Blockchain has been the most discussed topic in recent years, from news channels to social media platforms to office group discussions. There is no sign that the hype surrounding cryptocurrencies and blockchains will diminish. This guide will help you understand the technical and business aspects of developing a blockchain app. Both skeptics and supporters are becoming more interested in blockchain technology news. Its apps and its blockchain development tools have reached unimaginable heights. Blockchain technology is becoming a buzzword; even ordinary companies can change their business model or name to suit the hype. This is leading to greater profits.
Blockchain is a digital ledger that records transactions. It has a large number of data blocks that are distributed over the entire network. These blocks are connected via blockchain via has and encrypted using cryptography. Every block of the chain contains multiple transactions, each with a different impact. Each time a transaction is added, a record about it is added to each participant's blockchain. It is a unique system that records information in a way that makes them highly secure and nearly impossible to hack.
It cannot be easy to take in. Take a look at these statistics.
- In 2017, the market for blockchains was at $339.5 billion approx.
- According to reports, statistics show that the global blockchain market will be worth $20 billion by 2024.
- Reports estimates that the global blockchain technology market will be worth USD 3.67 billion in future years. It is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 82.4% between 2021 and 2028.
- In future years, there will be a 42.8% growth in blockchain. The adoption of blockchain technology for money transfers and the rising interest of the world's leading banks in developing cryptocurrencies like Utility Settlement Coin will be the main factors driving this increase (USC), allowing for better cross-border transactions. This is how you can learn more.
- According to a report, 71% of business leaders who use blockchain believe it will play a key role in advancing technology. This has led to widespread support for industry standards.
These staggering stats show that Blockchain app development and building development projects are becoming a major business cryptocurrency focus for many established and startup businesses. Many sectors, including media, finance, banking, and healthcare industry, are exploring blockchain app development.
Are you prepared for the next revolution known as the development of blockchain applications? Blockchain technology is a huge tech breakthrough with great potential for the future. However, it will not be practical to invest in it without understanding how it can be beneficial for your business. Blockchain app builders can help with this. The Blockchain technology development guide will discuss the technical aspects of Blockchain technology and how you can incorporate it into your business processes. You can also access our customized Blockchain guide for entrepreneurs if you require more information.
Blockchain Technology
The first step in developing a Blockchain app is understanding its meaning. In layperson's terms, blockchain is a distributed, transparent, immutable, and publicly accessible database that stores digital information (transactional records) in blocks. They are paired with each other using the hash function so that the current block has its hash code and the next block has its hash code. It's a business exchange network that transfers value from one peer to another. It authorizes a transaction without the involvement of intermediaries.
Now that you are familiar with Blockchain software development, let's dive into the technical aspects of the technology. Let's also discuss the meaning of Blockchain-based application development and finally the prerequisites, time, and operational cost of blockchain apps involved in blockchain application development. Let's start with the types of blockchains.
Types of Blockchain Systems/Solutions
How to build Blockchain applications start with categorizing the type of Blockchain solution.
- Network
- Support for cryptocurrency
Types of Blockchain based on Networks
When discussing blockchain development based on a network, you can choose between permissioned or permissionless blockchain solutions.
- Permissionless Blockchain: The entire network is publicly accessible on all computers and devices that use permissionless blockchains. Anyone can access the code and run a local public node, initiate an interaction, verify the transaction, and any other information while remaining anonymous. The blockchain is unknown, decentralized, accessible from all devices, and publicly available. E.g., Bitcoin and Ethereum.
- Permissioned blockchain refers to closed ecosystems where only authorized participants can act based on their roles. These blockchains are based on a set of rules that determine how transactions will be executed to meet the needs of an organization (e.g., database management, auditing, etc.). E.g., Multichain.
There are two types of blockchains. However, when it comes down to public or private permissions, they get further classified into general, permissionless, and public and permitted. Enterprises are searching for a private, permissioned, and secure blockchain network. A consortium blockchain is also possible. It can be classified as a personal and permissioned Blockchain. This type of blockchain system offers core functionality of the blockchain architecture such as automated data synchronization and immutability. It also allows for process automation and stringent privacy/security features.
