Blockchain Development (dApps): How To Start

• What blockchain development is all about
• How to build blockchain solutions
• How to hire a blockchain developer

Before we begin, let us briefly introduce what blockchain is. Feel free to skip to the next part if you're already well acquainted with the ins-and-outs of blockchain.

What makes blockchain special are its underlying principles:

• Blockchain is a digital record-keeping system or database.
• It's decentralized, i.e. it has no centre. Unlike, say, your local bank, there is no one single place where it stores its data or assets. How do you rob a bank that has no central storage?
• It's public and verifiable. For instance, if you click here, you'll be able to see Bitcoin's blockchain data --- everything from when and where the transaction took place, and the necessary information to verify said transactions.
• It's unchangeable. The data stored in a blockchain cannot be altered by anyone in any way thanks to its underlying technology, therefore leading to greater confidence in the integrity in said data.

What is blockchain development?

"Blockchain development" generally refers to applications built on a blockchain, while "applications" do not only refer to applications like the mobile applications on our phones but is a broad term used to refer to a program or software developed to meet a particular purpose, including websites and other technological interfaces.

Applications built on blockchains are called decentralized applications or dApps for short.

The very first dApp was a peer-to-peer payment system on which the world's first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, transacts on. Countless dApps have since been created.

Next to the Bitcoin Blockchain, the Ethereum Blockchain is arguably the most well known and widely used blockchain. This is because the Ethereum Blockchain, by its very nature, was built to be built on. Here are a few examples of dApps built on the Ethereum Blockchain:

• RARE: A marketplace for rare digital art, verified on blockchain and transacted with digital currency
• Etherscan: An Ethereum search engine to view ETH transactions in real-time and verify previous transactions
• OpenLaw: A universal legal protocol to create smart legal contracts and agreements
• ZED: A community gaming platform where you can buy, breed and race a digital racehorse
• Brave: A web and mobile browser that respects your privacy and pays you if you choose to see ads

What does blockchain development involve?

So you're keen to build a blockchain application or platform, but where to start?

First, you'll need to decide whether to

• build the application on an existing blockchain or
• build the application on your own blockchain

a) Build the application on an existing blockchain

Choosing this option allows you to skip the technicalities of building (and maintaining) your own blockchain. Here are a few blockchains you can build on:

Ethereum Blockchain. Arguably the most popular blockchain to build on given its ease of use and supportive community. Think of it as Google's Android OS but for blockchain. The Ethereum Blockchain is powered by its native token Ether (ETH).

NEO Blockchain. Like Ethereum, Neo was built to host dApps, smart contracts and other cryptocurrency applications. Neo is backed by the Chinese government and bigwigs like Alibaba, and powered by its native token known as the Neo Gas.

Ripple Blockchain. Ripple's blockchain known as RippleNet was built to power global payment transactions. To date, over 300 financial institutions in over 40 countries around the world are running on RippleNet. Ripple is powered by its native token XRP.

b) Build your own blockchain

In order to build your own blockchain, you would first have to:

• Build the blocks;
• Build the chain; and
• Build the blockchain network

before you can (or should) start developing your blockchain application.

Proficiency in coding languages such as Node.js and Leveldb is required to build a blockchain. There are plenty of courses to learn these languages, but if you'd like to skip the technical bits altogether, you could also hire developers to build the blockchain and application for you.

Here are a few things to consider when hiring developers

• In-house developers: Hiring an in-house team gives you the most control over the final product but is also likely the more costly option next to hiring a development company. Only recommended if blockchain development is your core business and if you have the necessary technical background to manage developers.
• Freelance developers: Hiring freelance developers is probably the most cost-effective option but it presents plenty of risks. You would generally have less control over the development progress and individual freelancers may not have the capacity or capability to meet the full scope of the project.
• Blockchain development companies: Hiring an external team generally only makes sense if the scope of your project is large enough. The upside is that unlike in-house developers, you're more likely to have experienced hands managing the project, most of whom should be able to also guide you along the process. The downside is that it'll cost a fair bit.

Blockchain developers typically fall into three buckets:

• Data authentication and verification apps: applications that involve storing and verifying data. For example, election data. Imagine having a voting system where you can be 100% sure of the integrity of the results. No doubts or recounts needed.
• Smart asset management apps: applications that involve money and assets. For example, financial transactions. Using blockchain technologies to make global money transfers at the speed of light, or using blockchain to provide an irrefutable certification of ownership of an asset such as gold or land.
• Smart contracts: applications that know and are able to automatically enforce an agreement. For example, legal contracts. Imagine a world where people did not have to turn to courts or lawyers to enforce a contract or argue over what was agreed in a contract.

If all this sounds too good to be true, be sure to click here to see a few examples of new and exciting ways startups are building on the blockchain.

Then head over to Remitano to get started on your investment journey