Welcome to the world of Algorand decentralized applications (dApps)! Algo Builder is a powerful framework designed to streamline the development of Algorand assets and smart contracts. In this article, we will guide you through the process of using Algo Builder, discuss its various components, and provide troubleshooting tips along the way.
Getting Started with Algo Builder
The Algo Builder project consists of three primary components:
- algob: A framework for automating the development process of Algorand assets and smart contracts.
- web: A package to facilitate interaction with contracts through a React app frontend.
- runtime: A light Algorand runtime and TEAL interpreter to execute smart contracts.
Objectives of Algo Builder
Think of Algo Builder as the Swiss Army knife for Algorand developers. It offers a comprehensive, user-friendly platform that allows you to:
- Interactively work with assets and contracts through a REPL (Read-Eval-Print-Loop)
- Utilize an integrated testing framework for robust application development
- Access boilerplates and templates to enhance productivity
- Effortlessly onboard developers with thorough documentation and examples
The Building Blocks: Code Analogy
Using Algo Builder is akin to crafting a model airplane. Just as you need various tools like glue, paint, and instructions to assemble a stunning replica, you need specific components from Algo Builder to develop your dApp. With algob as your glue, you bind your smart contracts and assets together efficiently. The web package acts as the paint, adding color and interactivity through a React app frontend. Lastly, the runtime serves as your instruction manual, guiding your dApp through execution smoothly.
Key Documentation Resources
To dive deeper and find specific guides or instructions, refer to these valuable resources:
Example dApps for Learning
To get your feet wet, explore the various dApp templates made readily available in the Algo Builder dApp Templates repository. Using the command algob unbox-template, you can start with a pre-built dApp project featuring scripts for deploying assets and smart contracts.
Contributing to Algo Builder
Want to contribute? Here’s how the branch policy works:
- The active branch for ongoing work is develop.
- All releases are merged into the master branch.
- Hot fixes can be cherry-picked into the master.
Working with Yarn Monorepo
Managing multiple packages is made easy with yarn workspaces. Below are some commands that are instrumental:
- yarn workspaces info: Get information about workspaces.
- yarn workspaces list: List all workspaces in the project.
- yarn add algosdk: Add dependencies at the root level for all workspaces.
Remember that yarn uses symlinks to manage dependencies in a mono-repo environment effectively. If you encounter issues with conflicting third-party dependencies, take advantage of the noHoist feature in yarn workspaces.
Testing Your Development
Testing your dApps is essential. In the project, each package comes equipped with rich test suites. Use the Mocha framework to run your tests effortlessly.
Here’s how to execute tests:
- Navigate to your package, e.g., cd packages/runtime
- Run yarn build to compile TypeScript files before testing.
- Run yarn run test to execute tests.
- Use the watch command for quick iterations: mocha –watch will streamline the process by running tests automatically as you make changes.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you face any challenges while using Algo Builder, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Ensure you have the correct version of Node.js installed for compatibility.
- If tests fail, check if you have compiled TypeScript files prior to running your tests.
- For workspace dependency issues, consider exploring yarn workspaces’ noHoist feature.
- If tests in the packages/algob are unstable, refrain from using the test watcher in this particular package for the time being.
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Conclusion
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