Smart Contracts

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/smarter-contracts

Introduction

### Course Review: Smart Contracts on Coursera As blockchain technology continues to revolutionize various industries, the importance of understanding smart contracts cannot be overstated. This brings us to the course titled *Smart Contracts*, part of the Blockchain Specialization on Coursera. Designed to equip learners with critical skills in designing, coding, deploying, and executing smart contracts, this course offers an in-depth exploration of one of the most exciting facets of blockchain technology. #### Course Overview *Smart Contracts* serves as the second course in a comprehensive blockchain specialization. It delves into the practical aspects of smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms directly written into code. This course not only focuses on the theoretical underpinnings of smart contracts but also provides hands-on experience. It empowers learners to implement user-defined operations of varying complexity—capabilities that are generally unattainable through standard cryptocurrency protocols. #### Syllabus Breakdown The course is structured around four engaging modules that progressively build knowledge and skills: 1. **Smart Contract Basics** This introductory module is foundational for understanding the purpose and critical role of smart contracts within the blockchain ecosystem. It begins with an exploration of what smart contracts are, followed by practical demonstrations using the Remix web IDE, which allows learners to deploy and interact with their own smart contracts. The examples provided offer a tangible understanding of how smart contracts transform decentralized systems. 2. **Solidity** At the heart of smart contracts lies Solidity, the high-level programming language tailored for writing smart contracts on the Ethereum platform. This module is particularly noteworthy as it guides learners through mastering the basics of Solidity. With its syntax influenced by JavaScript, Java, and C++, learners are introduced to this unique language via demonstrations and practical exercises, making it easier to grasp even for those without a strong coding background. 3. **Putting it all Together** The integration module focuses on developing a Ballot smart contract. It emphasizes incremental learning, allowing students to understand time dependencies, validation mechanisms (like using access modifiers), and important debugging techniques through the use of asserts and require declarations. Event logging is also covered, giving learners insights into best practices and common pitfalls in smart contract development. 4. **Best Practices** In this final module, learners will delve into the best practices for developing effective smart contracts. They will evaluate the appropriateness of blockchain solutions for various problems and learn how to design reliable Solidity smart contracts. Additionally, best practices for utilizing the Remix IDE are covered, ensuring that students leave with a robust toolkit for creating secure and efficient smart contracts. #### Course Evaluation The *Smart Contracts* course is well-structured and effectively paced, making it accessible to a wide range of learners—from complete beginners to those with some background in programming. The combination of theory, practical applications, and best practices is a significant strength, as it prepares students to handle real-world projects. The instructional quality is commendable, with clear explanations and engaging demonstrations. The use of the Remix IDE provides a practical element that reinforces learning and promotes hands-on experience. #### Who Should Take This Course? I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in blockchain technology, programmers looking to expand their skill set, and business professionals seeking to understand the implications of smart contracts in digital transactions. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to integrate smart contracts into your business model or a developer eager to add blockchain skills to your toolkit, this course will provide you with a solid foundation. ### Conclusion Overall, the *Smart Contracts* course on Coursera is an exceptional learning resource for understanding the intricacies of smart contracts in blockchain technology. With its comprehensive syllabus, practical exercises, and focus on best practices, anyone completing this course will be well-prepared to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of blockchain applications. It’s an investment in your professional development that can open doors to opportunities in one of the most promising fields today.

Syllabus

Smart Contract Basics

The purpose of this module is to introduce the reasons for a smart contract and its critical role in transforming blockchain technology from enabling decentralized systems. We will explore the structure and basic concepts of a smart contract through examples, and illustrate Remix (remix.ethereum.org) web IDE for deploying and interacting with a smart contract.

Our goal is to master the basics of Solidity, a high-level language that is a combination of Javascript, Java and C++. It is specially designed to write smart contracts and to target the Ethereum Virtual Machine. Learners will be able to follow demonstrations and practice using Solidity.

This module focuses on the development of the Ballot smart contract incrementally to illustrate various features including time dependencies, validation outside the function code using access modifiers, asserts and require declarations, and event logging.

This module will focus on best practices including evaluating whether a blockchain-based solution is suitable for your problem, designing Solidity smart contracts, and those relating to Remix IDE.