Beginner's Guide to ETH Smart Contract Development: Step-by-Step Tutorial

Table of Contents

1. Setting Up Your Wallet

   • Installing Metamask & Creating an Account

2. Executing Your First Transfer

   • Acquiring Test Tokens
   • Completing the Transfer

3. Creating Your First Smart Contract

   • Using Remix IDE
   • Testing the Contract
   • Deploying to Testnet

Setting Up Your Wallet

Installing Metamask & Creating an Account

Metamask serves as your gateway to Ethereum's decentralized world. Follow these steps:

1. Download: Visit Metamask's official site using Chrome/Edge.
2. Install: Add the extension via Chrome Web Store.

3. Create Wallet:

   • Select "Create a New Wallet"
   • Set a strong password (12+ characters recommended)
   • Securely store your seed phrase (never share this!)
4. Access: Click the fox icon in your browser toolbar to open Metamask.

👉 Need help choosing a wallet?

Executing Your First Transfer

Acquiring Test Tokens

1. Add OKTest Network:

   • Navigate to OKLink Testnet
   • Follow Metamask prompts to add the network.

2. Request Tokens:

   • Join the OKTest Discord community
   • Submit your wallet address to receive 10 OKT tokens.

Completing the Transfer

1. Click "Send" in Metamask
2. Enter recipient address and token amount
3. Adjust gas fees for faster confirmation
4. Track status via "Activity" tab

Creating Your First Smart Contract

Using Remix IDE

Remix (https://remix.ethereum.org/) provides a browser-based Solidity environment. Try this basic storage contract:

contract Storage {
    uint256 number;
    
    function store(uint256 num) public {
        number = num;
    }
    
    function retrieve() public view returns (uint256) {
        return number;
    }
}

Testing the Contract

1. Compile: Click the "Solidity Compiler" tab (left menu)
2. Deploy: Select "JavaScript VM" environment

3. Test:

   • Call store(1) then retrieve() to verify functionality

Deploying to Testnet

1. Switch environment to "Injected Web3" (connects to Metamask)
2. Select OKTest network
3. Confirm deployment transaction (check gas fees)

4. Test live functions:

   • Writes create transactions
   • Reads are gas-free

FAQ Section

Q: Is Metamask safe to use?

A: Yes, when properly secured. Always verify you're on the official website and never share your seed phrase.

Q: Why use testnets before mainnet?

A: Testnets allow free experimentation without risking real funds. OKTest provides realistic conditions.

Q: What's the cost to deploy a contract?

A: Varies by network congestion. Expect ~$5-$50 on Ethereum mainnet during average activity.

👉 Explore advanced contract development

This guide covers the essentials for ETH smart contract development. For deeper learning:

• Master Solidity syntax
• Study OpenZeppelin's contract libraries
• Experiment with more complex dApp architectures

Remember: Blockchain development combines programming skills with economic understanding. Start simple, build gradually, and always test thoroughly.