Building on LazAI

LazAI provides a robust environment for deploying and testing smart contracts. This guide will help you choose the right development framework and get started with your first smart contract deployment.

Network Information

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:

• Node.js (v14+)
• npm or yarn
• Git

Choose Your Development Framework

Framework Comparison

Hardhat

• JavaScript/TypeScript Support: Native support for JavaScript and TypeScript development
• Rich Plugin Ecosystem: Extensive collection of plugins for various development needs
• Built-in Testing Framework: Comprehensive testing capabilities with Chai and Mocha
• Developer Experience: Great for beginners with excellent debugging tools

Foundry

• Solidity-Native Testing: Write tests in Solidity for better integration
• Fast Compilation: Optimized compilation process for quick development cycles
• Built-in Fuzzing: Advanced testing capabilities with fuzzing support
• Advanced Debugging: Comprehensive debugging tools for smart contracts

Hardhat

Deploying a Counter Contract with Hardhat

This guide will walk you through deploying a counter contract using Hardhat, a popular JavaScript-based development environment for Ethereum.

1. Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• Node.js installed (v12 or later)
• npm (comes with Node.js)
• A code editor (e.g., VS Code)
• (Optional) MetaMask wallet and testnet tokens for deployment

2. Install Hardhat

Open your terminal and create a new project directory:

mkdir counter-project
cd counter-project

Initialize a new npm project:

npm init -y

Install Hardhat and required dependencies:

npm install --save-dev hardhat @nomicfoundation/hardhat-toolbox dotenv

npm install --save-dev @nomicfoundation/hardhat-ignition

3. Create a New Hardhat Project

Run the Hardhat setup wizard:

npx hardhat

Choose “Create a JavaScript project” when prompted.

This will create a project structure like:

• contracts/ - for Solidity contracts
• igntion/ - for deployment scripts
• test/ - for tests
• hardhat.config.js - configuration file

4. Write Your Smart Contract

Create a new file in the contracts directory, Counter.sol:

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
pragma solidity ^0.8.0;
 
contract Counter {
    uint256 private count;
 
    function increment() public {
        count += 1;
    }
 
    function decrement() public {
        count -= 1;
    }
 
    function getCount() public view returns (uint256) {
        return count;
    }
}

5. Compile the Smart Contract

Compile your contracts with:

npx hardhat compile

You should see a success message if there are no errors.

6. Write a Deployment Script

Create a new file in the ignition directory, Counter.js:

const { buildModule } = require("@nomicfoundation/hardhat-ignition/modules");
 
module.exports = buildModule("CounterModule", (m) => {
  const counter = m.contract("Counter");
 
  return { counter };
});

7. Configure Network Settings

Create a .env file in your project root:

PRIVATE_KEY=your_private_key_here

Edit hardhat.config.js:

require("@nomicfoundation/hardhat-toolbox");
require("dotenv").config();
 
module.exports = {
  solidity: "0.8.28",
  networks: {
    hardhat: {
      chainId: 31337,
    },
    lazai: {
      url: "https://lazai-testnet.metisdevops.link",
      chainId: 133718,
      accounts: [process.env.PRIVATE_KEY],
    },
  },
};

8. Deploy Your Contract

Local Deployment (Optional)

Start the Hardhat local node in a separate terminal:

npx hardhat node

Deploy to local network:

npx hardhat ignition deploy ignition/modules/Counter.js --network  localhost

Deploy to LazAI Testnet

Make sure to:

1. Get testnet tokens from the faucet
2. Add your private key to the .env file
3. Never share your private key

Deploy to LazAI:

npx hardhat ignition deploy ignition/modules/Counter.js --network lazai

Testing

Test Setup

Create test/Counter.js:

const { expect } = require("chai");
 
describe("Counter", function () {
  it("Should increment the counter", async function () {
    const Counter = await ethers.getContractFactory("Counter");
    const counter = await Counter.deploy();
    await counter.deployed();
 
    await counter.increment();
    expect(await counter.getCount()).to.equal(1);
  });
});

Running Tests

npx hardhat test

Next Steps

• Add more complex functionality to your counter contract
• Implement events for better tracking
• Add access control mechanisms
• Set up continuous integration
• Add more comprehensive tests

Foundry

Deploying a Counter Contract with Foundry

This guide will walk you through deploying a counter contract using Foundry, a fast and portable toolkit for Ethereum application development.

1. Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• A code editor (e.g., VS Code)
• Git installed
• (Optional) MetaMask wallet for deploying to testnets
• (Optional) RPC endpoint for deploying to a network

2. Install Foundry

Open your terminal and run:

curl -L https://foundry.paradigm.xyz | bash

This installs foundryup, the Foundry installer.

Next, run:

foundryup

This will install the Foundry toolchain (forge, cast, anvil, chisel).

Check the installation:

forge --version

3. Initialize a New Project

Create a new directory for your project and initialize Foundry:

forge init Counter
cd Counter

This creates a project with the following structure:

• src/ - for your smart contracts
• test/ - for Solidity tests
• script/ - for deployment scripts
• lib/ - for dependencies
• foundry.toml - project configuration file

4. Explore the Counter Contract

Foundry initializes your project with a Counter contract in src/Counter.sol:

// SPDX-License-Identifier: UNLICENSED
pragma solidity ^0.8.13;
 
contract Counter {
    uint256 public number;
 
    function setNumber(uint256 newNumber) public {
        number = newNumber;
    }
 
    function increment() public {
        number++;
    }
}

This contract stores a number and allows you to set or increment it.

5. Compile the Contract

Compile your smart contracts with:

forge build

This command compiles all contracts in src/ and outputs artifacts to the out/ directory.

6. Run Tests

Foundry supports writing tests in Solidity (in the test/ directory). To run all tests:

forge test

You’ll see output indicating which tests passed or failed. The default project includes a sample test for the Counter contract.

7. Deploying Your Contract

To deploy your contract to the LazAI testnet, you’ll need:

• An RPC URL
• A private key with testnet LAZAI

Example deployment command for LazAI testnet:

forge create --rpc-url https://lazai-testnet.metisdevops.link \
  --private-key <YOUR_PRIVATE_KEY> \
  src/Counter.sol:Counter \
  --broadcast

Replace <YOUR_PRIVATE_KEY> with your actual private key. Never share your private key.

8. Interacting with Contracts

You can use cast to interact with deployed contracts, send transactions, or query data. For example, to read the number variable on LazAI testnet:

cast call <CONTRACT_ADDRESS> "number()(uint256)" --rpc-url https://lazai-testnet.metisdevops.link

Next Steps

• Add more complex functionality to your counter contract
• Implement events for better tracking
• Add access control mechanisms
• Set up continuous integration
• Add more comprehensive tests