StarkNet is a permissionless ZK-Rollup layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum that enables massive scalability without compromising security. It uses Cairo, a new programming language with some quirks compared to Solidity like using mappings instead of arrays and special assertions instead of boolean expressions. A basic dApp could include stake contracts on both StarkNet (L2) and Ethereum (L1) along with functions for depositing, withdrawing, and transferring fees between layers using StarkNet's ability to pass messages between L1 and L2 contracts. The dApp contracts would need to be compiled and deployed to both StarkNet and Ethereum.

1. How to build a
dApp in Starknet
Vishnu C

2. Before we start

3. ZKX is a permissionless protocol for derivatives
built on StarkNet, with a decentralised order
book and a unique way to offer complex financial
instruments as swaps.
Trustless, Permissionless, and Borderless.

4. Ethereum and Layer 2

5. Smart contract
A "smart contract" is simply a program that
runs on the blockchain. It's a collection of code
(its functions) and data (its state) that resides at
a specific address on the blockchain.

6. What is layer 2?
A layer 2 is a separate blockchain that extends
Ethereum and inherits the security guarantees
of Ethereum.

7. Why do we need layer 2?

8. StarkNet and Cairo

9. StarkNet
A permissionless decentralised ZK-Rollup. It
operates as an L2 network over Ethereum
enabling massive scalability without
compromising Ethereum’s composability and
security.

10. Cairo

11. The learning curve - quirks of Cairo
Recursion instead of iteration
Everything should be in felt data type
No concept of arrays - use mappings instead
Debugging cairo smart contracts can get quite
complicated

12. The learning curve - quirks of Cairo
Absence of boolean expressions
Solidity: if (x == 2 && y == 2) { … }
In Cairo, this is not possible!
But there are workarounds like the following:
assert (x - 1) * (y - 1) = 0 can be used for assert x || y
assert x * y = 0 can be used for assert !x || !y
assert x + y = 2 can be used for assert x && y

13. Starknet and Cairo are amazing!
The community
The amount of documentation and tutorials
Great frameworks for development
Workshops and hackathons
Cairo just keeps getting better!
No need to mention again, but transactions are cheap!

14. A basic dApp

17. Stake L1 contract
function stake() - payable
function withdraw(uint256 amount)

18. Stake L2 contract
func deposit(from_address, user_l1_address, amount) - l1
handler
func withdraw(user_l1_address, amount)
func take_fee(user_l1_address)
func get_balance(user_l1_address) - view function

19. L1 <—> L2 Communication

20. One important property of a good L2 system is the ability to
interact with the L1 system it’s built on.
Every StarkNet contract may send and receive messages
to/from any L1 contract.

21. L1 -> L2 messaging
L1 contract can initiate a message to L2 by calling
sendMessageToL2 function on the StarkNet core
contract.
The arguments for this function are:
toAddress
selector
payload
This invokes function annotated with l1_handler
decorator on the target contract.

22. L2 -> L1 messaging
L2 contract can send a message to L1 by calling
send_message_to_l1 syscall.
The arguments for this function are:
to_address
payload_size
payload
After the state update that included this transaction is
proved and L1 state is updated, hash of this message is
stored on StarkNet core contract.

23. L2 -> L1 messaging
Recipient address on L1 can consume this message by
providing the message parameters by calling
consumeMessageFromL2 function on the StarkNet core
contract.
Arguments needed are:
fromAddress
payload

24. Contracts and Functions

25. L1

26. L1

27. L2

28. L2

29. L2

30. L1

31. Compile and Deploy

32. StarkNet

34. Ethereum

38. References
Stake dApp Github -
https://github.com/StarkCon/workshop01
StarkNet documentation - https://cairo-
lang.org/docs/hello_starknet/index.html
L1 <-> L2 communication - https://cairo-
lang.org/docs/hello_starknet/l1l2.html

39. Thank
you!
Twitter: @zkxprotocol
Website: zkx.fi