How to Develop Blockchain Application: Step-by-Step Guide

With the surge in digital transactions and data exchange, businesses have been on a continuous quest for robust and secure solutions.

Enter Hyperledger Fabric, a shining star in the blockchain galaxy, popular among medium and large enterprises. 

Our focal point today is how to develop blockchain applications for both mobile and web clients using this innovative platform.

Hyperledger Fabric sets itself apart by providing robust anonymity and security for user transactions and data. 

Couple that with Kubernetes’ scalability, resilience, and efficient management, and you have a highly efficient, secure ecosystem. Let’s delve deeper into this exciting journey of application development with Hyperledger Fabric!

Blockchain Magic: Revolutionizing Industries Across The Globe

Have you heard of it? The word on the street is all about blockchain, the latest cutting-edge technology that’s transforming industries far and wide.

By merging this phenomenal tech with enterprise mobile or web applications, businesses can tap into a new realm of security, efficiency, and customer interaction. 

Let’s dive into how this can revolutionize a few sectors.

The Game-Changer for Supply Chain Management

Imagine being able to follow your product’s journey from the factory floor to your front door, all from the convenience of a mobile app.

Blockchain can make it happen. This futuristic technology can be integrated into mobile apps to trace a product’s odyssey, including all its stops along the way. 

Customers can instantly access details like shifts in order, serial digits, volume, storage specifics, quality control, and delivery updates.

Money Matters: A Leap Forward for Financial Institutions

In the realm of finance, blockchain can work wonders. For instance, consider a stockbroking firm offering an app that doubles as a digital wallet.

With blockchain at its heart, transactions become a breeze, promising security and speed in equal measures.

A Healthy Dose of Blockchain for Healthcare

The healthcare sector, too, stands to gain from the blockchain boom. From maintaining health records and conducting medical trials to processing insurance claims, this amazing technology can be integrated into mobile or web apps to create a seamless and secure healthcare experience.

Real Estate Rethought: Sealing the Deal with Blockchain

Lastly, let’s consider the bustling world of real estate. Here, integrating blockchain into mobile or web applications can revolutionize property transactions.

Say goodbye to tedious paperwork and say hello to verifiable, accurate documents ensured by smart contracts. Buying or selling property could soon be as easy as a swipe on your screen!

Hyperledger Fabric: Revolutionizing the Blockchain Landscape

Imagine a digital universe where the privacy of your transactions is not compromised, and data is securely exchanged between parties. This is exactly what Hyperledger Fabric, a product nurtured by the Linux Foundation, provides. 

It’s a unique blockchain solution that is not public but exclusive, offering admission only to those specifically invited.

The Intricacies of Permission and Privacy in Hyperledger Fabric

Unlike public blockchains, Hyperledger Fabric establishes a private playground where each participant and transaction is meticulously recognized and recorded. That’s the beauty of a ‘permissioned’ framework! 

This advanced infrastructure could be either on-prem or cloud-based, ready to cater to your business needs.

The Power of Connectivity: Hyperledger Fabric’s Core Function

Hyperledger Fabric shines when it bridges communication between several entities. The sole purpose of this blockchain solution is to sow seeds of trust among organizations and parties.

It enables the secure sharing of sensitive information, rendering the network futile without multiple participant interaction.

Peeking into Fabric’s Key Features

Let’s look at its vast features —

Asset Exchange in a Blink

Fabric simplifies the process of asset exchange over the network. It’s like sending money to your friend halfway across the globe, all with just a few clicks.

Chaincode: Fabric’s Smart Contract Prodigy

The chaincode, akin to a smart contract in the Fabric ecosystem, seamlessly executed agreements between parties.

Ledger Magic: Your Personal Transaction Diary

Fabric’s ledger feature embeds every transaction ever made within each channel, accompanied by a query capability that’s as smooth as SQL.

Fabric’s Take on Privacy

Every participant in a Fabric network is obligated to authenticate their identity via a Membership Service Provider (MSP).

This protocol ensures enhanced data protection, making Fabric a preferred choice across multiple industries.

Channels: Your Private Transaction Tunnels

Fabric offers an innovative framework called ‘Channels’ to encapsulate specific transactions, thereby providing an additional layer of privacy.

Scalability: Fabric’s Ace

Fabric’s power to scale is a key attraction for large enterprises. Need to include more participants or handle larger data sets? Fabric’s got your back. With a few nods, you can quickly scale up or down as needed.

