Blockchain programming languages are essential for developing diverse applications like digital voting, finance, and supply chain management, meeting the growing demand for secure, decentralized solutions. With ecosystems like Ethereum, BSC, Polkadot, Cosmos, and so on businesses have numerous options for blockchain integration. Each ecosystem supports different programming languages, making language choice critical for success. This article explores the top languages for blockchain, detailing their strengths and limitations.
Solidity
Created for designing smart contracts, this programming language has been earning increasing attention recently. It was built by the creators of Ethereum – one of the most popular technologies facilitating online payments with cryptocurrency. Therefore, Solidity is specifically adjusted to align with the Ethereum blockchain.
Pros
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Developer-friendly;
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Accessibility to JavaScript infrastructures, debuggers, and other tools;
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Statically typed programming;
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The possibility of inheritance properties in smart contracts;
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Precise accuracy.
Cons
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Less applicable compared to other programming languages such as JavaScript.
Some projects
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Ethereum. The first example that comes to everyone’s mind when they deal with Solidity use cases is Ethereum. All smart contracts of Ethereum-based projects are written in Solidity, and programs powering EVMs are, too.
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Compound. This unique algorithmic project establishes money markets with the help of an autonomous interest rate-setting mechanism. Its smart contracts are created on Solidity.
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Uniswap. The first DEX built by an Ethereum enthusiast and dedicated follower of Buterin, this cryptocurrency exchange has many Solidity-powered infrastructure elements.
Difficulty Level: 4/5
JavaScript
JavaScript is another popular programming language for blockchain. JavaScript’s evolution from a mere browser scripting language to a full-fledged, asynchronous programming environment, especially with the advent of Node.js, has been monumental. Its non-blocking I/O model and event-driven architecture make it exceptionally suitable for blockchain SDKs and real-time dApp interactions.
Pros
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Easier and faster time-to-market.
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Scalable dApp development.
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Simple integrations.
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Cross-blockchain app design.
Cons
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A bit hard to learn for beginners
Some projects
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Hyperledger Fabric. It’s a permissioned, open-source framework supported by the Linux Foundation. The platform is enterprise-grade, with advanced privacy protocols and modular architecture development tools.
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Chaincode – a fabric-specific script created for performing specific operations within a blockchain development framework.
Difficulty Level: 3/5
Java
Java is a common programming language used in blockchain. It is an official language for Android coding and is optimal for back-end development tasks. Besides, it is widely popular among blockchain programmers due to the use of C-syntax, smart contract development tools, and dApp creation functionality. Java allows simple memory cleaning, gives access to a broad array of libraries, and supports OOP.
Pros
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Independent platform
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Developer friendly
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Secure interface
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Multithreaded and dynamic
Cons
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Memory Consuming
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Java provides no backup facilities
Some Projects
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IOTA – a fee-free blockchain designed for machine-to-machine transactions and frequently used in IoT systems.
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NEO – a blockchain project specifically meant for the Chinese market. It supports a wide variety of features, including smart contract development and asset tokenization.
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Corda – an open-source blockchain platform for enterprise-level applications. This consortium blockchain is run by several companies.
Difficulty Level: 4/5
Python
Python is also an object-oriented programming language like Solidity, used in a variety of domains such as software development, data science, machine learning (ML), and others. It is by far the easiest programming language one can learn and understand. Python’s comprehensive features and libraries make it an ideal programming language for coding smart contracts and other blockchain elements like consensus or block production.
Pros
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Suitable for base and scripting approaches
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Speed
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Opportunity to scale the most complex apps
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Decreases debug time due to build-in testing features
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Suitable for both blockchain and smart contracts
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Extensive community and good access to support
Cons
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Weak in cell phone devices - It is rigid for phones;
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Frequent run-time errors
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Memory consuming language
Some projects
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Vyper – a simple blockchain programming language specifically meant for smart contract design, borrowing much of the Python toolkit and logic.
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Celo – Python laid the basis for much of Celo’s SDK, enabling Celo developers to conduct easier blockchain interactions.
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Algorand – the blockchain programming platform with an algokit for development based on Python tools.
Difficulty Level: 2/5
C#
C# is the classic in the programming world; it is an OOP language that provides robust functionality for creating enterprise-level apps, cloud solutions, and cross-platform digital products. It includes many features and is compliant with C, SQL, and .NET frameworks, each of which comes with many benefits for blockchain development.
Pros
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Open-source type of language.
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Simple, understandable syntax.
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Syntactic similarities with C++ and Java tools for blockchain coding.
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Portable code across devices.
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Cost-effectiveness.
Cons
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A programmer cannot access low-level things.
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It does not have an independent compiler.
Some projects
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Stratis – a decentralized blockchain development platform created for simplifying blockchain coding for Microsoft programmers.
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BaaS – a Stratis-powered solution for everyday use of complex blockchain architecture by non-blockchain companies.
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NEO – the smart contract development logic of the NEO blockchain is built on C#.
