The Future of dApp Development

Since Bitcoin launched and blockchain technology debuted, it has been the highest-performing and fastest-growing sector over the same period. A lot of the development witnessed throughout this period was built around thousands of decentralized applications (dApps) powered by millions of smart contracts running seamlessly in the background — at least until they don’t.

dApps are an integral part of the decentralized experience, and blockchain (Web3) developers are responsible for building and maintaining this essential piece of infrastructure. This small group of professionals faces a significant challenge in keeping pace with innovation while improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the blockchain.

This article will explore the evolution of dApps, considering the challenges developers encounter and how Forward’s AI-driven adoption tools resolve these problems while opening new opportunities in the Web3 space.

As the name implies, dApps are applications designed to run and perform specific functions on a decentralized network. When dApps work properly, there’s almost no difference between the user interface or experience and regular phone applications or computer software. The main difference is the underlying technology, where dApps use smart contracts to store data on the blockchain, while traditional applications use centralized servers.

As the first smart contracts platform, Ethereum provided the foundation for developing dApps. Since then, other platforms capable of reading and executing smart contracts have emerged. Some of these platforms are EVM-compatible (Ethereum Virtual Machine) blockchains such as Binance Smart Chain, Polygon, Avalanche, Fantom, Optimism, etc.

On the other hand, other blockchains that can run and execute smart contracts without interacting with EVM have also emerged. Some of these blockchains include Solana, Tezos, Algorand, NEAR, Cardano, Polkadot, etc.

Over the same period, dApps have also grown in complexity and versatility, evolving from simple voting on DAOs to complex DeFi protocols, DEXes, NFT Marketplaces, supply chain management, play-to-earn games, private browsers, social media apps, wallet solutions, etc. These solutions have resolved existing problems in traditional systems while plugging holes and resolving novel issues in the emerging Web3 ecosystem.

The Web3 user experience has come a long way and will continue to become more comprehensive as more dApps, smart contract platforms, and options become available.

As much as Web3 developers have achieved, they have also had to deal with challenges and uncharted territories while creating the dApps that have formed the building blocks of Web3. Some of them include:

Scalability, Security, and Decentralization

Also called the blockchain trilemma, finding the perfect balance between scalability, security, and decentralization is one of the most critical barriers to building and launching a successful blockchain dApp.

Developers often have to seriously consider their options when choosing a blockchain with all the infrastructure to support their apps’ specific requirements. In many cases, developers have to compromise on one or two of these factors, which negatively affects the performance of their Web3 dApps.

Interoperability

Blockchains have come a long way in terms of interoperability — the ability of blockchain systems to communicate seamlessly with each other.

With the popularity of Layer 2 blockchains, advancements in EVM compatibility, and cross-chain protocols, Web3 has made significant advancements in terms of interoperability. However, some of these interoperability solutions still suffer from usability, affordability, and stability bottlenecks, limiting their suitability for average Web3 users.

User Interface and Experience

As decentralization is a relatively novel concept, dApps often have a less familiar interface than traditional apps. Developers face a significant challenge with creating high-performance dApps on the backend while maintaining a simple frontend interface.

This difference is most evident when you compare the user experience between centralized exchanges (CEXs) and decentralized exchanges (DEXs). DEXs have more layers of complications with fewer functionalities than CEXs, which offer a more traditional user experience.

Technical Know-How and Development Tools

Generally, programming is a career reserved for the most technically gifted with above-average problem-solving skills. However, the bar is even higher for dApp developers. They are involved in a relatively young and fast-paced industry while building using novel frameworks such as Solidity, adapted programming languages such as RUST and Go, and traditional systems like C++, Python, Javascript, etc.

Another issue developers face is that different blockchain environments require different skill sets, making it difficult to keep up and maintain proficiency across these verticals.

The Marketplace in the Forward Factory provides a comprehensive repository of Web3 applications in a no-code environment where Web3 end-users, developers and stakeholders can interact seamlessly.

Let’s discuss how Forward achieves its goals.

Built According to Best Practices

By design, the Factory facilitates conditions that make the dApp creation straightforward and rewarding for Web3 developers, allowing them to unleash their creativity.

Forward Factory uses an extensive suite of tech stacks and frameworks, integrations, and partnerships to optimize the frontend and backend experience for Web3 dApp developers. The result is an intuitive platform that resolves the high technical knowledge barrier that has traditionally prolonged innovation in Web3.

This rare combination of functionality and interoperability optimizes the marketplace’s effectiveness and efficiency for all stakeholders, especially the developers responsible for the building blocks of Web3.

Optimized User Interface and Experience

Improving the user interface and experience is a primary concern for Web3 stakeholders. Forward resolves this issue with the no-code environment that it provides with its Marketplace — for both end-users and developers.

With the dApp templates available in the Marketplace, Web3 developers can customize and deploy dApps without writing a single line of code. They can also create their own dApps from scratch, add payment methods, and host them on any of the 800+ blockchains already integrated into the Forward Factory.

Committed to User Education

While Forward has significantly lowered the entry barrier, users still require a certain level of knowledge and experience to participate in the Web3 space.

Forward takes on this responsibility for Web3 users with its commitment to frequently publishing educational material on all its social media channels. Forward also offsets this responsibility for Web3 developers by updating the Factory’s infrastructure so they can plug and play their apps instead of building from scratch every time.

Community Feedback and Collaboration

Forward prioritizes community feedback in directing its vision to build a product that serves Web3 users across the board. The Forward Factory has already gone through multiple phases of development and innovation, and its latest iteration, Version 4 is already live on testnet.

The Bug Bounty Campaign is one of the project’s methods of encouraging community participation and collecting feedback to build a product that serves its users and rewards its stakeholders.

Users can also leave comments and ratings on the dApp templates they deploy from the Marketplace, allowing developers to react to feedback to improve their creation and maximize their reputation and earning potential. This essential service from Forward ensures Web3 devs can create products that users want.

Web3 is the future, and it continues to show incredible resilience, growing through obstructive regimes and blossoming in conducive conditions. Web3 developers are essential in building and maintaining the infrastructure behind this fast-growing space, and Forward has created an environment where these professionals thrive.

Check out the latest from the Forward x ITMO University Hackathon, where Web3 developers are unlocking their creativity and earning incredible rewards for contributing to the Forward Marketplace.

While it is too early to say if and when Web3 dApps will completely replace traditional applications, Forward’s Marketplace will play an integral role in this future.

Follow Forward’s social media channels for more updates and opportunities for Web3 developers:

About Forward — The AI-driven, no-code solution for building and deploying dApps, blockchains, and subnets with ease. Inspired by WordPress’s simplicity, Forward allows seamless deployment on over 800 chains — no technical skills required. Start your blockchain journey at ForwardProtocol.io.

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