I managed to become a blockchain developer spending $0. All you need is a laptop with a good Wi-Fi connection, a lot of time, and the determination to learn. Let's get started. All of the resources I'm going to share are online and absolutely free. I've made a roadmap based on what background you're in so that it's easier for you.

First, you need the blockchain basics, right? You need to know what blockchain is, for which there are plenty of videos on YouTube. To get into the technical aspects, I would highly recommend taking a course on Coursera. There is a blockchain specialization course consisting of four courses. At the very minimum, take the first one—it's called Blockchain Basics by Bina RamaMurthy. You get a clear idea of how Bitcoin blockchain works and how Ethereum blockchain works. This is a solid foundation for you. The remaining three courses in the specialization are a bit outdated but still have all the basic concepts crystal clear and easier for you to understand.

Once you learn the blockchain basics, there are two parts I am going to suggest. One is the Alchemy University Ethereum Developer Bootcamp and two, the Cyfrin Updraft courses. The tech stack of Alchemy University is roughly based on this: the beginner parts are based on JavaScript to help you understand the concepts. You'll learn about Ethers.js for connecting with the front end, Solidity to actually code the smart contracts, Hardhat as a testing suite, and React to develop the front end. Basically, it's a startup pack to land you a job as a full-stack dApp developer.

To give you an example of why and how JavaScript fits here, there are two reasons.

One is to make you understand the blockchain basics and makes you code these concepts. For example, you'll be learning what a Mempool is and you'll actually be writing JavaScript code on how a Mempool works. This helps you understand the logic behind it.

Number two is Hardhat. Hardhat is heavily based on JavaScript, which is why having a knowledge of JavaScript as a prerequisite will be very useful. Then there's Ethers.js. Ethers.js is pretty simple to learn and you can just learn it in a matter of a week. Then comes React. The curriculum doesn't have much in terms of React-based tutorials or trainings, but all of your weekly projects will have a component of React. You will have to self-learn this from YouTube or any other resources.

Next, you will have an extensive breakdown of the Solidity concepts, writing small programs on each of them. It’s split into an eight-week curriculum. Initially, it was conducted as a cohort or a boot camp with an instructor. However, they made it public last year. Right now, there are resources with which you can learn, but there is no instructor who would be helping you with every step of the way. It's more like a self-learning portal. All of the articles and tutorials in it are very well written; you would not have any difficulty understanding these concepts. Personally, it took me around four months because of various reasons. First, I didn't know JavaScript, so I had to learn that and come back to this course. Next, I was completely new to React, and although I didn't master it by the end of the course, it definitely helped me understand the components I must use and the design decisions I must take when writing my code.

So, if you don't know React, should you take the course? Absolutely, yes. All of these projects have starter packs and you would do very minimal but a lot of logical coding. Of course, since it's a self-learning way, you would be stuck at certain points. This is when you could use other resources like CryptoMarketPool, which has extensive tutorials in simple language that you can easily understand. If you want to practice more, there is also Solidity by Example. The concept behind this website is that all of these concepts have a single-line explanation and an example about that concept.

On the other hand, we have Cyfrin Updraft by Patrick Collins. Cyfrin Updraft is also a Web3 educational platform and there are several courses, with the curriculum almost always updated. You can find a new course every 3 to 6 months. A rough split of all the courses here is a beginner level where you understand blockchain concepts and write simple code, then an intermediate level where you learn about Foundry, the fundamentals, and advanced Foundry. Finally, there's an advanced level where you learn about smart contract security, DevOps, wallets and deployment, and how to take care of the code post-deployment. The most advanced course covers assembly opcode and formal verification. In the advanced level, you learn all of the security stuff, all of the formal verification tools, public execution, and testing. You will have some invariant and fuzz testing in your intermediate courses and you will go in depth about it in the security course. You will learn about huff and assembly opcode.

