Being a web developer can open up all sorts of employment and business opportunities in the digital age. An increasing number of business practices are moving online, creating plenty of work for developers in every sector. However, many programmers are now looking to learn Web3 development to expand their skillsets and position themselves to be a part of the next generation of web services, protocols, and applications. The Web3 movement aims to take power out of the hands of big tech companies and place it in the hands of internet users. With public blockchains at the heart of this technological revolution, Web3 promotes decentralization and transparency online.
In this article, we’re going to dive deep into the world of Web3 development. We’ll discuss the differences between Web1, Web2, and Web3. Also, we’ll look at the underlying technologies powering the Web3 movement. Furthermore, we’ll discuss one of the best ways to learn Web3 development. Plus, we’ll show you some of the easiest tools you can use to optimize your learning experience.
When considering Web3 education and learning Web3 development, Moralis Academy is the number one platform. If you want to learn how to become a Web3 developer, check out the JavaScript Programming for Blockchain Developers course. Regardless of experience, this course is ideal for anyone who wants to learn to build decentralized applications (dapps) using JavaScript. Also, this course will help prepare you for building your Web3 portfolio to find that perfect career in Web3. Start your Web3 journey today with Moralis Academy! In addition, save our “What is Bitcoin?”, “DeFi Explained”, and “Blockchain Explained” articles for later reading!
What is Web3?
Web3 refers to a series of open-source, decentralized protocols that form the next iteration of the internet. With public blockchains at the heart of the Web3 movement, Web3 developers are creating a version of the internet that users own rather than tech conglomerates. This is facilitated by token economies and the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) model that enable developers to recreate various aspects of the traditional web in a way that benefits users and creators rather than big businesses. That is also one of the reasons why traditional Web2 developers want to transition into Web3 and learn Web3 development.
The Web3 umbrella incorporates a broad range of services and products. This includes decentralized social media networks, crypto gaming, non-fungible token (NFT) and metaverse applications, decentralized web browsers, decentralized finance (DeFi), and more. Also, Web3 applications aim to democratize the internet experience so that users can monetize their own data and see adverts that they want to see and be paid for doing so.
Furthermore, the Web3 movement serves as an extension of the blockchain and crypto landscape. Web3 aims to empower users by removing the gatekeepers to our daily online interactions. Moreover, these applications enable developers and users to have a stake in the applications they design and use.
Web1 and Web2
When wanting to learn Web3 development, it’s important to look over some basics regarding Web1 and Web2. Web1 is the first iteration of the internet. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the internet mainly consisted of static images and text. Blog posts and email were the prominent web services of this time. Also, the attitudes toward the internet were still somewhat skeptical from mainstream media outlets.
From around the mid-2000s, the internet began taking a new shape. The introduction of interactive websites and social media platforms laid the foundations for what we now refer to as Web2. The Web2 landscape enables people to create their own content and be active participants in the mediums they enjoy. However, the vast majority of Web2 activity serves to benefit a small group of big companies.
Web3 aims to remedy this issue by replacing the power of centralized corporations with community governed protocols and networks. Products become investment opportunities, and users can monetize their data and decide what adverts they see.
Why to Learn Web3 Development – What are the Benefits?
Understanding what the future of finance and technology could look like puts you at an unfair advantage in the workplace and in society at large. Furthermore, the Web3 industry is still quite young. As such, getting a foot through the door at this early stage could set you up for a life-changing career.
If you want to become a part of something big, learning Web3 development could put you at the forefront of a financial and technological revolution. By creating democratic, privacy-preserving web applications and products, you could help steer us towards an equitable internet environment, free of censorship, corruption, and corporate interests.
Also, if you learn Web3 development, it will enable you to challenge yourself in new ways every day. Plus, you’ll work with a diverse and interesting range of people from across the world. Blockchain and Web3 developers are helping to solve some of the biggest challenges in society today. This includes access to financial tools and services, creating fair and sustainable businesses, and privacy-preserving products that empower users.
There has never been a better time to learn a new skill in an emerging tech field. Blockchain and Web3 developers are in extremely high demand. Also, many Web3 projects allocate a percentage of tokens to developers. Accordingly, you could take home an even higher wage than the already handsome salary a Web3 developer can earn.
If you’re familiar with JavaScript and aspire to become a Web3 developer, check out the Web3 Dapp Programming course at Moralis Academy. In this course, we teach students how to make Web3 apps like non-fungible token (NFT) marketplaces and decentralized exchanges (DEXs). This course is perfect for anyone looking to level up their Web3 portfolio. Take your programming game to the next level and join the Web3 revolution today with Moralis Academy!
Examples of Web3 Apps and Web Services
Although Web3 apps boast several advantages over Web2 apps, many of them are pretty similar. Several apps in the Web3 world are intended to emulate and improve on those found in Web2. Below, we discuss some of the most prominent examples of Web3 apps and how they differ from their Web2 counterparts.
Social Media
Decentralized social media platforms avoid the autocratic power of big tech companies. Giants of the industry such as Meta (formerly Facebook) and Twitter can remove content and suspend accounts at any time. Decentralized social media platforms only censor content if users participate in a democratic vote and decide the parameters of the censorship. Many blockchain-based social media platforms incentivize users to cast votes on the quality and relevance of content to ensure that the community can collectively act as the arbiter, not a handful of profit-driven capitalists.
