Solana developers are in great demand today. Many Web2 developers are moving to Web3 with the help of Solana. This way of moving from Web2 to Web3 has its advantages and disadvantages. This article discusses the Solana developer roadmap for 2022 and how to learn Solana development at home as a beginner.
What is Solana blockchain?
Solana blockchain is based on the PoS (Proof of Stake) consensus algorithm. Its high-speed transaction processing is based on the PoH solution, which allows time synchronization between nodes to be done much faster by creating a Proof of History. The Leader Schedule for validator nodes and the Turbine and Gulfstream data transfer protocols synchronize the interaction between nodes. This solves the problem of orphan blocks that are typical for other blockchains including Ethereum, and reduces block mining time to 0.4 seconds.
Proof of History
The acceleration of synchronization between nodes in the Solana blockchain makes it fast enough to compete with complex centralized systems. Other innovations in this ecosystem include archivers that perform distributed data storage and optimized transaction recording via Cloudbreak. Solana blockchain nodes are rewarded for processing transactions in the utility token SOL. Unlike other PoS blockchains, it has no restrictions in the form of a minimum number of coins needed to create a node.
Some developers are worried that Solana's roadmap will be tough because this blockchain is relatively new and there is not yet as much training material for developers as for example Ethereum.
However, Solana has a strong community that the company itself supports. So Solana creators and the people are focused on helping each other spread and promote the technology. Everyone is friendly and open, working to ensure there is more material to explore.
What do Solana developers do?
The responsibilities of Solana developers depend on their experience. He or she must know Rust, the basics of Web3, Solana Frameworks like Anchor, Solana Developer Tools like Sealevel, and front-end frameworks like React.
Junior Solana developer responsibilities include:
Working tightly within a team of other engineers to turn technical vision into Solana programs
Interaction with the blockchain (UI and wallet)
Writing high-quality, well-tested code
Building, testing, and shipping customer-facing features/products
Iterate quickly based on product and user feedback
Senior Solana developer responsibilities include:
Playing a key role in architectural and design decisions, building an efficient solution considering the limitations of the Solana blockchain
Proactively researching a wide range of edge blockchain technologies that are relevant for the project
Facilitating research and development processes
Writing scalable, robust, testable, efficient, and easy-to-maintain code
Following the latest security best practices
Mentoring junior engineers and doing active code reviews
Automating tasks through appropriate tools and scripts
Documenting development phases and monitoring systems
Solana blockchain is becoming more popular, and the scope of companies that use it is growing. This blockchain can be used to develop projects in different niches, including finances, healthcare, manufacturing, and supply chains. So, Solana developers create:
Cryptocurrency. Like most blockchains, the Solana network allows you to launch custom tokens.
Smart contracts. Thanks to the Sealevel protocol, Solana blockchain-based smart contracts are much faster than those on Ethereum and other blockchains.
Non-exchangeable tokens (NFT). It is much cheaper to create an NFT on Solana than on other blockchains.
Decentralized finance. The Solana platform makes decentralized finance applications more cost-effective, secure, and reliable.
Corporate solutions. Solana is a great blockchain to develop a system for electronic medical records, an ERM system, or online banking.
Other apps. The projects mentioned above don't limit the scope of Solana. It can also be used for cryptocurrency exchanges, investment platforms, video games, NFT marketplaces, etc.
As you can see, the Solana blockchain can be used for many projects. But the demand for Solana developers does not match the supply, so companies are actively competing in the market for them. Some Web2 developers see these opportunities and move to Web3 with Solana.
To become a Solana developer, you must learn blockchain fundamentals, the Rust programming language, and Solana blockchain fundamentals. Then you must train to code on Solana. We will discuss all four of these stages below.
Learning blockchain fundamentals
If you don't know anything about blockchain, this part of the Solana developer roadmap is crucial. Since you will be working with blockchains, you must fully understand them. You should know:
What a blockchain is.
How blockchains work.
How to interact with blockchains.
How to connect web applications to your blockchain.
What cryptocurrency wallets are and how they work.
How many blockchains exist and how they differ.
What smart contracts are.
What Web3 is and how it differs from Web2.
How blockchains can interact with the off-chain world.
You need to know what you will be working with. You must know everything about blockchains. Only then can you move to the next stage.
Learning Rust programming
Although it is possible to develop on Solana with C or C++ programming languages, Rust is more beneficial. It is a universal programming language with three main principles: speed, security, and ergonomics. Rust is characterized as low-overhead, flexible, and easy to deploy. It has powerful language features that make developing on Solana easier. You can learn Rust using:
Rust book. This book has everything you need to learn Rust. It will guide you from installing Rust and learning common programming concepts to building a multithreaded web server.
Rustlings by JetBrains. This is a great option to practice your Rust coding skills for free. It is highly recommended for future smart-contract developers.
YouTube channels. On YouTube, you can find many video lessons explaining different aspects of Rust programming. You can find both theoretical videos and videos with practical examples.
Knowing Rust is critical for future Solana developers. Development companies prefer Solana developers with knowledge of Rust rather than C or C++.
Learning Solana basics
As you know, Solana is a platform for developing scalable blockchain protocols that are used for creating decentralized applications and smart contracts. To develop anything on Solana, you need to know its fundamentals. You can learn Solana using:
Solana Cook Book. This book will teach you much more than just the basics of Solana. It has much more helpful knowledge than the web page above.
Anchor Book. This is another book consisting of theoretical knowledge and examples.
Without the previous 2 stages, learning Solana and becoming a Solana developer is impossible.
Training to code on Solana
This stage is perhaps the most difficult. To develop your coding skills, you must train to code on Solana. The following resources will be helpful for this:
How to build on Solana. It is an introductory tour to writing applications on Solana, built with the Anchor framework and React. It will give you a lot of practical knowledge.
Create a Solana dApp from scratch. This series of articles shows how to implement a simplified version of Twitter as a Solana dApp. You will write your program and use it in a custom VueJS app.
Sol Dev — tutorials. Here you can find a lot of information on how to code on Solana. Here you will find a lot of details on coding on Solana.
We also have a free Rust + Solana programming course combining all of the 4 above-mentioned stages of the Solana developer roadmap.
Free Rust + Solana programming course — all you need to become a Solana developer
We are IdeaSoft Career Booster — a Solana foundation educational partner. Our free Rust + Solana programming course includes everything you need to become a Web3 developer and program in Solana:
The most valuable information on Web3
How to develop in Rust (basics)
The basics of Solana development with Rust
As for the Solana part of the course, you will learn in detail:
Module 1: Getting into Solana blockchain
Lesson 1: What is Solana? Lesson 2: Solana pros and cons Lesson 3: Solana architecture overview Lesson 4: Core concepts of Solana program development Lesson 5: Setting up the development environment
Module 2: Solana programs development with Solana SDK
Lesson 1: What is an Account in Solana Lesson 2: Your first Solana program Lesson 3: What is PDA and how it works Lesson 4: What is a cross-program invocation and how it works Lesson 5: Creating an advanced dApp Lesson 6: Solana programs security
Module 3: Solana programs development with Anchor
Lesson 1: Solana programs development with Anchor
After completing each lesson in the course, you will need to pass a quiz to check your knowledge of each topic.
After taking our course, every student has an opportunity to get a job as a Solana or Rust developer with IdeaSoft.
Make moving to Web3 easier by applying for a free Rust + Solana programming course right now!
Have a question? Ask our Blockchain specialist
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