A full Stellar Course from scratch

#stellarchallenge #devchallenge #blockchain #web3

Here is the submission for the Build Better on Stellar: Tutorial track

Here is a notion page including the quizes and slides for the course

Overview

This comprehensive tutorial track is designed to take a complete novice in blockchain technology from the fundamentals to writing and deploying a Soroban smart contract. The course is structured in a logical progression, starting with basic concepts and gradually moving towards advanced topics, ensuring that learners build a strong foundation before diving into more complex areas.

Course Structure

1. Introduction to Blockchain

Objective: Introduce learners to the foundational concepts of blockchain technology.
Content:
- Definition and importance of blockchain.
- Basic components of a blockchain network.
- Overview of consensus mechanisms.
- Applications of blockchain across various industries.

2. Understanding Stellar Core

Objective: Provide an in-depth understanding of Stellar Core, the backbone of the Stellar network.
Content:
- Overview of the Stellar network.
- Detailed explanation of Stellar Core and its role in the network.
- How Stellar Core processes transactions and maintains the ledger.
- The relationship between Stellar Core and Horizon API.

3. Stellar Consensus Protocol

Objective: Explain the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP) and how it differs from other consensus mechanisms.
Content:
- Introduction to the Stellar Consensus Protocol.
- The mechanics of SCP and how it achieves consensus.
- Comparison with other consensus protocols like Proof of Work and Proof of Stake.
- Real-world applications of SCP.

4. Ledger, Account, and Transaction Life Cycle

Objective: Explore the lifecycle of transactions within the Stellar network.
Content:
- Understanding the structure of a ledger in Stellar.
- Detailed look at Stellar accounts and how they are managed.
- Step-by-step walkthrough of a transaction's journey from initiation to completion.
- Error handling and transaction failures.

5. Introduction to Rust Programming

Objective: Equip learners with the knowledge of Rust, a systems programming language, to build secure and efficient applications.
Content:
- Basics of Rust programming.
- Data types in Rust and their usage.
- Writing functions in Rust.
- An introduction to structs and traits in Rust.
- Practical exercises, including:
  - Guessing Game: A simple Rust program to reinforce learning.
  - Bank Program: A more complex Rust application simulating banking operations.

6. Soroban Smart Contract Development (Upcoming)

Objective: Guide learners through writing and deploying Soroban smart contracts on the Stellar network.
Content:
- Introduction to Soroban, Stellar’s smart contract platform.
- Understanding WebAssembly (Wasm) and its role in Soroban.
- Step-by-step guide to writing Soroban contracts in Rust.
- Deploying and interacting with Soroban smart contracts on the Stellar network.

Course Progress and Future Content

The course is a work in progress, with ongoing development aimed at providing a complete learning experience. Future lessons will delve deeper into the nuances of Soroban smart contract development, including advanced topics such as contract storage, instance management, and interaction with the Stellar network.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to expand the content and bring you closer to mastering blockchain and smart contract development with Soroban.