How To Build dApps: Polygon Network

March 3, 2023

Polygon, formerly known as Matic, is a layer-2 scaling solution for the Ethereum network. It is meant to fix the Ethereum blockchain’s scaling problems by giving a variety of layer-2 scaling solutions, such as sidechains, zk-rollups, etc.

In this article, we will look at the limits of Ethereum, why Polygon is a useful platform for building decentralized applications, and how to build decentralized applications (dApps) on the Polygon network. Unlike traditional applications, dApps have their backend code running on a decentralized peer-to-peer network like Ethereum or Solana, which is essential for them to qualify as true dApps.

The Limitations of the Ethereum Blockchain and how Polygon is Addressing Them

Ethereum is a popular blockchain for decentralized app development, but it has some limitations that can make it hard for dApps to grow and scale. One of the main limitations of the Ethereum blockchain is its high transaction fees. Traditional applications run on centralized servers, which contrasts with dApps that run their backend code on a blockchain. As the popularity of dApps on the Ethereum network grows, so does the demand for transactions, which can drive up the fees for using the network.

Another limitation of Ethereum is its scalability. Ethereum is designed to handle a limited number of transactions per second, which can result in slow transaction times and a backlog of unprocessed transactions during times of high demand.

Polygon offers layer-2 scalable Ethereum solutions to fix these problems. Polygon is built on top of the Ethereum network and provides a range of scaling solutions, including sidechains, zk-rollups, and optimistic rollups, to help dApps scale and process more transactions per second.

By using Polygon, dApps can significantly lower their transaction fees because Polygon’s layer 2 solutions can handle transactions faster and more efficiently than the Ethereum network alone. This makes it affordable for developers to build and deploy dApps on the network, which opens the door for developers to make new and interesting dApps.

In addition to fixing the Ethereum network’s problems with scalability and cost, Polygon gives developers a variety of tools and resources to make it easier for them to build decentralized applications (dApps) on the network. These tools include development environments like Remix, Truffle, and Hardhat, as well as documentation and tutorials to help developers get started building on the network.

Overall, the Ethereum blockchain has some limitations that can make it hard for dApps to grow and scale. But developers can get around these problems by using Polygon as a layer-2 scaling solution. This lets them make dApps that are more scalable, affordable, and efficient.

Why Should You Consider Developing a dApp on the Polygon Blockchain?

Scalability

Polygon offers scalability, making it ideal for decentralized apps that require fast and efficient transactions.

Low transaction fees

The transaction fees for using Polygon are significantly lower than those for using the Ethereum network, making it more affordable for developers to build and deploy Polygon dApps.

Developer tools and resources

Polygon offers a wide range of developer tools and resources, such as development environments like Remix, Truffle, and Hardhat. These tools help developers write and manage the source code for their smart contracts, as well as documentation and

Interoperability with other blockchain networks

The Polygon network is interoperable with existing blockchain technology networks, allowing dApps built on Polygon to easily interact with other blockchain networks. This interoperability enables decentralized software applications to interact seamlessly with other blockchain networks.

Strong community

Polygon has a strong community of developers and users who are actively building and using dApps on the network, providing support and resources for developers, and a user base for dApp developers to target.

Security and reliability

The Polygon network is safe and reliable, with strong security measures in place to protect against hacks and other security threats.

Layer 2 scaling solutions

Polygon offers a range of layer 2 scaling solutions, including sidechains, zk-rollups, etc giving developers a range of options to choose from when building and scaling their Polygon dApp.

Exploring the Layers of the Polygon Ecosystem

Polygon PoS

The Polygon network uses Polygon Proof of Stake (PoS) as a consensus mechanism to verify transactions and create new blocks. This system is compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), which means that developers can move their Ethereum apps to Polygon with only minor code changes. This makes it easy for developers to start building decentralized apps on the Polygon platform without having to start from scratch.

One of the biggest advantages of Polygon PoS is its high throughput. This means that Polygon’s scalable solutions can process a large number of transactions quickly and efficiently. Running backend code on a decentralized network like Polygon PoS ensures faster and more efficient transaction processing for dApps.

Additionally, it offers low transaction fees, which makes it more affordable for users to access decentralized apps while still maintaining high standards of security.

