HOW TO BECOME A BLOCKCHAIN DEVELOPER (Part 1)
Blockchain/Web3 is one of the most recent and fast-evolving technologies to grace the IT world.
Although blockchain started with bitcoin and other digital currencies, it has diversified into a wide range of other industries including banking, retail, healthcare, telecommunications, education, government, etc., hence the demand for developers skilled in building blockchain networks and applications.
In part one of this post, we will be discussing the major types of blockchain developers and the must-have skills of a blockchain developer.
There are 2 types of Blockchain Developers:
1. The Core blockchain developers: These developers are focused primarily on creating the blockchain network and its underlying architecture.
They are like the Layer 0 blockchain developers.
They ensure that the environment is secure and efficient for developing decentralized applications amongst other duties.
2. The Blockchain Software Developers: These developers create decentralized applications and write smart contracts that will run on a blockchain network.
They might be responsible for either the front-end or back-end development or both.
They also audit smart contracts and conduct end-to-end testing of business processes.
What are the must-have skills of a Blockchain Developer?
For you to be a competent Blockchain developer, there is a wide range of skills you must possess, but we will be discussing the 5 major must-have skills below:
1. Knowledge of important Blockchain terminologies: A competent blockchain developer must understand most, if not every blockchain terminology there is to know. This knowledge will help you to develop better applications and relate well with your employers/clients.
2. Knowledge of cryptography and data structures: A blockchain developer must understand how cryptography and data structures fit into the blockchain network.
3. Knowledge of Web Development: Blockchain and web development go hand in hand, therefore a good Blockchain developer should be experienced in all aspects of web development.
He or she should know how to design and develop web applications, and also understand the technologies that support these applications and what it takes to optimize and secure them.
You must be proficient in at least one web development programming language. Some of the more common languages used for blockchain include Java, C++, Python, and JavaScript.
Blockchain Developers should also have a strong foundation in object-oriented programming and be familiar with an assortment of development libraries and frameworks.
4. Knowledge of Smart Contracts ( How to write and audit them): Smart contracts are self-executing contracts that enable two parties to exchange goods and services without an intermediary. Blockchain Developers should have a thorough understanding of what they are and how they enforce business logic. Also, he or she must understand how to audit them to ensure that it is not vulnerable to hacks.
A blockchain developer should also be familiar with the programming languages commonly used for smart contracts, such as Vyper, Solidity, Chaincode, etc.
5. Knowledge of How to build Decentralized Applications (dApps): Decentralized Applications are digital applications that run on a blockchain network of computers instead of relying on a single computer.
dApps are decentralized and are free from the control and interference of a single authority
A blockchain developer must know how to build decentralized applications.
In the second part of this post, I will be sharing:
Links to websites where you can learn to become a blockchain developer for free.
Links communities you can join to network with other blockchain developers.
Don’t miss it!