Thanks to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies reaching new all-time highs, developing dApps—apps that live on blockchains—is quickly becoming a hot topic. Decentralized applications, or Dapps, or dApps are applications that don’t rely on a centralized server but instead make use of Web3 technologies such as blockchains and oracles to contain their logic and backend functions, making them tamper-proof and secure. Here’s a simple guide on how to build apps on blockchain.

Features of Dapps

A Dapp can do anything and everything a regular app can do—and do it even better. But there are some features that a decentralized app must have to gain traction. They are:

1. Crypto Wallet

Since user onboarding for any decentralized app starts with connecting a crypto wallet, this becomes an essential part of any software working on a blockchain.

The users of the app will need a wallet to receive bonuses and awards, either in the form of virtual money, currency, or non-fungible tokens.

2. Token

A Dapp always has a primary token that users need to access different software options. Any background transactions in the app are powered by the token.

3. Transaction-Based Action

A Dapp should carry out certain tasks, just like any other program. The main distinction between “regular” apps and decentralized apps is the latter’s dependence on transactions for operation.

Components of Dapps

The components of a Dapp can be split into three different categories: smart contracts, frontend logic and user interface, and data storage.

1. Smart Contracts

Smart contracts store the business logic for a Dapp along with the state of the application, making this the biggest difference between a Dapp and a traditional web application and what gives a dApp all its power.

2. Frontend/User Interface

The front end of a Dapp can use common web technologies like HTML and JavaScript, while the backend functionality must be implemented as smart contract code and deployed on a blockchain. This enables programmers to employ well-known tools, libraries, and frameworks like Web3.js and Ethers.js, which are packaged with the frontend resources and supplied to the browser together with the UI and are typically used to connect the client-side user interface to the smart contracts. Smart contract interactions, such as sending transactions to the smart contracts and signing messages, are typically carried out through a browser-based Web3 wallet like MetaMask.

3. Data Storage

The majority of applications require data storage, but because blockchains are decentralized, it is impractical and expensive to store large volumes of data on-chain. Due to this, a lot of Dapps that need to store data use off-chain services like IPFS or Filecoin instead, using the blockchain simply to store essential business logic and state.

Most developers choose decentralized options to maintain and extend the trust-minimizing properties that a blockchain-powered Dapp provides.

Benefits of Dapps

1. No central authority

No central authority means there are no intermediaries, and users can transact directly with each other, which in turn, implies fewer fees, as users should only pay transaction fees, which are generally very low.

Another benefit is that a truly decentralized application can have multiple front ends meaning as An open-source, decentralized app’s code is transparently stored on a chain, it allows almost anyone interested in a product to design a user-facing interface.

2. Impressive uptime

Smart contracts powering dApps operate 24/7, and as long as the blockchain housing the contract lives, they will continue to function flawlessly.

3. Ability to take part in the decentralized economy

Users working with decentralized applications typically do so due to financial incentives. They can acquire coins or tokens that can subsequently be traded or converted into fiat.

4. Security and data integrity

The major appeal of blockchain technology is its security because there’s no single point of failure, meaning it’s next to impossible to hack a chain and take over a decentralized application.

5. Privacy

Though the blockchain allows for full anonymity all the transactions are tracked.

How To Build Dapps On Blockchain?

1. Build a Smart Contract

Build a smart contract or combination of smart contracts and put the decentralized logic of your dApp in it. All of these automatically executing elements, whether they include straightforward transactions, a series of algorithm computations, or something else, must be housed in smart contracts.

Since smart contracts run on blockchains, if you want to create a cross-chain decentralized application (dApp), you’ll need to choose one or more blockchains.

2. Build the Front End

Then move on to building the front end, i.e., the user-facing interface of your Dapp. Plan to begin with a prototype in order to generate an engaging user experience.

Due to the fact that blockchain transactions do not always occur instantly, consider that invoking a smart contract function from a user-facing UI takes some time. To demonstrate to customers that their action is still in progress until it is verified on the chain, it is a good idea to have some sort of built-in animation on the front end; this is how UniSwap handles it.

Another excellent idea is to integrate with WalletConnect and similar services that make it simple for customers to connect their wallets in order to streamline onboarding for people who already have wallets.

3. Create the back end

If you’re building dApps that require massive data storage, plan on running reports, or envision any other functionality that’s outside the scope of on-chain transactions, you will need a web solution on a private server.

