Blockchain Essentials: Core Concepts and Implementations

This book will teach you the core concepts of blockchain technology in a concise manner through straightforward, concrete examples using a range of programming languages, including Python and Solidity. The 50 programs presented in this book are all you need to gain a firm understanding of blockchain and how to implement it.

The book begins with an introduction to the fundamentals of blockchain technology, followed by a review of its types, framework, applications and challenges. Moving ahead, you will learn basic blockchain programming with hash functions, authentication code, and Merkle trees. You will then dive into the basics of bitcoin, including wallets, digital keys, transactions, digital signatures, and more. This is followed by a crash course on Ethereum programming, its network, and ecosystem. As you progress through the book, you will also learn about Hyperledger and put your newly-gained knowledge to work through case studies and example applications.

After reading this book, you will understand blockchain's underlying concepts and its common implementations.

What You Will Learn

• Master theoretical and practical implementations of various blockchain components using Python
• Implement hashing, Merkel trees, and smart contracts using the Solidity programming language for various applications
• Grasp the internal structure of EVM and its implementation in smart contracts
• Understand why blockchain plays an essential role in cryptocurrencies and identify possible applications beyond cryptocurrencies
• Investigate and apply alternative blockchain solutions using Hyperledger, including its integration and deployment
• Explore research opportunities through case studies and gain an overview of implementation using various languages

Who Is This Book For:

Anyone who is new to blockchain and wants to gain an an understanding of how it works and can be implemented.

這本書將以簡潔的方式，透過直觀且具體的範例，使用多種程式語言（包括Python和Solidity）教授區塊鏈技術的核心概念。書中呈現的50個程式將讓您全面了解區塊鏈以及如何實施它。

本書首先介紹區塊鏈技術的基本原理，接著回顧其類型、框架、應用和挑戰。隨後，您將學習使用哈希函數、驗證碼和默克爾樹進行基本的區塊鏈編程。接下來，您將深入了解比特幣的基礎知識，包括錢包、數字金鑰、交易、數字簽名等。之後，您將進行以太坊編程的速成課程，了解其網絡和生態系統。隨著閱讀的進展，您還將學習Hyperledger，並通過案例研究和實例應用將新獲得的知識應用於實際情境。

閱讀完本書後，您將理解區塊鏈的基本概念及其常見實現方式。

您將學到什麼：
- 使用Python掌握各種區塊鏈組件的理論和實際實現
- 使用Solidity編程語言實現哈希、默克爾樹和智能合約，應用於各種應用場景
- 理解以太坊虛擬機（EVM）的內部結構及其在智能合約中的實現
- 理解為什麼區塊鏈在加密貨幣中扮演著重要角色，並識別超越加密貨幣的潛在應用
- 通過Hyperledger探索和應用替代的區塊鏈解決方案，包括其整合和部署
- 通過案例研究探索研究機會，並獲得使用不同語言實現的概述

本書適合對區塊鏈新手，希望了解其工作原理和實施方式的讀者。

Dr. Ramchandra Sharad Mangrulkar is a Professor in the Department of Information Technology at Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engineering in Mumbai, India. He holds various memberships in professional organizations such as IEEE, ISTE, ACM, and IACSIT. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Science and Engineering from S.G.B. Amravati University in Maharashtra, and Master of Technology (MTech) degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela. Dr. Mangrulkar is proficient in several technologies and tools, including Microsoft's Power BI, Power Automate, Power Query, Power Virtual Agents, Google's Dialog Flow, and Overleaf. With over 23 years of combined teaching and administrative experience, Dr. Mangrulkar has established himself as a knowledgeable and skilled professional in his field. He has also obtained certifications such as Certified Network Security Specialist (ICSI - CNSS) from ICSI, UK. Dr. Mangrulkar has a strong publication record with 95 publications including refereed/peer-reviewed international journal publications, book chapters with international publishers (including Scopus indexed ones), and international conference publications.

Dr. Pallavi Vijay Chavan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Technology at Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology, D Y Patil Deemed to be University, Navi Mumbai, MH, India. She has been in academics since the past 17 years and has worked in the areas of computing theory, data science, and network security. In her academic journey, she has published research work in the data science and security domains with reputed publishers including Springer, Elsevier, CRC Press, and Inderscience. She has published 2 books, 7+ book chapters, 10+ international journal papers and 30+ international conference papers. She is currently guiding 5 Ph.D. research scholars. She completed her Ph.D. from Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, MH, India in 2017. She secured the first merit position in Nagpur University for the degree of B.E. in Computer Engineering in 2003. She is recipient of research grants from UGC, CSIR, and University of Mumbai. She is an active reviewer for Elsevier and Inderscience journals. Her firm belief is "Teaching is a mission."

Dr. Ramchandra Sharad Mangrulkar 是印度孟買 Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi 工程學院資訊科技系的教授。他是 IEEE、ISTE、ACM 和 IACSIT 等專業組織的成員。他在馬哈拉施特拉邦的 S.G.B. Amravati 大學取得計算機科學和工程的博士學位，並在國家技術學院羅爾克拉分校取得計算機科學和工程的碩士學位。Mangrulkar 博士精通多種技術和工具，包括 Microsoft 的 Power BI、Power Automate、Power Query、Power Virtual Agents，以及 Google 的 Dialog Flow 和 Overleaf。在超過 23 年的教學和行政經驗中，Mangrulkar 博士在自己的領域中建立了自己的知識和技能。他還獲得了來自 ICSI, UK 的認證網絡安全專家 (ICSI - CNSS)。Mangrulkar 博士在出版方面有著豐富的經驗，包括 95 篇論文，其中包括國際期刊論文、國際出版商的專書章節 (包括 Scopus 索引的章節) 和國際會議論文。

Dr. Pallavi Vijay Chavan 是印度孟買 Navi Mumbai 的 Ramrao Adik 工程學院資訊科技系的副教授。她從事學術工作已有 17 年，並在計算理論、數據科學和網絡安全領域工作。在她的學術旅程中，她在數據科學和安全領域發表了研究成果，並與 Springer、Elsevier、CRC Press 和 Inderscience 等知名出版商合作。她已出版了 2 本書籍、7+ 章節、10+ 國際期刊論文和 30+ 國際會議論文。她目前指導著 5 名博士研究學者。她於 2017 年從 Nagpur 大學獲得博士學位。她在 2003 年獲得 Nagpur 大學計算機工程學士學位的第一名。她獲得了來自 UGC、CSIR 和孟買大學的研究資助。她是 Elsevier 和 Inderscience 期刊的活躍審稿人。她堅信「教學是一項使命」。