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Application Developer Track

Application developers build the products and services that people use to interact with Bitcoin — wallets, payment processors, exchanges, Lightning apps, and more. This is the broadest track, touching web development, mobile, backend systems, and cryptographic protocols.

What You'll Learn​

  1. Libraries & SDKs — Bitcoin development libraries across multiple languages
  2. Wallet Development — HD wallets, key management, coin selection
  3. Payment Processing — Invoicing, payment flows, Lightning integration
  4. Exchange & Trading — Order books, APIs, custody solutions
  5. Web3 on Bitcoin — DLCs, Stacks, RGB protocol
  6. Advanced Protocols — Multisig, timelocks, atomic swaps
  7. Protocols on Bitcoin — Lightning Network, sidechains, Nostr

Prerequisites​

Complete the Fundamentals section and be comfortable with:

  • At least one of: JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Rust, or Go
  • REST APIs and web development basics
  • Basic understanding of Bitcoin transactions and addresses
  • Command-line Bitcoin operations (bitcoin-cli)

Key Skills You'll Develop​

SkillWhy It Matters
Bitcoin library proficiencyBuild applications without touching raw protocol
Wallet architectureSecure key management is the foundation of everything
Payment flow designUsers need reliable, intuitive payment experiences
Lightning integrationLayer 2 enables instant, cheap payments
Security mindsetYou're handling real money — mistakes are costly

Learning Path​

Quick Start​

The fastest way to start building is to pick a library in your preferred language and build a simple wallet on regtest:

# Start a regtest node
bitcoind -regtest -daemon

# Your first app can:
# 1. Generate a new address
# 2. Mine some blocks (regtest only)
# 3. Send a transaction
# 4. Check the balance

Check the Libraries & SDKs section to pick your starting point.

Resources​