Types of Blockchains Based on Cryptocurrency Support
Blockchains can be broadly classified based on their cryptocurrency involvement as Cryptocurrency-based or Non-cryptocurrency-based solutions.
- Cryptocurrency-based Blockchain: These blockchain solutions are based on cryptocurrencies, as shown by their name. These are the most popular types of blockchains.
- Digital wallets: Wallets are digital wallets that store public or private keys, which can be used to send, store, or receive cryptocurrency. This blockchain type, a Cryptocurrency wallet, is used to convert and trade cryptocurrencies in a central, decentralized, or hybrid environment.
- Crypto Exchange: These systems are used for trading digital currencies or cryptocurrencies. They can accept credit cards, postal money orders, and any other payment methods and will send the cryptocurrency to your cryptocurrency wallet. They are also known as Digital Currency Exchange (DCE).
- ICO: Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) or Initial Currency Offering (ICO) is said to be a crowdfunding system that deals with the generation and selling of cryptocurrencies/crypto tokens.
- Dapp: It is a decentralized app or dApp development service. It deals with apps that are not controlled by one entity. With the help of trustless protocols, it can be managed by multiple users in real-time on a decentralized P2P network. Sia, Augur, and Golem are just a few examples of the potential dApp development company has to offer. It might be worth looking into how to make money from your dApp.
- Non-cryptocurrency-based Blockchain: This type is not dependent on crypto tokens. This type of blockchain is used primarily for inventory management. It is based on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). It is a distributed database that various computing power devices and nodes can access. Each node can create a duplicate of the ledger, and each one can then process it independently. The best thing about the catalog is its independence. Each node can make changes alone and then vote to ensure maximum approval. Consensus is the process of voting in which the majority consents to make updates. After reaching the consensus limit, changes can be made directly to the database.
Why Blockchain Apps are Important for Organizations
These programs are becoming increasingly popular. We have already talked about how they protect privacy and security. There's more to it than that.
Public Verification
Anybody can check if the program works correctly. Peer users can verify that every transaction has been completed correctly in a blockchain system. This means anyone can see if something is wrong with a single click.
Transparency
All participants in the network must confirm all transactions and data updates. While not everyone will have access, others always keep a copy of that information on their own devices.
Traceability
Blockchain is having a huge impact on many industries. It is difficult to trace products and determine their origin. Protection against counterfeits is also difficult. Blockchain allows you to track the source of every product and follow it throughout its journey. This ledger system lets people know who made the product and delivered it. It also ensures that there is no fraud. Blockchain will allow industry members to access the resource quickly by moving information from paper to a distributed ledger.
Cost Efficiency
Cost efficiency should be a top priority when considering a project of blockchain-based application development. Improve business processes and eliminate intermediaries or third parties from the process that establishes trust between buyers or sellers. Blockchain simplifies operations, reducing the time and effort required to monitor information at all times.
Speed
Blockchain technology's main advantage is its ability to execute transactions quickly. Cryptography allows people to verify transactions without needing a third-party intermediary or trust. All necessary information is stored in one place for each transaction. Searching for or looking things up doesn't take long; this speeds up the whole process.
Integrity
Blockchain guarantees data integrity via immutability. It is impossible to alter any block without tampering with the ones that precede it. Because everything you do is permanently public and distributed among nodes across the network, it's easy to track who did what and when.
Factors to Consider when Developing a Blockchain App
- Nature of Platform: Some blockchain platforms are cryptocurrency-based, while others rely on smart contracts and use more than one crypto token. It will be easier to develop Blockchain applications if you can determine which type is most appropriate for your needs.
- Smart Contracts: You need to consider whether you require a smart contract. As you may know, a smart contract is a protocol that executes itself and validates or enforces any trigger-based actions stored on the blockchain.
- Consensus Protocol: Different blockchain development platforms use different consensus protocols, such as Proof of Work, Proof of stake, Proof of Elapsed Time, Proof of Burn, and others. Identifying the right platform based on consensus protocol is also a good idea.
- Cryptocurrency: When answering the question of How to build a Blockchain app, the next thing you should consider is whether you require cryptocurrency in your mobile app. This plays an important role in finding the right platform.