Polygon PoS is run by a decentralized network of proof-of-stake validators who hold and stake cryptocurrency on the network. This makes the validation process faster and more efficient, while also reducing energy consumption, network congestion and transaction fees. All of these factors make Polygon PoS an attractive option for developers and users looking to build and use decentralized apps on the blockchain.

Polygon zkEVM

Smart contracts are a crucial part of many applications, but they can be slow and expensive to execute. Polygon's solution to this problem is zkEVM, a layer 2 scaling solution that uses zero-knowledge proofs to enable faster and more efficient smart contract execution. This technology improves the performance and efficiency of smart contracts without compromising on security.

How Do I Create a Decentralized Application on Polygon?

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Infographic of how to create a dApp on Polygon

Step 1: Choose your development environment

The first step in building a dApp on the Polygon blockchain is to choose your development environment. Solidity is the most popular programming language for developing decentralized applications on Ethereum and Polygon.

It is a contract-oriented language that allows you to write smart contracts for the blockchain. You can use tools like Remix, Truffle, or Hardhat to develop your smart contracts.

Remix is an online Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Solidity that lets you write, compile, and run smart contracts. Truffle is a development framework that gives you a set of tools for building, testing and deploying smart contracts.

Hardhat is another development environment that has all the additional features and the tools you need to make, test, and create decentralized applications that use smart contracts.

Step 2: Set up a Polygon node

The next step is to set up a Polygon node to interact with the Polygon network. You can either set up a local node or use a public RPC node provided by Polygon. Setting up a local node requires some technical expertise, but it gives you more control over the network. Alternatively, you can use a public RPC node to simplify the process.

A local node is a node that runs on your computer and allows you to interact with the blockchain directly. To set up a local node, you need to install the Polygon client software and sync it with the network. Once your node is synced with the main blockchain, you can use it to talk to the network and put your smart contracts into action.

Moreover, you can also use an RPC node hosted by a third-party provider, which allows you to interact with the network without setting up your own node. You can use the Infura or Alchemy providers to connect to the Polygon network.

Step 3: Create smart contracts

Now that you have set up your development environment and Polygon node, it’s time to create your smart contracts. You can use Solidity to write your smart contracts and then compile and deploy them on the Polygon network. Solidity is a contract-oriented language that allows you to write smart contracts for the blockchain.

To create your smart contracts, you need to write the code in Solidity and then compile it using a compiler. To compile your smart contracts, you can use the Solidity compiler that Remix or Truffle give you. Once your smart contracts are compiled, you can deploy them on the Polygon network using the web3 provider. Once the smart contracts are deployed, they can be interacted with to provide end-to-end decentralized application functionality.

Step 4: Build a front-end application

The next step is to build the front-end application for your dApp. You can use any front-end technology, like React, Angular, or Vue.js, to build your application. Your application will interact with the smart contracts on the Polygon network.

To build your front-end application, you need to create a user interface that allows users to interact with your dApp. You can use web3.js or ethers.js to interact with the smart contracts on the Polygon network.

These libraries provide a set of tools for interacting with the blockchain, such as reading data from the blockchain, writing data to the blockchain, and sending transactions.

Step 5: Deploy your decentralized application

Now it’s time to deploy your dApp on the Polygon network. To do this, you’ll need to use decentralized cloud storage like IPFS or Arweave to store your front-end application. These decentralized storage networks allow you to store your files in a distributed manner, making it easy for users to access your dApp from anywhere in the world.

Once you’ve stored your front-end application on a decentralized network, you’ll need to connect your application to the Polygon network using a web3 provider like Metamask, Portis, etc. These providers make it possible for your users to send transactions to your smart contracts in order to interact with your dApp. Deploying an Ethereum smart contract on the Polygon network allows users to interact with your dApp through these services. You’ll need to deploy separate smart contracts on Polygon to enable users to interact with your dApp through these services.

Once your application is connected to the network, you’re ready to launch. Your users can start interacting with your smart contracts and start using your dApp. It’s important to remember that deploying a dApp on the blockchain is a complex process, so it’s always a good idea to thoroughly test your application before launching it to the public.

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