dApps (decentralized apps) have grown in popularity in the past years, as decentralized solutions have proved to offer various benefits in industries such as finance or supply chains. dApps lower operational and transaction costs since they operate without intermediaries. In addition, cybersecurity risks are decreasing due to the directness of transactional processes.
dApps operate on blockchain and base their actions on smart contracts, which self-execute after reaching the agreements written in code. The user interacts with the dApp through a frontend interface, and transactions register automatically on the blockchain. Therefore, users of dApps benefit from enhanced security, trustless transactions, and reduced costs for their transactions.
Building a dApp can be challenging, which is why choosing an adequate blockchain is necessary to make the process easier. Some of the most notable digital ledgers for dApp development include Ethereum, Cardano, and Solana, each with special advantages for developers. Let’s see how these competitive blockchains contribute to the creation of a decentralized ecosystem.
Ethereum
The Ethereum blockchain is a leader in dApp development due to its rich library of tools, such as smart contracts. The creators behind the digital ledger took advantage of its potential and expanded the possibility of more complex and programmable smart contracts, which are useful in the creation of decentralized applications.
Ethereum’s immutability and global distributability make its smart contracts impossible to tamper with once developers deploy them. The output is available for validation by all network participants. Users can write Ethereum’s smart contracts through the Solidity programming language, which has a steeper learning curve than other languages.
Ethereum is compatible with many ERC-20 tokens that allow the creation of unique apps. These fungible tokens are standards after which users develop smart-contract-enabled tokens for products and services. An example of an ERC-20 token based on Ethereum includes stablecoins like Tether USD or cryptocurrencies such as Shiba Inu.
Cardano
Cardano is still considered an Ethereum killer, especially since it offers the equivalent of the blockchain with faster speeds and cheaper transaction costs. The digital ledger focuses on interoperability, scalability, and sustainability with a research-driven approach.
Cardano’s interest in smart contracts expanded its offering in a multi-functional environment in which specific smart contracts serve different purposes:
- Aiken is a language and toolchain for on-chain validator scripts;
- Marlowe is a domain-specific language for financial contracts;
- Opshin is a programming language for Python-based smart contracts;
- Plutus is a platform that allows other applications to interact with Cardano;
- Plu-ts is a typescript-embedded smart contract;
Cardano’s best feature is its layered architecture, which ensures scalability and security. Moreover, its commitment to an energy-efficient proof-of-stake consensus mechanism makes Cardano the ideal blockchain for developers who value sustainability in decentralization.
Polkadot
Polkadot is renowned for its ability to communicate with other blockchains. This is why it accepts Solidity contracts based on the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) and Wasm-based contracts written in the Rust programming language. Polkadot names these parachains, which are project-specific blockchains.
That’s why on Polkadot, developers must choose the right parachain for developing something specific:
- Wasm contracts help developers who write in Rust deploy flexible, fast, and cheaper blockchains;
- EVM-compatible contracts allow apps to reach superior compatibility in a well-established ecosystem;
Besides parachain, developers can use Polkadot to create smart contracts and applications, for which the network offers all tools and resources for users to learn and build. Developers can also contribute to Cross-Consensus Messaging (XCM), which works on interoperability, through which they can test and debug cross-chain configurations or develop cross-chain channels.
Some of the most noteworthy dApps based on Polkadot include Alchemy, a knowledge company that supports devs’ onboarding to Web3, and Blockradar, a wallet developer tool for seamless stablecoin deposits.
Solana
Solana, another Ethereum killer, is popular for its impressive high throughput, which can reach 65,000+ transactions per second. In comparison, Ethereum can process a maximum of 30 TPS. The blockchain has low transaction fees, and due to its proof-of-history consensus mechanism, security is not compromised.
Solana has experienced a massive surge in its ecosystem of dApps, DeFi tools, and NFTs, especially since Rust, the blockchain’s programming language, is not that difficult to learn. On Solana, smart contracts are referred to as “programs,” so developers run them through two different programs:
- Anchor is made for beginners as it leverages a straightforward interface of Rust;
- Native Rust is more complex but offers plenty of flexibility in development;
Solana supports developers through efforts like the Solana Bootcamp, the Ethereum to Solana developers’ course, or the Solana learning track, all available through the Solana Foundation.
Stellar
The Stellar blockchain is less popular than its competitors, but it has some of the most interesting features, such as a trust-based validation process and high integration with other blockchains. Stellar aims to build the decentralized apps of the future Web3 with built-in logic for different options like tracking balances and key storage.
Stellar’s programming language is also Rust, and its deployment tool is Wasm. The software development kit on Stellar is called the Soroban Rust SDK and focuses on actions like compiling, testing, and inspecting an app in a host environment that acts as a local workstation for developers.
Stellar works on the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP) based on the Federated Byzantine Agreement (FBA) consensus mechanism, providing a new insight into app development. The system ensures fault tolerance, safety, and liveness for nodes that safeguard the blockchain ecosystem. The ledger also has a varied array of networks:
- The Mainnet, or the Public Network;
- The Testnet for core validator nodes;
- The Futurenet, or the dev network;
By separating these ecosystems, Stellar ensures a seamless experience for validators, nodes, and developers, who all operate in specialized environments.
Final take
Decentralized app development is essential for building the future of finance, in which interoperability, safety, and speed are a priority. Developing apps can be a different experience based on what blockchain developers choose. Luckily, there’s a vast array of decentralized ledgers, such as Ethereum, Solana, and Stellar, that come with unique consensus mechanisms, smart contract technologies, and validator systems that offer variety.
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