A comprehensive guide for consenting developers (Part 1)

For developers plying their trade in today’s rapidly scaling, blockchain-agnostic environment, deciding on the right approach to smart contract execution is paramount.

In this piece, I’ll review EVM’s credentials (Ethereum Virtual Machine) and SmartWeave as two distinct options for developers to consider. Full disclosure, we’re going on a deep dive! Before we get started, here’s a comparison table to give you a sense of both execution environments:

Key considerations for using EVM

EVM, initially implemented by Ethereum, is now the choice for most smart contract platforms, extending to Avalanche, BNB Chain and L2s like Arbitrum, Optimism, and more. Using EVM requires knowledge of Solidity, which can be characterized as blockchain’s answer to JavaScript. As the language of EVM, Solidity has emerged as the de facto programming language for smart contracts on distributed networks, making it the go-to computer language for developers in the blockchain space.

While Solidity has a unique structure and syntax that can prove challenging for those considering Web3 development, it continues to draw a large influx of new learners. Furthermore, the EVM boasts a vast ecosystem of resources, tools, educational materials, and enthusiastic developers.

Even though EVM is widely considered the gold standard framework for building decentralized applications, it does have strict limiting parameters, which newly-found developers must learn to work within. A senior Solidity developer’s ability to optimize code for rigorous computation limits (in the form of gas limits) distinguishes them from the fresh-out-of-academy-type-dev. This model’s disadvantage is that it puts a huge emphasis on block space, which can become an extremely expensive facility.

Furthermore, the requirement for consensus-driven synchronization of computations at every block adds layer of complexity to the EVM’s design, acting as a significant roadblock to scaling efforts, especially given the…