The Radically Simple Guide to: The Power of Linux in Web3

As blockchain technology advances, developers are more ambitious than ever in creating next-generation dApps. Creating powerful dApps requires powerful tools. Cartesi leverages the power of Linux to offer developers the flexibility and convenience to bring their boldest ideas to life.

Here are five ways that Linux is a classic but revolutionary innovation in web3.

1. Linux expands the design space for developers and helps innovation flourish

A Linux environment gives developers the freedom to experiment and push boundaries, helping innovation thrive. Cartesi abstracts away the complexities of web3 development so that builders can focus on creating groundbreaking dApps without getting bogged down by the technical limitations of traditional blockchains.

One of the most significant limitations in dApp development has been the reliance on narrow sets of tools and native programming languages exclusive to particular blockchains. By integrating Linux, Cartesi dramatically expands the design space by enabling developers to use some of the most popular and well-established programming languages in existence to build a dApp. Instead of being confined to Solidity, developers can now use Python, Rust, OCaml, JavaScript, C++, Java, and more. Web3 without language barriers will make building more versatile and innovative dApps easier than ever.

2. Linux simplifies the development process

Building on blockchain can often feel like reinventing the wheel, as building on any protocol requires learning a new development process. Cartesi simplifies this by giving developers access to decades of tooling, libraries, and resources that are well-established, highly regarded and commonly understood. Developers no longer need to learn a completely new ecosystem—instead, they can use the same tools they’ve relied on for years, such as Python libraries, C++ frameworks, or even Bash scripts. This makes it easier to build more sophisticated and feature-rich dApps, without the steep learning curves often associated with blockchain development.

3. Linux is open-source and collaborative

Both Linux and blockchain are prodigies of the open-source movement, an ethos that fosters innovation through collective intelligence, transparency, and shared ownership. In fact, the Linux Foundation itself is forming a new organization dedicated to blockchain initiatives – the LF Decentralized Trust – designed to expand the community and technology portfolio around decentralized systems.

Having Linux as the open-source foundation for Cartesi encourages greater sharing of ideas, tools, and innovations between developers that can not only build robust foundations for any dApp but reduce the developer fragmentation we see in web3 today. Utilizing the programming stack builders are already aware of and comfortable developing applications in, will foster greater collaboration and help bring the entire web3 space forward.

4. Linux bridges web3 innovation with underlying infrastructure of web2

Linux powers 90% of the public cloud, making it an effective bridge between web2 applications and next-generation web3 dApps. With the Cartesi Virtual Machine, which leverages RISC-V architecture and supports a full Linux OS, developers can build dApps using existing web2 solutions and frameworks. This creates greater abstraction scalability in a web3 environment; so developers no longer need to build from scratch. By bringing tried-and-true web2 technologies into the decentralized world, developers can create more powerful and capable dApps.

5. Linux is battle-tested and secure

Linux provides access to decades of battle-tested tools and libraries so that developers never need to build from scratch. Using tried and tested systems means developers are at less risk of vulnerabilities and potential security flaws. Builders can confidently integrate Cartesi technology, knowing its underlying infrastructure has been proven effective and reliable by millions of developers, making for a safer and more secure environment to create dApps.

Simply Put: Rethink what’s possible in web3

Cartesi’s integration of Linux into the blockchain ecosystem isn’t just about adding another tool to the developer’s toolkit; it’s about fundamentally changing the way we think about blockchain development. By expanding the design space, simplifying the development process, embracing open-source collaboration, and fostering innovation, Cartesi is expanding what is possible in web3.

Learn more about how Cartesi is revolutionizing blockchain development with Linux.