- Public/Private Network: Decide what type of network you prefer. Do you want one that allows everyone to make changes? Or one that only authorized users can join? Using the information you have gathered, select the platform that best suits your needs and start building your own blockchain application.
- Adoption Rate and Functionality: It is important to examine the Adoption rate for current blockchains and the Community Support level. The adoption rate is the level of implementation of a particular blockchain innovation. It is better to choose a technology with high adoption rates than one that has not been well received.
- Scalability: Anyone who wants to build blockchain platforms using existing innovation should look at the transaction capabilities and determine if they can meet their needs. Three key points should be considered when considering blockchain scalability: speed, security, and decentralization. This is called the Scalability Trilema. It refers to the fact that developers can only hope to achieve two of the three characteristics.
Technology Tools in Blockchain App Development
- web3.js -- This is the most widely used Ethereum JavaScript API for application documentation.
- Smart contracts and Documentation require solidity. Solidity is a useful tool.
- Dapp browsers -- This includes Desktop Mist and Metamask. Mobile includes Trust, Cipher, and Toshi.
- Open Zeppelin --It allows seamless smart contract development (Documentation).
- Embark is a trusted framework for developing serverless Decentralized Applications using Ethereum, IPFS, and other platforms.
- Truffle -- It is an Ethereum development and test framework that doesn't need an introduction from developers.
- Metamask -- This allows you to run Ethereum dApps directly in your browser without opening an Ethereum node.
- Parity -- A sophisticated Ethereum deployment client.
- Etherscan -- This is an Ethereum Block Explorer which can be used for monitoring.
Read More: Blockchain and its Impact on the Society
What Industries can Benefit from Blockchain Apps?
- Around 400 new types of blockchain apps are introduced to the financial sector every month. These apps aim to improve transparency and efficiency for transactions of all types by using multi-party and real-time payment tracking systems. One way to create next-generation payment solutions is crypto wallet development. It could also allow faster transfers between banks and other blockchain development service providers that use an accelerated settlement process. This is all while avoiding human error.
- Blockchain is not a new concept in the insurance industry. Instead, it improves existing solutions through operational efficiency, cost reduction, faster market entry, and a better user interface experience. Blockchain's immutability, verifiable attributes, and flexibility allow it to be used in cross-border partnerships. It solves many problems, such as fraud detection, reinsurance, and on-demand insurance.
- Healthcare - Dissimilar systems for processing and storing data are a major problem in the healthcare sector. Because they are not connected, these systems can keep and manage highly sensitive and personal information. This issue could be solved by a strategic blockchain application development team for healthcare providers. Because blockchains don't require central servers to store data, healthcare facilities can share their data with others in the network. This is a great way for them to collaborate without compromising security and accuracy.
- Real Estate - There are risks associated with buying and selling property: missing information, paperwork piles, fraud, and clerical errors. Blockchain eliminates all these issues. Real estate companies can use it to track, record and transfer land titles securely. This ensures that all documents are accurate and up-to-date. It speeds up transactions.
- When making a purchase, the buyer trusts the seller, but often this trust is misplaced. While counterfeits are still sold on retail shelves, many unsuspecting buyers purchase these faulty products without looking. There is hope: blockchain can replace this lack of trust by decentralizing it from other eCommerce websites. It would allow buyers to connect directly with sellers rather than relying on intermediaries through centralized systems.
Blockchain Software Development Platforms
There are many platforms available for building blockchain solutions. However, these top platforms are most commonly used for DLT/Blockchain development:
- Ethereum: This open-source platform and operating system are being considered for blockchain dApp development and ICOs that use smart-contract functionality. It is flexible and adaptable, which makes it an ideal choice for any blockchain app development company to build a blockchain application.
- EOS: EOS platform aims to provide smart contract capability, decentralized app hosting, and decentralized storage for enterprise solutions. This solves the scaling issues found in Blockchains like Bitcoin, Ethereum, as well as eliminates any fees incurred by users.
- Multichain: This platform empowers developers of blockchain apps to create and deploy private blockchain solutions that can be used between or within multiple organizations.