The Alchemy University course prepares you to be a complete dApp developer. If you want to become a smart contract developer, I want you to first learn the blockchain basics from Coursera, all of the concepts of Solidity from the Crypto Market Pool website. Once you learn the concepts, start coding simple projects from Solidity by Example. While you start coding, I also want you to take the Cyfrin Updraft course and complete it end-to-end. In my opinion, security isn't something that is supposed to be saved for the last or post-coding a contract. The code and the architecture should be made in a way that it is very secure. Once you start learning smart contract auditing and reading previous reports, you will find a lot of architectural errors more than flaws in the code itself. Having this security mindset is what makes you stand out from the rest of the crowd who just know how to write a contract.

For those choosing to become a dApp developer by taking the Alchemy University bootcamp, you should also read through other resources from GitHub and blogs to keep yourself updated with the latest security patterns and gas optimization tricks. This list is ever-changing and always getting longer, so it’s basically a cat-and-mouse game.

For smart contract developers, once you complete the Cyfrin Updraft up to the intermediate level, I want you to start applying for jobs. This is the time when you become proficient in writing contracts. Finding a job also takes time. While you start applying for jobs on the side, start taking the security course on Cyfrin Updraft itself. No matter which of these courses you take, I want you to learn. It only takes a day to learn about the concepts and keep on practicing regularly.

Let me put it in the simplest way possible: learn the basics about blockchain, about the Bitcoin architecture, and EVM architecture. Choose your path to become a core engineer or a smart contract engineer. For smart contract engineers, this article tells you in-depth how to become a smart contract or Solidity engineer or a dApp developer. Take the Alchemy University course if you want to become a dApp developer. Take the Cyfrin Updraft course if you want to be really good at smart contract development. Remember, these courses are not mutually exclusive. There are a lot of concepts in one course that are not covered in the other. As I said, all of these are online courses and you won't have one single instructor to whom you can ask doubts. Most of the time, it's up to you to learn about it and find the resources.

So what happens when you have a doubt? Go onto the list of resources that I already gave you. If you can't find it there, search on Google or ask an AI like ChatGPT. They are usually very good at helping you with the basics. If it's very specific to your project and you still can't figure it out, go to a community. Each of these platforms have their own Discord servers where people help each other and clarify their doubts. Always be respectful and ask your doubts clearly. Don't just dump your code into the server and ask. Post your code on GitHub, share the link, and ask your doubt exactly. Respect people's time so it’s easy for them to help you.

Quick disclaimer: This is my suggestion. Your path and learning speed could be very different from mine. So, whatever resources are listed, glance over them and make a decision considering your goals—what you want to achieve, how long it will take, and what really interests you. But one important thing is, don't get stuck in tutorial hell. Don't keep going from one tutorial to another, learning the same things in different ways. Once you complete one course, move on to building a project and then focus on the next higher-level ones. The Web3 landscape is changing every 2 to 3 months, so keep that in mind.

So, how did I learn? I'm not a person who can concentrate on one thing. Sometimes,When I get stuck on a specific topic, I search on Google and it gives me ten different answers, leading me to different links, and I get stuck. Sometimes this is very helpful when you're building stuff, but when you're learning, it can put you off. To escape from this, one small thing I include in how I learn is to take a core course and another course on the same topic simultaneously. So, when I don't understand something from one course, I learn it from the other. For example, when I was learning from Alchemy University, I was also learning from Crypto Market Pool. When I was learning from Cyphon Updraft, I was also learning from Solidity by Example. When I’m learning about security, I’m also taking up Owen's course and learning about security too. I usually wouldn't recommend this for people because it works for me but it might not for you and it might even confuse you. The reason why I'm saying this is each of us learns differently, and only you know how you can put it together in a way that you can self-learn thoroughly.

Good luck, and if you're already studying, what resources have you found helpful? Maybe it could help others too, so leave them in the comments. If this article helped you with the resources, please subscribe and leave a comment below. That would be very helpful for me.

Ciao!

