Web3 Developer Toolbox: Setting Up Web3 Development Environment (Ethereum/Solana)

Introduction:

Let’s embark on the foundational step towards becoming a Web3 developer by setting up your development environment.

This lesson will guide you through selecting an operating system, understanding essential tools, and installing the required software for Web3 development on Ethereum and Solana platforms.

Remember, watching the lesson video will offer a deeper understanding of this topic.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Choose the appropriate operating system for Web3 development.
2. Understand the importance of the Terminal in Web3 development.
3. Install and use Node.js through Node Version Manager (NVM).
4. Set up package managers including PNPM, NPM, and Yarn.
5. Select and configure the ideal Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Web3, like VSCode.
6. Understand the role of wallets and the distinction between Testnet/Devnet and Mainnet in blockchain development.

Lesson Video:

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Essential Web3 Developer Toolbox

Here is a list of essential tools needed for setting up a Web3 development environment, especially for beginners who are new to coding (if you have been coding before, then you will likely have most of the tools):

1. Operating System (OS):

• Linux (Ubuntu): Highly recommended for its compatibility with blockchain tools. Can be dual-booted with Windows.
• macOS: Also suitable for Web3 development.
• Windows with WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux): If using Windows, WSL is advised to overcome some compatibility issues.

I personally recommend Linux Ubuntu over Windows if you do not have MAC.

You can install Linux Ubuntu alongside your existing Windows OS, so that you can continue to use Windows for your other day-to-day tasks and switch to Linux Ubuntu whenever you want to code or do any web3 development tasks.

Even though Windows have WSL (Linux boxed within Windows), you will still likely get stressed with a lot of incompatibility issues with Web3 tools. Thus, your best option is Linux running as its own standalone OS not boxed in Windows via WSL or other virtual boxes.

After using Windows for every tasks including development for about 14 years. I finally switched to Linux Ubuntu for all my development task (and most of my day-to-day activities including creating courses like this on dPU) in early 2022 and sincerely regretted why it took me so long to switch because it ended years of struggling with incompatibilities issues with a lot of web3 development tools.

Installation Guide:

• Visit the Ubuntu Community Installation Guide for instructions on installing Ubuntu alongside Windows and other OS-specific details.

2. Terminal:

• A command-line interface that allows developers to interact with the operating system and execute commands. It’s crucial for installing software, running scripts, and blockchain interactions.
• Installation Guide: Once you install Linux Ubuntu, Terminal is bundled in by default. So, no need to install it separately.

3. Git/GitHub:

• Git: A version control system to track changes in your codebase.
• Git Installation Guide: To install Git, visit the Git Official Installation Guide for detailed instructions on various operating systems.
• GitHub: An online platform to host and manage your Git repositories, collaborate, and share code.

More details on Git/Github in the next lesson dedicated to them.

4. Node.js:

• A JavaScript runtime that is essential for running JavaScript code outside a web browser. It’s crucial for Web3 development.
• NVM (Node Version Manager): Recommended for installing Node.js, allowing easy switching between different Node.js versions.
• NVM (Node Version Manager): For installing and updating NVM, refer to the official NVM GitHub page.

5. Package Managers:

• PNPM: Efficient and fast, preferred for managing project dependencies.
• To install PNPM, follow the instructions on the PNPM Official Installation Page.
• NPM: Node Package Manager, widely used and comes with Node.js.
• No need to install separately because it auto installed once you have Nodejs installed.
• Yarn: Another popular package manager that can be used as an alternative to NPM.
• Installation instructions for Yarn can be found on the Yarn Official Installation Page.

6. Blockchain CLI Tools:

• Depends on the blockchain platform you’re developing for. For instance, Ethereum developers might use Truffle or Hardhat, while Solana developers would use the Solana CLI.

Solana Development Environment Setup

I have a complete guide for you below with video to setup all essential tools for Solana development using Solang Solidity.

Setting Up Solang Solidity And Solana Development Environment

7. Wallet:

• A digital wallet to interact with blockchain networks.
• For Ethereum, MetaMask is a popular choice.
• For Solana, wallets like Phantom or Solflare can be used.

The next lesson will guide further on wallet.

8. Integrated Development Environment (IDE):

• Visual Studio Code (VSCode): Highly recommended for its extensive support for programming languages and blockchain development tools.
• For setting up VSCode, refer to the Visual Studio Code Setup Guide.

9. Text Editor:

• In case you prefer a lightweight editor, options like Atom or Sublime Text can be used, though VSCode is generally sufficient and more integrated.

10. Web Browser:

• A modern web browser like Google Chrome or Firefox, preferably with support for blockchain wallet extensions (like MetaMask).

11. Blockchain Networks Access:

• Access to Testnet/Devnet and Mainnet for the blockchain you’re working on. This might involve setting up accounts or obtaining test tokens for development and testing purposes.
• These tools form the backbone of a Web3 developer’s environment, catering to different aspects of blockchain development from coding and testing to deployment and interaction with the blockchain.

The next lesson will guide further on wallet and Blockchain networks like testnet/devnet and mainnet.

12. Development Frameworks:

• Depending on the blockchain, frameworks like
• Truffle (Ethereum),
• Anchor (Solana), or others may be necessary.

Conclusion:

These tools form the backbone of a Web3 development environment, catering to various aspects of blockchain development from writing and testing code to deploying and interacting with smart contracts and dApps.

Setting up a robust Web3 development environment is a critical first step for aspiring blockchain developers.

This lesson has guided you through selecting an OS, understanding the Terminal, installing Node.js, choosing package managers, configuring your IDE, and differentiating between blockchain networks. With this foundation, you’re well on your way to developing on Ethereum, Solana, and other blockchain platforms.

Support:

If you need help with this lesson, questions, suggestions and improvement. The best way to get help is to use the comment below:
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