Building apps on Aleo: a comprehensive guide

HEORHII YABLONSKYI
4 min readDec 15, 2023

Blockchain technology has evolved, and Aleo stands at the forefront, offering a platform that redefines how applications are built and maintained. This guide will walk you through the process of building applications on Aleo, from installation to exploring real-world examples.

Advantages of building on Aleo:

  1. Privacy by design: Aleo’s architecture emphasizes privacy, leveraging zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) to facilitate confidential transactions and data handling.
  2. Cost-effective operations: Aleo enables cost-effectiveness by allowing off-chain packaging of information, resulting in reduced network or “gas” fees for users.
  3. Participatory economics: the Aleo ecosystem incentivizes users with Aleo Credits, fostering a participatory economic model. Users contribute to network security and earn rewards through staking, proof generation, and transaction validation.
  4. Security with zk proofs: enhanced security is achieved by incorporating zero-knowledge proofs, ensuring the privacy and integrity of user data while benefiting from the security of AleoBFT.

Build guide

Prerequisites. Before diving into Aleo development, ensure you have the necessary tools:

  • Git: Install Git
  • Rust: Install Rust

Installation. Execute the following command to install Aleo and Leo:

./install.sh

IDE support

Choose an IDE for a seamless development experience:

  • VSCode
  • Sublime Text
  • IntelliJ IDEA

Application walkthroughs

Explore practical examples to understand Aleo’s potential:

  • 🏛️ Auction

Run a first-price sealed-bid auction:

cd auction && ./run.sh
  • 🏦 Basic Bank

Explore a simple-interest yielding bank account:

cd basic_bank && ./run.sh
  • 🛳️ Battleship

Experience a two-player game of Battleship:

cd battleship && ./run.sh
  • ⭕ Tic-Tac-Toe

Play a standard game of Tic-Tac-Toe:

cd tictactoe && ./run.sh
  • 🪙 Token

Learn about transparent & shielded custom tokens:

cd token && ./run.sh
  • 🗳️ Vote

Understand a ballot voting example:

cd vote && ./run.sh

You can also check these examples in Aleo Playground:

Let’s dive into practical examples to understand how to build on Aleo.

Check my example of Auction app deployment:

Check my example of Tic-Tac-Toe app deployment:

Conclusion

Building on Aleo opens up a new era of decentralized app development. The privacy-centric approach, cost-effectiveness, participatory economics, and enhanced security make Aleo an exciting platform for developers.

Follow this guide to unleash the full potential of Aleo and contribute to the future of blockchain technology. Happy coding! 🚀

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Prepared by Colliseum

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