Top Web3 Programming Languages
The evolution of the internet into Web3 is revolutionizing the way we interact with digital systems, moving from centralized control to a decentralized and trustless paradigm that prioritizes user autonomy, security, and transparency. This transformation is powered by blockchain technology, smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). The core of this revolution is powered by programming languages that developers use to build and maintain these innovative systems.
Various programming languages have emerged in a bid to develop complex and secure applications with each offering distinct advantages targeted towards different aspects of blockchain development. From the foundational Solidity, which dominates Ethereum smart contract development, to emerging languages like Rust, Golang, and Vyper. In this article, we will explore the leading programming languages shaping the Web3 ecosystem. Understanding these languages as a developer will provide you with the tools and insights necessary to contribute effectively to its growth.
What is Web3?
Web3 which is the short form of Web 3.0 is referred to as the decentralised web which represents the next phase of the internet. Unlike Web 2.0 which is dominated by large corporations controlling user data and online experiences, Web3 aims to enable a peer-to-peer interaction and decentralisation leveraging on blockchain technology. This new internet empowers users by giving them greater control over their data, identity, and transactions.
The blockchain technology plays a crucial role in the Web3 ecosystem by providing a secure, transparent, immutable and distributed ledger that records transactions. Applications (dApps) built on the blockchain are powered by smart contracts and smart contracts are self-executing contracts in the form of agreements that are written with codes which run on the blockchain. These contracts written into code, automate and enforce agreements without the need for intermediaries, hence it ensures trust and transparency in digital interactions.
Web3 empowers users to ditch the middleman! It enables decentralised applications (dApps) that run on peer-to-peer networks where users interact directly, cutting out centralized servers and authorities. This spreads data across a network of computers, making it harder to hack or censor information. Additionally, Web3 creates opportunities for financial transactions on the blockchain with decentralized finance platforms which allow users to engage in activities such as lending, borrowing and trading without traditional banks or financial institutions.
Web3 through decentralization aims to create an open, transparent and secure internet, where users have ownership and control over their digital lives.
Top Programming Languages for Web3 Development
When it comes to building on Web3, certain programming languages stand out due to their uniqueness, strong community support, scalability and suitability for blockchain and decentralized applications. The following are some of the top programming languages suitable for Web3 development:
Solidity
Rust
Golang
JavaScript/TypeScript
C++
Python
Vyper
Solidity
Solidity, sometimes referred to as the king of Web3 development by some Ethereum maximalists, is the most widely used language for writing smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. It is a statically typed, object-oriented programming language that is specifically designed for developing smart contracts.
It has extensive tooling (Remix, Hardhat, Foundry and Tenderly), libraries (OpenZeppelin libraries) and a mature ecosystem, which makes it a popular choice for building decentralized applications. There are lots of resources and tutorials on how to build with Solidity.
Rust
With a focus on memory safety and performance, Rust is emerging as a strong contender for Web3 development. Rust is considered the best language for blockchain development due to its speed, stability, and overall efficiency. It is used in building on high-performance blockchains like Solana, Near and Polkadot. Rust is the programming language behind projects like Parity Substrate, which can be used to build parachains and standalone blockchains.
Rust has a community that is growing rapidly, with strong support and comprehensive documentation.
Go(Golang)
Go is known for its simplicity and high performance which makes it suitable for scalable web applications and blockchain protocols. It became popular in Web3 because of its use in building one of the most popular Ethereum clients called Go-Ethereum (Geth) and Hyperledger Fabric. It is also used in developing blockchain nodes, APIs and backend services.
JavaScript/TypeScript
JavaScript is a highly popular programming language for web development and it is extensively used for building scalable Web3 solutions. It is primarily used for front-end development but has also gained popularity in backend and blockchain applications. It powers the front-end of most decentralized applications which makes it easier to interact with smart contracts.
Most Web3 libraries (web3.js/ethers.js) and SDKs for interacting with the blockchain are written in JavaScript and TypeScript, where TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript.
