Author: Moon Cao( UX designer of ArcBlock)
With a vivid metaphor, this article intends to introduce the out-of-the-box tools that ArcBlock has prepared for Decentralized Applications (DApps) development, the way to use these tools and the relationship between them.
It is the closest analogue to compare developing a Decentralized Application on the ArcBlock platform with the user experience of Lego, so let us start it from shopping in a Lego store...
The first thing that comes into view is the eye-catching finished Lego models in the window. We all know that the structure of building blocks is very simple, and it does not require advanced techniques to assemble and disassemble them. Therefore, we would always like to try when we see the exquisite models which are just built by building blocks.
You can check out our application examples on ArcBlock website to see what the final product looks like. If you know some techniques, you can easily assemble an application here too.
We enter the store and find many DIY semi-finished Lego sets on rows of shelves. There are the cool Toy Story, the mysterious magical world and the princess castle of pink style. You can buy them and build into the same just like the model in the cover picture. There are usually appropriate building blocks, floor tiles, characters and instructions in the box.
Some people like to follow the instructions totally, while others like to make innovations by themselves. To a thousand readers, there are a thousand Hamlets.
Building Blocks#
There is also an area in the store for customers to choose blocks and characters of different colors and shapes. Advanced players can design and assemble models by themselves without the restriction of the sets, which is very free.
We support developers with ideas to design and develop the Blocklet they need, and create their unique application components too.
Component#
In addition to these, there are also some special objects built with Lego bricks in the store, such as cars, buildings, trees and so on. They can be considered as a finished product, or assembled on a larger baseplate to become part of another finished product.
Our blocklet has the same feature as Component too. A single Blocklet may be an application, but the developers can also put it into a framework or combine it with other blocklets to create a new application.
Framework#
Lego store also provides Lego bricks of certain types, such as the base of a car or the rollable wheels. You can choose other favorite blocks to decorate the car.
We provide blocklet framework to satisfy the specific needs, as well as some blocklets that can be put into the framework. Users can choose from them as they like.
Protocol#
Speaking of this, I almost forget to mention that every Lego brick has a common feature. There are concave and convex surfaces on Lego bricks so that they can be closely assembled. This is a key feature. Although there are some other weird combination methods existing among fans, none of them are mainstream.
Our blocklets rely on the uniform protocol to combine with each other too. The protocol helps blocklets work closely together and also allows us to assemble and disassemble them.
ABT Node#
There is another important Lego component is the baseplate since we have talked about Lego bricks above. The largest baseplate can accommodate all our houses, cars, people, etc. We can choose baseplates of different sizes and colors and put them in the shopping cart.
All applications need a "Lego baseplate" to accommodate them, and our ABT Node is such a baseplate. Any blocklet must run on the ABT Node to be utilized.
Installation#
Now we have finished our shopping in the Lego store, and what we want are already in the shopping cart, so we can check out and go home to make up! Let us unpack and assemble the theme set and the rest!
You can pay ABT token on ArcBlock platform once your desired blocklets and ABT Node services are chosen. With successful purchase the application will be automatically installed. The last step is to bind your domain name and connect the domain name with the node, then you will get your own Dapp instance.
Conclusion#
Finally, let us take a review:
Note: Part of the photo comes from the Internet. If there is any infringement, please contact us to delete it.