Web3, an open-source internet where users have ownership of their data and permissionless access to applications without going through intermediaries, is blockchain-powered. Instead of going through centralized intermediaries, decentralized blockchain programs drive peer-to-peer trustless economic networks for exchanging value and information.

The web3 industry continues to grow and mature at an impressive pace, and it's becoming increasingly important for developers to have a solid understanding of the tools and technologies that make up the web3 developer stack. By understanding the key components of the web3 tech stack, developers can build secure, scalable, and resilient applications on top of blockchain protocols.

However, the web3 developer stack can be complex and daunting for those who are new to the space. That's why we've put together this comprehensive guide to help developers get up to speed on the key components of the web3 stack. In this guide, we describe the different components of the Web3 stack to demystify Web3 app development.

A tech stack, also known as a technology stack, refers to the collection of technologies, tools, and frameworks that developers use to build and deploy software applications. The web3 tech stack is similar to a traditional tech stack but with a few key differences.

In the web3 space, developers work with decentralized technologies and protocols, which require specialized tools and frameworks to build applications. These tools and frameworks used to build decentralized apps are the web3 stacks. The main components of the Web3 tech stack for decentralized applications are:

The blockchain is the foundation for the Web3 tech stack. For developers to interact with a blockchain, they have to use an application programming interface (API) that enables their app to query information and broadcast transactions to the blockchain network.

The blockchain has different options for developers to choose from ranging from different programming languages, varying levels of security, contrasting approaches to consensus, and more. These options have different tradeoffs, and it is up to developers to choose the options best suited for them.

The blockchain layer is the operating system for web3 developers and it influences both the design and implementation decisions that developers make when designing Web3 applications built on top of it.

Consequently, the blockchain that serves as the foundation of a Web3 app plays an important role for the adoption and success of any project. Developers and project founders have to think long and hard as regards the blockchain layer they want to build and operate on. Here are some of the options developers can choose from:

Bitcoin is widely regarded as the most widely adopted and valuable blockchain in existence, and it's gradually expanding to support Web3 applications.

If you're a developer interested in building Web3 apps that leverage the power of Bitcoin, you can use the Stacks blockchain as a programmable layer on top of Bitcoin. This approach allows you to tap into the nearly $370 billion worth of latent capital that's locked within the Bitcoin ecosystem, while also building on the most secure and decentralized blockchain to date. By building on Bitcoin through Stacks, you can create innovative applications that offer new ways to interact with and utilize this powerful technology.

As the first smart contract platform, Ethereum has emerged as the leading blockchain for decentralized applications, boasting a vast developer community and an even larger user base. Today, a significant number of dApps run on the Ethereum network, and its popularity continues to grow. In fact, many alternative blockchains have emerged that are still compatible with Ethereum and the Ethereum Virtual Machine, including Solana, Avalanche, and Fantom. This interoperability enables developers to build applications that can seamlessly interact across multiple blockchains, making it easier to bridge the gap between different networks and expand the functionality of the Ethereum ecosystem. With Ethereum continuing to drive innovation and shape the future of Web3, it remains a pivotal player in the decentralized technology space.

While Bitcoin and Ethereum are the most well-known blockchain platforms, there are several other options available for developers looking to build Web3 applications. For example, platforms such as Solana, Cosmos, and Polkadot offer unique features and programming language implementations that enable developers to create innovative decentralized applications. These blockchains support languages like Python, JavaScript, and Rust, among others, allowing developers to leverage their existing skill sets and build powerful Web3 applications.

However, to keep our focus in this article, we will be limiting our exploration of the Web3 stack to Bitcoin and Ethereum, which are currently the largest and most widely adopted blockchains in the space.

Smart contracts are at the heart of Web3 technology. They are the next most important component in the Web3 stack after the blockchain layer. Smart contracts provide the code that governs how decentralized applications function on the blockchain. These self-executing contracts can automate complex processes and remove the need for intermediaries, allowing for greater efficiency, security, and transparency.

As a developer, you have a wide range of programming languages at your disposal for writing smart contracts for Web3 applications, and your choice of language depends on the type of application and the blockchain platform being used.

Popular programming languages for smart contracts include Solidity, Rust, and Vyper, to name a few. Interestingly, some blockchains also allow for the use of general-purpose programming languages like Python and JavaScript to write smart contracts, which could expand the pool of potential smart contract developers.

