Smart contracts have transformed the face of automation on digital platforms in a completely new way. The use of smart contracts has facilitated trustless environments where the parties involved in a transaction can trust automated code rather than any centralized institution. Smart contracts are an integral part of the emerging decentralized digital landscape, thereby implying the need for expert smart contract developers. 

Considering the use of Solidity as the preferred tool for smart contract development, the demand for positions of Solidity developer has been increasing in recent times. What is Solidity? Do you need any special skills for learning the programming language of smart contracts? Will the job role of a Solidity programmer facilitate promising long-term professional development? The following discussion helps you uncover the answers to all these questions with a detailed guide on how to become Solidity developers.

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What is Solidity?

The first obvious thing you would discover in a Solidity developer tutorial is an introduction to the programming language itself. Solidity is basically an object-oriented programming language just like JavaScript, focused particularly on smart contract development. It supports cross-platform capabilities, although most of the applications of Solidity are on Ethereum. 

The idea for Solidity programming language, proposed by Gavin Wood, took shape in 2014. The similarities of Solidity in syntax to JavaScript played a huge role in driving its adoption. Solidity offers support for inheritance alongside C3 linearization and multiple inheritances. However, it is slightly different than Java in the fact that Solidity is an inertly typed language featuring only dynamic return types. In addition, Solidity also features some elements of Python and C++. 

The uses of Solidity for smart contract development serve various use cases such as,

  • Multi-signature wallets
  • Voting  
  • Blind auctions
  • Crowdfunding

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Reasons for Learning Solidity

One can clearly notice how the demand for Solidity developer jobs has been increasing all of a sudden recently. With such an efficient language for developing smart contracts on multiple blockchain networks, smart contract developers could enhance their productivity. At the same time, enterprises working on smart contract functionalities on blockchain networks could also make the most of Solidity. 

Are these reasons enough for you to pursue the career role of a Solidity programmer? Many people would have doubts about the choice of Solidity for developing smart contracts when there are many other choices. Why is Solidity a popular choice for smart contract development? The following reasons can offer a viable answer to your question. 

  • Support for Ethereum Virtual Machine, which facilitates execution of machine-level code created by Solidity. 
  • Flexibility for compilation is another promising advantage with Solidity programming language. Developers can choose a command-line compiler on their PC or a Remix online compiler according to their preferences. 
  • The most prominent factor for the increasing demand for Solidity developer roles is the consistent improvement of Solidity itself. New language updates introduce many new features alongside bug fixes for improving the experience of developers. 

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Popularity of Solidity

Above all the notable things you need to consider before pursuing jobs as Solidity developers, the functionality of Solidity programming language is unavoidable. It is one of the most popular programming languages right now for smart contract development.  According to the Solidity Developer Survey 2020, almost 65% of respondents have been using Solidity for over a year. 

Around 93% of the respondents in the survey suggested that they used Solidity in personal projects other than work. Interestingly, almost 68% of the participants stated that they used Solidity at work. 

Another striking aspect of the survey is the outline of findings of favorite programming languages. Respondents placed Solidity at the third position behind JavaScript and Python. However, Solidity is one of the most used programming languages, especially considering the views of respondents in the Solidity Developer Survey 2020. Almost 21% of respondents in the survey anointed Solidity as the most used programming language.

What is Possible with Solidity?

All the talk about popularity of Solidity is an integral part of any Solidity developer tutorial. Now that you know about Solidity and how it is a significant programming language for smart contract development, you might be wondering about the next step. Any beginner would look for the possibilities with Solidity. What can you do with Solidity? Before you start learning about Solidity and finding job prospects as Solidity developers, you should know what Solidity is capable of. The different uses of Solidity include,

  • Creation of dApps

The first thing you need to note about the job of a Solidity programmer is the requirement for developing decentralized applications or dApps. Solidity helps in creating dApps which people could use just like other apps. Many of the dApps developed on Ethereum have been tailored to work on Solidity. 

  • Smart Contracts

The functionalities of Solidity for smart contract creation are the foremost highlights in the rising popularity of Solidity developer jobs. Decentralized apps rely on smart contracts, which can help people in exchanging money, property, stocks, and other things of value. Developers can use Solidity for tailoring smart contracts according to different use cases, thereby taking away notaries. 

  • ICO

You can also identify a promising application of Solidity in the creation of ICOs. Developers could easily create personal tokens followed by launching the ICOs on Ethereum. Such types of symbols are referred to as ERC20 tokens. 

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Opportunities for Solidity Developers

The basic overview of Solidity, its features, and functionalities alongside its popularity among developers present adequate reasons for anyone to pursue Solidity developer roles. However, aspiring professionals would still have many other doubts regarding possibilities of a career as Solidity programmers. 

One of the foremost concerns of aspiring Solidity developers would obviously point towards expected Solidity developer salary estimates. A clear breakdown of the average annual salary for Solidity developers in different geographical regions can shed further light on career opportunities with Solidity. 

The average annual salary for a Solidity programmer in the USA is around $127,500. At the same time, the average annual salary for Solidity developers in Asia is $125,000. However, the Solidity developer salary for remote working positions is $145,000 annually. Interestingly, your experience and skills play a major role in your professional growth as Solidity developers, subsequently enhancing your salary. 

