Web3 development is the new cool and well-paid sector of computer programming, and every technology enthusiast is plunging into this new era of the internet. After honing the right skills, learning the basics of Web3 development, and setting on developing your first DApp, you might be wondering what’s missing in this Web3 recipe. You can certainly work for a long period of time on a Web3 project and spend hours developing minor codes and functions. However, this could be avoided by utilizing Web3 tools! Consider Web3 tools as the cooking ware for your Web3 dish, the cooking would certainly be faster and neater. The same thing goes for a Web3 project developed with the aid of various tools.
This article is your Web3 tools ultimate directory to start your Web3 project. Ranging from programming languages to security tools, we’ve got it all here!
Web3 Development Tools
In order to start your Web3 project, you’ll need the best Web3 development tools to cut development time and accelerate the process, while also building the best and most secure Web3 project in the market. We’ve broken down the development tools into categories for better navigation.
Smart Contracts Languages
Smart contracts are self-executing agreement contract that is stored on the blockchain. They are heavily used in developing Web3 projects for their security, traceability and transparency. Smart contracts are usually used in developing asset ownership (NFTs), trading finance, keeping records, voting, and much more. Here are the best smart contract languages to use when developing a Web3 project.
#1. Solidity
Solidity is a programming language designed specifically for the Ethereum Network to employ smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. The programming language is based on existing languages such as C++, JavaScript, and Python. Therefore, as a developer, it is fairly easy to use the Solidity language. This smart contract language was the first to emerge, making a wide market adoption.
- Supported Blockchain: Ethereum | Polkadot | Tron | Avalanche.
- Advantages: Large accessible community | runs all computable functions | easy to learn and use.
- Disadvantages: Few libraries.
#2. Rust
Rust is a well-known programming language that has been taking the top spot as the most loved programming language. What makes Rust an ideal smart contract language is that it is a type-safe and time-efficient language. It is a new programming language that is simple, memory efficient, and reliable. Solana, being the fastest blockchain in Web3, is built with the Rust language. The cool thing about Rust is that it uses a color coding output and advanced error debugging.
- Supported Blockchains: Solana | Polkadot | Near.
- Advantages: Efficient | fast | high throughput.
- Disadvantages: Harder to use | limited libraries | verbose.
#3. Vyper
Vyper targets the Ethereum Virtual Machine and it resembles the Python language. This programming language fixes the security issues in the Solidity language, however, it acts as complementary not as a replacement.
- Supported Blockchains: Ethereum | Polkadot.
- Advantages: Secure | easy to read
- Disadvantages: Limited support for pure functions.
#4. JavaScript
JavaScript is one of the most known programming languages that dominate the coding spectrum. It has recently found its way to Web3 through its usage in smart contract development. There’s a web3.js library that the community has curated over the years that allows interaction with Ethereum smart contracts using HTTP and WebSocket.
- Supported Blockchains: Ethereum | Polkadot | Solana | Hyperledger Fabric | NEO
- Advantages: Large community | fast
- Disadvantages: Dynamic type instead of static
Other Programming Languages
- Yul: is an intermediate language compiled to bytecode and used in Solidity compilers. The language is a common denominator for both the Ethereum Virtual Machine and Eswam.
- Golang(Go): Designed by Google and is widely known for its built-in concurrency features. It is common in the Geth node client.
Smart Contract Framework
Smart contract frameworks are an essential part of deploying and testing your smart contracts. It is best to choose at least one of the frameworks mentioned below to create, compile, and test your smart contracts.
#1. Hardhat
Hardhat is the most used and applied framework when it comes to smart contracts. It is a Solidity and JavaScript-based framework to test, compile, deploy, and debug DApps and smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. In addition, this web3 tool aids developers by having an in-built Ethereum network that focuses on debugging as a tool to highlight where a certain application fails.
- Features: High flexibility | easy-to-deploy smart contracts | used for Solidity debugging | designed for professionals.
- Advantages: Large community | ability to create one’s own script and plugins, ability to run typescript.
- Disadvantages: Not beginner-friendly
#2. Brownie
Brownie is the second most popular smart contract framework. It supports Vyper which means it is based on the Python language. Therefore, the Brownie framework is preferred since many Python engineers hate to work with JavasScript. Brownie is great for debug testing and deploying smart contracts.
- Features: uses pytest for contract testing | can be imported as a package and used in Python scripts.
- Advantages: Full support of Solidity and Vyper | based on Python | easy to deploy local blockchain | great debugging.
- Disadvantages: Doesn’t support JavaScript.
