Ethereum Development
Overview
The Ethereum notes focus on what makes Ethereum different from Bitcoin-style systems: it is not only a ledger for money transfer, but a programmable platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications.
Core Areas
Smart Contracts and the EVM
Ethereum contracts are compiled to bytecode executed by the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Every node processes the same contract logic and contributes to agreement on resulting state changes.
Account and State Model
Unlike Bitcoin’s UTXO model, Ethereum uses accounts and tracks current contract state directly. This makes application logic easier to express, but also introduces its own complexity around state transitions and gas.
Token Standards
The notes emphasize standards because they unlock interoperability:
- ERC-20 for fungible tokens
- ERC-721 for unique assets and collectibles
DApp Development
Ethereum development often combines:
- Solidity contracts
- wallet-based user interaction
- token or asset standards
- frontend integration with providers or libraries
Relationships
- DApp — DApps are one of the main products built on Ethereum
- ERC-721 — important token standard for non-fungible assets
- Smart Contracts — contract execution is the core of Ethereum development
- Cryptocurrency Fundamentals — broader blockchain and consensus context
References
- Blockchain study plan and resources - ethereum and hyperledger
- How Ethereum Works - CoinDesk
- 0501 Tokens on Ethereum
- 0502 ERC721 Standard, Multiple Inheritance