When you draft a contract, use language that is understandable to all parties. But to build smart contracts, you need to choose a particular programming language. A statically typed language is best for this purpose. However, the catch is that dozens can be used. But how to choose the best one?
A smart contract auditor plays an essential role in making a decision, as their report lists the main errors and how to deal with them. We did our research and highlighted the top best languages for blockchain development.
Top Smart Contract Languages
A proper program language can help make the process of implementing smart contracts more straightforward. The list below is in random order and is not a rating.
JavaScript
This programming language appeared even before the blockchain but managed to fit into a new niche for itself. It is considered to be an entry- and high-level language. It creates a shell for future smart contracts. One of the most popular blockchains using it is Neo.
The main advantage of the JavaScript objects is the community support. However, the implementation of dynamic security for smart contracts is the main reason developers choose a different blockchain language. Since safety is vital for smart contracts, statically typed languages are preferred for more complex products.
Rust
This smart contract language is considered one of the best with statistical typing. It is robust, efficient, and seemingly complex and uses best design practices. A unique feature of this concurrent programming is color-coded output with errors. It helps to find out the cause and where the problem is to fix it. This simple and flexible language was used by:
- Near;
- Polka Dot;
- Solana.
This object-oriented language provides the ability to write predictable programs, which is popular in the blockchain system. However, it can be difficult for beginners because you have to specify every construct in the program.
Solidity
The language has been specifically designed for building smart contracts. It is also one of the most widely used among beginners and already experienced developers in blockchain technology. Among programs written in this language are:
- Binance Smart Chain;
- CounterParty;
- Ethereum Classic.
Its launch is possible using different algorithms, which increases its functionality. In addition, many features were borrowed from other languages (JavaScript, C++, Python). So, they have familiar syntax. And if you are familiar with them, you can quickly write smart contracts. However, such an open-source programming language was created only in 2014, and the tool library is still under development. Therefore, its experimental implementation lies entirely with the smart contract developer.
Vyper
It is a smart contract programming language for the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). It has a general-purpose programming language and its duty to solve fundamental problems in Solidity. But it also can complement many programming languages.
It is easy to write code that is more readable and less attacked by hackers. It has pure functions and doesn’t support modifiers, inline assembly, inheritance, recursive calls, operator overloading, binary fixed points, and infinite loops.
Yul
It is an intermediate language that meets the needs of a server computer program. It supports Ethereum smart contracts and can target an advanced optimization phase. Like many other programming languages, this one provides advanced constructs – function calls and loops. As a result, novice smart contract developers can quickly master it.
It has a static type, which helps to avoid confusion in meaning and references. However, when using it, you need to compile it to bytecode. And to create smart contracts takes more time than usual. So despite easier and faster entry, it makes the development process more time-consuming.
Conclusion
Developing smart contracts largely depends on the choice of programming language. If you can choose a more straightforward language for your task and it can cope with the main challenges, it is not necessary to look at complicated smart contract languages. Among the core contributors that you should pay attention to is the degree of security.