Explainer: All you need to know on blockchain programming and languages used

Blockchain is a distributed ledger system that enables safe, open, and impenetrable data or transaction recording. The process of creating software applications that use blockchain technology is known as blockchain programming. In a blockchain network, transactions or data are grouped into blocks, and each block is cryptographically linked to the previous block in a chronological chain, hence the name blockchain.

What does Blockchain programming include? 

Blockchain programming involves writing code that interacts with the blockchain network, such as creating and deploying smart contracts, designing and building decentralised applications (dApps), or implementing consensus mechanisms for a new blockchain. Some popular programming languages used for blockchain development include Solidity, JavaScript, Python, Go, and Rust.

To build blockchain-based solutions, developers can leverage frameworks or blockchain platforms like Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric, or Corda. Blockchain programming requires a deep understanding of distributed systems, cryptography, and blockchain protocols, as well as programming skills in a specific language and toolset.

Types of blockchain programming

• Smart contracts - Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into lines of code. In order to create and deploy smart contracts on a blockchain network, smart contract programming consists of writing code in a language like Solidity.
   
• DApps - Applications known as 'dApps' operate on a decentralised blockchain network, which means they are not governed by a single organisation. DApp programming consists of writing code to create and deploy decentralised applications that leverage blockchain technology.
   
• Consensus mechanism programming-Consensus mechanisms are algorithms that ensure all nodes in a blockchain network agree on the state of the network. Consensus mechanism programming involves designing and implementing consensus algorithms such as Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Stake (PoS), or Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS).
   
• Blockchain protocol programming- Blockchain protocols are the rules and standards that define how a blockchain network operates. Blockchain protocol programming involves designing and implementing blockchain protocols such as the Bitcoin protocol, Ethereum protocol, or Hyperledger Fabric protocol.
   
• Cryptography programming-Cryptography is a critical component of blockchain technology that provides security and privacy to transactions and data on the network. Cryptography programming involves writing code to implement cryptographic algorithms such as digital signatures, hashing functions, and encryption.

Top languages used in blockchain programming 

• Solidity - For the purpose of creating smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain, the high-level programming language Solidity was developed. It is an object-oriented language with a JavaScript-like syntax.
   
• JavaScript - JavaScript is one of the highly used programming languages for online development and is also used to create decentralised applications on Ethereum and EOS, among other blockchain platforms. 
   
• Python-Python is a versatile programming language that is frequently employed in data analysis, scientific computing, and web development. Additionally, it is also employed in blockchain programming to create smart contracts and develop blockchain-based applications.
   
• Go-Google created the programming language, Go, which is also referred to as Golang. Given the efficiency of this language, it is popular and is commonly used in blockchain programming for creating decentralised apps and putting blockchain protocols into practice.
   
• Rust - A systems programming language called Rust is renowned for its speed, concurrency, and memory safety. It is employed in blockchain programming to implement blockchain protocols and create safe, high-performance, decentralised applications. The substrate framework, which is used for building custom blockchains, is written in Rust. 
   
• C++ - C++ is considered as one of the top programming languages now and was found in 1985 by Bjarne Stroustrup. The usage of C++ is encouraged by blockchain programmers because it has a respectable amount of run-time polymorphism, function overloading, and multi-threading. It enables programmers to modify the data to suit their requirements. Stellar, Ripple, Bitcoin, and other Blockchain-based programs, among others, heavily rely on it.
  
  C++ is significantly simpler than other binary coding languages because it is an object-oriented programming language. Moreover, C++ uses global data and functions, in contrast to several other high-level programming languages, and thus is more developer friendly. This multi-paradigm language is comparatively faster than Java.