If you haven’t been living under a rock for the last few years, you have surely heard about blockchain technology. However, it’s one thing to hear the name, and entirely another to get the hang of what it’s all about. How to understand blockchain in-depth? What does it have to do with Solidity programming, and should you get into it? Let’s find out.
Breaking common misconceptions
Among all the myths about blockchain, two can be heard the most frequently: those who never tried to get a grasp on blockchain tend to think it’s either a cryptocurrency or a programming language. Both of these are completely wrong. Blockchain is a technology that can be used for cryptocurrencies, as well as a variety of other purposes. You can code it in C++, C#, Python, Java, JavaScript, Golang, Rust, or the Solidity programming language.
Another huge mistake rookies seem to make is thinking of blockchain as something only relevant for sectors of IT and finance. The main advantages of using blockchain are transparency and security – moreover, it helps to increase efficiency. All of these benefits are relevant to any industry, and using blockchain has already proven to be incredibly helpful in a multitude of fields, including education, law, healthcare, and even agriculture.
With a huge part of our daily lives moving to the online world, cybersecurity is more important than ever. Hence, the growth of blockchain technology seems natural: the most common uses for it are data validation and identity protection. It has been estimated that the yearly worldwide spending on blockchain solutions will surpass 12 billion US dollars by 2022. Because of this, being familiar with blockchain is a highly-valued skill in both today’s and tomorrow’s market.
How to understand blockchain coding
One of the best options for someone who wants to be able to work with blockchain technologies is getting familiar with the Solidity programming language. It is much easier to learn than most of the other languages that can be used for blockchain solutions, and a lot of learning materials are available online. If the official documentation or theory-stuffed articles make it seem too complicated, try taking an interactive course that combines theory with actual Solidity programming practice. After you complete the course, you will have a smart contract that you wrote yourself step by step, following professional guidance.
Some skeptics say Solidity programming is not worth it because it only deals with the Ethereum ecosystem. However, it’s hard to call that limiting – especially for a rookie. Ethereum is the industry giant, handling over 36 thousand transactions every day, which automatically makes Solidity one of the most widely used blockchain coding languages. Next to full-time job positions, Solidity programming skills also mean a great opportunity to freelance taking up smaller projects.
As more companies and industries understand the value of blockchain, the demand for skilled specialists keeps rising. Learning to work with Solidity can be a great way to stay ahead of the curve and secure an excellent career for years to come.