Advertising
The vast majority of social media applications rely on advertising revenue. However, social media advertising is coming under increasing scrutiny for violating user privacy and conducting mass surveillance. Web3 advertising can show users how their information is used and why they see specific adverts. Many Web3 companies incentivize this with the use of cryptocurrencies, paying users to enjoy privacy-preserving applications with tailored adverts.
Web Browsers
Another way to earn a passive income while ensuring your online security is by using a Web3 browser that pays you with cryptocurrency. Some Web3 browsers have built-in advertisement customization features that allow you to select how many adverts you want to see and reward you accordingly. Plus, some of the top Web3 browsers help to keep you safe online by preventing website trackers and other malicious activity.
Finance
Decentralized finance (DeFi) is one of the most prominent features of the Web3 landscape. DeFi mirrors several components of legacy finance, such as lending, borrowing, hedge funds, and insurance. However, DeFi protocols operate outside of traditional financial infrastructures. Instead, these protocols use public blockchains to avoid centralization and remove trust between parties.
Data Storage
Most Web2 applications rely on “siloed” servers that are centralized. This makes them vulnerable to attacks as they have a single point of failure. Conversely, decentralized data storage uses a decentralized blockchain network to enhance security. Also, this type of data storage enables anyone to rent out their spare hard drive space and earn a passive income with crypto.
The Metaverse
The metaverse is a series of immersive, interactive virtual worlds that combine crypto gaming, token economies, digital art, NFTs, and social experiences. As an inclusive platform for all online activities, the metaverse uses elements of augmented and virtual reality to create futuristic, science fiction-infused environments.
The Future of Web3
In the near future, we’ll likely be immersed in the “internet of value”, where active users can monetize their skills, data, and hard drive space while participating in decentralized, token-based economies that reward them for their online activities. Web3 has the potential to democratize almost every aspect of our online interactions and disrupt some of the biggest industries. If you have experience in developing Web2 applications, you will likely find them to be transferable to Web3 development.
Currently, blockchain technology is being used to create decentralized versions of extremely popular services. For example, Hivemapper operates as a “decentralized Google Maps” on Solana. Also, the Helium project uses internet of things (IoT) devices to create decentralized wireless communications networks. Furthermore, the Web3 movement is revolutionizing the way we create and enjoy all types of content. This includes social media, video and music streaming, art, and news.
Another exciting use case for blockchain technology is decentralized identification and trust scores. The ability to create secure and immutable identity profiles on the blockchain has the potential to minimize friction when completing applications online.
As Web3 developments become increasingly advanced, the teams creating these technologies are shaping our online experiences. If this trend continues, Web3 could reduce our reliance on centralized media outlets. However, Web3 is at risk of becoming centralized as major investors move capital from traditional markets into crypto and blockchain. There is nothing to stop big businesses from capitalizing on this technology.
Thankfully though, many Web3 technologies are designed to reduce the concentration of power and irresponsible profiteering from investors on a protocol level. Accordingly, most Web3 apps are designed to promote decentralization, regardless of the funding they receive from venture capitalists.
Become a Web3 Developer
If you have ambitions of becoming a Web3 developer, Moralis has all the tools you need to start your journey. Not only does Moralis Academy provide the highest-quality educational content for Web3 developers, but at Moralis, we provide state-of-the-art tooling and resources to turn your dreams into a reality. Thus, if you want to learn Web3 development, enroll in Moralis Academy today!
If you have any experience in Web2 development, Moralis can show you exactly how to transfer those skills into the world of Web3. Also, Moralis’ SDK (software development kit) provides a variety of tools, templates, and code snippets to remove the leg work from your backend development so that you can concentrate on the frontend and create excellent applications.
Check out the Moralis YouTube channel for incredible video walkthroughs of some of the most popular Web3 applications and decentralized versions of popular Web2 apps. Here, you’ll find a wealth of free educational content to help you achieve your goal of becoming a Web3 developer.
Learn Web3 Development – Summary
Web3 aims to relinquish the gatekeepers that inhibit our online experiences. Ideologically, the Web3 movement is helping to reduce the concentration of power among legacy media and financial institutions. This allows users and participants to invest in and have a say in the development of technologies that play such a significant role in so many lives.
Furthermore, the Web3 industry offers an indication of how much capital is flowing into the blockchain space. Even major companies such as Meta, Twitter, and Reddit have ventured into the world of Web3 with various experimental offerings. In the future, we can expect to see an increasing number of businesses and companies shifting their focus towards decentralized technologies.
If you want to learn Web3 development, Moralis Academy is the best place to start. Regardless of experience, we have courses to help you find the perfect career in Web3. Check out the Ethereum Smart Contract Programming 101 course to learn how to build an Ethereum wallet using Solidity.
In this course, we teach students everything they need to know in order to build and deploy smart contracts on Ethereum. Start your Web3 journey today with Moralis Academy. As such, you can learn Web3 development in record time. In addition, check out our “What is Crypto?” and “How to Invest in Crypto” articles to further expand your Web3 knowledge!
