How to Build a dApp on Filecoin?

Building a dApp on Filecoin becomes more popular among Web3 developers. That’s the consequence of Filecoin becoming one of the most used blockchain networks for builders. It’s happening due to several factors, including its unique approach to decentralized storage, growing ecosystem, and the increasing demand for decentralized solutions.

Table of Contents

What is Filecoin?

A small 101 on what is Filecoin – it’s a decentralized storage network that enables users to store and retrieve files in a secure, efficient, and cost-effective manner. This blockchain offers a compelling platform for developers to build blockchain dApps that leverage decentralized storage, providing security, resilience, and cost-effectiveness while fostering a more decentralized and open digital ecosystem.

Filecoin uses a blockchain-based market mechanism to incentivize participants to offer storage capacity and to retrieve data on demand. Users pay with the native Filecoin cryptocurrency to store their data on the network, and storage providers earn Filecoin for offering their storage capacity.

How does Filecoin work?

Here is a general overview of how does Filecoin work:

Users purchase Filecoin cryptocurrency: To store data on the Filecoin network, users first need to purchase Filecoin cryptocurrency from a cryptocurrency exchange or from someone who already owns Filecoin.
Users store data on the network: Once they have Filecoin, users can store their data on the Filecoin network. They do this by creating a file, splitting it into many small pieces, and then encrypting and distributing those pieces across the network to various storage providers.
Storage providers earn Filecoin: Storage providers offer their storage capacity to the network in exchange for Filecoin. They receive Filecoin from users who want to store data on their storage devices.

Building a Blockchain dApp – Tutorial.

Here we’ll guide you through the process of building a blockchain decentralized application (dApp) on Filecoin.

What’s required:

1. Windows or MacOS Computer
2. Node.js tool
3. NOWNodes API Key
4. yarn
5. 30-40 minutes of your free time

Let’s start!

To build a blockchain dApp on Filecoin using JSON Lotus v1 nodes, you’ll need to follow these steps:

Set up your development environment:

Install Node.js: Filecoin development tools require Node.js. Download and install the latest version from the official website: https://nodejs.org/
Install yarn: To manage the dependencies, you need to install yarn. Follow the installation instructions here: https://classic.yarnpkg.com/en/docs/install.

We then need to grab the starter kit and install the dependencies.

Clone the Hardhat starter kit and move into the new fevm-hardhat-kit directory:

git clone
https://github.com/filecoin-project/fevm-hardhat-kit.git
cd fevm-hardhat-kit

2. Use Yarn to install the project’s dependencies:

yarn install

3. Create an environment variable for your private key. Each wallet has a different process for exporting your private key – check your wallet’s official documentation.

export PRIVATE_KEY='<YOUR PRIVATE KEY>'

4. Always be careful when dealing with your private key. Double-check that you’re not hardcoding it anywhere or committing it to source control like GitHub. Anyone with access to your private key has complete control over your funds.

5. Get the deployer address from Hardhat:

yarn hardhat get-address

6. This will show you the Ethereum-style address associated with that private key and the Filecoin-style f4 or t4 address. The Ethereum address can be used for almost all Ethereum tooling.

Using HardHart Development Framework to Deploy Dapps to Filecoin Network.

1. Create a new directory for your DApp project.

Open a terminal or command prompt on your computer.

Run the following command to create a new directory for your project:

mkdir my-dapp

2. Initialize a new Hardhat project.

Navigate into the newly created project directory:

cd my-dapp

3. Initialize a new Hardhat project by running the following command.

yarn create hardhat

4. Configure Hardhat.

Open the hardhat.config.js file in a text editor.

Replace the default contents with the following code:

require("@nomiclabs/hardhat-waffle");
require("@chainsafe/hardhat-filecoin");

const mnemonic = "<YOUR_MNEMONIC>"; // Replace with your own mnemonic

const rpcEndpoint = "https://fil.nownodes.io/v1/<YOUR_API_KEY>"; // Replace <YOUR_API_KEY> with your NOWNodes API key

const apiKey = "<YOUR_API_KEY>"; // Replace with your NOWNodes API key

module.exports = {
  defaultNetwork: "hardhat",
  networks: {
    hardhat: {},
    filecoin: {
      chainId: 314,
      url: rpcEndpoint,
      accounts: {
        mnemonic,
      },
    },
  },
  filecoin: {
    apiKeys: [apiKey],
  },
  solidity: {
    version: "0.8.20",
    settings: {
      optimizer: {
        enabled: true,
        runs: 200,
      },
    },
  },
};

Replace <YOUR_MNEMONIC> with your own mnemonic phrase associated with the wallet used for deployment.

Replace <YOUR_API_KEY> with your NOWNodes API key obtained from the NOWNodes website.

Get your personal Filecoin API key

5. Write and compile your smart contracts.

Create a new Solidity file in the contracts directory (e.g., MyContract.sol).

Write your smart contract code in the Solidity file.

6. Deploy your DApp.

Open the scripts/deploy.js file in a text editor.

Replace the default contents with the following code.

const { ethers, upgrades } = require("hardhat");

async function main() {
  const MyContract = await ethers.getContractFactory("MyContract");
  console.log("Deploying MyContract...");
  const myContract = await upgrades.deployProxy(MyContract);
  await myContract.deployed();
  console.log("MyContract deployed to:", myContract.address);
}

main()
  .then(() => process.exit(0))
  .catch((error) => {
    console.error(error);
    process.exit(1);
  });

Make sure you have set up your project with the necessary dependencies and configurations as mentioned earlier. Then, replace "MyContract" in the const MyContract = await ethers.getContractFactory("MyContract"); line with the name of your actual contract. You can save this code in a file named deploy.js in the scripts folder of your project.

To deploy your DApp, run the following command in your terminal or command prompt:

npx hardhat run scripts/deploy.js --network filecoin

Nodes in blockchain dApp development.

Nodes play a crucial role in blockchain dApp development as they form the backbone of any decentralized network. They are responsible for validating transactions, maintaining consensus, and storing data. In the context of dApp development, nodes serve connection to the blockchain network, validation and consensus as well as data storage.

Why to use node providers?

Using a Filecoin RPC node provider can significantly streamline the dApp development process, while ensuring reliability, scalability, and security. By leveraging the services of a professional node provider, developers can focus on building and deploying their dApps, without worrying about the complexities of managing Filecoin nodes themselves.

Here are some reasons why developers choose to use Filecoin node providers:

Reliability and uptime: NOWNodes is committed to maintaining high levels of uptime and availability, ensuring that our nodes are always accessible and functional. This guarantees a reliable connection to the Filecoin network, which is essential for dApps to operate smoothly.
Security: Professional node providers implement strict security measures to protect their infrastructure, ensuring that nodes are secure and resistant to attacks.
Cost-effectiveness: Developers avoid the costs of setting up and maintaining their own nodes. This can result in significant cost savings, especially for smaller projects and startups.
Technical support: Filecoin node providers usually offer dedicated technical support, helping developers troubleshoot and resolve any issues related to their nodes. This minimizes potential downtime or disruptions to the dApp.

Developing dApps is not that complicated.

The growing need for decentralized storage solutions has led to the development of innovative platforms like Filecoin. By following this guide, you can create your own dApp on Filecoin to harness the power of decentralized storage for various use cases, from secure file sharing to content distribution. With the help of reliable node providers like NOWNodes, developers can streamline their dApp development process and concentrate on building cutting-edge applications that will contribute to a more decentralized and resilient digital ecosystem.

Embrace the future of decentralized storage and unlock new possibilities for your projects by building on Filecoin!