Blockchain_Resources.md Blockchain Resources Following are the resources provided in the Blockchain specialization course on Coursera and a few other resources I found useful while learning Blockchain. ⭐ Best Resources are marked with a star. ✔️ After reading/watching the resource, put a tick mark. Please mention the resources you think would be helpful here in the comments Bitcoin and Blockchain Title of resource: Bitcoin Whitepaper Resource type: Website Description: This is paper released by Satoshi Nakamoto prior to release of the now famous cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Link: http://www.bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf Title of resource: Bitcoin's Academic Pedigree Resource type: Paper Description: How Bitcoin, a radically different proposal for a decentralized cryptocurrency showed that digital cash could be viable. Link: https://queue.acm.org/detail.cfm?id=3136559 Title of resource: What is Blockchain Technology? A Step-by-Step Guide For Beginners Resource type: Website Description: A step by step guide that goes into the details of what Blockchain technology is. Link: https://blockgeeks.com/guides/what-is-blockchain-technology/ Title of resource: Blockchain: The Invisible Technology That's Changing the World ⭐ Resource type: Website Description: Article that expands on a new immutable digital fabric remaking the internet without people even realizing it. It also shows how Blockchain-based networks, decentralized apps (DApps), and distributed ledgers are becoming the foundation of digital life. Link: https://in.pcmag.com/amazon-web-services/112363/feature/blockchain-the-invisible-technology-thats-changing-the-world Blockchain Structure Title of resource: Unspent Transaction Output, UTXO Resource type: Website Description: An online glossary for technical terms regarding Bitcoins. This link Provides the definition and synonyms for an “Unspent Transaction Output”. Link: https://bitcoin.org/en/glossary/unspent-transaction-output Title of resource: Unspent Transaction Output, UTXO ⭐ Resource type: Website Description: An explanation on how UTXO’s operate vs other methods. Link: https://www.smithandcrown.com/definition/unspent-transaction-outputs-utxo/ Title of resource: How the NSA identified Satoshi Nakamoto Resource type: Website Description: An article written by Alexander Muse on Medium that explains how the NSA identified the creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. Link: https://medium.com/cryptomuse/how-the-nsa-caught-satoshi-nakamoto-868affcef595 Basic Operations ⭐ Title of resource: How a Bitcoin Transaction Works Resource type: Website Description: This article explains what a bitcoin transaction is, its purpose and outcome. The explanation in this article is suitable for both novice and intermediate bitcoin users. Link: https://www.ccn.com/bitcoin-transaction-really-works/ Title of resource: How does the Blockchain Work? (Part 1) Resource type: Website Description: An article written by Collin Thompson on Medium that gives a simple and easy explanation on how blockchain works. Link: https://medium.com/blockchain-review/how-does-the-blockchain-work-for-dummies-explained-simply-9f94d386e093 Title of resource: How Does the Blockchain Work? Resource type: Website Description: An article written by Michele D'Aliessi on Medium that explains blockchain technology in simple words. Link: https://medium.com/@micheledaliessi/how-does-the-blockchain-work-98c8cd01d2ae Title of resource: Blockchain 101 - A Visual Demo ⭐ ✔️ Resource type: Video (Run time- 17:49) Description: Very basic VISUAL introduction to the concepts behind a blockchain where the idea of an immutable ledger is introduced using an interactive web demo. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_160oMzblY8 Beyond Bitcoin Title of resource: A Gentle Introduction to Blockchain Technology Resource type: Website Description: This article is a gentle introduction to blockchain technology and assumes minimal technical knowledge. It attempts to describe “what it is” rather than “why should I care”. Link: https://bitsonblocks.net/2015/09/09/a-gentle-introduction-to-blockchain-technology/ Title of resource: On Public and Private Blockchains Resource type: Website Description: A blog posted by Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum. He goes on to explain the differences between the different types of blockchains. Link: https://blog.ethereum.org/2015/08/07/on-public-and-private-blockchains/ Title of resource: What is Cryptocurrency. Guide for Beginners Resource type: Website Description: An easy to understand guide