- LiquidApps: DAPP Network, the company behind DAPP Network, recently launched DSP 2.0. This makes the platform more flexible and powerful. They can support a variety of dApps creations.
- Hyperledger: It is an open-source platform allowing you to develop advanced blockchain software solutions. You can create supply chain management apps and build blockchain solutions based on IoT and other blockchain-based applications.
- IOTA: It is an open-source DLT-based solution allowing faster and more secure payments between connected IoT devices. This platform uses directed-acyclic graph technology (DAG). It offers an extensive feature list such as free transactions regardless of transaction team size, faster confirmation times, and the ability to handle unlimited transactions simultaneously. This makes it an ideal platform for building payment systems.
- Quorum: It's an open-source DLT and smart contract platform based on Ethereum.
Blockchain can also be integrated into P2P payment apps like Venmo to allow safe cashless transactions. You are now familiar with the various blockchain development platforms. But you may be confused about which platform to use to build a blockchain system.
Languages to Consider when Blockchain Development is Possible
There are many programming languages you can use to develop blockchain applications. Start with traditional languages such as C++, Python, and Go or move on to more advanced languages like Simplicity, Solidity, and Go.
- Simplicity: Smart contracts blockchain development is simplified by simplicity. It is simple, uses static analysis, and can be viewed as an improvement on the basic cryptocurrency languages such as Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), and Bitcoin Script.
- Solidity: Solidity is a statically-typed language for blockchain development used primarily to build smart contracts on the EVM. This language allows you to easily integrate self-regulated business logic into smart contracts and leave a permanent, authoritative record of transactions.
How to Implement Blockchain in Different Business Processes
You are now more familiar with blockchain technology and can integrate it into your business. Are you a business owner with a plan? Or are you still unsure how to use blockchain technology for a profitable business transformation?
Blockchain's incredible potential can be integrated into your business processes in many ways.
- For Transactions
Blockchain technology, the backbone for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, is ready to revolutionize transactions. It will speed up the process and allow fund transfers to be done securely for a very low fee. Few companies are using the blockchain to transfer funds and handle payrolls.
- As Distributed Cloud Storage
Blockchain can provide faster, more secure, and more convenient cloud storage services for your customers. You need to choose a reliable BaaS provider for the same.
- Smart Contracts
Smart contracts are a way to get around regulations and reduce the average cost of a small number of financial transactions. These contracts are unbreakable and secure. Slock is one of the applications. It is an Ethereum-based IoT platform that uses blockchain to enable customers to rent anything. Once both parties have agreed to the terms and conditions, the smart lock unlocks. Synapse uses blockchain to offer microloans.
- For Notary Purposes
For authentication and notary creation purposes, blockchain development is also an option. Here are some real-life examples: One company is a smartphone multimedia platform that provides notary services by using the user's image, sound, or video via blockchain.
- For Supply Chain Management
The supply chain involves components being exchanged from many entities. A failure at one end could significantly impact the entire process. Using blockchain technology, this issue can be solved. It can be used as secure, permanent auditable records allowing stakeholders to see all processing-looking for real-life use cases? Companies use blockchain to streamline the supply chain.
- Digital Identification Process
Blockchain can create immutable, indisputable, and secure digital identities. This will allow for seamless sign-in and reduce fraud.
- In Loyalty and Rewards Programs
The blockchain eliminates intermediaries and allows retailers to engage customers with loyalty programs, gift cards, and rewards cost-effectively.
Concluding Thoughts
We hope that you find this guide to blockchain app development useful. You should now be able to create your blockchain app development ideas using the information and examples provided. We are open to hearing your thoughts and contributing to them. Let's talk!
Blockchain technology makes apps more secure and privacy-friendly. Blockchain apps go far beyond bitcoin and cryptocurrency. Blockchain technology can potentially improve transparency and fairness while saving businesses money and time. It is transforming a wide range of industries in ways that go beyond enforcing contracts and making government more efficient. Errna can help you implement the changes in your app development ideas. Errna, a trusted company that specializes in Blockchain development, is reliable. This company can assist you in your decentralized journey.