What is the Work of Solidity Developers?

Many beginners and professionals seeking jobs in Solidity development would obviously seek the easiest route. As a result, you may come across the question of “How long does it take to become a Solidity developer?” especially in the initial stages of preparation. However, the fundamentals of Solidity will only help you understand the language. 

You need months of rigorous training, learning, and practice for using Solidity to develop smart contracts or dApps. The overview of reasons to pursue Solidity developer jobs featuring an outline of helpful functionalities of the programming language and its popularity offer motivation. However, many beginners don’t have a clear idea about where to start in their journey of becoming Solidity developers. 

The first step in your journey of becoming a Solidity developer would be an outline of associated responsibilities. What will you do in the role of Solidity developers? The answer will help you understand what you are getting into and determine whether Solidity programming is suitable for you. The important responsibilities in the job or Solidity developers are as follows,

  • Interpretation of client requirements for the blockchain solutions architect.
  • Supervising and participating in smart contract development projects.
  • Development of new functionalities and enhancements with stability, efficiency, and improved testing. 
  • Working on Solidity code integration across various client platforms.
  • Assessment of technical reviews of solutions.
  • Ensuring blockchain integration with existing applications.
  • Collaboration with product managers and multi-disciplinary teams for uncovering new ideas on smart contract development. 

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Skills Required for Solidity Developer Jobs

Now that you know what you have to do as Solidity developers, you must be aware that you need skills. Without the relevant skills and knowledge, you can barely manage to scrape the surface of the responsibilities of Solidity programmers. Therefore, you must fulfill all the necessary prerequisites for the job of a Solidity developer before you dive into training. Solidity is a smart contract programming language, and you need the following traits before you start learning more about it. 

  • First of all, you must develop a formal understanding of Ethereum blockchain, its working, and use cases. 
  • You should also have a fundamental impression of blockchain technology and the related concepts. 
  • Basic experience with programming languages can also serve as a vital advantage for learning Solidity. 

Interestingly, almost any individual aspiring to build smart contracts can learn Solidity. As you grow in your career as a Solidity programmer, you will have to fulfill other skill requirements such as, 

  • Practical working experience on different blockchain platforms.
  • Professional experience in architecture or design of blockchain projects based on Solidity. 
  • Hands-on experience in smart contract architecture, development, and applications. 

Above all these skills required at different stages of your career in Solidity developer jobs, you would need the following traits at all times. 

  • Commitment to the DLT and web 3.0 landscape.
  • Zeal for learning more about emerging blockchain technologies. 
  • Teamwork spirit with capabilities for working in multi-disciplinary teams. 
  • Project and client management skills. 

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Roadmap for Becoming Solidity Developer

The stage has been set, the opportunities are clear, and you need directions to start preparing for Solidity programming jobs. Well, you could learn Solidity anyway you like and what suits you best. However, a guided approach to your preparations can play a crucial role in monitoring your growth as a Solidity programming professional. 

Most important of all, a roadmap could also help you find the exact answer for “How long does it take to become a Solidity developer?” with an overview of the stages you have to go through. Here are the important steps you can follow in a career roadmap for Solidity developers. 

  • Begin with the Fundamentals

Cover all the simple concepts you can about everything related to Solidity and smart contracts. Learn about the evolution of web 3.0 and basics of blockchain, as well as notable blockchain networks. Furthermore, you must also familiarize with the fundamentals of decentralized applications and how they work. While you are at the fundamentals, you should also hone your programming skills for front-end and back-end development tasks. At the same time, you should also go through Solidity documentation to find out the useful features it offers for smart contract development. 

  • Dive into Technicalities

Once you are done with the basics, you can take your learning journey to the next step. Learn more about Solidity smart contract basics and how EVM works with Solidity. In addition, you need to learn more about Solidity operators and how they offer crucial functionalities. Most important of all, Solidity programmer job aspirants should also learn about Remix, the Solidity IDE. Remix is a vital requirement for writing, compiling, and debugging Solidity code. 

  • Trust Credible Learning Resources

The internet is a massive treasure trove of information on anything you can think of. However, you cannot pick up any random learning resource to become a Solidity developer. Look for training courses on Solidity with a detailed explanation of all topics and concepts alongside a practical understanding of its uses. 

You need courses that not only teach you about Solidity but also prepare you for using it in real applications. In addition, you need to look for platforms that offer verifiable credentials for your expertise in Solidity through certification. Once you have mastered the use of Solidity for smart contract development, certification can enhance your prospects for becoming a Solidity programmer.

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Conclusion

The road to your objective may have difficulties spread all over it. However, the dedication for Solidity and a career in blockchain development could drive you ahead even on the most difficult paths. Solidity is undoubtedly one of the most commonly used programming languages for smart contract development now. 

With the promising career opportunities in the form of lucrative Solidity developer salary estimates and emerging features and improvements in Solidity, the demand for jobs in Solidity programming would increase in the future. You can capitalize on the opportunities for a career as Solidity smart contract developer or dApp developer by choosing the right path. Learn more about Solidity and explore the different possibilities for your career as a Solidity expert now.

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