Ask HN: What computer science concepts should I learn to work with Blockchain?

[leni1]

Hi HN!

I am looking to get comfortable using Blockchain technology over the coming year. What computer science concepts should I be comfortable with/seek to master?

A bit about me: I am a self taught developer with a background that is general IT. I mostly use HTML, CSS, Python and of late I have been dipping my toes in JavaScript as well as Node.js.

[buzzier]

Mastering Bitcoin https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook

An awesome curated list of Cryptoeconomic research and learning materials https://github.com/jpantunes/awesome-cryptoeconomics

A collection about awesome blockchains https://github.com/openblockchains/awesome-blockchains

Building Blockchain in Go https://jeiwan.net/posts/building-blockchain-in-go-part-1/

[leni1]

Thanks a lot for the links! Out of curiosity, why use Go instead of say Python?

[decentralised]

Some level of cryptography (hash functions and signatures), some distributed computing (consensus algorithms, P2P networking), some tech/economics (game theory, mechanism design).

If you start with Ethereum, the js ecosystem around it is by far the most advanced in the blockchain space and you can hit the ground running pretty fast building dApps while you learn more about the protocols that make them interesting.

[leni1]

Thank you!

[knopkop_]

Some recommended reading:

https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook

https://github.com/ethereumbook/ethereumbook

Jimmy Song's "Programming Bitcoin"

[tharne]

+1 for the Jimmy Song book. The guy does an amazing job of laying out difficult concepts in a very accessible way without too much dumbing-down.

[tastroder]

Merkle trees and hash functions mostly. Any advanced data structure course curriculum will likely do. Or go the out of the box route and toy around with AWS hyperledger and the like.

Pick up a marketing course while you're at it, the number of people using Blockchain technology for technically sound reasons is pretty small.

[leni1]

Hehehe... Thanks ;)

[drallison]

Read Maurice Herlihy's review article: https://cacm.acm.org/magazines/2019/2/234355-blockchains-fro...

You will find that doing a cost-benefit analysis of Blockchains and their use in a variety of applications to be a useful exercise.

[api]

Nobody mentioned game theory, so I will mention game theory. Having a basic intuition for it helps in understanding the fine points of consensus etc.

[stephenr]

I’d suggest a healthy grasp of scepticism and an understanding of what buzzworditis is.

Seriously.

[leni1]

I think I have the former and the later is why I want to understand the technology. I am not really after having a buzzword on my resume but more understanding of the technology and what problems it can solve (or the ability to identify problems that I can use it for)

[rasz]

Yes, read up on computer fraud, scams, ponzi and pyramid schemes.