Arbitrum docsChoose your learning path
Find the right Stylus learning path based on your background and goals
Not sure where to start with Stylus? This guide helps you find the optimal learning path based on your background and goals.
Quick path selector
Best for: Developers experienced with other languages but new to Rust.
Prerequisites
- Basic programming knowledge
- Familiarity with concepts like variables, functions, and control flow
- Optional: Smart contract development experience
Recommended journey
Learn Rust basics (1-2 weeks)
- Work through The Rust Book chapters 1-10
- Focus on: ownership, borrowing, structs, enums, error handling
- Practice with Rustlings
Start with Stylus
- Complete the Quickstart
- Understand project structure
- Deploy your first contract
Build fundamentals (1 week)
- Study data types
- Learn storage patterns
- Practice writing tests
Explore advanced topics (ongoing)
- Review best practices
- Study gas optimization
- Build real projects
Key resources
Best for: Experienced Solidity developers transitioning to Stylus.
Prerequisites
- Strong Solidity knowledge
- Understanding of EVM and smart contract security
- No Rust experience required
Recommended journey
Understand the differences (1 day)
- Read Rust to Solidity differences
- Review VM differences
- Understand type conversions
Quick start
- Complete the Quickstart
- Compare with familiar Solidity patterns
- Deploy a simple contract
Learn Rust patterns
- Study ownership and borrowing
- Learn error handling
- Understand storage macros
Port existing contracts (ongoing)
- Start with simple contracts
- Apply security best practices
- Optimize for gas efficiency
Common migration patterns
| Solidity Pattern | Stylus Equivalent | Guide |
|---|---|---|
mapping(address => uint) | StorageMap<Address, U256> | Storage types |
require(condition, "error") | Result<T, E> + ? | Error handling |
msg.sender | self.vm().msg_sender() | Global functions |
constructor | #[constructor] method | Contracts |
| Events | self.vm().log(Event{}) | Global functions |
Key resources
Best for: Developers experienced with other smart contract platforms (e.g., Move, Cairo, Clarity, etc.).
Prerequisites
- Smart contract development experience
- Understanding of blockchain concepts
- Basic programming knowledge
Recommended journey
Jump right in
- Complete the Quickstart
- Explore project structure
- Deploy and interact with a contract
Understand the execution model
- Study WebAssembly concepts
- Review VM differences
- Learn about activation
Master Rust for smart contracts (1 week)
- Focus on storage patterns
- Learn contract structure
- Understand testing approaches
Advanced development (ongoing)
- Apply platform-specific optimizations
- Implement cross-contract calls
- Build production applications
Key resources
Best for: Experienced Rust developers entering blockchain development.
Prerequisites
- Strong Rust knowledge
- Understanding of ownership, traits, and async programming
- No blockchain experience required
Recommended journey
Learn blockchain basics
- Understand smart contracts
- Learn about gas and transactions
- Study EVM basics
Quick start with Stylus (1 day)
- Complete the Quickstart
- Your Rust skills transfer directly!
- Deploy your first contract
Web3-specific patterns
- Learn storage patterns
- Understand global variables
- Study security considerations
Build applications (ongoing)
- Start with simple DeFi primitives
- Implement events and logs
- Optimize for gas efficiency
Rust skills that transfer well
- Ownership model: Natural fit for secure contract design
- Type safety: Prevents common smart contract bugs
- Error handling:
Result<T, E>maps perfectly to contract errors - Testing: Your testing skills apply directly
- Performance optimization: Critical for gas efficiency
Key resources
General learning resources
Regardless of your path, these resources are valuable:
Official documentation
Community and support
Practice projects
- Token contract: Implement the ERC-20 token standard
- NFT contract: Build an ERC-721 compatible NFT
- Simple DeFi: Create a basic AMM or lending protocol
- DAO governance: Implement a voting and proposal system
Next steps
Ready to start? Begin with these essential guides:
Good luck on your Stylus journey!
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