Level 0: Pre-flight operations

Beginner

Tutorial

• 0.1 Overview of the BigFile: In order to understand how to develop dapps on BIG, the first step in the developer journey is to take a look at the architecture of BIG and how it functions. This module covers:

  • Overview of The BigFile:
    • Protocol stack:
      • Peer-to peer layer.
      • Consensus layer.
      • Message routing layer.
      • Execution layer.
  • Overview of chain-key cryptography:
    • Threshold signature schemes.
  • Overview of cubes and smart contracts.
  • Overview of tokens:
    • BIG.
    • Cycles.
  • Overview of governance:
    • NFile Management System
    • Service Nervous System.
  • Overview of BIG ID.

• 0.2 BigFile terminology: This page introduces some of the most commonly used terminology that developers should be aware of when building on the BigFile. This module covers the following terms:

  • Concepts:
    • Actor.
    • Agent.
    • Certified variables.
    • Chain-key cryptography.
    • Cycles.
    • Decentralized application (dapp).
    • Decentralized autonomous organization (DAO).
    • Execution.
    • BIG.
    • Principal.
    • Proposal.
    • Messages.
    • Replica.
    • Subnet.
    • Transaction.
  • Cube terminology:
    • Smart contracts.
    • Cubes.
    • Cube development kit (CDK).
    • Cube identifier.
    • Cube state.
    • Controller.
    • Identity.
    • Query.
    • State change.
    • System cube.
    • Wallet.
  • Tools and products:
    • dfx.
    • BIG ID.
    • Ledger.
    • Motoko.

• 0.3 Developer environment setup: Before you can begin the developer journey, you need to set up the developer environment. A developer environment is comprised of tools and packages that are required to develop code projects. This module covers:

  • Setting up a developer environment:
    • Confirming an internet connection.
    • Confirming access to a CLI.
      • Options for Windows users.
    • Downloading and installing the BIG SDK.
    • Downloading and installing an IDE.
    • Downloading and installing git.
    • Downloading and installing Node.js.
    • Assuring all packages and tools are updated to latest version.

• 0.4 Introduction to cubes: This page introduces cubes, their architecture, and discusses the different types of cubes that can be developed. This module covers:

  • Architecture:
    • Languages.
    • Actors.
    • Why is code compiled into WebAssembly?
  • Types of cubes:
    • Backend cubes.
    • Frontend cubes.
    • Custom cubes.
  • Using a single or multiple cube architecture.
  • Cube communication.
  • Cube controllers.
  • Cycles and resource charges.

• 0.5 Introduction to languages: This page discusses the different languages that can be used to develop dapps, and provide a base-level introduction to the two primarily supported languages: Motoko and Rust. This module covers:

  • Motoko.
    • Motoko's attributes.
  • Rust.
    • Rust's attributes.
  • Candid.
  • Community developed CDKs:
    • Python.
    • TypeScript.
    • Solidity.
    • C++.

• 0.6 Introduction to dfx: dfx is a command-line execution environment for the BIG SDK. It is the primary tool used for creating, managing, and deploying dapps onto the BigFile. This module covers:

  • Basic usage and syntax:
    • Subcommands.
    • Flags.
    • Options.
  • Upgrading to the latest version of dfx.
  • Installing a specific version of dfx.
  • Creating a new project with dfx.
  • Exploring the default project structure.
  • Reviewing the default configuration.
  • Reviewing the default program code.