Getting Started in Solidity
This is a short insight to help those wishing to learn more about the coding language Solidity.
Solidity is a contract-oriented programming language for writing smart contracts. It is used for implementing smart contracts on various blockchain platforms. It is influenced by JavaScript, C++, Python and PowerShell.
The following are the best tutorials (at time of writing, the ecosystem is in a constant state of change) that will help give you a good foundation of Solidity.
CryptoZombies - https://cryptozombies.io
Built by Loom Network, Crypto Zombies is an online tutorial that helps you build a series of smart contracts for non-fungible tokens (going on to develop a dApp in later lessons - your very own CryptoKitties!)
Truffle Framework -http://truffleframework.com/tutorials/pet-shop
On from the zombies we have Truffle, which is an environment for both developing and testing smart contracts. The tutorial takes you through the process of building your first dApp - an adoption tracking system for a pet shop!
If you wish to develop smart contracts in the future, then likelihood is you will use Truffle.
Open Zeppelin - https://github.com/OpenZeppelin
Once you have gotten to grips with Truffle, you can move onto Open Zeppelin. Zeppelin Solutions, a smart contract auditing service put together a set of vetted smart contracts which allow you to create secure dApps in less time.
Initially start by creating your own ERC20 token, then you can explore begin experimenting with the other smart contracts on offer.
Infura http://truffleframework.com/tutorials/using-infura-custom-provider
Infura is a hosted Ethereum node cluster that lets your users run your application without requiring them to set up their own Ethereum node or wallet. If you've used MetaMask then you've used Infura, as it is the Ethereum provider that powers MetaMask.
Try combining all of what you’ve learned above and deploying the Truffle pet shop tutorial to the Ropsten testnet!
Cipher - https://www.cipherbrowser.com/
If you couldn’t access apps on your mobile or tablet they wouldn’t be too useful, the same applies to dApps. Cipher Browser is the world's first full-featured mobile dapp browser and wallet for the Ethereum blockchain.
Cipher allows you to interact with dapps powered by Ethereum on your mobile device and makes it easy for you to securely store, send and receive Ether and ERC20 tokens.
Once again use Cipher to interact with the pet shop tutorial you created.
All in all smart contract development, like most development, can be challenging, but also very rewarding, the language is still relatively new, but we should be thankful for all the hard work of Loom Network, Truffle, Open Zeppelin, Infura, MetaMask & CipherBrowser to allow others to educate themselves.