As we know, Development experience(DX) is crucial for gaining and keeping users in the blockchain space. There is a really limited pool of talent + it’s really hard to make people change their platform they are working on and the tools they are using. Example: EVM developers

Developer Journey Map by @Eva Shon

Hopefully this will help slot dev tools into the phases they’re needed

• Estimate level of effort | - Install compiler
• Pick and Install node type
• Install IDE/CLI | - Sync node
• Fund wallet
• Pick actor language to work in
• Deploy sample (actor)
• Mine Tx
• Call and parse responses of deployed actors via ABI | - Create / Modify actors
• Compile, Deploy new actors
• Interact with deployed actors on a testchain via ABI (call, parse)
• Get Tx’s mined
• Debugging | - Create dapp around a deployed custom actor on (test)chain
• Use JSON RPC or SDK to interact
• Use Wallet to interact with dapp
• Build user flow around chain timing
• Debugging | - Harden contracts and dapp (more rigorous testing, audits)
• User testing with wallets, etc.
• Move from staging env to prod | Keep track of contract usage, events, dapp users, etc. | | SECONDARY GOALS | Hear early ideas of what’s possible to build | Learn what’s possible to build, form project ideas | Evaluate setup time, requirements | How to sign Tx, submit Tx, get Tx mined, use other actors available | - Observe actors on testchain
• Learn to use other actors | Programmable storage? | Interactions worth real FIL | Improve bugs, version contracts if needed | | GUIDES | Websites, Blogs, Slack, Talks, Social, hackathons | Docs, Github, Tutorials | Docs, Github Readme’s, CLI tools, Slack | Docs, CLI, Code Samples | Code samples, CLI, JSON RPC | JSON RPC, Code samples, SDKs, Docs | Security best practices for contracts, dapps | Block explorers, Logs | | MAJOR TOUCHPOINT | Marketing channels | Docs | Docs, CLI tools | CLI or other IDE, Code samples, Docs, devnet / testnet | CLI, JSON RPC | JSON RPC, shared Testnet RPC endpoints | Testing tools, Mainnet RPC endpoints | Block explorers | | OTHER TOOLS | Top search results | Sample projects | Troubleshooting, Slack | Tutorials, SDK, Sample projects | IDE, Docs, Unit testing | SDKs, UI frameworks, Testnet block explorers, Bridges | Sample projects, real FIL, Block explorers, Smart contract watchers | (future) Event logs, Other projects | | SUCCESS | Good overview + some familiarity with workflow | Jump in and try out in 20 minutes total | Install quickly, familiar tools | Sync and deploy quickly, clear instructions | Compile, deploy and interact with contract on testchain | Build front-end dapp / user flow around contract interactions | Launch on mainnet for real users | Observe custom contracts and key events | | BREAKDOWNS | - Competitors seem better
• Bad reviews, - No one’s heard of it | - Takes long time
• Confusing resources
• Unfamiliar | - Take long time
• Troubleshooting installs
• Unfamiliar | - Troubleshooting
• No devnets / testnets
• Pain to compile or get ABI | - Bugs and difficulties interacting or parsing
• Unfamiliar RPC
• No support for testhain, etc.
• Not familiar with web3 dev | - Lack of tools and libraries requiring lots of manual steps not in other chains
• Lack of libraries to parse params, results, etc. | - Lack of wallet/signer options or other tools for usability
• Disconnect between storage flow and FVM dapp flows
• Lack of observability and eventing tools | Bugs leading to funds/data stolen or other attacks or non-working dapp

No users | | OPPORTUNITIES | Devs with similar experience levels | Learn about dev grants | Testing across platforms | Quick overview of Filecoin protocol, lots of testing | Reusable libraries, other SDKs | MISSING - ethers.js / web3.js / other SDKs for connecting front-ends

Interactions with other chains | Registry of deployed dapps, contracts

Wallet examples | PoP or Airdrops or other promotions to drive adoption | | QUESTIONS | Is this the right time to try this out or wait? | How much time do I want to invest?

How Filecoin protocol works? | How can I get help troubleshooting problems? | How convenient are the tools? What shortcuts? My favorite language/tools? | How familiar / clear is the RPC interface?

What about storage?

Run a local node or can I use a testnet RPC? | - What SDKs - but these can have bugs too

• What about Storage for users? How separate?

• Is this worth the effort? | How to watch my contracts?

What about events?

Co-marketing opportunities in ecosystem? | How to watch my contracts?

How to drive usage? | | (TOP ETH TOOLS) | | ethereum.org | Truffle / Hardhat | Truffle / Hardhat + Hosted RPC + Starter Templates | Truffle / Hardhat, Ganache, Reusable libraries, standards | Web3.js / ethers.js, Testnet RPC, Metamask | Security best practices (fuzzers, libs, etc), Infura, Metamask, The Graph/Alchemy, Etherscan | Event logs, Etherscan, Chain monitoring tools, Sourcify.dev | | TOP TOOLS NEEDED | | Docs | CLI, Docs | CLI, IDE, Devnet/Testnet | Code samples, JSON RPC API, SDKs

(What is bare min for JS devs?) ——-

fast Tx’s on Testnet?

pre-existing Storage deals on Testnet?

Crosschain

L1 tools - stable/wrapped coins, oracles, state channels, sidechains, relays, bridges

Aggregators (indexers, etc.) | JS API, Wallet/Signers, other SDKs ———

RPC endpoints to shared Testnet

later SDKs?

Concurrent use of nft.storage, web3.storage, Estuary? | Testing tools, Mainnet RPC endpoints

How to watch a custom Actor? ⇒ Block Explorers? ———

Exchanges to get tokens

Re-usable libraries

Security best practices guides | Analytics/ Actor Monitoring tools, Chain DB’s, Block explorers

Event/logs in FVM

Sourcify.dev info in block explorers | | CURRENT STATE | | | | Testnet planned | JSON RPC API update planned* | Glif Signer planned*

Metamask + FilSnap Q3 | Mainnet RPC | Chain DB API (Sentinel, Zondax) | | NEXT STEPS | | FVM Docs | CLI RFP* | Testnet RPC endpoints | Other SDKs

Fast mining Testnet epic?

Sample Actors | Update to JS APIs / Filecoin.js

| | | | IDEAS | | | | IDE Plugins? | | Sample dapps | | IDL for Actors for Explorers

Eventing in FVM |