Learn to use a powerful, fast, and easy language to build dApps on Cardano.
One of the most important innovations from blockchain technology has been the decentralized application or dApp.
It created a new way to provide accessible products and services through the usage of programmable smart contracts. These smart contracts automatically self-execute once certain conditions are met and can record necessary changes and information as needed on a shared blockchain ledger.
This meant that anyone with an Internet connection could access services without having to request permission from a centralized entity or third party.
In a traditional centralized application, there is typically a backend (a server) that contains the detailed logic of the service.
For example, suppose a particular app provides a service that sells video games. In that case, various aspects such as the gaming catalog, account information, product prices, and other relevant details are controlled by the backend.
However, any problem with the backend could potentially result in a loss for end users. This could include preventing user access to app services that have been paid for, losing valuable user information, etc. Furthermore, those controlling the app can deny anyone access without recourse from the user.
Applications using this type of client-server architecture are the norm today. Most popular apps have a centralized design that enables the app developer or entity to have permission to provide access to its users.
But this begs the question: What if we could flip this structure and do it another way?
This blog will explore this question further and discuss Aiken, a potential solution for developers that enables a faster and simpler dApp development process.
A dApp aims to flip the centralized app structure by handing power to the end users.
It takes the business logic of an app service and uses a distributed ledger or blockchain network to process its operations.
They utilize an underlying blockchain platform that is open-source and decentralized with immutable and programmable smart contracts, thereby offering more transparency and accessibility. Transactions could be verified by anyone, relevant information could be looked up by anyone, and there wouldn’t be any sort of gatekeeper to manage user access.
Due to these compelling benefits that confer more control and access to users directly, dApps have become one of the main first use cases of decentralized blockchains.
Most early adopters of dApps use them to access services that were previously difficult or inaccessible due to various reasons.
Some examples of dApp services include:
- Borrowing & Lending Marketplaces: These allow users to lend and borrow cryptocurrencies including stablecoins, providing access to a form of financial services. All the logic of interest rates, payments, and collateral is controlled by smart contracts without any centralized intervention.
- NFT Platforms and Marketplaces: NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are unique digital assets created on the blockchain that represent ownership of a specific item, like art or music. NFT marketplaces allow users to list and resell their NFTs. They provide an open market for price discovery to anyone looking to sell an NFT. In some cases, these platforms also allow users the power to launch new NFTs without having to code and could enable the freer trading of such tokenized assets.
- Synthetic Assets: These allow a user to create an asset token that simulates the price action of another asset. A user can lock a designated cryptocurrency in a smart contract and receive a synthetic dollar that tracks the price market of the original currency, providing potential access to those unable to access markets.
In every example above, the logic is executed on top of a decentralized blockchain. There is no need for human intervention once the smart contract and the UI/UX of a dApp are developed. This means they can be more cost-effective to develop and operate than traditional applications.
This makes dApps have a greater global reach, more transparency, and more efficiency from a cost perspective. They are also censorship-resistant, meaning a centralized entity can’t manipulate information or prevent access to certain users.
Cardano is an open-source, 3rd-generation decentralized blockchain network capable of executing programmable smart contracts, which utilizes a provably secure consensus algorithm to verify and record data.
It provides an open platform for developers to use its technology to build dApps.
Designed and built with a research-first approach, Cardano is engineered to be scalable for a large number of transactions and data processing, sustainable for generations, and interoperable with other blockchain networks.
Learn to use a powerful, fast, and easy language to build dApps on Cardano.
In fact, Cardano has never experienced a security hack since its inception. This is a major advantage for developers who want to launch their dApp on Cardano and worry less about attacks. Another boon for developers is that the Cardano ecosystem of users and dApps is still growing quickly.
As of July 2024, here are some stats & figures on the Cardano network, courtesy of Essential Cardano:
- Nearly 93 million transactions processed
- More than 10 million native token types
- More than 4.4 million wallet addresses
- 1,364 dApp projects under development
- 172 dApp projects that have been launched
In response to the market demand for a simple functional programming language in Cardano, Aiken was built and launched as an ideal solution. This was due to some challenges faced by developers when building dApps utilizing the traditional Cardano tech stack, such as:
- Unfamiliar syntax: Traditionally smart contracts in Cardano are developed using Plutus, which borrows Haskell’s syntax. This created a higher entry barrier for new developers unfamiliar with the Haskell format. Aiken features simple, highly readable syntax modeled on mainstream languages like Typescript that modern developers are familiar with. This lowers the entry barrier considerably for new developers.
- Difficult compilation: To compile Plutus code, a developer needs to install auxiliary tools on their computer, which are challenging for beginners to set up. Aiken uses its own compiler, thereby streamlining the development process.
- Error handling: In other smart contract languages for Cardano, error messages can be very unhelpful. They vaguely point at something being wrong and prevent execution but do not help pinpoint the specific error. In Aiken, errors can be identified clearly and concisely, making it user-friendly for debugging.
The goal of Aiken is to enable developers to get quickly onboarded to Cardano by making it simple and easy for them to build dApps in a matter of weeks, without needing to study advanced programming languages like Haskell.
It started as an idea between two engineers in the Cardano ecosystem who wanted to provide a simpler and alternative programming language for Cardano. Inspired by TxPipe and with support from the Cardano Foundation, Aiken has grown into a full developer tool along with tutorials and documentation to make the onboarding process as seamless as possible.
Learn to use a powerful, fast, and easy language to build dApps on Cardano.
Compared with Plutus and Marlowe, two other Cardano smart contract languages, it provides an easier experience for developers to get started. For example, Aiken:
- Is functional
- Takes inspiration from many modern languages such as TypeScript, Rust, Elm, and Gleam
- Provides quick error feedback and a built-in test framework
- Allows developers to prototype their apps quickly
- Has a VS code extension
Aiken is quickly becoming the go-to programming language for developers to build Cardano dApps. It’s being used in the smart contracts of many of the most used dApps in Cardano including:
- Minswap – Cardano’s most popular DEX or decentralized exchange reinvented its code base using Aiken for its V2 release.
- Sundae Swap – Another popular DEX on Cardano turned to the Aiken language for developing the newest version of its platform.
- LenFi – The biggest lending marketplace in Cardano uses Aiken for its smart contracts.
- JPG Store – The biggest NFT marketplace in Cardano also switched to Aiken for its newest version.
To help developers with a personalized approach to learning Aiken, EMURGO Academy has teamed up with Roster to provide a special course that enables learners to utilize Aiken right away.
And, if you want to test out what building with Aiken looks like, you can join EMURGO Academy’s free Aiken Test Drive to get a sampling of the full course.
Register now to start your Aiken learning journey and help build the next wave of dApps to impact the Cardano ecosystem.
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You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained herein shall constitute a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by EMURGO to invest.
