The Solana network is a third-generation, high-performance, permissionless blockchain and an open-source project maintained by the Solana Foundation. Anatoly Yakovenko published the Solana whitepaper in November 2017, and the first block was created in 2020. The network can process over 50,000 transactions per second (TPS) with an average transaction cost of $0.00025. This efficiency results from a unique combination of Proof of Stake (PoS) and Proof of History (PoH) consensus mechanisms.
Unlike Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-based blockchains using Solidity, Solana requires developers to handle low-level operations such as memory management and pointers. This contributes to Solana’s high performance but increases development complexity.
The Anchor Framework simplifies Solana smart contract development by abstracting these low-level complexities, allowing developers to focus on business logic. Anchor streamlines the creation of secure and efficient smart contracts for the Solana blockchain.
To develop smart contracts for the Solana blockchain, you need the following tools:
1. The Rust Programming Language
Install Rust using rustup. Verify the installation with:
rustc --version
Update Rust using:
rustup update
2. NodeJS
After installing Node.js, verify the installation with:
node -v
3. The Solana Tool Suite
This is a collection of tools for interacting with the Solana network. Follow the installation instructions at Solana's official documentation. Verify the installation with:
solana --version
Expected output:
Installed Versions:
Rust: rustc 1.86.0 (05f9846f8 2025-03-31)
Solana CLI: solana-cli 2.2.12 (src:0315eb6a; feat:1522022101, client:Agave)
Anchor CLI: anchor-cli 0.31.1
Node.js: v23.11.0
Yarn: 1.22.1
4. Anchor Framework
Install Anchor using Rust’s package manager, Cargo. Additionally, install the Anchor Version Manager (AVM). Verify the installation with:
anchor --version
avm --version
5. Phantom Wallet
Install the Phantom Wallet browser extension from phantom.app.
6. Solana Playground
To dive into Solana development with minimal setup, Solana Playground is an excellent starting point. This web-based IDE allows you to write, compile, and deploy Solana programs (smart contracts) without complex local installations. While it doesn't provide access to full project files, its simplicity and browser-based environment make it ideal for beginners and rapid prototyping.