I managed to become a blockchain developer spending $0. All you need is a laptop with a good Wi-Fi connection, a lot of time, and the determination to learn. Let's get started. All of the resources I'm going to share are online and absolutely free. I've made a roadmap based on what background you're in so that it's easier for you.

First, you need the blockchain basics, right? You need to know what blockchain is, for which there are plenty of videos on YouTube. To get into the technical aspects, I would highly recommend taking a course on Coursera. There is a blockchain specialization course consisting of four courses. At the very minimum, take the first one—it's called Blockchain Basics by Bina RamaMurthy. You get a clear idea of how Bitcoin blockchain works and how Ethereum blockchain works. This is a solid foundation for you. The remaining three courses in the specialization are a bit outdated but still have all the basic concepts crystal clear and easier for you to understand.

Once you learn the blockchain basics, there are two parts I am going to suggest. One is the Alchemy University Ethereum Developer Bootcamp and two, the Cyfrin Updraft courses. The tech stack of Alchemy University is roughly based on this: the beginner parts are based on JavaScript to help you understand the concepts. You'll learn about Ethers.js for connecting with the front end, Solidity to actually code the smart contracts, Hardhat as a testing suite, and React to develop the front end. Basically, it's a startup pack to land you a job as a full-stack dApp developer.

To give you an example of why and how JavaScript fits here, there are two reasons.

One is to make you understand the blockchain basics and makes you code these concepts. For example, you'll be learning what a Mempool is and you'll actually be writing JavaScript code on how a Mempool works. This helps you understand the logic behind it.

Number two is Hardhat. Hardhat is heavily based on JavaScript, which is why having a knowledge of JavaScript as a prerequisite will be very useful. Then there's Ethers.js. Ethers.js is pretty simple to learn and you can just learn it in a matter of a week. Then comes React. The curriculum doesn't have much in terms of React-based tutorials or trainings, but all of your weekly projects will have a component of React. You will have to self-learn this from YouTube or any other resources.

Next, you will have an extensive breakdown of the Solidity concepts, writing small programs on each of them. It’s split into an eight-week curriculum. Initially, it was conducted as a cohort or a boot camp with an instructor. However, they made it public last year. Right now, there are resources with which you can learn, but there is no instructor who would be helping you with every step of the way. It's more like a self-learning portal. All of the articles and tutorials in it are very well written; you would not have any difficulty understanding these concepts. Personally, it took me around four months because of various reasons. First, I didn't know JavaScript, so I had to learn that and come back to this course. Next, I was completely new to React, and although I didn't master it by the end of the course, it definitely helped me understand the components I must use and the design decisions I must take when writing my code.

So, if you don't know React, should you take the course? Absolutely, yes. All of these projects have starter packs and you would do very minimal but a lot of logical coding. Of course, since it's a self-learning way, you would be stuck at certain points. This is when you could use other resources like CryptoMarketPool, which has extensive tutorials in simple language that you can easily understand. If you want to practice more, there is also Solidity by Example. The concept behind this website is that all of these concepts have a single-line explanation and an example about that concept.

On the other hand, we have Cyfrin Updraft by Patrick Collins. Cyfrin Updraft is also a Web3 educational platform and there are several courses, with the curriculum almost always updated. You can find a new course every 3 to 6 months. A rough split of all the courses here is a beginner level where you understand blockchain concepts and write simple code, then an intermediate level where you learn about Foundry, the fundamentals, and advanced Foundry. Finally, there's an advanced level where you learn about smart contract security, DevOps, wallets and deployment, and how to take care of the code post-deployment. The most advanced course covers assembly opcode and formal verification. In the advanced level, you learn all of the security stuff, all of the formal verification tools, public execution, and testing. You will have some invariant and fuzz testing in your intermediate courses and you will go in depth about it in the security course. You will learn about huff and assembly opcode.