on cryptocurrencies, including its history and future. Link: https://cointelegraph.com/bitcoin-for-beginners/what-are-cryptocurrencies#accept-as-payment-for-business Title of resource: 2017 Was Bitcoin's Year. 2018 Will Be Ethereum's Resource type: Website Description: The following article written by Jez San, CEO of FunFair Technologies, an Ethereum-powered casino platform, explains why Ethereum will continue to evolve throughout the year 2018. Link: https://www.coindesk.com/2017-bitcoins-year-2018-will-ethereums/ Title of resource: What is Cryptocurrency: Everything You Need To Know Resource type: Website Description: This introduction explains the most important things about cryptocurrencies and where they are headed. Link: https://blockgeeks.com/guides/what-is-cryptocurrency/ Title of resource: What is the Difference Between Public and Permissioned Blockchains? Resource type: Website Description: An article that introduces a description of the three technologies that make up blockchain technology: cryptographic keys, a distributed network and a network servicing protocol. Link: https://www.coindesk.com/information/what-is-the-difference-between-open-and-permissioned-blockchains/ Smart Contracts Title of resource: Smart Contracts: The Blockchain Technology That Will Replace Lawyers Resource type: Website Description: Article explains what smart contracts are and how they allow for the disposal of intermediaries which will saves time and conflict for governments and corporations. Link: https://blockgeeks.com/guides/smart-contracts/ Title of resource: Introduction to Smart Contracts Resource type: Website Description: Introduction to the basics of smart contracts and solidity. Link: http://solidity.readthedocs.io/en/develop/introduction-to-smart-contracts.html Title of resource: What is Ethereum? Resource type: Website Description: Introduction to Ethereum, Ethereum Virtual Machine, and how they work. Link: http://ethdocs.org/en/latest/introduction/what-is-ethereum.html Ethereum Structure Title of resource: Smart Contracts: A White Paper Resource type: White paper Description: Offers an overview of smart contracts, their types depending on the transaction involved, and blockchain technology providers. Link: https://github.com/ethereum/wiki/wiki/White-Paper Title of resource: Account Management Resource type: Website Description: Documentation on account management from Ethereum Homestead, an ongoing collaborative effort of volunteers from the Ethereum Community . Link: http://ethdocs.org/en/latest/account-management.html Title of resource: Native: Account management Resource type: Website Description: Introduces account management and how it can provide Ethereum integration for your native applications. Link: https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/wiki/Native:-Account-management Ethereum Operations Title of resource: How Ethereum Works Resource type: Website Description: This article dives deeper into how the platform functions under the hood. Link: https://www.coindesk.com/information/how-ethereum-works/ Title of resource: What Is Meant By The Term “Gas”? Resource type: Website Description: Answers on Ethereum stack exchange that explains gas and where it comes from? Link: https://ethereum.stackexchange.com/questions/3/what-is-meant-by-the-term-gas Incentive Model Title of resource: Vitalik Buterin Doubles Down on Ethereum Incentive Strategy Resource type: Website Description: An article written by Amy Castor that goes into Vitalik’s incentive strategy for Ethereum during the Workshop on Trusted Smart Contracts. Link: https://www.coindesk.com/vitalik-buterin-doubles-ethereum-incentive-strategy/ Title of resource: Ether Resource type: Website Description: Official website of ethereum that lists the most important things to know about ethers. Link: https://www.ethereum.org/ether Title of resource: Proof of Work vs Proof of Stake: Basic Mining Guide Resource type: Website Description: This article will explain the main differences between Proof of Work vs Proof of Stake and will provide a definition of mining. Link: https://blockgeeks.com/guides/proof-of-work-vs-proof-of-stake/ Public-Key Cryptography Title of resource: What Is Public-Key Cryptography? Resource type: Website Description: A look at the encryption algorithm and its security benefits Link: https://www.globalsign.com/en/ssl-information-center/what-is-public-key-cryptography/ Title of resource: Asymmetric Cryptography (Public-Key Cryptography) Resource type: Website Description: Article explains what Asymmetric cryptography is and how it works Link: http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/asymmetric-cryptography Title of resource: Public Key Cryptography - Computerphile ⭐ ✔️ Resource type: Video (Run time- 6:19) Description: Youtube video that explains how public key cryptography works. