Welcome to the world of Solana! This guide will walk you through building and testing applications on the Solana blockchain. Whether you are a seasoned developer or just starting, you’ll find the steps outlined here user-friendly. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get started!

Step 1: Installing Rust Tools

The first step to building on Solana is installing the necessary Rust tools. Think of this as gathering your tools before you start a complex home improvement project. Without the right tools, you can’t build anything effectively!

bash
$ curl https://sh.rustup.rs -sSf | sh
$ source $HOME/.cargo/env
$ rustup component add rustfmt

While building the master branch, make sure you are using the latest stable Rust version:

bash
$ rustup update

If you are targeting a specific release branch, refer to the cirust-version.sh file for guidance. Also, don’t forget to install any required dependencies on your operating system:

For Linux Systems

You may need to install additional libraries:

• On Ubuntu:

bash
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install libssl-dev libudev-dev pkg-config zlib1g-dev llvm clang cmake make libprotobuf-dev protobuf-compiler

• On Fedora:

bash
$ sudo dnf install openssl-devel systemd-devel pkg-config zlib-devel llvm clang cmake make protobuf-devel protobuf-compiler perl-core

Step 2: Downloading the Source Code

This is akin to getting your blueprints ready before construction. You need the foundation before you can build your app!

bash
$ git clone https://github.com/solana-labs/solana.git
$ cd solana

Step 3: Building the Project

Now that we have everything set up, it’s time to build the project!

bash
$ cargo build

Running Tests

After building your project, it’s essential to run tests to ensure everything is working smoothly. Think of this as inspecting your work before the final reveal.

bash
$ cargo test

Starting a Local Testnet

You can set up your own testnet locally, and the instructions for that can be found in the online docs.

Accessing the Remote Development Cluster

For development purposes, you can access the stable public cluster via devnet.solana.com. This is a reliable environment to test your applications.

Benchmarking Your Application

If you want to evaluate the performance of your app, first install the nightly build of Rust. This is similar to using advanced tools for deeper inspection.

bash
$ rustup install nightly
$ cargo +nightly bench

Understanding Code Coverage

After you make changes to your code, it’s important to check that everything is still functioning correctly—the equivalent of giving your house a thorough inspection after renovations.

bash
$ scripts/coverage.sh
$ open target/cov/lcov-local/index.html

Running code coverage is crucial for ensuring code quality and developer productivity. Whenever you implement a change, verify that it doesn’t inadvertently break existing functionality.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues, here are a few ideas to troubleshoot:

• Ensure that all required dependencies are installed on your system.
• Check for version mismatches in Rust and your dependencies.
• Review the logs for any error messages that might hint at the problem.
• Consult the Solana documentation for additional guidance.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Final Thoughts

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.