The Alchemy University course prepares you to be a complete dApp developer. If you want to become a smart contract developer, I want you to first learn the blockchain basics from Coursera, all of the concepts of Solidity from the Crypto Market Pool website. Once you learn the concepts, start coding simple projects from Solidity by Example. While you start coding, I also want you to take the Cyfrin Updraft course and complete it end-to-end. In my opinion, security isn't something that is supposed to be saved for the last or post-coding a contract. The code and the architecture should be made in a way that it is very secure. Once you start learning smart contract auditing and reading previous reports, you will find a lot of architectural errors more than flaws in the code itself. Having this security mindset is what makes you stand out from the rest of the crowd who just know how to write a contract.

For those choosing to become a dApp developer by taking the Alchemy University bootcamp, you should also read through other resources from GitHub and blogs to keep yourself updated with the latest security patterns and gas optimization tricks. This list is ever-changing and always getting longer, so it’s basically a cat-and-mouse game.

For smart contract developers, once you complete the Cyfrin Updraft up to the intermediate level, I want you to start applying for jobs. This is the time when you become proficient in writing contracts. Finding a job also takes time. While you start applying for jobs on the side, start taking the security course on Cyfrin Updraft itself. No matter which of these courses you take, I want you to learn. It only takes a day to learn about the concepts and keep on practicing regularly.

Let me put it in the simplest way possible: learn the basics about blockchain, about the Bitcoin architecture, and EVM architecture. Choose your path to become a core engineer or a smart contract engineer. For smart contract engineers, this article tells you in-depth how to become a smart contract or Solidity engineer or a dApp developer. Take the Alchemy University course if you want to become a dApp developer. Take the Cyfrin Updraft course if you want to be really good at smart contract development. Remember, these courses are not mutually exclusive. There are a lot of concepts in one course that are not covered in the other. As I said, all of these are online courses and you won't have one single instructor to whom you can ask doubts. Most of the time, it's up to you to learn about it and find the resources.

So what happens when you have a doubt? Go onto the list of resources that I already gave you. If you can't find it there, search on Google or ask an AI like ChatGPT. They are usually very good at helping you with the basics. If it's very specific to your project and you still can't figure it out, go to a community. Each of these platforms have their own Discord servers where people help each other and clarify their doubts. Always be respectful and ask your doubts clearly. Don't just dump your code into the server and ask. Post your code on GitHub, share the link, and ask your doubt exactly. Respect people's time so it’s easy for them to help you.

Quick disclaimer: This is my suggestion. Your path and learning speed could be very different from mine. So, whatever resources are listed, glance over them and make a decision considering your goals—what you want to achieve, how long it will take, and what really interests you. But one important thing is, don't get stuck in tutorial hell. Don't keep going from one tutorial to another, learning the same things in different ways. Once you complete one course, move on to building a project and then focus on the next higher-level ones. The Web3 landscape is changing every 2 to 3 months, so keep that in mind.

So, how did I learn? I'm not a person who can concentrate on one thing. Sometimes,When I get stuck on a specific topic, I search on Google and it gives me ten different answers, leading me to different links, and I get stuck. Sometimes this is very helpful when you're building stuff, but when you're learning, it can put you off. To escape from this, one small thing I include in how I learn is to take a core course and another course on the same topic simultaneously. So, when I don't understand something from one course, I learn it from the other. For example, when I was learning from Alchemy University, I was also learning from Crypto Market Pool. When I was learning from Cyphon Updraft, I was also learning from Solidity by Example. When I’m learning about security, I’m also taking up Owen's course and learning about security too. I usually wouldn't recommend this for people because it works for me but it might not for you and it might even confuse you. The reason why I'm saying this is each of us learns differently, and only you know how you can put it together in a way that you can self-learn thoroughly.

Good luck, and if you're already studying, what resources have you found helpful? Maybe it could help others too, so leave them in the comments. If this article helped you with the resources, please subscribe and leave a comment below. That would be very helpful for me.

Ciao!