Roadmap to Becoming a Web3 Developer in 2023

Web3 and blockchain technology are transforming the internet and opening up new developer opportunities.

As decentralized applications and blockchain-based platforms grow in popularity, there is increasing demand for developers with Web3 skills. This article provides a roadmap for aspiring web3 developers on how to get started in 2023.

What is Web3?

Web3 refers to the next evolution of the internet based on blockchain technology. It aims to create a more open, decentralized web where users own their data and applications are not controlled by a centralized entity. Some of the key components of Web3 include:

Cryptocurrencies and digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum
Decentralized applications (dApps) built on blockchain networks
Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and services
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for digital ownership
Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs)

Why Become a Web3 Developer?

Here are some of the key reasons to consider becoming a web3 developer:

Huge growth and opportunities in web3 space
Work on cutting-edge blockchain-based products and services
Be part of shaping the future of the internet
A lucrative career with high demand and competitive salaries
Flexibility to work remotely or be part of decentralized teams
Chance to innovate without centralized control or censorship

Learn Blockchain Basics

The first step is to understand the basic concepts of blockchain technology:

How public/private key cryptography works
Hash functions and cryptographic security
Distributed ledger technology and consensus mechanisms
Smart contracts and how they execute on the blockchain

Learn the basics through online courses, tutorials, books, and blockchain communities. Having a solid base will help tremendously when starting to code.

Pick a Platform to Specialize In

There are several leading smart contract development platforms to choose from. The most popular options are:

Ethereum - The second biggest cryptocurrency platform after Bitcoin, with its own blockchain and smart contract functionality through Solidity.

Solana - A high-speed blockchain focused on scalability and throughput for dApps. Programming is done in Rust.

Polkadot - A multi-chain network that allows different blockchains to interconnect. Offers support for Substrate and other frameworks.

NEAR Protocol - Developer-friendly blockchain built for performance and usability. Supports development in Rust and AssemblyScript.

Pick one platform to start with based on your interests and existing coding background. Focus on becoming proficient in developing the platform’s tech stack.

Learn a Blockchain Coding Language

It’s time to learn a coding language for writing smart contracts and dApps. Here are the top options:

Solidity - The most popular language for writing Ethereum smart contracts. Similar syntax to JavaScript.

Smart contracts are programs that run on the blockchain. They are pieces of code that encapsulate business logic and execute when certain conditions are met.

Some key features of smart contracts:

They reside on the blockchain network and run exactly as programmed without any possibility of censorship, downtime, or third-party interference.
They are immutable - once deployed, the code cannot be changed.
They can hold and transfer assets digitally through code, e.g. cryptocurrencies, NFTs, etc.
They use public-key cryptography to prove identity and authorize transactions.
Transactions are trackable on the public ledger.
Smart contracts can interact with other contracts to compound functionality.
Gas fees are required to deploy and execute them on the blockchain.

Smart contracts allow for decentralized applications like finance, games, voting systems, governance, etc without needing a centralized intermediary.

Developers write smart contract code in languages like Solidity and deploy them to blockchain networks like Ethereum. Users can then interact with the deployed contract through transactions to execute the logic.

Now that we've covered the basics of smart contracts let's look at an example Solidity smart contract to see how to write and deploy one.

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
pragma solidity ^0.8.0;

contract SimpleStorage {
  uint storedData;
  function set(uint x) public {
    storedData = x;
  }
  function get() public view returns (uint) {
    return storedData;
  }
}

First, make sure to use Remix, an online code editor for developing solidity code. You can get started here.

This contract allows storing a single unsigned integer variable. It has two functions:

set(): Allows updating the stored value. Uses the public keyword to make the function callable from outside the contract.

get(): Returns the stored value. view keyword means it does not modify state, only reads.

To use this contract:

Compile it with the Solidity compiler solc. This generates bytecode that the EVM can understand.

Deploy it to the blockchain using web3.js, ether.js or a framework like Hardhat. This deploys it to a specific network.

Interact with the contract functions to store and retrieve data. For example:

// Set the value to 5
await contract.set(5) 

// Get the stored value 
const x = await contract.get() // x = 5

After compiling your code you can deploy to see the output here.

