Introduction to Blockchain: How to Create a Basic Smart Contract
The blockchain revolution has triggered a powerful shift in the software development field, enabling a new wave of secure and decentralized applications. One of the fundamental elements of blockchain technology is the smart contract. Today, we will guide you through creating a simple smart contract using the Ethereum platform, a popular blockchain network.
What is a Smart Contract?
A smart contract is a self-executing contract with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. The code and the agreements contained therein exist across a distributed, decentralized blockchain network. The code controls the execution, and transactions are trackable and irreversible.
Prerequisites
Before we begin, here is a list of requirements:
- Basic knowledge of programming, preferably JavaScript or Python
- Ethereum Code Editor like Remix
- MetaMask – a digital wallet used for the Ethereum blockchain
- Ethereum blockchain test network access
Step 1: Writing Your First Smart Contract
We’re going to write a simple contract that allows anyone to store and retrieve a number.
pragma solidity ^0.5.16;
contract SimpleStorage {
uint public storedData;
function set(uint x) public {
storedData = x;
}
function get() public view returns (uint) {
return storedData;
}
}
With few lines of code, we’ve made a simple contract! Let’s understand what we’ve done:
Solidity is a contract-oriented, high-level language for implementing smart contracts. Pragma solidity ^0.5.16; just means the code is written in the version 0.5.16 or above of Solidity.
SimpleStorage is the name of the contract. Function set(uint x) public lets you set the value of storedData while function get() public view returns (uint) allows you to retrieve it.
Step 2: Deploying the Smart Contract
Once the code is ready, click on the “Deploy & Run Transactions” button in the Remix Code Editor. Select “Injected Web3” in the Environment dropdown (MetaMask works by injecting a web3 instance into the page) and click on “Deploy.”
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve created your first smart contract on the Ethereum blockchain. As you delve deeper into the world of blockchain, the possibilities are truly endless. From creating decentralized applications (DApps), tokens, or even your own cryptocurrency, blockchain technology is a developer’s playground.
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