The development environment for Web3 apps includes a range of tools and technologies, such as software development kits (SDKs), integrated development environments (IDEs), libraries, and testing frameworks. These tools and technologies enable developers to write code more efficiently, debug and test applications more easily, and deploy them on the blockchain network.

One of the most popular development environments for Web3 apps is Remix, an online IDE for Solidity, the primary programming language used for developing smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. Remix provides a simple and intuitive interface for writing, compiling, and deploying smart contracts, as well as testing them using a built-in simulation environment.

Another essential tool for Web3 app development is Truffle, a popular development framework for Ethereum-based dapps. Truffle provides a suite of development tools, including a development console, testing framework, and asset pipeline, to streamline the development process.

In addition to these tools, there are also several blockchain-specific SDKs and libraries available for developers to use, such as the Web3.js library for interacting with the Ethereum blockchain, or the Solana SDK for building dapps on the Solana blockchain.

It's worth noting that the Web3 development environment is constantly evolving, with new tools and technologies emerging regularly. Keeping up-to-date with the latest developments is essential for developers looking to build high-quality Web3 applications.

In Web3 applications, user identity management is a crucial aspect that needs to be taken into consideration. Unlike traditional web applications, where user identity management is usually handled by a centralized authority, Web3 applications rely on decentralized systems to manage user identities and fully realize the read-write-own promise of Web3.

Generally, the key component of user identity management in Web3 applications is the concept of wallets.

Wallets are digital tools that allow users to store and manage their cryptocurrencies, as well as interact with various Web3 applications. These wallets serve as a user's digital identity and enable them to transact on the blockchain. They provide a means of establishing users’ identities using public-private key cryptography. Public keys are used to encrypt data, and private keys are used to decrypt them. The possession of the correct combination of the public and private keys establishes the identity of the user.

Some popular wallets used for Web3 applications include:

In any of the blockchain ecosystems, these wallets are available as a combination of browser extensions, mobile applications or desktop applications.

In addition to wallets, many Web3 applications also rely on decentralized identity (DID) solutions. DID solutions allow users to create and manage their own digital identities without the need for a centralized authority. Some popular DID solutions used in Web3 applications include uPort, Sovrin, and Civic.

When designing user interfaces for Web3 apps, there are a few unique considerations that developers must keep in mind. While many of the basic principles of UI/UX design still apply, the decentralized nature of Web3 introduces some new challenges.

Firstly, Web3 apps are built on decentralized networks, which means that they must be designed to work seamlessly with a user's digital wallet. This introduces a new layer of complexity to the user interface, as users must be able to manage their wallets and interact with the blockchain directly through the app. For this reason, many Web3 apps use web3.js or similar libraries to handle wallet integration and blockchain interactions.

Secondly, Web3 apps often require users to sign transactions or approve requests using their digital wallets. This means that the UI/UX must be designed to clearly communicate these requests to users in a way that is both understandable and secure. For example, many Web3 apps use pop-up windows to request transaction approval, as this makes it clear to the user what they are signing and ensures that the request is coming from a trusted source.

Thirdly, Web3 apps often deal with complex data and interactions that require advanced visualization techniques. For example, a decentralized exchange may need to display a complex order book or a prediction market may need to show real-time price data. In these cases, developers must create UIs that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also easy to understand and interact with.

Despite these challenges, many developers are rising to the occasion and creating beautiful and intuitive UIs for Web3 apps. Some key considerations for designing UI/UX for Web3 apps include:

Focusing on clarity, security, and accessibility will help developers create better Web3 UIs that are both beautiful and functional, helping to drive adoption and unlock the full potential of Web3.

Building Web3 applications requires a comprehensive understanding of the various components that make up the Web3 stack. From the underlying blockchain technology to smart contracts and user identity management, developers must choose the appropriate tools and frameworks to build secure and efficient applications.

While the Web3 stack is still evolving, it provides a promising vision for the future of the Internet, where users can fully control their data and interact with decentralized applications in a trustless and permissionless environment.

As the Web3 ecosystem continues to grow, developers can expect to see further advancements in the development tools and frameworks available to them. We hope this comprehensive guide has provided valuable insights into the tools, frameworks, and best practices necessary to build Web3 applications, find great developer jobs, and showcase your projects with Kleoverse.