Modularity: Tailored for Your Needs

The Fabric ecosystem is akin to a set of Lego blocks. With its modular design, businesses can add, remove, or implement individual components without any impact on overall functionality.

Whether it’s consensus-building, identity management, or ledger storage – you can mix and match to find your perfect fit.

Inside the Hyperledger Fabric Universe: Meet the Core Components

Peel back the layers of the Hyperledger Fabric application, and you’ll find a rich architecture made up of four central elements. Let’s embark on a journey to discover these components!

1. The Peer: The Data Warehouse of Fabric

Imagine a library that meticulously records and stores each transaction conducted on a channel. This is what we call a ‘Peer’ in the Hyperledger Fabric ecosystem.

It’s like the tireless librarian of the blockchain world, organizing transaction records for as many channels as it’s connected to. 

And the best part? Each channel’s storage is isolated, ensuring your confidential data is accessible only to the right parties.

2. Orderer: The Ringmaster of the Consensus Mechanism

An orderer in the Hyperledger Fabric universe is like a skilled orchestra conductor. Its pivotal role is to sequence transactions into neat blocks, like a maestro crafting a harmonious symphony. 

Once the new block of transactions is ready, it broadcasts it to all other peers via the appropriate channel, ensuring the blockchain’s rhythm stays consistent.

3. Certified Authority (CA): The Gatekeeper of User Certificates

Handling user certificate management is no easy task, and that’s where the Certified Authority (CA) comes in. From user enrollment to cancellation, the CA has it all under control. 

Think of it as the doorman of the Hyperledger Fabric club, distributing special X.509 standard certificates that reveal each user’s unique permissions, roles, and attributes. This permissioned access allows users to query or execute transactions on any compatible channel.

4. The Client: Your Personal Portal to the Fabric Network

Last, but not least, we have the ‘Client’. This is the application that communicates with the Fabric blockchain network.

The Client is like your personal vehicle that, guided by the permissions, roles, and attributes set in the certificate received from the CA server, navigates you through the vast network of Hyperledger Fabric.

Whether you’re checking the latest transactions or setting up new ones, the Client is your go-to buddy!

Your Ultimate Roadmap to Crafting Blockchain Apps with Hyperledger Fabric for Web/Mobile Clients

Looking to harness the power of blockchain apps for your mobile or web platform? You’re in luck! Here’s an engaging walkthrough that will make your journey smooth and successful.

Getting Your Ducks in a Row: The Installations

Before we dive into the sea of blockchain apps, we must first kit up with the right gear. Let’s kick things off by setting up our tech environment.

1. Set Up Your Cloud Kingdom with Google Cloud Kubernetes Engine

To deploy our cloud application, we’ll need a Kubernetes cluster. Thanks to Google Cloud’s Kubernetes Engine, setting one up is as easy as pie. You don’t need to worry about managing, installing, or operating clusters.

2. Bring in Node.js

Node.js is a fantastic open-source tool for allowing JavaScript code to work on different platforms. It’s a must-have for our development process.

3. Summon the Power of Docker

We’ll need Docker Compose and Docker Engine on our team, two crucial tools for managing our app.

4. Install the Hyperledger Fabric Node SDK

This will provide us with APIs that allow us to connect with the Hyperledger Fabric Blockchain.

5. Install an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

This will equip us with a robust set of tools for app development.

Putting the Pieces Together: Configuration and Deployment

Now that we’re all set up, it’s time to make our blockchain applications come to life.

First, we’ll configure our blockchain network. Once we’ve got it just right, we’ll deploy it on Kubernetes. To expose our backend, we’ll employ Kubernetes Ingress. After that, it’s a matter of configuring and testing our app.

There you have it! A friendly step-by-step guide to developing blockchain applications on Hyperledger Fabric for mobile or web clients. Enjoy the journey!

The All-Star Tech Tools for Crafting Blockchain Applications for Mobile/Web Clients

Want to build powerful blockchain applications for mobile or web platforms? Here are the top-tier tech tools you’ll need in your arsenal to make magic happen!

1. Android SDK

A toolbox filled to the brim with everything you need to construct applications for Android devices. Android SDK equips you with a wide array of API libraries and development tools, making coding, testing, and debugging Android apps a walk in the park.

2. Hyperledger Fabric v1.0

Hyperledger Fabric is like the bedrock of blockchain app development for enterprises. It’s a blockchain architecture application that acts as a solid foundation for your solutions or applications.