#3. Truffle
This javascript-based framework is part of Consensys and has the most historic impact out of all the frameworks. Many frameworks have adopted features from Truffle which acted as a baseline. In addition, Truffle develops smart contracts and acts as a testing framework. The Truffle suite has three different components that are Truffle, Ganache, and Drizzle.
- Features: Great smart contract management | contact automation testing | support package management | secure integration.
- Advantages: Large community | uses web3.js | beginner friendly.
- Disadvantages: Slow | difficult debugging
#4. OpenZeppelin
OpenZeppelin is a framework that reads the Solidity language as a toolkit with plugins to build smart contracts. This web3 tool includes a token library that has standard tokens such as ERC-20 and ERC-721. The framework also focuses on deploying great security features for smart contracts.
- Features: Open-source | active community | editable contracts
- Advantages: High-end security | risk management | great debugging
- Disadvantages: Editable contracts give power to the person editing them.
Other Frameworks
- ApeWorX: Python-based framework similar to Brownie with several improvements.
- Embark: Popular for developing DApps.
- Waffle: A popular framework for advanced smart contract development and testing. However, Waffle is more focused on testing that a full-on suite of tools. You can combine Waffle with Hardhat.
- DappTools: Command-line-focused tool that can deploy line/shell tools like bash or zsh.
- Foundry: Similar to DappTools but with a Rust programming language.
Integrated Development Environment
Here’s a list of the best IDEs for Solidity:
- Remix: It is an online open-source IDE for solidity on EVM’s supported blockchains such as Ethereum and Cardano. Remix is one of the most popular IDEs for its easy usage without any prior setup. It also offers a Solidity compiler, deployment support, and static analysis.
- VScode: This IDE provides both an online and a desktop version that is fully equipped with integrations with Github, various workspaces, and over 20 programming languages. In addition, over 50 extensions support the development of smart contracts on Ethereum.
- EthFiddle: This online IDE provides a simple UI that enabled developers to write, test and debug smart contracts for free.
- IntelliJ IDEA: This desktop IDE created by JetBrains is developed in Java and provides various features such as coding assistance, plugins, and more.
Ethereum APIs
Application Programming Interface is a set of protocols for building applications. It’s an intermediary between applications that facilitates communication. In a blockchain sense, APIs connect to a blockchain node directly or through another server. Below is a list of the best Frontend and Backend Ethereum APIs.
Frontend APIs
- Web3.js: This is a javascript-based library of modules that includes various functionality for Ethereum. It also allows communication with a local or remote Ethereum node using HTTP or IPC.
- Ethers.js: It’s a javascript open-source multi-purpose library that can import and export JSON wallets and includes complete functionality for Ethereum. It acts as an alternative to web3.js.
- Light.js: Another web3.js alternative. This API is for building DApps and has a rich library that works well with remote full nodes.
Backend APIs
- Web3.py: A Python-based go-to library for interacting with the Ethereum blockchain.
- Web3.php: An open-source PHP interface that connects to the Ethereum blockchain and can be used to get blockchain data and interact with deployed contracts.
- Web3j: Java-based library for working with smart contracts.
Blockchain Infrastructure Tools
Blockchain Node Providers
A blockchain node provider makes it easier to access node infrastructure. They are Web3 tools that allow easy deployment of nodes in a way that saves time and money. These providers create and maintain blockchain nodes for others to use. By using a blockchain node provider, Web3 developers can save financial costs and risks associated with maintaining an individual node. Check out the best node providers below.
#1. Infura
Infura is a major blockchain node provider by Consensys that has over 400,000 users. It offers the ability to connect to Ethereum mainent and testnets like Polygon, IPFS, and many others.
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- Free Tier ($0/month, 3 million transactions)
- Developer Pricing ($50/month, 6 million transactions)
- Team Pricing ($255/month, 30 million transactions)
- Growth Pricing ($1000/month, 150 million transactions)
#2. Alchemy
Focused on Ethereum’s layer 2 scaling, Alchemy connects DApps to Ethereum-based networks like Optimism and Arbitum. It is Infura’s number one competitor. In addition, Alchemy also allows the launching and scaling of apps on various EVM-based platforms. It offers various development tools such as APIs and web3 SDK.
- Supported Blockchains: Ethereum | Polygon | Optimism | Arbitum | Solana | Flow
- Cost:
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- Free Tier ($0/month, 12 million transactions)
- Growth Pricing ($49/month, 16 million transactions)
- Enterprise Pricing (customized)
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- APIs: NFT API (finds and verifies NFTs) | Trace API (insights into blockchain transaction | Transfers API (transaction history) | and much more.
#3. Quicknode
Quicknode is a blockchain node provider known for its claim that it is much faster than its competitors and focuses on scalability, speed, and analytics tools.
