Hello friend, so you want to level up your career in 2023 by learning Solidity – the backbone coding language behind the Ethereum blockchain. Well you‘ve come to the right place!
Whether you‘re a complete beginner or an experienced developer looking to skill up in web3, this extensive guide will equip you with expert knowledge on the best resources across categories like courses, tutorials, workshops and certifications to master Solidity.
I have handpicked and reviewed options pegged to different learning styles and budgets so you can find the ones matching your exact needs.
Let‘s start by quickly understanding why now is the perfect time to learn this open-source programming language and how it can unlock lucrative blockchain engineering roles for you…
Why Should You Learn Solidity Programming in 2023?
Solidity skills are in red hot demand due to adoption in decentralized finance and web3 development. DeFi protocols and DApps underpinning NFT marketplaces, metaverses and other emerging tech are all powered by smart contracts coded in Solidity.
Let me share some key statistics that showcase why Solidity is a top skill web 2.0 developers should urgently add to their web3 toolbox in 2023:
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170X higher demand – According to 2021 Linkedin data, job postings requiring Solidity and blockchain skills saw 170X growth vs 2020
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$159,000 higher pays – The average base salary offered for Solidity developers in the US is around $159,000 according to recent Hired.com data – well above traditional software engineering roles. The demand-supply gap has led to competitive Web3 compensation packages.
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6000% annual growth – Blockchain topped the list of fastest growing job skills in 2022 as per Upwork‘s annual report with a staggering 5900% year-over-year growth. Most blockchain engineering roles require proficiency in Solidity.
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2 million developers needed – Per Linkedin data, total job openings requiring blockchain expertise will rise to over 4 million globally by 2030 while total developers that exist today is less than 2 million. This portends a significant talent crunch that you can capitalize on by skilling up now.
So in a nutshell, the market dynamics strongly favor developers with Solidity and web3 developer skills which are scarce but very sought after. If you‘re looking for new career opportunities or seeking higher compensation, upskilling in Solidity is a sure shot path to fast track your trajectory in 2023!
Pre-requisites for Learning Solidity: Skills & Commitment Required
Now before we dig deeper, let‘s clearly set expectations on pre-requisite skills as well as the effort required to develop proficiency in Solidity:
Technical Skills & Knowledge
No need to worry if you have zero previous coding experience! Solidity syntax is quite similar to JavaScript which makes it easy to grasp even as a complete beginner. However, here are some recommended foundations that will help accelerate your learning:
- Exposure to any programming language – JavaScript, Python, C++ etc
- Comfortable using the command line terminal
- Basic data structures, functions and algorithms
- Some idea of cryptographic concepts – hashing, signatures etc
Again, most Structured courses will teach you programming from scratch so don‘t feel barred if you don‘t meet all criteria above. Just keep in mind that the initial Solidity learning curve may be steeper.
Commitment & Passion for Blockchain
It is important to highlight that learning Solidity requires significant commitment and passion for blockchain technology. Why? Because:
- Solidity is still a niche skill inaccessible via traditional computer science programs
- The tooling and infrastructure stack around Ethereum and web3 are less mature requiring you to wear multiple hats and constant learning
So in addition to coding skills, you need the grit to experiment extensively, troubleshoot issues and stay abreast of latest developments as blockchain technology keeps evolving rapidly.
The good news is that the overall ecosystem maturity is improving with next-gen layer 2 solutions, better toolkits and ample community support making the journey much smoother in 2023.
Okay, now that expectations have been set around the skills and effort needed, let‘s explore the actual training resources…
Best Solidity Tutorials and Courses for All Skill Levels
I have handpicked some of the best Solidity development courses across major formats like video tutorials, immersive online workshops, accredited university programs, interactive code learning platforms etc.
For each, I share expert recommendations based on hands-on experience having both enrolled myself as well as delivered lectures on Solidity and smart contract programming over the years.
The list covers options for complete beginners looking to start from scratch all the way to advanced developers looking to sharpen skills or get certified. Each format has specific pros so choose one matching your learning style, existing ability and budget/time considerations.