3. iOS SDK

This software development kit is a boon for developers seeking to create native apps for Apple’s iOS platforms and devices.

4. React Native

An incredible framework that lets you create mobile applications using JavaScript and React. It’s like using the best of both worlds!

5. Redis

Redis is like a Swiss Army knife in the world of open-source tech tools. It’s an internal data model storage that can moonlight as a database, message broker, and cache. A stellar choice for a message queue platform.

6. MongoDB

Renowned for its impressive querying, aggregation, wide driver support, and indexing capabilities, MongoDB is the go-to data store for businesses of all sizes. It handles JSON data like a pro!

7. Rabbit MQ 

RabbitMQ is a lightweight powerhouse that you can deploy with ease  on-premises or in the cloud. It supports several messaging methods and helps maintain a neat separation between your application layers and data.

Here at Webisoft, we’re passionate about developing blockchain applications. We’re well-versed in a variety of blockchain platforms including Hyperledger Fabric/Sawtooth, Hedera Hashgraph, EOS, and Ethereum.

If you’re hunting for a tech company to develop your blockchain application, our skilled developers are eager to discuss your business needs!

After setting up your software and tech components, it’s time to get to the real deal – configuring a blockchain network to serve as the backbone for your mobile app. Let’s get started!

Setting Up Your Blockchain Network: A Guided Tour

Before we embark on our configuration journey, you’ll need to grab your RabbitMQ and Redis account information from the Google Cloud Console. These keys are your passport to the blockchain network’s setup.

You’ll want to locate the config.js file in your folder for blockchain containers. This is where you’ll replace the existing RabbitMQ and Redis values with your personal credentials.

Once that’s sorted, the next order of business is tweaking all your YAML files to play nice with your MongoDB instance. You can snag the certificate and URL for MongoDB from the Compose dashboard.

Bringing Your Blockchain Network to Life in Kubernetes

With your configurations in place, it’s time to deploy all your microservices in Kubernetes. Test your blockchain network using an API client, with a curl command performed using the service’s external IP.

Did your curl request execute? Good! Now, cross-reference the result ID with the one you received. A “success” status means you’re ready to integrate the blockchain system with your app.

But first, you need to deploy additional microservices necessary for your mobile app.

Let Your Kubernetes Backend Take Center Stage with Ingress

Once your blockchain network takes its first breath, it’s time for the backend to step into the light. That’s when Kubernetes Ingress steps up, giving your microservices the stage they deserve.

Setting Up and Putting Your App Through Its Paces

Next, your app needs to be tweaked to make REST calls to the Kubernetes backend. Once your app is set up, you can let it strut its stuff on a simulator or a real gadget.

Initially, a different team from within your company—separate from the developers—will give your app a run for its money. This first showing of the software is dubbed the “Alpha version.”

As soon as your app passes the alpha stage, it enters beta testing. Here, real-life users put your app through its paces, checking it for ease of use, compatibility, function, and trustworthiness.

This essential feedback from users can help buff your product to a shine, setting it on a path to success.

Once users give the thumbs up, your app can be released as either a private beta or an open beta version.

Private beta is akin to an exclusive party where a hand-picked group is invited to test the app, while a public beta throws open the doors to anyone keen on taking the app for a spin.

Finally, let’s take a backstage tour of an app’s journey and see the behind-the-scenes magic in action.

Embarking on the Blockchain App Development Odyssey: A Flowchart

Building a blockchain app is like setting off on a thrilling digital journey. So, let’s buckle up and see how this voyage unfolds!

1. Starting Blockchain Development the Process

Imagine a user ignites the app and solicits it to dredge up some data. This petition rockets towards the REST API, the master puppeteer guaranteeing seamless chit chat between the server and your web or mobile gadget. 

In return, the API bestows a unique key upon the application, laying the groundwork for subsequent requests to the blockchain.

2. Join the Line with RabbitMQ

At this point, the ever-reliable API enlists RabbitMQ to neatly slot the request into a line-up. The line-up’s corridors align with the amount of peers dancing with the app.

Take a peer to peer borrowing app as an example. You’ll have two partners (the lender and borrower), hence the line-up will host two corridors.

Requests can be diverse, from enlisting a borrower/lender, soliciting a loan, and dredging up blockchain data, to initiating an exchange.

