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How to use Remix IDE to deploy an on-chain storage contract on Astar EVM

TL;DR​

Remix is a powerful open-source toolset for developing, deploying, debugging, and testing EVM-compatible smart contracts. Remix IDE is part of the Remix Project, which includes the Remix Plugin Engine and Remix Libraries: low-level tools for wider use.

Since Astar Network is a multi-VM smart contract hub, we support both WASM and EVM, which means you can use Ethereum dev tools, including Remix, to interact with Astar EVM’s API directly and deploy Solidity-based smart contracts on Astar EVM.

In this cookbook, we will guide you on creating a Solidity-based on-chain storage smart contract with Remix Online IDE, compiling and deploying the contract to the Shibuya testnet, and how interacting with the contract to write the value on our blockchain and retrieve the value.

What is Astar EVM?​

As a multi-VM smart contract hub, Astar Network supports both WASM and EVM, which means Solidity smart contracts and WASM-based smart contracts can be deployed on Astar Network.

And Solidity developers can directly use Ethereum dev tools, including Hardhat, Remix, MetaMask, to directly interact with Astar EVM’s API and deploy Solidity smart contracts on Astar EVM.

What is Remix?​

Remix is a powerful open-source toolset for developing, deploying, debugging, and testing EVM-compatible smart contracts. Remix IDE is part of the Remix Project, which includes the Remix Plugin Engine and Remix Libraries: low-level tools for wider use.

Create a Solidity contract with Remix IDE​

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  • Add a new file named “storage.sol” with the following contract code provided. This is a simple example contract with two methods to store() and retrieve() value in a variable deployed on-chain.

    // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0

    pragma solidity >=0.7.0 <0.9.0;

    /**
     * @title Storage
     * @dev Store & retrieve value in a variable
     * @custom:dev-run-script ./scripts/deploy_with_ethers.ts
     */
    contract Storage {

        uint256 number;

        /**
         * @dev Store value in variable
         * @param num value to store
         */
        function store(uint256 num) public {
            number = num;
        }

        /**
         * @dev Return value 
         * @return value of 'number'
         */
        function retrieve() public view returns (uint256){
            return number;
        }
    }

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Compile the Solidity contract for deployment​

Before smart contracts can be deployed, the Solidity code must be compiled to bytecode for the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine), which will eventually be deployed on the blockchain. The compilation also generates an ABI (Application Binary Interface), an interface between operating systems and user programs.

  • Clicking the Solidity icon in the icon panel brings you to the Solidity Compiler.

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  • Compile our Solidity storage contract by clicking “Compile storage.sol”.

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  • After the compilation, you will be able to check the contract ABI and bytecode in the “ABI” and “Bytecode” sections under the “Compilation Details”. You will also find the “Storage.json” file in your workspace, which may be useful for your contract verification on block explorers.

Deploy the Solidity contract to Shibuya testnet​

  • Before the deployment on the Shibuya testnet, which is the testnet of Astar Network and Shiden Network:
  • Click the EVM icon on the left sidebar (the fourth icon) and visit the “DEPLOY & RUN TRANSACTIONS” page.
  • Switch the “ENVIRONMENT” to “Injected Provider - MetaMask” and ensure you have the right wallet address connected in MetaMask.

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  • Click “Deploy” and confirm the transaction in your MetaMask.

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  • Now, your first Solidity contract on the Shibuya testnet is deployed! Please feel free to copy the deployed contract address from “Deployed Contracts” and view it in the block explorer. BlockScout for Shibuya: https://blockscout.com/shibuya

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Interact with the deployed Solidity contract via Remix​

You will also be able to interact with the contract that you just deployed on Shibuya via Remix IDE.

  • Scroll down the contract details under the “Deployed Contracts” section on the “DEPLOY & RUN TRANSACTIONS” page.

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  • You will be able to call the methods in the deployed contract.
    • store(): to store a value in a variable deployed on-chain.
    • retrieve(): read-only, to retrieve a value in a variable deployed on-chain.

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FAQ​

Please feel free to join our Discord here for technical support.

Reference​

https://remix-ide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html

https://docs.astar.network/