Today’s developers use a variety of programming languages, some of which might seem better suited than others for creating smart contracts. Here are our top ten recommendations.
- Solidity (Ethereum)
- Vyper (Ethereum)
- Binance Smart Chain (Binance)
- Chaincode (Hyperledger Fabric)
- Move (Libra)
- Scilla (Zilliqa)
- Rholang (RChain)
- ink! (Substrate)
- NEAR Contract Assembly (NEAR)
- Flux (Solana)
Solidity
The most popular language for writing smart contracts is Solidity, which is specifically designed for writing smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain platform. Other popular programming languages for writing smart contracts include Vyper (a simplified version of Solidity) and Bamboo, which is a new language for writing smart contracts on the Terra blockchain. Ultimately, the best programming language for writing smart contracts depends on the specific requirements of your project and the blockchain platform you are targeting.
Vyper
Vyper is a contract-oriented, pythonic programming language that is used to write smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain platform. Vyper is designed to be simple, secure, and auditable, making it an attractive choice for developers who are writing smart contracts. Unlike Solidity, which has a number of features that make it more complex and potentially less secure, Vyper aims to be as minimalistic as possible.
Vyper has compiled to EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) bytecode, which is then executed on the Ethereum network. Vyper has a limited feature set compared to Solidity, but it is still a powerful language for writing smart contracts on Ethereum.
Overall, the choice between Solidity and Vyper for writing smart contracts on Ethereum will depend on the specific requirements of the project and the experience of the development team.
Binance Smart Chain
BSC is a high-performance blockchain platform developed by Binance that allows for fast and low-cost transactions. BSC utilizes the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and is compatible with Ethereum-based tools and technologies, making it possible to write smart contracts in Solidity, the same programming language used for Ethereum. This compatibility means developers can reuse their existing Ethereum knowledge and tools when developing on BSC.
Chaincode
Chaincode is a programming language used to write smart contracts on the Hyperledger Fabric blockchain platform. Chaincode is used to define the business logic and rules for a specific application or network on Hyperledger Fabric. It is written in Go programming language and provides a set of APIs that can be used to interact with the ledger and other smart contracts. With Chaincode, developers can create secure, decentralized applications that can be used for a variety of purposes such as supply chain management, voting systems, and financial transactions.
Move (Libra)
Move is designed to provide a secure and flexible way to write and execute smart contracts on the Libra network. It aims to provide a programming model that is easy to understand, yet expressive enough to support complex financial applications. Move features a statically typed language that provides strong type safety, making it easier to write secure and reliable smart contracts. Additionally, Move supports custom token creation, digital signatures, and a rich library of built-in functions, making it a powerful tool for developers looking to build decentralized applications on the Libra network.
Scilla (Zilliqa)
Scilla (Smart Contract Intermediate-Level Language) is a new programming language designed to improve the security and efficiency of smart contracts. Unlike other smart contract languages, Scilla was specifically designed to address the security vulnerabilities that have plagued other blockchain platforms. It separates the contract code and storage, making it easier to reason about the contract’s behavior and reducing the risk of security vulnerabilities. Additionally, Scilla provides a set of safety features and primitives to help developers write more secure and reliable smart contracts, making it an attractive choice for developers looking to build on the Zilliqa blockchain.
Rholang (RChain)
Rholang (short for Reflective Higher-Order Language) is a programming language specifically designed for writing smart contracts on the RChain blockchain platform. It’s a functional programming language that allows developers to create decentralized applications that can run on a distributed network. Rholang enables smart contract developers to write code that executes automatically, securely, and transparently on the RChain blockchain. The language was built to be highly expressive and concurrent, making it a good choice for building complex, real-world applications.
ink! (Substrate)
Ink! is a smart contract programming language that is used to write smart contracts on the Substrate blockchain platform. It is designed to be a safe and secure language that allows developers to write contracts that can run on a decentralized network. Ink! uses Rust, a low-level programming language, as its base and provides a high-level syntax that is easy to understand and write. The language also supports modularity, allowing developers to reuse code and create libraries that can be used in multiple contracts. With Ink!, developers can create complex, real-world applications that run on the Substrate blockchain and interact with other contracts and blockchain nodes.
NEAR Contract Assembly (NEAR)
NEAR Contract Assembly is a smart contract platform built on the NEAR Protocol. It allows developers to write, deploy, and execute smart contracts on the NEAR blockchain. NEAR Contract Assembly uses its own custom programming language, AssemblyScript, which is a subset of TypeScript. AssemblyScript code is compiled to WebAssembly, making it highly performant and secure. Developers can use NEAR Contract Assembly to create decentralized applications (dApps) and automate various business processes.
Flux (Solana)
Flux is a smart contract language for the Solana blockchain. It allows developers to write, deploy, and execute smart contracts on the Solana network. Flux provides a high-level, human-readable syntax that makes it easier for developers to create smart contracts. It is designed to be secure, fast, and scalable, allowing for the creation of high-performance decentralized applications (dApps). With Flux, developers have the ability to interact with other smart contracts on the Solana network, as well as access and use the full suite of Solana’s developer tools and resources.