Key things to note:

Functions need to be declared as public or external to be called externally.
State variables like storedData persist between function calls.
view functions only read the state, while non-view can modify it.

This is a very simple example but shows the basics of writing and using a Solidity smart contract. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!

Rust - Used for Solana, NEAR, and Polkadot development. Provides great speed and security.

AssemblyScript - TypeScript-like language used for writing NEAR smart contracts. Easy for JavaScript developers.

Substrate - Polkadot’s custom framework has coding languages like Ink! and others.

Spend adequate time learning the language basics and practicing with sample code and scripts. Focus on understanding concepts like states, functions, gas fees, etc.

Explore dApp Frameworks

Several JavaScript-based frameworks make it easier to build complete decentralized applications:

Ethereum - MetaMask, Truffle, Hardhat, Web3.js
Solana -Anchor, Solana Web3
NEAR - NEAR SDK

Learning these frameworks lets you connect your blockchain to a front-end UI and external interfaces.

Start Building Simple Projects

Once you have the basics down, start testing your skills by building simple dApps end-to-end:

Deploy a basic smart contract on Remix or another IDE
Develop a simple blockchain transaction interface
Write scripts to interact with your contract
Connect to a frontend like a React app
List your app idea on blockchain freelancing sites to get experience

Starting with simple projects will help reinforce what you’ve learned and gain real-world experience.

Become Part of the Community

Engage with other Web3 developers on platforms like Twitter and GitHub. Follow leading developers in the space. Join Discord channels to ask questions and get help. Attend local blockchain meetups and hackathons. This will accelerate your learning and open new opportunities.

Here are ten top communities to join to get started

Ethereum Developer Community - The largest community of Ethereum developers. Great for learning Solidity, Web3 development, and working on Ethereum-based projects.
Solana Developer Community - Connect with developers building fast and scalable apps on the Solana blockchain. Learn about projects on Solana and developing with Rust.
Polygon Developer Community - Polygon provides scaling solutions for Ethereum. Join to work on Polygon SDK, Plasma chains, zkRollups, etc.
Polkadot Developer Community - Official community forum to discuss Substrate, PolkadotJS, and building cross-chain dApps.
NEAR Protocol Developer Community - NEAR developers share learnings on building with Rust, AssemblyScript, NEAR SDK, and Nightshade sharding.
Chainlink Developer Community - Building Oracle networks and connected smart contracts using Chainlink.
IPFS Developer Community - Decentralized storage community discussing libp2p, Filecoin, and using IPFS in dApps.
Starkware Developer Community - Developers of STARK-based ZK rollup scaling solution for blockchains like Ethereum.
Arweave Developer Community - The Permaweb community focused on building censorship-resistant dApps on the Arweave blockchain.
CryptoDevs - Active Discord community for all things crypto and web3 development.

Joining these communities allows you to connect with experienced blockchain developers, collaborate on projects, and accelerate learning.

Never Stop Learning

Web3 is rapidly evolving, so you must constantly learn about new developments, frameworks, dApps, and innovations in the space. Sign up for newsletters, read tech blogs, listen to Web3 podcasts, and take advanced courses to upgrade your skills.

Apply for Jobs

Once you are at this point and you want to start connecting with a protocol, start applying! You literally find blockchain developer job boards everywhere. Here are some examples:

And so much more… Or, you can contact protocols you like and see if they are hiring!

Freelance for Grants

Decentralized protocols have treasuries that are dying for work to make them better. If you have an idea for a protocol, apply for a grant! One of the best places to find grants out “in the wild” is on gitcoin, but often protocols will have grant programs as well:

Conclusion

Becoming a proficient web3 developer takes time, commitment, and hands-on practice. However, the opportunities in the space make it a rewarding career path for developers who want to build the decentralized future of the internet. Follow the roadmap outlined here to get started on your Web3 journey today.

If you find this post exciting, find more exciting posts on Learnhub Blog; we write everything tech from Cloud computing to Frontend Dev, Cybersecurity, AI, and Blockchain.

Blog