JavaScript has one of the largest developer communities with extensive resources and support. In fact it is one programming language that every developer should be versatile with.
C++
C++ is a powerful programming language often preferred for performance-critical applications and is known for its efficiency and high performance. It is used in the development of Bitcoin and other blockchain technologies like blockchain nodes. C++ has a community that is established and experienced, with lots of resources and industry use cases.
Python
Python is a popular programming language, known for its simplicity and readability, which makes it accessible for new developers. It is easy to learn, has an extensive standard library and strong support for scientific computing and data analysis.
Python is celebrated in Web3 because it is used for the development of Web3 libraries like Web3.py for Ethereum and Vyper programming language for writing smart contracts. It has a large and active community, with alot of tutorials, courses and projects.
Vyper
Vyper is a Python-like programming language for writing smart contracts on Ethereum as an alternative to Solidity. It is designed to be more readable, secure and simpler than Solidity. It is preferred because of its simplicity, strong typing and reduced complexities to minimize vulnerabilities.
Vyper is preferred by developers who seek a more auditable smart contract language on Ethereum.
Some Other Web3 Programming Languages
In addition to the well-known programming languages for Web3 development, there are several lesser-known languages that are gaining traction in the blockchain space. These languages offer unique features and capabilities for specialized use cases within the Web3 ecosystem.
Cairo
Haskell
Cadence
Ink!
Yul
Huff
Motoko
Cairo
Cairo is a programming language designed for writing provable programs. It is known for its focus on verifiable computation allowing developers to prove the correctness of their code and specifically created for StarkNet and the StarkWare ecosystem enabling the development of efficient and scalable smart contracts. It is used for applications that require zero-knowledge proofs and other cryptographic techniques.
The Cairo community is rapidly growing especially among developers that are focused on scalability and privacy in blockchain applications.
Haskell
Haskell is a functional programming language known for its strong type system and precision in Mathematics. It is the main smart contract programming language for the Cardano blockchain. Haskell has a strong emphasis on correctness, expressiveness and formal verification which makes it a compelling choice for building reliable and secure blockchain applications.
Although the steeper learning curve of Haskell compared to other programming languages might be a barrier for developers. It has a small but highly dedicated community, with strong academic and professional backing.
Cadence
Cadence is a resource-oriented programming language for developing smart contracts on the Flow blockchain. Its emphasis on safety and ease of use, with a type system that ensures resource management and ownership makes it a suitable programming language for blockchain developers.
Its community is emerging and supported by the Flow community and developers interested in user-friendly smart contract development.
Ink!
Ink! is a Rust-based embedded domain specific language (eDSL) for writing smart contracts on the Polkadot and Substrate blockchains. It offers strong safety and performance features since it is Rust based and also focuses on modularity. Ink! is used in building decentralized applications on Polkadot’s multi-chain ecosystem.
It has a community, although not so popular and less active, that is supported by the Polkadot and substrate developer communities.
Move
Move is a programming language developed by Facebook (Meta) for the Diem blockchain which was formerly called Libra. Move is now adopted by the Aptos and Sui blockchains for building decentralized applications. It focuses on safety and flexibility, with strong support for formal verification and resource management.
The Move community is gradually growing due to its usage by Aptos and Sui blockchain, and particularly used among developers who are interested in secure and efficient digital asset management.
Yul
Yul is a Low-level language for Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) development. It is part of the Ethereum development toolchain used for writing low-level Ethereum smart contracts and for optimization in smart contract compilation.
Yul has a small community mainly comprising Ethereum core developers and those interested in compiler design.
Huff
Huff is a low-level programming language for developing highly optimized Ethereum smart contracts. Its syntax is Assemby-like, designed for developers who need detailed control over the EVM bytecode. Huff is used for writing efficient and gas optimized smart contracts on Ethereum.
The Huff community is specialized and appealing to developers who need to achieve the highest possible efficiency in their code and are skilled at or comfortable with programming at low level.