- Supported Blockchains: Ethereum | Polygon | Optimism | Arbitum | Solana | Algorand | Avalanche | Bitcoin | Celo | Fantom | and much more.
- Cost:
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- Discover Pricing ($0/month, 10 million API credits)
- Build Pricing ($49/month, 20 million API credits)
- Scale Pricing ($299/month, 120 million API credits)
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- APIs: NFT API (retrieves NFT information)
Other Node Providers
- Chainstack: Offers node and parameter customization with optimization for low-latency workloads. Supports Ethereum, Polygon, BNB Smart, and many more.
- Ankr: Offers over 30 supported blockchains that offers decentralized node providers and a hybrid RPC endpoint to users.
- Coinbase Cloud: Offers a number of features like security, and multi-region/ cloud hosting. It also provides data and analytics services. Supports Ethereum, Polygon, and more.
Ethereum Clients
Ethereum clients are types of software that act as a node on one device and interact with another remote node. These clients verify all transactions in each block to keep the network secure and the data correct. Here are some of the best open-source Ethereum clients.
- Geth: As the official Ethereum client, Geth is a standalone client and library that is available for all platforms like Windows, macOS, and Linux. This web3 tool can maintain 3 types of nodes (Full, archive, and light node). In addition, Geth characterizes by fast synchronization.
- Parity: The second most popular client for Ethereum, Parity is written in Rust and is very much similar to Geth. It characterizes by a fast mode and a graphical user interface.
- Besu: A Hyperledger open-source client for Ethereum that is written in Java. Besu implements consensus systems such as proof-of-work and evidence of authority.
- Nethermind: Written in C#.NET, this Ethereum client makes it simple to integrate with Ethereum’s infrastructure while retaining stability and reliability. It also provides a detailed guide on how to set up an Ethereum Node.
Data Storage Networks
Since blockchains are not designed to store large file sizes, decentralized file storage networks are essential for any Web3 project. Here are some of the best decentralized data storages.
#1. IPFS
The InterPlanetary File System is the most popular decentralized file storage system to be used in blockchains. IPFS is “a peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol designed to preserve and grow humanity’s knowledge by making the web upgradeable, resilient, and more open.” It is very similar to how torrent works, where data storing doesn’t happen on one single server.
- Benefits: Uses decentralized protocols | enhanced security | high performance | easy archiving | improved content control.
- Permanence: Doesn’t guarantee long-term permanence. However, you could add Filecoin to enhance durability.
- Consensus: No consensus mechanism
- Cost: Free
#2. Arweave
This decentralized storage system primarily focuses on data permanence. Arweave is a peer-to-peer storage protocol that is built upon 2 layers. The first layer is the Blockweave, which stores data in a block-like structure that links to the previous blocks. The second is Permaweb which is an immutable environment for storing webpages and other static files.
- Benefits: Data permanence | immutable environment
- Permanence: Designed for data permanence.
- Consensus: Proof-of-Access
- Cost: $8/one-time subscription that lasts a lifetime.
#3. Filecoin
Filecoin is a storage layer that is built on top of IPFS that allows users to rent a storage space by paying in FIL tokens. The fees go to storage miners for keeping the data secure. Filecoin is very similar to IPFS with the sole difference being users’ fees. The point of fees is to make peers profit from sharing the decentralized data.
- Benefits: Reliable | Enhanced Security | Permanent
- Permanence: Long-term permanence by paying fees.
- Consensus: Proof-of-Replication and Proof-of-Spacetime
- Cost: $ .0000009 USD/GB/Month per file.app.
Other Data Storages
- Sia: A decentralized storage platform that breaks each file into 30 segments and distributes them to hosts.
- BitTorrent: A popular peer-to-peer storage system that was designed to reduce costs and avoid government censorship. However, the BTFS nodes can detect any illegal and copyrighted content.
- Storj: An open-source decentralized network that aims to solve high durability by fragmenting files into multiple nodes.
Web3 Security Tools
Security tools detect code vulnerabilities and make sure there are no flaws in smart contracts that might leave a door open for cyber-attacks. Here’s a list of security tools that help you detect any error in your smart contract.
- MythX: EVM-focused security analysis tool that scans vulnerabilities and is a verification platform and tools ecosystem for Ethereum developers.
- Oyente: EVEM-based and open-source tool that detects security flaws of Ethereum smart contracts as a pre-deployment migration.
- Mythril Classic: Open-source security analysis tool for Ethereum smart contract that uses concolic and taint analysis and control flow checking to detect flaws.
- Securify 2.0: The popular security scanner for smart contracts is updated for higher precision, improved scalability, and higher vulnerability coverage.
- Manticore: a symbolic execution tool for the analysis of binaries and smart contracts.