. Ethereum.org, OpenSea, and Moonbeam Network are some of the top platforms using Remix IDE.
- Hardhat: Hardhat is one of the widely used blockchain development environments out there. A platform tailor-made for professional requirements, Hardhat is flexible and fast. It is basically an Ethereum development environment that allows developers to build, test, and deploy smart contracts, and dApps. Hardhat is an easy-to-use platform that simplifies complex processes. Developers get access to tons of plugins for better functionality. On top of all this, you can use your existing tools on the IDE as it enables interoperability. It comes with a built-in local Ethereum network called Hardhat. Leading blockchain projects like Chainlink, Aave, SushiSwap, and UniSwap use Hardhat.
Final Word
The demand for blockchain developers continued to skyrocket. Learning about fundamentals such as IDEs can give you a headstart. A lot of beginners start with Remix IDE due to its user-friendly GUI. However, the requirements may differ from platform to platform. I would suggest you go through the documentation and tutorials on each of these IDEs to understand what purpose they serve the best.