Let‘s inspect the top recommendations for learning Solidity programming across formats…
A. Best Solidity & Smart Contract Interactive Courses
- Codecademy – Interactive Solidity Course
Format: Self-paced interactive browser simulations
Duration: 12 hours
Skill Level: Beginners
Price: Free
Codecademy is one of the best destinations for hands-on, interactive coding education across languages. Their Solidity course allows writing and testing code via browser without any complicated setup making it ideal for complete beginners.
Key highlights:
- In-line coding exercises
- Progress trackers
- Discussions forum
- Certification of completion
Overall this is the best free and interactive way to get started with Solidity fundamentals.
- Chainshot – Smart Contract Programming Course
Format: Self-paced interactive coding challenges
Duration: 16 hours
Skill Level: Beginners
Price: Free
For a more extensive hands-on introduction spanning 16 hours, Chainshot has a free Solidity course covering basics like variables, data types, functions etc while building actual blockchain projects like token minting, randomized NFTs, decentralized lottery etc.
You write and test code within the browser earning redeemable NFT badges along the way – adding some Web3 flavor. Nice alternative to Codecademy.
- CryptoZombies – Interactive Coding School | Learn Solidity by Gaming
Format: Interactive coding challenges
Duration: Open ended
Skill Level: Beginners & Intermediate
Price: Free
CryptoZombies takes a uniquely gamified approach to learning Solidity and smart contracts. You learn concepts like functions, inheritance, randomization etc. by building playable blockchain games involving zombies battling one another!
The hands-on nature makes absorbing the concepts very engaging. You can also export and deploy your games afterwards as portfolio showcases. A very entertaining way to skill up.
B. Best Solidity & Ethereum Video Courses
- FreeCodeCamp – 5 Hour Course on YouTube
Format: YouTube video course
Duration: 5 hours
Skill Level: Beginners
Price: Free
With over 800k+ views, this free 5-hour YouTube course is amongst the most popular starting points for learning Solidity. Instructor Omar Sahyoun does an excellent job explaining core concepts like smart contracts, interaction models and tooling while walking through 5 coding demonstrations.
The visual medium really helps grasp the concepts better. You can also leverage the active YouTube community for discussions. Overall a great free video resource.
- Udemy – Master Ethereum and Solidity course with Gregory McCubbin
Format: Video course with supplemental PDFs
Duration: 11.5 hours
Skill level: Beginners & Intermediate
Price: $13.99
For one of the highest rated premium video tutorials, this Udemy bestseller provides comprehensive coverage on Solidity and full-stack dApp development with Ethereum.
The instructor Gregory McCubbin first grounds you in theory before diving into hands-on coding covering projects like DeFi protocol, crypto wallet, tokenization system etc.
With a structured curriculum spanning 11.5 hours across 264 lectures, this course helps cement your learning with quizzes plus 24/7 support.
C. Best Interactive Solidity Workshops
- Buildspace – Learn Solidity by Building Web3 Projects
Format: Online hands-on workshop
Duration: Self-paced once enrolled
Skill level: Beginners
Price: $99
While video courses teach conceptual foundations, most developers prefer learning by actually building applications.
This buildspace workshop focuses on learning Solidity and full-stack web3 development by guiding you through building 4 end-to-end DApps like Yield farming protocol, NFT marketplace etc.
The project-based nature cements your understanding of concepts like smart contracts, blockchain interactions, front-end connectivity etc. in an applied setting.
- Scrimba – Learn Solidity Course
Format: Interactive coding screencasts
Duration: 10 hours self-paced
Skill level: Beginners & Intermediate
Price: Free with Screencast trial
For hands-on practical education, Scrimba has a unique format based on coding screencasts that lets instructors live code applications while you follow along pausing, rewinding etc.
Their Solidity course covers building 5 projects encapsulating core concepts like smart contract logic, storage, testing etc.
You constantly code alongside within the browser reinforcing the applied learning. Really good for visual & kinetic learners.
D. Best Accredited Solidity Certification Programs
- Consensys Academy – Blockchain Developer Bootcamp
Format: Online self-paced course
Duration: 60 hours spread over 4-6 weeks
Skill level: Beginners & Intermediate
Price: $2,400
For a comprehensive accredited program, Consensys Academy offers a developer bootcamp bridging you from traditional software engineering to becoming a blockchain specialist.