3. Action Time for Execution Workers

Here, execution workers (nodes) grab the limelight. Leveraging the Hyperledger Fabric Blockchain’s SDK, they address the requests plucked from RabbitMQ.

4. The Stage is Set for the Ordering Service

Hyperledger Fabric summons the Ordering System to manage endorsed transactions. It arranges blocks in a neat sequence and forwards them to the peers executing transactions in the system.

5. Establishing a Data Haven

The blockchain system employs NFS (Network File System) to provide a cozy nest for the ledger and state database.

6. Safety Checks with Fabric-ca Client

Before a request can spring into action, the fabric-ca program verifies the peer’s credentials, authenticating it and giving a nod to the transaction approval.

7. Redis Database Steps Up

Execution workers collect the reply to the query and deposit it within the Redis Database (Cache), paired with the private key.

8. Time for a Quiz

The web or mobile app then quizzes the Redis database for data, using the secret key as a passcode.

9. Quick Draw with MongoDB

To ensure a quick draw of information, data whipped up by the small services are stored in the MongoDB vault. This means, every time someone interrogates the blockchain system, the info is ready for a showdown.

A Budget-Friendly Blueprint for Fast Track Product Development

Wondering about navigating the tricky terrain of product development without burning a hole in your budget? You’re not alone!

Let’s delve into some clever strategies that can speed up your journey to market and keep your wallet happy too.

Embracing the Global Talent Pool

Consider this – talented developers are sprinkled across the globe, and many reside in regions where living costs are significantly lower.

By expanding your talent search beyond your local area, you can discover skilled professionals at a fraction of the cost. The world truly is your oyster, so why not explore it?

Around-the-Clock Product Building

What if your product development process never slept? Offshoring makes this dream a reality. This clever strategy involves partnering with professionals in different time zones, resulting in non-stop development for your project. 

It’s like passing the baton in a relay race – your local team works during the day, and as their day ends, your offshore team picks up from where they left off. You get a seamless transition that keeps your project moving forward.

Harnessing the Power of Discovery Phases

Imagine a roadmap that guides every step of your project’s creation. That’s exactly what a discovery phase offers. This crucial step helps outline tasks, costs, and all the little details that bring your project to life. 

At Webisoft, we take pride in meticulous planning and aim to hit the bullseye in accuracy every time! We’re passionate about developing blockchain applications.

We’re well-versed in a variety of blockchain platforms including Hyperledger Fabric/Sawtooth, Hedera Hashgraph, EOS, and Ethereum. 

If you’re hunting for a tech company to develop your blockchain application, our skilled developers are eager to discuss your business needs!

Final Words

Navigating through the intricacies of blockchain application development, we’ve embarked on an enlightening journey with Hyperledger Fabric.

From its unique components to its secure, permissioned nature, it’s clear why it’s the framework of choice for many businesses looking to develop blockchain applications. 

In conjunction with Kubernetes, a tool celebrated for its resilience and scalability, we’ve explored the potential of building powerful, highly secure applications.

In the digital age, tools like Hyperledger Fabric will continue to set new benchmarks for security, efficiency, and innovation in blockchain applications.

Ready to take your business to the next level with cutting-edge technology solutions? Webisoft is your trusted partner in the journey towards digital transformation.

With our expertise in blockchain application development and a commitment to innovation, we help you stay ahead of the curve.

FAQs

1. What are the key considerations when developing a blockchain application?

The major considerations include deciding the right blockchain platform, understanding the application’s requirements in terms of privacy, scalability, and speed, and ensuring the security of transactions and data.

2. How can I choose the right platform to develop a blockchain application?

The choice of platform depends on the nature of your application. For private, permissioned networks, Hyperledger Fabric is a good choice. For public, permissionless networks, Ethereum or Bitcoin’s blockchain might be more suitable.

3. What is the role of smart contracts in blockchain application development?

Smart contracts are self-executing contracts embedded with the terms of the agreement directly in lines of code. They play a crucial role in automating transactions and business processes in a blockchain application.

4. Can I develop a blockchain application with traditional programming languages?

Yes, many blockchain platforms support popular languages. For example, Ethereum’s Solidity is similar to JavaScript, and Hyperledger Fabric supports chaincode written in Go, JavaScript, and TypeScript.

5. How can I ensure the scalability of my blockchain application?

Scalability can be addressed through various methods such as sharding or off-chain transactions. Also, choosing a scalable platform like Hyperledger Fabric that supports large transaction volumes is a good start.