DEV3L on Blockchain
Tags: dev3lblockchain
Published: 2017-11-06 03:29:12

---
title: DEV3L on Blockchain
published: true
description: I watched a few videos, read a blog post, created a prototype, led a discussion, and now I am an expert on blockchain...
cover_image: https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/d3vvu0f0r3blhnc5jsyb.jpg
tags: DEV3L blockchain
---
### TL;DR
I learned a bit about blockchain technology... you can too!

Watch these videos: ~50 minutes
* [Bitcoin for Beginners](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk-60F3CCx0)
* [How Bitcoin Works in 5 Minutes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9jOJk30eQs)
* [How Bitcoin Works Under the Hood](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx9zgZCMqXE)

Do this tutorial: ~1-3 hours:
* [Build Your Own Blockchain Server](https://hackernoon.com/learn-blockchains-by-building-one-117428612f46)

-----

I want a place to write about random topics. I think this may become a thing for I do from time to time...

# Background

I run a learning (reading) group at work. We meet once a week. We discuss technical books a few chapters at a time via a [Lean Coffee](http://leancoffee.org/) meetup format. There are regulars, but attendance varies greatly upon the book, or topic. 

I facilitated a conversation on Blockchain technology! This is how I prepared.


# Exploration and Learning

I work with smart people, you should too...

To start off, I ask around at work about technical interests and topics people are currently passionate about. I found out a few individuals frequently bring up BitCoin and blockchain technology with enthusiasm! (Machine learning is next)

They directed me towards an individual by the name of Andreas Antonopoulos. So, I Google searched him... thus my expertise journey had began.

I found [Bitcoin for Beginners](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk-60F3CCx0), presented by Andreas Antonopoulos, helpful. For any technically friendly individual, watching this 25 minute video brings your comprehension level well beyond that of many avid BitCoin enthusiast.

I watched a few other videos, [How Bitcoin Works in 5 Minutes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9jOJk30eQs) and [How Bitcoin Works Under the Hood](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx9zgZCMqXE)... It's official, I am now a BitCoin expert.


# Blockchain Example in Python

A proof of concept is a great way to further understand a topic!

I came across and followed [Build Your Own Blockchain Server](https://hackernoon.com/learn-blockchains-by-building-one-117428612f46) blogpost tutorial, *5/7 perfect score*. It is a fantastic hands on technical dive into the blockchain world, highly recommended.

Here is my GitHub repository that contains the work: https://github.com/DEV3L/python-flask-blockchain

I may contribute my findings as a pull request back to the author's repository some day :)

# Elaborates

> "Now, this'll be a straight walk-off, old school rules. First model walks; second model duplicates, then elaborates. Okay, boys - let's go to work!" - David Bowie in Zoolander

I have a Heroku account. If you don't, I would recommend it. It is a free and easy way to host prototype applications. You can follow this tutorial [Getting Started with Python](https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/getting-started-with-python#introduction) to get you up to speed.

In Heroku, I created two new apps. Each points to the same [python-flask-blockchain](https://github.com/DEV3L/python-flask-blockchain) GitHub account linked above. 

Now I two 'nodes' available on heroku:
* https://flask-blockchain.herokuapp.com/
* https://flask-blockchain2.herokuapp.com/

In the GitHub repository is a postman collection that can exercise the api -  [Blockchain Heroku.postman_collection](https://github.com/DEV3L/python-flask-blockchain/blob/master/postman_collections/Blockchain%20Heroku.postman_collection) (collection exists for local nodes too). Loading the collection into postman reveals a handful of self explanatory requests.

Register heroku-1 and heroku-2 with each other. Mine on heroku-1. Resolve on heroku-2. Since heroku-2's chain was smaller, consensus was reached by replacing its chain with heroku-1... That is about the simplest work flow that demonstrates how blockchain technology works!

We are now all *experts*!


# Ran the Lean Coffee Meetup

**Subject**: Continuous Learning Group - Let's Talk About: Blockchains! (BitCoin)

**Description**: We have several individuals in the organization who are passionate about Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies such as BitCoin! Let's Talk About It!!!

Almost ten people showed up, a decent turn out. We kicked the meeting off with the [How Bitcoin Works in 5 Minutes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9jOJk30eQs) video. The group wrote down topics to discuss as the video played. We voted then discussed each topic below for about five minutes!

![lean coffee topics for blockchain](https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/lkywk12zpdm36uec6s0m.jpg)