Introduction
Blockchain technology keeps on changing as technology evolves and this includes transaction methods to allow new users enjoy cryptocurrency transaction without losing their access, so there is need to test before participating in real cryptocurrency transaction and that is where Testnet or testing network comes in.
What is Testnet?
Testnet can also be called a field or environment where developers and users can experiment some features and functionalities of mainnet in blockchain network without showing cryptocurrency transaction.
The main purpose of testnet is to help blockchain developers because it gives them the opportunity to test new features new smart contracts before adding it to the mainnet.
This helps to reduce risk of losing assets because on the process of testing they will find out any issue that need adjustment or any of obstruction such new feature can cause in the mainnet.
Bugs are serious problem in the blockchain, so during testnet developers will detect those bugs and resolve them this will help to keep the integrity of the platform intact, not just the developers benefit from testnet the community also benefits because Testnet provides platform where communities can check out for new changes and they will contribute by giving an honest feedback on how they see the new update.
Types of Testnets.
Various types of testnet, private public and faucet Testnet.
Private testnet Is only for developers who are working on a project and they alone have control of what happens in the network.
Public testnet are open for anyone who wishes to join just like the ethereum reposten where they use testnet token with no value to practice mainnet environment, examples of public Testnet are Ropsten, Kovan and Rinkeby Ethereum.
Faucet is a free to air practice environment where Testnet tokens are free and developers can use those tokens to conduct transactions without real cryptocurrency.
Challenges facing Testnet.
Testnet face security issues so developers are always alert and they apply security measures, Testnet also experience limited resources which might affect performance in the Testnet, sometimes there is shortage of token because those token have no value in the real world tokens.
There are also various components of Testnet like the Testnet token that is used to test transactions, also Testnet mining helps developers to check the consensus algorithm and see how the network functions before approving mainnet mining which involves real transactions in the Blockchain.
Use cases of Testnet.
Binance smart chain Testnet, etherum Testnet and polkadot Testnet are successful use cases of Testnet they are similar to real Blockchain platforms and smart contract and dapps are tested first before deploying them to the Mainnet.
Advantages of Testnet.
Helps to understand tokenomics
There is need for a new user to understand how tokens are being distributed and how they can manage their tokens and how they can earn tokens all this can be learned during practice on Testnet.
Testnet is just a playground that get users ready for what will happen in the mainnet and get them ready for other activities in the Blockchain technology.
Testnet enhances community collaboration.
Testnet encourages team work and helps to get honest feedbacks and see room for improvement
Helps to provide basic knowledge of Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency.
From Testnet new users will learn and understand the fundamental basics of Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency transactions, as well as smart contracts, they learn how to create and apply smart contract, they will also get to understand the consensusmechanism and they will get the opportunity to explore the real world Blockchain technology without fear of losing your assets.
New ones with Testnet will understand how dapp and programming works.
They will also get knowledge of what to do Incase of bugs, how to fix the problem before forcing it to the mainnet.
Testnet provides coding practice for different Blockchain programming languages and this training equips users to acquire necessary skills for dealing with challenges that comes in Blockchain applications.
It also helps users to learn more security measures, how to secure smart contract developments and more.
On Testnet users have the opportunity to try various consensus mechanism thereby learning how decision are being made in the Blockchain, they will learn how updates are made and the Blockchain governance in general.
Testnet Helps to build a strong and secured foundation for the Blockchain .
Private Testnet helps developers to keep specific projects isolated till they are done testing and satisfied with its scalability and everything before deployment to the mainnet, private Testnet keeps all new project confidential till its due for public release and this helps to manage resources.
- Most importantly Testnet helps to gather feedback from the community before deployment of a certain project, gather any bug report and know where and how to improve before a project is deployed, it also helps to reduce risk of security breaches and malicious hackers.
Conclusion
There are so many so many complexity in the cryptocurrency Blockchain network so it will be disastrous to deploy an untested project,also that will put into questioning the integrity of the platform because users might lose their hard earned assets on the process of trying out a new untested project, Testnet helps to avoid such catastrophic outcome in the Blockchain network and also helps to keep a calm and safe environment in the system, it brings more advancement to the decentralized system.