Over the past five years, the popularity of blockchain has skyrocketed. And more companies are considering wanting to implement this technology. What is behind the name “blockchain”, and what is the way of a blockchain developer for hire?
What is blockchain
It is a popular technology that is used in cryptocurrency. It is a sequential chain of blocks containing all the transaction information. Moreover, records in blockchains cannot be changed or erased, unlike standard databases. But you can add new ones.
It is also defined as a distributed ledger technology. Because all information on transactions (structure and list of owners) is stored on the computers of several users who are not connected, and in the event of a failure of one of the systems, the information will be saved.
What does a blockchain developer do?
A blockchain developer is responsible for creating products on the blockchain: smart contracts, protocols, cryptography platforms, and tools. In this regard, there are two main areas of blockchain development in the biggest blockchain companies:
- Basic blockchain – architecture, consensus protocols, design, networks. Blockchain developer who is responsible for the architecture and security of the network and makes strategic decisions.
- Blockchain software – development of dApps based on architecture and protocols, stack control. Their tasks are close to web developers.
This is how the list of hard skills of a blockchain developer looks like:
- one or more programming languages: C++, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, Rust, Java, Python, Solidity, Go;
- smart contracts;
- consensus algorithms;
- blockchain architecture: private chains of blocks, public, and consortium;
- networks: Ethereum, Tron Network, etc.;
- financial instruments: Uniswap, Aave, Curve, Compound, etc.;
- cryptography for network security;
- data structure;
- network protocols;
- understanding how DEX exchanges work;
- staking, token mining, tokemonics;
- networking principles: HTTP, RPC, gRPC, REST API;
- understanding how DeFi/Trading works.
Selection features
Market limited
This is the problem of most vacancies in IT, but with blockchain, the situation is even more critical. Finding a developer with experience in a cryptocurrency project is a great success. In other cases, the recruiter searches for the right stack and language, which only sometimes gives a result.
Confusing profile
A whole team works in the blockchain, and the developer’s role in the project is sometimes unclear. Is he responsible for the consensus architecture and protocols or the software? Is Java enough, or do you need a developer with GETH and web3.js experience to develop tokens?
Low developer engagement
When choosing a developer, be prepared for rejection. As a rule, specialists with the right skills want to avoid working with the blockchain. Why is that? Firstly, developers do not trust such projects, considering them unreliable, especially if it is a startup and not a large company that uses blockchain all the time.
Secondly, blockchain is money, which means a high responsibility compared to other areas. Only some developers are ready for this. It also happens that after working for a maximum of a year on the project, the developer leaves for a more familiar niche, for example, in fintech or EdTech.
What to do. Tell about the project honestly: at what stage are your plans, and who will be on the team? If you see the candidate’s doubts, do not persuade, but find out what confuses him. Also, ask why the developer is attracted to the sphere. Perhaps he is into crypto himself?