Blockchain, owing to its versatile nature, has a lot more to it than just cryptocurrencies. It is one of the most innovative and sophisticated technologies which is growing exponentially in the market. Blockchain development has evolved pretty drastically over the last few years. What started as a means to power up a decentralized payment network has morphed into a decentralized supercomputer where developers from all around the world can come and create their own software applications.

What is Blockchain?

A blockchain is, in the simplest of terms, a time-stamped series of immutable record of data that is managed by a cluster of computers not owned by any single entity. Each of these blocks of data (i.e. block) are secured and bound to each other using cryptographic principles (i.e. chain).

Blockchain applications go far beyond cryptocurrency and bitcoin. With its ability to create more transparency and fairness while also saving businesses time and money, the technology is impacting a variety of sectors in ways that range from how contracts are enforced to making government work more efficiently. With the potential of blockchain technology and the diversity of career options, it is reasonable to wonder about the need for learning about blockchain tools.

Tools for blockchain technology:

Solidity:

Solidity is, undoubtedly, one of the most popular languages used by Blockchain Developers. Influenced by C++, Python, and JavaScript, Solidity is the object-oriented programming language which is used to write smart contracts and Ethereum-based applications. Its script is similar to that of the JavaScript programming language and it enhances the Ethereum Virtual Machine. It is the runtime environment in Ethereum. It is used for building and deploying smart contracts on any blockchain.

Geth:

One of the first mentions among the best blockchain tools available currently is Geth. It is basically an Ethereum node implementation based on the Go programming language. It is available in the three interfaces, including JSON-RPC server, command-line, and interactive console. Geth can be leveraged for Blockchain development on all three major operating systems – Windows, Mac, and Linux. It allows the user to do the following -Transfer tokens between addresses, creation and execution of smart contracts through the Ethereum Virtual Machine and explore block history.

Metamusk:

Popularly called a browser extension, Metamask is a wallet that connects the ethereum blockchain with the browser such as Firefox or Google Chrome. It has the ability to interact with different Ethereum test networks which can be useful for blockchain developers.

Solc:

Solc is a Solidity compiler that converts solidity script into a more readable format. Its popularity can also be gauged from the fact that it comes natively with most of the Ethereum nodes. If you have used Solidity, you already know its syntax is similar to ECMAScript, as it is a loosely-typed language. However, the Ethereum Virtual Machine uses a slightly different format, which makes Solc a must-have tool for Ethereum related projects. Solc can also be used for offline compiling.

Remix IDE:

Remix IDE is one of the common names that come among the best blockchain tools. It is a browser-focused blockchain tool that supports the processes for developing and deploying smart contracts. Remix IDE is based on JavaScript, thereby providing access through any modern browser. Its code analyzer helps developers write the best codes. It connects to the blockchain using Metamask, the browser extension for easy access of Ethereum-enabled distributed applications (DApps).

Solium:

Security plays a vital role in the development of each tool. The solidity code must be secure and tamper-resistant. It helps format solidity codes and also helps fix security issues, if any, in the code. It is a tool which is designed to check for vulnerabilities in the code. It does not strictly adhere to the Solidity Style Guide. It promotes coding practices which have been agreed upon by the community.

Truffle:

Truffle is an Ethereum blockchain framework. It offers an asset pipeline and development environment for Ethereum development. The whole aim of a Truffle is to make the job of a developer much easier. It is also a testing framework that comes with binary management, contract compilation, linking, and deployment.

Embark:

Embark is a framework that allows you to easily develop and deploy Decentralized Applications (DApps). Embark automatically modifies the contract and related DApps. Traditional web development languages such as Angular, Meteor, React, etc. are used to interact with the Embark platform. It supports test-driven development of contracts with Javascript thereby allowing developers to manage their contracts on different blockchains.

Parity:

Post compilation, a development environment needs to be set to deploy contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. An Ethereum client is needed for this and that is where Parity comes into the picture. It is a secure way to interact with the blockchain. It has used it to build Polkadot, a decentralized web blockchain meta-protocol, securing and connecting crypto-economies to the world.

Ganache:

Ganache is a Blockchain tool from the Truffle Suite that allows you to create your own private Ethereum blockchain to test dApps, execute commands, and inspect state while taking full control of the operation of the chain. The greatest feature of Ganache is that it allows you to perform all the actions you would otherwise perform on the main chain, without incurring the cost for the same.

Blockchain Testnet:

The final addition among the list of best blockchain tools available presently is Blockchain Testnet. It is one of the basic tools for blockchain developers and is helpful for testing decentralized apps prior to their live deployment. All blockchain solutions have their own Blockchain Testnet and are tailored for providing optimal performance with the concerned blockchain solution.

Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS):

Implementing a full end-to-end blockchain solution is not practical for any business out there. This gave rise to the Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS). With BaaS, businesses can create and host their dApp solutions using a cloud infrastructure. They have to pay for using BaaS. Moreover, they also need to hire blockchain developers to take care of all the implementation process.As a blockchain developer, you should know how to work with BaaS. It can help you gain more trust and reputation. It is similar to Software as a Service(SaaS) model.

Conclusion:

Blockchain is a relatively new concept and developers can spend time experimenting with it. One thing that is certain is that it is here to stay as it is ideal for security reasons as well as creating an entirely new horizon for finance management. However, a broad range of expertise in blockchain tools can strengthen the foundation of your career as a blockchain developer. It is important for all learners to identify the right tools for specific use cases and showcase efficiency in their professional blockchain-based job roles.

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