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Building a Bridge Between Python and Hedera Hashgraph

By: Edwin Liava'a 5 December 2024

Have you ever wondered what happens when you combine the simplicity of Python with the power of hashgraph? That's exactly what I set out to explore when I began my journey with Hedera. As a Python developer passionate about hashgraph technology, I noticed a gap that needed filling - making Hedera more accessible to the Python community.

The Spark of an Idea 💡

It all started when I realized that while Hedera offers amazing smart contract capabilities with its high performance and low fees, many Python developers found it challenging to get started. The traditional path often involved learning Solidity or dealing with complex toolchains. I thought, "What if we could make this easier? What if we could use Python and Vyper to interact with Hedera?"

The Adventure Begins 🚀

Armed with Web3.py and Vyper, I embarked on creating a solution. The goal was simple: build a bridge that would allow Python developers to deploy smart contracts to Hedera as easily as they would write a Flask application. No complicated setups, no steep learning curves - just clean, pythonic code doing hashgraph things.

Crafting the Solution 🛠️

The heart of the project turned out to be surprisingly elegant. I created a smart contract in Vyper - think of it as a digital record keeper that can store people's favorite numbers. Simple? Yes. But it demonstrates everything a developer needs to know about interacting with Hedera.

Here's where it gets interesting. Instead of throwing developers into the deep end with complex hashgraph concepts, I wrapped everything in a Python script that handles all the heavy lifting:

  • Want to deploy a contract? Run python deploy_favorites.py
  • Need to check your balance? The script guides you through it
  • Ready to interact with your contract? It's just a function call away

The Aha Moment ✨

The real breakthrough came when I got the first contract deployed to Hedera's testnet. It was a magical moment - seeing Python code seamlessly interact with Hedera's high-performance hashgraph. But what made it truly special wasn't the technology itself, but the realization that we'd created something that could help others start their hashgraph journey.

Making It Real 🌟

The project evolved into more than just code. It became a complete starter kit for Python developers interested in hashgraph. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, you can:

  1. Clone the repository
  2. Follow the guided setup
  3. Get your testnet HBAR from the Hedera Portal
  4. Deploy your first smart contract

All without leaving the comfort of your familiar Python environment.

The Ripple Effect 🌊

What excites me most about this project isn't just what it does today, but what it enables for tomorrow. By lowering the barrier to entry, we're opening doors for:

  • Python developers curious about hashgraph
  • Educational institutions teaching hashgraph concepts
  • Startups wanting to prototype on Hedera
  • Developers exploring high-performance hashgraph solutions

Looking Forward 🔭

This journey has shown me that hashgraph development doesn't have to be intimidating. With the right tools and approach, we can make it accessible to developers of all backgrounds. The combination of Python's readability, Vyper's security, and Hedera's performance creates a powerful platform for innovation.

Your Turn 🎯

If you're a Python developer curious about hashgraph, or a hashgraph developer looking to expand your toolkit, I invite you to try this out. The code is open source, the documentation is comprehensive, and the Hedera community is incredibly supportive.

Remember, every great hashgraph project started with a single transaction. Maybe your next Python script will be the one that deploys something amazing to Hedera!

Ready to Start? 🚦

The journey from idea to implementation has been incredible, and I'm excited to see what you'll build next. Have questions? Feel free to reach out or contribute to the project. Let's make hashgraph development more accessible, one Python script at a time! 🌈

Technical Details for the Curious 🔍

For those interested in the technical specifics, here's what's under the hood:

# Key components of our project:
- Web3.py for hashgraph interaction
- Vyper for smart contract development
- Python environment management
- Hedera testnet integration (Chain ID: 296)
- Automated deployment scripts

Prerequisites:

  • Python 3.x
  • uv or pip package manager
  • Git
  • A text editor
  • Basic understanding of hashgraph concepts

The smart contract itself is clean and straightforward:

# A snippet from our Vyper contract
struct Person:
    favorite_number: uint256
    name: String[100]

@external
def store(favorite_number: uint256):
    self.my_favorite_number = favorite_number

Special Thanks to:

The boilerplate used in this project was adopted from the Cyfrin Updraft Python and Viper starter kit:

This project is open source and welcomes contributions. Join us in making hashgraph development more pythonic! 🐍✨