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How to Build a Blockchain in JavaScript

JavaScript is currently the most popular programming language in the world, yet when you think of blockchain development, it is typically not the first language that comes to mind. The reasoning behind this may partially be due to JavaScript often being thought of as a front-end technology, even with the continued development and use of Node.js. This misconception may lead developers to utilize other languages that they may be less familiar with and even less suitable for their blockchain applications than JavaScript.

The rationale behind this blog post is to provide you with various sources and Web3 tutorials centered around using JavaScript for blockchain. Our goal is that you will be able to utilize them to build your own blockchain application using JavaScript.

By Tony Morinello

27 May 2022

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Table of Contents

  • Blockchain for JavaScript Developers
  • Blockchain JavaScript Tutorials
  • Blockchain in JavaScript Courses
  • How to Build a Blockchain from Scratch

Blockchain for JavaScript Developers

Are you a blockchain developer considering JavaScript for your next blockchain application, but are unsure if it is the right programming language? Are you a JavaScript developer that wants to learn blockchain, and don’t know where to start?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, you should first read the Blockchain in JavaScript blog post, which will help you understand some of the basics and key advantages of using JavaScript for blockchain development. If you answered no, then you are in the correct place.

Blockchain JavaScript Tutorials

Lisk is a blockchain application platform, utilizing JavaScript, aimed at making blockchain accessible to everyone. As such, Lisk provides a number of tutorials for developers who wish to learn blockchain in JavaScript.

These tutorials range from beginner to intermediate level, and all take 4 or less hours to complete. Furthermore, they are designed around concepts that are relevant to both popular concepts and problems faced in the blockchain industry today.

Hello World

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Keeping with software development tradition, the first Lisk SDK tutorial provided to developers is how to build a “Hello World” application. For this tutorial, users will learn how to perform the following:

  • Bootstrap a simple blockchain application
  • Create a custom module
  • Create a custom plugin
  • Configure a blockchain application
  • Connect a dashboard to the application
  • Write unit tests modules and assets

Non-fungible token (NFT) Tutorial

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NFTs continue to grow in popularity in the crypto world. In fact, there are already a number of Web3 apps being developed on the Lisk network around the NFT concept, including Colecti, Enevti, and RGB. In addition, the NFT module will be available for the Lisk SDK v6.

By going through Lisk’s Non-fungible token (NFT) Tutorial, users will learn how to perform the following:

  • Create a blockchain application that supports NFTs
  • Create a custom module for creating and purchasing NFTs
  • Create a custom plugin that provides addition NFT-related features

Social Recovery System (SRS) Tutorial

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One ongoing concern of all cryptocurrency users is the fear of losing their funds. There are many ways for a user to lose access to their passphrase, whether it be lost, stolen, or something else. Lisk has a viable solution for this, and it is covered in the list of tutorials.

With Lisk’s Social Recovery System (SRS) Tutorial, users will be able to perform the following:

  • Create an account recovery tool
  • Define a recovery configuration

Lisk Name Service (LNS) Tutorial

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Many blockchain applications desire to utilize a domain name service, similar to Domain Name System (DNS) or Ethereum Name Service (ENS). The Lisk Name Service (LNS) Tutorial allows the creation of such a service for .lsk domains, whereby users can register those domains for a certain amount of time (1-5 years).

By going through the Lisk Name Service (LNS) Tutorial, users will be able to perform the following:

  • Build a service that allows .lsk domain creations
  • Create TXT and CNAME records for each domain

Blockchain in JavaScript Courses

In Blockchain Development Tutorial - How to Get Started?, we have presented the relevant blockchain application tutorials and recommended courses to follow. For the most part, these blockchain tutorials were more general to blockchain development itself. Hence, we have highlighted a few courses below that are specific to JavaScript in Blockchain.

Udemy - Learn Blockchain By Building Your Own In JavaScript

This course provides an extensive approach to learn blockchain in JavaScript. It is packed with video lectures (75 in total, comprising almost 8 hours of content). The material is broken down into the following 8 sections:

  1. Introduction
  2. Building a Blockchain
  3. Accessing the Blockchain through an API
  4. Creating a Decentralized Blockchain Network
  5. Synchronizing the Network
  6. Consensus
  7. Block Explorer
  8. Conclusion

By taking this course, you will have built your own decentralized blockchain network using JavaScript. Furthermore, you will have learned and utilized many important blockchain concepts along the way, such as proof of work algorithms, hashing algorithms, broadcasting systems, and many more.

Prerequisites for this course include a basic knowledge of JavaScript and having Node.js installed. While it is not required, it may be beneficial to go through this course on a Mac as all course materials have been developed and are fully compatible with the MAC OS.

Coursera - Programando un blockchain básico con Javascript

As the title suggests, this 1 hour course is presented in Spanish. It is a beginner level JavaScript blockchain app tutorial, where the user will develop a basic blockchain application using Node.js. It starts with an introduction to blockchain, moves through defining and programming blocks, to finally programming and testing an application.

Moralis Academy - Build a DEX Using JavaScript: Programming for Beginners

Looking to learn blockchain in JavaScript, but don’t have much or any programming experience? Try this course from Moralis Academy. The course starts off with all the basics of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Once you’ve mastered the basics of programming, you’ll begin to utilize these skills to interact with existing blockchain platforms, such as Coinpaprika and 1inch. Finally, you’ll walk through all the steps required to build your own decentralized exchange (DEX), using JavaScript.

How to Build a Blockchain from Scratch

So you’ve gone through the Lisk Tutorials, and maybe taken a Blockchain in JavaScript Course, and now you want to develop your own blockchain. First, you should read How to Build a Blockchain to not only explore all your different options for building, but also for some tips to get you started before you start building. Next, if you are looking for some inspiration on what to build for your blockchain application, take a look at JavaScript Web3 Projects for some examples.

Finally, if you decide to build your app on Lisk, be sure to go to lisk.chat and introduce yourself to the community. Also, be sure to explore funding opportunities through the Lisk Grant Program.