Helpful Blockchain Development Tools

Blockchain development tools, also known as scripts, are programs designed to build, create, and manage blockchains. Professionals across nearly every industry use these tools to enhance privacy and facilitate efficient operations. For example, professionals in health care, an industry expected to expand its use of blockchain technology the fastest over the next decade, utilize blockchain tools to manage patient information on a secure platform, while financial and banking services employ blockchain for regulatory oversight.

With a forecasted revenue of $1,431.54 billion by 2030 and the market expected to grow by 90.1 percent between 2025 and 2030 [1], blockchain developers are likely to continue seeking tools to help them develop scalable solutions that can facilitate widespread adoption. Explore blockchain development tools, including the most popular ones and their benefits and costs.

What is a blockchain development tool?

Blockchain development tools make the creation, implementation, and testing of blockchain technology possible. The different software and frameworks can help you tailor blockchain development to a developer’s specific needs and goals.

Popular for its role in cryptocurrency, blockchain technology allows for transparent information sharing within a network using a database mechanism. Blocks of data link into an uneditable chain that acts as a decentralized digital ledger. This ledger cannot be altered or tampered with, ensuring it remains a secure and accurate record of all transactions. Blockchains track both tangible assets, such as home ownership, and intangible assets, such as intellectual property rights, by recording ownership and the movement of the asset (the house or the intellectual property) through the collection of names, addresses, and transaction details.

Helpful blockchain development tools

The right blockchain development tools help you to increase efficiency, provide better security, and support team collaboration. Some of these tools include the following:

Solidity

Solidity is a high-level, object-oriented programming language designed to work on the Ethereum platform. It’s based on Python, JavaScript, and C++. Solidity is a vital tool for developers hoping to build decentralized applications (dApps). It is a Turing-complete language, meaning that it can represent and deploy any algorithm.

Solidity offers key features such as support for inheritance, contract-oriented design, logging and events, and interfaces and libraries, which are particularly helpful for use cases like crowdfunding, voting, and blind auctions.

Geth

Geth stands for go-ethereum, and it acts as a gateway into the decentralized web. It was one of the original Ethereum tools. Geth contains an Ethereum Virtual Machine and is an execution client, which means it can handle transactions and implement smart contracts. This is vital for functionality, as Geth synchronizes all contracts and transactions with the rest of the network. Geth uses the Go language, allowing you to write concurrent and fast programs.

MetaMask

MetaMask is a free mobile and web crypto wallet that allows you to store and trade cryptocurrencies. It is a self-managed, noncustodial digital wallet that helps you manage data permissions and store items, such as NFTs. MetaMask also provides access to a wide range of dApps, making it easy for you to send, spend, or stake crypto across the entire Ethereum ecosystem. You can connect MetaMask’s wallet to the dApp portion of whatever website you’re linking to.

BaaS

Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) is a cloud-based blockchain management service that’s provided by a third party. BaaS functions similarly to a web host: It runs the backend operations for a blockchain platform. The BaaS provider provides the necessary infrastructure to enable you to create digital services and applications, such as accounts, online payments, or market trading. This makes the deployment of these products more efficient and easier to adopt.

Truffle

Truffle is a development framework that helps you to quickly and easily create scalable blockchain applications. Truffle simplifies the development process by providing end-to-end development, allowing for easy testing, debugging, building, and deployment. It supports smart contracts, external data source connections, and workflow optimization.

Chainlink

Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network. It connects off-chain data to a blockchain. These networks are reliable, available, and accurate. Chainlink uses a specific type of token, called LINK, to serve as the currency employed by operators responsible for collecting and preparing off-chain data. Chainlink offers universal interoperability, securely connecting any private or public blockchain to existing systems, such as the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem..

Ganache

Ganache is a personal Ethereum blockchain that allows you to inspect state, run tests, and execute commands. You can use Ganache to test blockchain applications for any issues before deploying them for use. It features a built-in block explorer that provides insight into how each block works and interacts with others. It is particularly helpful in debugging smart contracts.

Embark

Embark is a framework for developing and deploying dApps. It monitors for changes and automatically applies them before letting the dApp go live, such as when a programmer adds a patch or update. It helps you manage different chains and the various complex systems created by interdependent contracts.

What does a blockchain developer do?

Blockchain developers are professionals who use their technological expertise to develop and deploy blockchains, dApps, and smart contracts. They make sure blockchains remain functional and secure and create new ones tailored to a client’s needs. According to Glassdoor, a blockchain developer makes an average annual salary of $106,068 [2].

How to choose the right blockchain tools

Choosing the right blockchain tools is key to creating a framework that helps you achieve your specific goals. Some features you may want to look out for include the tool’s compatibility with your existing systems, its scalability to match future growth and expansion, and the availability of both documentation and community in case you need help or have questions as you’re working with a particular tool.

Benefits of using blockchain tools

Blockchain development tools help make the development process more efficient. They reduce errors and increase productivity. Selecting the right tools enhances the likelihood of your blockchain project's success.

Cost range of blockchain development tools

Blockchain development tools, as well as the blockchains themselves, are typically open-source, meaning the code is freely available to anyone who wants to use it. However, some options do incur costs, and you will want to factor these into the expenses of running and maintaining a blockchain. For example, if you purchase a pre-synced Geth node for ease of use, it requires a paid subscription, and the total price depends on your usage. Alternatively, if you choose to use a BaaS service, you will likely incur an account setup fee and then pay a fee per transaction.

Blockchains themselves require a lot of energy to run, so you’ll also need to factor in costs for the utilities and infrastructure to support them.

Learn more about blockchain development tools on Coursera

Blockchain development tools are frameworks and software that allow developers to create, test, maintain, and deploy blockchain applications and other dApps. If you’re interested in learning more about the world of blockchain development, take time to explore the courses and Certificates available on Coursera. With options such as IBM’s Back-End Development Professional Certificate, you’ll learn in-demand skills and gain hands-on experience to get job-ready in about six months. Explore Coursera today.