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSIDS_lvRv4 Title of resource: Blockchain 101 - Part 2 - Public / Private Keys and Signing ⭐ ✔️ Resource type: Video (Run time- 8:53) Description: Youtube video that explains how public key cryptography helps in verifying the transactions in a blockchain. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIDL_akeras Hashing Title of resource: What Is Hashing? Under The Hood of Blockchain ⭐ ✔️ Resource type: Website Description: An article that not only explains the basics of hashing but introduces a more specific type of hashing and how it affects the mining process. Link: https://blockgeeks.com/guides/what-is-hashing/ Note: Check the comments in the article for a few corrections in the article Title of resource: Hashing Algorithms and Security - Computerphile ✔️ Resource type: Video (Run time- 08:11) Description: Hashing Algorithms are used to ensure file authenticity, but how secure are they and why do they keep changing? Tom Scott hashes it out. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4b8ktEV4Bg Title of resource: SHA: Secure Hashing Algorithm - Computerphile ✔️ Resource type: Video (Run time- 10:20) Description: Dr. Mike Pound explains how files are used to generate seemingly random hash strings. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMtFhACPnTY Title of resource: Hash Functions Resource type: Website Description: Explanations and examples of simple hash functions and the hashing sequences of characters. Link: https://www.cs.hmc.edu/~geoff/classes/hmc.cs070.200101/homework10/hashfuncs.html Title of Resource: Blockchain demo Resource type: website Description: This website contains a hashing tool. Link: https://anders.com/blockchain/hash.html Smart Contracts Title of resource: Smart Contract: Building blocks for digital markets ✔️ Resource type: Paper Description: This is a paper by Nick Szabo when he discussed the concept of smart contract. This paper is dated 1996, well before the advent of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Link: http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/rob/Courses/InformationInSpeech/CDROM/Literature/LOTwinterschool2006/szabo.best.vwh.net/smart_contracts_2.html Title of resource: How to Learn Solidity: The Ultimate Ethereum Coding Guide Resource type: website Description: This Guide will walk you step -by-step through learning Solidity. Link: https://blockgeeks.com/guides/solidity/ Title of resource: Remix- Solidity IDE Resource type: website Description: Remix is an IDE for the smart contract programming language Solidity and has an integrated debugger and testing environment. Link: http://remix.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ Smart Contracts Defined Title of resource: Structure of a Contract Resource type: website Description: Contracts in Solidity are similar to classes in object-oriented languages. Each contract can contain declarations of State Variables, Functions, Function Modifiers, Events, Struct Types and Enum Types. Furthermore, contracts can inherit from other contracts. Link: http://solidity.readthedocs.io/en/develop/structure-of-a-contract.html Title of resource: Introduction to Smart Contracts Resource type: website Description: This website provides an introduction to smart contracts. Link: http://solidity.readthedocs.io/en/develop/introduction-to-smart-contracts.html Processing Smart Contracts Title of resource: Account Types, Gas, and Transactions ✔️ Resource type: website Description: This website details the two type of accounts in Ethereum. Link: http://ethdocs.org/en/latest/contracts-and-transactions/account-types-gas-and-transactions.html Deploying Smart Contracts Title of resource: Ethereum, Tokens, and Smart Contracts Resource type: website Description: This article details Ethereum, tokens, and smart contracts. Link: https://medium.com/@k3no/ethereum-tokens-smart-contracts-80f639f5c46b Title of resource: Decoding the Enigma of Bitcoin Mining Resource type: website Description: “Bitcoin miners” is somewhat a misleading term. The miners are actually “bookkeepers” and “validators” of the network. It is called as Mining because the algorithm somewhat approximates the declining supply of gold and the miner wins an award (which are the new bitcoins created) for their effort. Link: https://medium.com/all-things-ledger/decoding-the-enigma-of-bitcoin-mining-f8b2697bc4e2