Difficulty Level: 2.5/5
C++
This programming language is one of the oldest and most widely used ones. It has had an immense effect on the software industry for the past decade. This medium-complexity programming language is efficient and universal, which explains why many system drivers, operating systems, browsers, etc., use it as their primary language.
Pros
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Efficient CPU management and memory control;
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Ease of running parallel/non-parallel threads;
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Option to move semantics for copying data effectively;
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Compile-time polymorphism for enhanced performance;
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Code isolation for different data structures and more.
Cons
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This solution may be too complex for low-skilled developers
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Its code may be redundant.
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There is no garbage collection feature in C++
Some projects
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Bitcoin – the first blockchain and cryptocurrency revolutionizing the world of peer-to-peer transactions and introducing the global community to decentralization.
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EOS – an open-source blockchain platform with impressive scalability, flexibility, and throughput parameters.
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Ripple – a unique blockchain system with a real-time gross settlement mechanism and a proprietary remittance network.
Difficulty Level: 3/5
Go (Golang)
Golang is one of the best blockchain programming languages nowadays since it has an easy and readable syntax and fast compilation time. It is a single language that enables simultaneous programming, which is highly beneficial for many teams. Moreover, it is relatively easy to maintain in the long run and efficient compared to other blockchain coding languages, especially legacy ones.
Pros
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Concurrency features
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Readability and usability
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High-speed performance
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Easy to maintain
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Efficient
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Suitable for high-performing programs
Cons
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Error Handling
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Still new in the market
Some projects
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Cosmos – the Cosmos SDK, a set of tools for blockchain development, and the ComerBFT are written in GO.
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Kubo – the oldest IPFS implementation version, a command-line application also used as a library in GO development.
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Ethereum Go – developers can build links between their dApps and the Ethereum network using Geth and employ Ethereum Go for launching and managing Ethereum nodes.
Difficulty Level: 2/5
Rust
Rust is a recent popular programming language that focuses on memory management and thread safety while improving overall performance. Popular high-throughput blockchains, including Solana, PolkaDot, and Parity, use Rust to enable high speed and achieve performance efficiency. Rust provides memory safety without garbage collection, which helps in avoiding memory leaks or buffers.
Pros
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Clear development guidelines
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Zero-cost abstractions
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Speed
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Memory efficiency
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Reliability
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Self-upgradability function due to the use of WASM
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Concurrency-based opportunities
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Management of mutable states
Cons
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Some unique characteristics of Rust have to be recognized
Some projects
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Solana – a widely popular blockchain with a huge throughput and super-low transaction fees.
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NEAR – an ecosystem featuring a Foundation blockchain with a sharded architecture and a PoS mechanism of consensus.
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Polkadot – a robust Web3 blockchain with outstanding interoperability and scalability parameters.
Difficulty Level: 5/5
Move
Move is a safe, reliable programming language for smart contract design. It is a platform-neutral programming option that borrows much from Rust and an earlier Libra language. The language was originally developed at Meta (former Facebook) and meant for the Diem blockchain, but the project was ultimately abandoned by Meta and appropriated in many other projects, including the famous Sui and Aptos.
Pros
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Straightforward, platform-neutral coding logic
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Ability to construct custom resource types
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Advanced safety
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Absence of dynamic dispatch
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Unlimited flexibility
Cons
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A bit hard for a beginner
Some projects
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Aptos – a Layer-1 blockchain built on the classic version of Move, distinguished by high throughput and advanced security (aka “Solana killer”)
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Sui – a decentralized layer 1 blockchain with a delegated PoS algorithm, using a modified bytecode version of Move to simplify secure blockchain coding and promote the development of safe Web3 startups.
Difficulty Level: 4.5/5
Ruby
Ruby, with great memory allocation capabilities, was developed in Japan by Yukihiro Matsumoto. The main focus of this language is simplicity and productivity which makes it developer-friendly and easy to handle along with this it supports cross platforms.
Pros
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It is a Multi-Paradigm Language;
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Rail frameworks have a huge and strong developer community (Ruby on Rails);
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Can be installed in Windows as well as PIOX.
Cons
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Difficult to debug and generates run-time error occasionally;
Some projects
Some blockchain initiatives use Ruby for backend services, API development, or smaller-scale blockchain applications. For example, blockchain platforms and decentralized applications (dApps) may employ Ruby on Rails to build user-friendly interfaces or integrate with blockchain APIs. While not as prevalent in core blockchain protocol development, Ruby remains useful for supporting applications and facilitating blockchain adoption through its web development strengths.
Difficulty Level: 3/5
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, in the quickly changing digital world of today, knowing the best blockchain programming languages is essential. Knowing the proper programming languages is crucial for developers and companies alike as blockchain technology spreads throughout more sectors. Let's benefit from the exciting growth of the blockchain ecosystem by reaching out to us and we'll gladly share our impressive portfolio with you.
𝐼𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑎 𝑆𝑜𝑓𝑡𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑊𝑒𝑏3 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑉𝑖𝑒𝑡𝑛𝑎𝑚, 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 (𝑑𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑠), 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑁𝐹𝑇𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑑.