Motoko
Motoko is a programming language developed specifically for the Internet Computer (IC) blockchain. It is designed for building canister smart contracts, with features that support asynchronous messaging and actor-based concurrency.
The Motoko programming language is the core component of the Internet Computer (IC) ecosystem and it is specifically used for creating decentralized applications that operate directly on the Internet Computer blockchain platform.
Its community is strongly backed by the DFINITY Foundation, which is the organization behind the Internet Computer project and the community of developers who work on or with the Internet Computer platform. This support includes resources, development tools, and community-driven assistance.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Web3 Programming Language
Choosing a Web3 programming language can sometimes be daunting because of the fear of not choosing a language that might not be suitable to achieve desired goals which may end up wasting one’s time and energy.
Several factors should be considered when choosing a programming language to ensure that the language aligns with your project’s needs and goals. Here are key factors to consider:
Relevance to Blockchain Technology
Performance and Scalability
Security
Community and Developer Experience
Ecosystem and Tools
Learning Curve
Interoperability
Project Requirement
Relevance to Blockchain Technology
Make sure that the language you are choosing is compatible with the blockchain platform you intend building on. For instance building on Ethereum and all EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) compatible blockchains requires the knowledge of Solidity programming language, while building on Solana and Polkadot requires knowing Rust programming language.
Some programming language have specific use cases while others have versatile use cases, this is another area of consideration, because while Solidity is only used to write smart contracts on Ethereum compatible blockchains, languages like Rust can be used to write smart contract on Solana and Polkadot blockchain, and used to build protocol level applications, like blockchain runtime, sequencers and a standalone blockchain.
Performance and Scalability
Efficiency should be the watchword when choosing a programming language. Choose a language known for its performance and ability to handle high transaction volumes. Also look out for languages that support scalable solutions and handle network growth. Programming languages that are known for speed should be your goto languages in this case.
Security
Some programming languages have in-built memory safety features which makes it difficult to introduce memory-related vulnerabilities, which is also among the major causes of security breaches in most traditional softwares. While some other languages offer formal verification capabilities to ensure smart contract and code correctness. These features should come into consideration when choosing a programming language because the importance of security in the blockchain ecosystem and applications can not be overemphasized.
Community and Developer Experience
A strong and active community can make learning and building with a particular programming language much easier. An active community can provide support, resources, and troubleshooting help. Similarly, languages with robust open-source projects and libraries can help accelerate development, providing the necessary tools to build faster.
Ecosystem and Tools
Building with programming languages that have little or no tools and libraries can be very frustrating. Speaking from experience, I remember dropping a particular programming language (name withheld) because after asking questions in their Discord, about a particular blocker faced when using a tool, the question was left unanswered for months. Availability of development tools such as IDEs, debuggers and syntax highlighting plugins can enhance productivity. Languages with pre-built libraries and frameworks can simplify common tasks and enhance development speed.
Learning Curve
When choosing a programming language, consider the language’s syntax and learning resources. Languages with a gentle learning curve may be preferable for beginners, while languages with a steep learning curve might be very daunting. Look out for comprehensive documentation and tutorials that can significantly aid your learning and development.
Interoperability
Having the flexibility to build on multiple blockchain makes you a superhuman as a developer. Some Programming languages like Rust, can be used to build on multiple blockchains with different architectures like Solana, Polkadot, Ethereum and StarkNet. While some others like Solidity and Golang can be used to build on multiple blockchains with similar architectures that are EVM-compatible like Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Arbitrum, Optimism and Base.
Conclusion
The variety of Web3 programming languages available such as Solidity, Rust, Cadence, Cairo and Motoko, offers developers a range of powerful options for creating decentralized applications. Each language has its own specific advantages suited to different blockchain platforms and types of projects. By carefully choosing the appropriate language and leveraging on the support and resources from the developer community, developers can play a significant role in advancing the Web3 ecosystem and fostering innovation in decentralized technology.
