Basics is always the most important part, and this is the same in blockchain and smart contract study. We will focusing on four parts in our procedure of learning:
Listening lectures
Reading textbooks
Writing codes
Speaking to experts
Please DO NOT wait to learn those blockchain materials until you finished all the prerequisites. They should be able to be learned in parallel. You can learn them in any order you prefer, and that's totally fine.
0. prerequisite
Just like learning Data Science or Machine Learning, learning Blockchain technologies also have prerequisites. But don't worry, because the barrier of Blockchain is not high for beginners. Let see what do we need to know before we get started
Note: all the learning resources can be easily found with Google, do your own research ;)
Programming languages basics
There are already many tutorials onlines to teach people all kinds of language, the only question here is what language to learn first if you don't have any programming background.
JavaScript: JavaScript, which is also called ECMAScript (ECMA means European Computer Manufacturer's Association), is a language worth to spend time on learning, beacuse many blockchain projects will more or less relating to this language. Even solidity, which is the language people use to program on Ethereum, is influenced by JavaScript/ECMAScript and C++. [Highly recommened]
Python: If you were from Computer Science or Data Science field, then you will very likely to be familiar with this interpreted high-level programming language. It was first released in 1991, and was designed by Guido van Rossum. Python is very powerful because if can fit various kinds of projects, and it has a design philosophy that emphasizes code readability, which means it is conceptually easier to learn than those lower-level programming languages. [Also hightly recommend]
Interactive tutorial: Learn Python in CodeCademy
Java/C++: Many Universities will choose one of these two object-orientied programming languages for the first course of Computer Science, thus it is also a must have for anyone who
Theoretical basics
Different from Data Science, Blockchain doesn't need that much understanding on knowledge in different fields. But some understanding in cryptography will be a plus for anyone interested in building Blockchain platforms.
Cryptography: Basic cryptography can help the understanding of how blockchain works, though finishing some serious course is recommended, it is not necessary to learn this before your blockchain learning journey, because most of the knowledge will be covered by the lectures or textbooks if they are needed.
Course: Cryptography I by DanBoneh, Professor Stanford University
1. Listen lectures
This part is intended to give you a concrete conceptual understanding to blockchain and Bitcoin. You can choose to finish all the assignments in the courses, which will give you more practice in the development part.
Courses:
Youtube Videos:
- Simply Explained - Savjee Savjee makes all the blockchain and smart contract concepts very easy to understand, so definitely check this channel.
2. Reading textbooks
Some textbooks makes learning blockchain really easy, and reading textbook can help you understand complicated concepts naturally.
Bitcoin And Cryptocurrency Technologies This is the textbook used for the Princeton University Coursera course.
Mastering Bitcoin This book is recommended for people who want to understand how Bitcoin and blockchain works
3. Writing codes
After all of the basic building, it's time to use the skills you learned to earn some rewards. That can be either prize from Hackathon or token rewards for building DApps on their platforms.
Finding a good platform and start to build!
Ethereum (ETH)
If you have passion in building DApp (Decentrualized Application) on Etherenum blockchain, then you need to learn Solidity contract-oriented programming language. There is an awesome tutorial in here that guides you to learn Solidity by Robbert Vermeulen on Medium.
Other blockchains that supports Smart Contract
There are other platforms that are also great for you to practice, and some of them are even more developer friendly, so don't miss them as well.
Nebulas Developer Incentive 100 free Nebulas reward once you upload your project built with JavaScript.
Find an internship in the field of blockchain, and focus on the cities that have the most blockchain job opportunities.
4. Speaking to experts
Local Blockchain Meetups: Joining local meet ups events about blockchain, and there are many of them right now. If there is no one in your place, then you can be the leader for that.
Participating even more formal conferences, such as
Any large blockchain events you are interested to join.
Conclusion
Just like learning any of knowledge and art, studying blockchain and smart contract also requires you to focus on it and spend lots of time and patient to practice it.
We all want to become a master right away, but the fastest way is actually just to find the best method to learn, and then do it everyday, until it becomes you lifestyle. Then you will be the one that can use the power of blockchain to change the world.
Additional Learning Resources
Awesome Solidity - bkrem
Where To Learn Solidity? - DelegateCall