The curriculum offers end-to-end coverage on Ethereum protocol, tooling stack, front-end development, smart contract programming with Solidity etc. with dedicated staff supporting you throughout the 4 weeks. You also get career guidance and Consensys certification upon completion.
- Blockchain Council – Certified Solidity Developer
Format: Online self-paced course + exam voucher
Duration: 10-12 weeks recommended
Skill level: Beginners & Intermediate
Price: $349
For developers looking to stand out, Blockchain Council provides an industry-recognized Solidity certification you can showcase on LinkedIn/Resume.
It validates skills across 50+ Solidity, smart contract development and Ethereum topics curated by their standards council featuring Fortune 500 tech leaders.
You get access to learning content, mocks, expert guidance + exam voucher to get certified in 12 weeks. This credential helps fast track web3 job opportunities.
- IVY Pro School – Certified Blockchain Developer Ethereum
Format: Online recorded video course
Duration: Self-paced access for 12 months
Skill level: Beginners & Intermediate
Price: $999
This program from Ivy Professional School delivers yet another accredited certification bundled with rich developer resources across Ethereum, Solidity, web3 etc.
The highlight is that curriculum and tooling is constantly updated by their in-house R&D to keep pace with the rapidly evolving blockchain developer ecosystem.
So you get trained on the latest infrastructure across DApp interfaces, DevOps automation, security audits etc. making you practitioner ready. Certification also signals thorough upskilling.
E. University Led Comprehensive Solidity & DApp Specializations
Format: Online self-paced video course
Duration: 4 months at 5 hours/week
Skill level: Intermediate & Advanced
Price: $49/month Coursera subscription
For learners that prefer structured pedagogy and credibility of accredited universities, Coursera has partnered University at Buffalo to deliver an in-depth Specialization tackling decentralized app development.
The 4 course sequence covers blockchain fundamentals, Ethereum protocols, Solidity programming, smart contracts, security, crypto-economics and full-stack development – quite comprehensive!
You get hands-on practice deploying programs on testnets plus shareable certificate to validate your skills. One of the most thorough DApp education programs.
- Udacity – Blockchain Developer Nanodegree
Format: Online self-paced video course
Duration: 4 months at 10 hours/week
Skill level: Intermediate & Advanced
Price: $1299
Udacity Nanodegrees are very hands-on skill building programs often endorsed by big tech firms that even provide hiring partnerships like Microsoft, Google, NVIDIA etc.
Their blockchain track focuses on architecting and developing decentralized apps spanning blockchain infrastructure, Solidity programming, creating dynamic UIs and performance optimization – covering both theory and practical application.
The projects-based nature lets you build DApps around supply chain management, NFT marketplace etc to apply and showcase your learnings.
And that‘s a wrap! I have shared my curated list of the most popular, comprehensive and best rated Solidity tutorials and certified courses matching various learning styles, abilities and commitments across video formats, interactive coding, accredited programs, hands-on workshops etc.
Key Takeaways – How Should You Prepare?
Based on this exhaustive research and hands-on evaluation of the leading Solidity and web3 development programs, below are my expert recommendations I would leave you with:
✔️ For total beginners with zero experience, start with the free video tutorials on platforms like YouTube and FreeCodeCamp to build initial foundational awareness.
✔️ Next enroll in 1-2 affordable short interactive courses like Codecademy or CryptoZombies to cement understanding of basic concepts by applying them in live environments.
✔️ Afterwards, choose a comprehensive hands-on workshop or bootcamp style program that takes you through building multiple end-to-end DApps using tools like Hardhat, Ethers.js etc. This will help tie together the actual full stack development experience.
✔️ Finally consider credentialing through accredited certifications or specializations that validate your knowledge while signalling thorough reskilling efforts to future web3 employers.
I‘m excited by your aspiration to skill up in Solidity – one of the most empowering and liberating technologies of our generation. I‘m confident the resources curated above will give you the required boost.
Wishing you very best in your decentralization journey ahead my friend! Please don‘t hesitate to comment any questions. Happy to help guide.
