Build Decentralized Apps

dApps introduction

A decentralized application (dApp) is an application with its backend code running on a decentralized, peer-to-peer network. Unlike traditional apps that rely on centralized servers for backend operations, dApps leverage a distributed blockchain for executing code.

dApps can have frontend code and user interfaces written in any programming language, just like traditional apps. These frontends make calls to the dApp's backend (smart contracts), and they can also be hosted on decentralized storage systems such as IPFS.

Key characteristics of dApps on our blockchain include:

• Decentralized: dApps operate on an open, public, decentralized blockchain, ensuring that no single person or group has control over the application.

• Deterministic: dApps perform the same function regardless of the environment in which they are executed.

• Turing complete: dApps can perform any action provided they have the necessary resources.

• Isolated: dApps are executed in a virtual environment (our blockchain's Virtual Machine), ensuring that if a smart contract has a bug, it won’t affect the overall functioning of the blockchain network.

On Smart Contracts

To understand dApps, it's essential to understand smart contracts — they are essentially the backend of a dApp. A smart contract is code that lives on the blockchain and runs exactly as programmed. Once deployed on the network, smart contracts cannot be changed. This immutability is what makes dApps decentralized, as they are governed by the logic embedded in the contract itself rather than by an individual or entity.

As a result, careful design and thorough testing of smart contracts are critical since updates post-deployment can be challenging.

Benefits of Developing dApps

• Zero downtime: Once deployed on the blockchain, the network will always be able to serve clients interacting with the contract. Malicious actors cannot target individual dApps with denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.

• Privacy: There's no need to provide personal, real-world identity information to deploy or interact with a dApp.

• Censorship resistance: No single entity can block users from submitting transactions, deploying dApps, or reading data on the blockchain.

• Data integrity: Data stored on the blockchain is immutable, thanks to cryptographic security, ensuring that transactions and other information cannot be altered or forged once made public.

• Trustless computation: Smart contracts execute in a predictable manner, guaranteed by the blockchain, removing the need for a central authority. This is unlike traditional systems where users must trust entities, like banks, to safeguard and manage sensitive data.

• Drawbacks of Developing dApps

• Maintenance: dApps can be difficult to maintain due to the immutability of blockchain code and data. Developers may find it hard to update their dApps or modify stored data once deployed, even when security issues or bugs are discovered.

• Performance overhead: Due to the decentralized nature of the network, every node stores and processes each transaction, creating performance overhead. Additionally, the consensus mechanism (e.g., Proof-of-Stake) adds further delays.

• Network congestion: If a dApp consumes excessive computational resources, it may slow down the entire network. The number of transactions the blockchain can process per second is limited, leading to congestion when demand exceeds capacity.

• User experience: The average end-user might find it difficult to set up the necessary tools to interact with the blockchain securely. Ensuring a seamless and user-friendly experience is often more challenging than with traditional apps.

• Centralization risks: Some developer-friendly or user-friendly solutions may compromise the decentralized nature of dApps by relying on centralized components. For example, storing private keys server-side or running certain business logic on centralized servers might erode the benefits of blockchain technology.