Hyperledger Fabric is a permissioned blockchain infrastructure originally developed by IBM and now supported by the Linux Foundation. it is one of the Hyperledger projects hosted by the Linux Foundation.
Unlike other public blockchain platforms, such as Ethereum, Fabric allows members of a permissioned network to agree on updates before they are committed to the shared ledger. This allows for rapid updates and ensures that all members are working with the same set of data.
To develop applications on top of Fabric, developers will need to learn how to write chaincode (smart contracts), how to deploy and invoke chaincode, and how to configure a Fabric network.
In this guide, we will cover the basics of each of these topics. By the end, you should have a good understanding of how Fabric works and be able to start building your own applications.
Chaincode
Chaincode is the programmatic logic that defines how a user interacts with the data stored on a Fabric network. It is similar to smart contracts on other blockchain platforms.
Chaincode is written in Go, making it a good choice for developers who are already familiar with this language.
To write chaincode, you will need to have a basic understanding of how Fabric works. In particular, you should understand how data is stored on the Fabric ledger and how chaincode can be used to manipulate this data.
Once you have a grasp of the basics, you can start writing your own chaincode. The Fabric SDK includes a number of sample chaincode applications that you can use as a starting point.
Deploying and Invoking Chaincode
Once you have written your chaincode, you will need to deploy it to a Fabric network. This can be done using the Fabric SDK.
Once your chaincode is deployed, you will be able to invoke it to execute transactions. Transactions are requests that manipulate the data stored on the ledger.
You can test your chaincode locally using the Fabric SDK, or on a test network provided by a cloud provider such as IBM Cloud.
Configuring a Fabric Network
Before you can deploy and invoke chaincode, you will need to set up a Fabric network. This involves creating a network of Fabric nodes, installing the required software, and configuring the network to work with your chaincode.
The Fabric SDK includes a number of tools that can help you set up a Fabric network. Alternatively, you can use a cloud service such as IBM Cloud to create a Fabric network in a matter of minutes.