Apress Blockchain Essentials: Core Concepts and Implementations

This book will teach you the core concepts of blockchain technology in a concise manner through straightforward, concrete examples using a range of programming languages, including Python and Solidity. The 50 programs presented in this book are all you need to gain a firm understanding of blockchain and how to implement it. The book begins with an introduction to the fundamentals of blockchain technology, followed by a review of its types, framework, applications and challenges. Moving ahead, you will learn basic blockchain programming with hash functions, authentication code, and Merkle trees. You will then dive into the basics of bitcoin, including wallets, digital keys, transactions, digital signatures, and more. This is followed by a crash course on Ethereum programming, its network, and ecosystem. As you progress through the book, you will also learn about Hyperledger and put your newly-gained knowledge to work through case studies and example applications. After reading this book, you will understand blockchain’s underlying concepts and its common implementations. What You Will Learn Master theoretical and practical implementations of various blockchain components using Python Implement hashing, Merkel trees, and smart contracts using the Solidity programming language for various applications Grasp the internal structure of EVM and its implementation in smart contracts Understand why blockchain plays an essential role in cryptocurrencies and identify possible applications beyond cryptocurrencies Investigate and apply alternative blockchain solutions using Hyperledger, including its integration and deployment Explore research opportunities through case studies and gain an overview of implementation using various languages Who Is This Book For: Anyone who is new to blockchain and wants to gain anan understanding of how it works and can be implemented.