Such an admin portal will connect to smart contracts and front-end applications for customers to offer additional features to you as an owner and user.

4. Test rigorously

Early in the development process, begin testing your Dapp. Every new build has to go through a thorough testing process.

While testing apps is a more or less standardized procedure, smart contract testing is different in that you have to use a testnet to verify its functionality.

Otherwise, once you’ve deployed a smart contract to the mainnet, you can no longer modify it, meaning any bugs that made it to the mainnet will remain intact.

5. Deploy and Maintain

As a final step, you need to deploy your Dapp, just like uploading mobile apps to the App Store and Google Play. For your Dapp, you can upload it on dapps.co (COMING SOON), switch your back-end portal to a live production environment and add a smart contract to the blockchain.

The process of maintenance is more of an ongoing one. Even though the smart contract will remain the same as a blockchain application immune to changes, you can still update things on the front end.

Best blockchains to build your dapp

Here are some top blockchain networks to build decentralized apps that are worth developers’ and users’ attention.

Ethereum

Since being launched in 2014, Ethereum has quickly gained popularity among users across the world for its faster transactions and lower fees compared to other blockchains at the time. The blockchain also offers an innovative feature known as “smart contracts” to both users and software developers.

Ethereum provides software engineers with all the necessary tools to create dApps, including a programming language called “Solidity” (a JavaScript-like language) and the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine).

On Ethereum, one can create different types of applications, like various types of digital money. New tokens are regularly built on top of Ethereum. Some blockchains use it before issuing ERC-20 tokens on their main net. Ethereum also supports uncensorable web applications that cannot be removed, stopped, or governed by a collective vote.

Some well-known Dapps on the Ethereum blockchain are OpenSea, Kyber, Aave, Compound, and Axie Infinity.

EOS

EOS is another one of the best platforms to build dApps. EOS is also known for being called an “Ethereum killer.” Launched in 2018, this blockchain provides developers with a full set of tools for developing various types of Dapps.

EOS allows engineers to create full-fledged applications and is very similar to Google Play or the App Store, but with one key difference: all apps are decentralized there. The fact that Dapps can run on EOS without the requirement for a smart contract is another important aspect.

For designers, EOS offers some advantages, including an efficient bug recovery tool, an innovative smart contract deployment system, more simplicity as compared to Ethereum and some other blockchains, and internetwork communication opportunities. No fees are needed for inter-blockchain operations and to compile smart contracts.

Some well-known EOS Dapps are Sence Chat, YUP, WhaleEX, Crypto Dynasty, Chain Clash, and the Dice project.

NEO

NEO is often called the “Chinese Ethereum.” Along with EOS, NEO is also considered to be the best platform for dApps when it comes to simplicity.

This blockchain offers various tools to help engineers develop and deploy their software. The creation of a smart contract is the first step. Once you do this, the next step you will have to do is integrate it with the blockchain.

Developers choose this blockchain because smart contract programming is accessible without the necessity of learning coding languages, and cryptocurrency transactions require no fees.

The most popular NEO dApps can be found in the following categories: Blockchain Cuties, Blocklords, Neoland, CryptoFast, and Switcheo Network.

TRON

Tron has much in common with Ethereum and EOS, but what makes it different is its niche. Tron was developed as a platform for decentralized entertainment applications. Tron has its own exchange and cryptocurrency. Different tools are available for developers to use while creating Dapps. This network is suitable for all those engineers who aim to create cost-effective applications.

Tron is incredibly scalable and offers a very high level of security to users.

The most popular applications on the TRON blockchain are RocketGame, Video Poker, WINk, and IOI.

SOLANA

This blockchain network was developed in 2017 with The main idea of Solana was to provide users with a distributed ledger having higher scalability. Solana is also focused on security and decentralization issues in addition to scalability. The team behind the project aimed at creating a platform that would avoid most of the difficult challenges that face its competitor, blockchain.

The most popular dApps that were built on this blockchain are Orca, Saber, Solent, LiteBringer, Magic Eden, and Solanart.

Conclusion

Blockchain and Web3 are on the rise, and decentralized applications are the future, as they are far more secure and reliable than traditional applications.

So start building your own Dapp and deploying it today. You can choose from a plethora of platforms, each with its strengths and drawbacks. From there, you can move on to creating Dapps by building your codebase, tokens, and the blockchain architecture itself in order to get closer to creating a dApp that runs on blockchain technology.

So why delay? Get dapping now.