This article is part of a research series on key growth drivers identified by Scroll’s community clusters. It examines four major grant initiatives to guide Scroll’s grant program design. Focusing on education, it analyzes Solana’s Developer Bootcamp, Cardano’s Plutus Pioneer Program, Starknet’s Developer Portal, Base’s Bootcamp, and Celo’s Academy, offering actionable recommendations to enhance developer adoption, engagement, and growth.
Case Studies
Solana Developer Bootcamp
Overview:
Launched in 2024, the Solana Developer Bootcamp aimed to grow its ecosystem by equipping developers with skills in Rust, blockchain fundamentals, and dApp development. Offering over 20 hours of content, the program provided both foundational knowledge and hands-on experience to engage developers with the Solana network.
Program Details
- Focus: Rust programming, blockchain basics, smart contract development, and full-stack dApps.
- Format: Self-paced, open-access materials available via GitHub, including code examples, video tutorials, and interactive guides.
- Duration: Multi-week with structured milestones, hands-on projects, and ongoing support.
- Delivery Platform: GitHub, video modules, and live coding workshops.
Motivation:
- Meet the Growing Demand for Solana Developers
- Equip Developers with Real-World Skills
- Train new developers and empowering them to build on Solana
- Foster a Collaborative Developer Community
Impact:
- 14,475 builders have already registered for the Solana Bootcamp.
- Participants from 67 different countries, showcasing its international scope.
- Over 700 Open Campus IDs created, reflecting active engagement in the program.
What Scroll Can Learn
- Milestone-Driven Learning Path: Scroll can learn from Solana’s applied learning curriculum, which guides developers from foundational concepts to full dApp deployment.
- Interactive and Accessible Formats: Scroll can learn from Solana’s use of diverse content formats, such as live coding sessions, video tutorials, and interactive projects, to cater to different learning styles and improve accessibility.
- Outcome-Oriented Learning: Scroll can learn from Solana’s focus on real-world dApp development, providing participants with practical experience while contributing directly to the ecosystem’s growth.
What Scroll Can Do
- Milestone-Based Developer Bootcamps: Implement structured programs that guide participants from zk-rollup basics to deploying production-ready dApps, ensuring measurable skill progression.
- Diverse Learning Tools: Offer live coding workshops, tutorial videos, and hands-on projects to simplify zk-rollup concepts and engage developers across different skill levels.
- Focus on Ecosystem Contributions: Center bootcamp activities on building dApps or tools that directly support Scroll’s network goals, ensuring developers create impactful outcomes for the Scroll ecosystem.
Resources:
- Solana Development Bootcamp | Rise In
- GitHub - solana-developers/developer-bootcamp-2024
- Learn Solana development | Solana
Cardano’s Plutus Pioneer Program
Overview:
Cardano introduced the Plutus Pioneer Program in 2021 to educate developers on Haskell and Plutus, Cardano’s smart contract language. The 10-week, self-paced course combined video tutorials, weekly exercises, and live Q&A sessions.
Motivation:
- Develop advanced proficiency in Haskell and Plutus for secure, efficient smart contract development on Cardano.
- Empower developers to create decentralized applications (dApps) and forge new assets using Plutus.
- Foster a collaborative community through interactive programs like the Plutus Pioneer Program and Project-Based Learning.
Impact:
- Robust GitHub Community Engagement: 1.4k stars, 154 watchers, and 987 forks
- High Viewership on Official Lectures: More than 500,000 total views on the Plutus Pioneer Program lecture series
- Successful Cohort Completions: Four cohorts completed to date, reflecting sustained developer interest and participation in the Plutus Pioneer Program**
What Scroll Can Learn from the Plutus Pioneer Program:
**Structured Learning Paths **Scroll can learn from Plutus’s clear, structured curriculum, which helped maintain participant focus and motivation throughout the program.
- Live Support Boosts Engagement: Scroll can learn from the impact of weekly live Q&A sessions, which improved participant retention and fostered a strong sense of community.
- Application-Focused Exercises Drive Retention: Scroll can learn from Plutus’s practical exercises tied to real-world blockchain applications, reinforcing learning outcomes and skill retention.
What Scroll Can Do
Incorporate Practical, Application-Based Exercises: Design hands-on tasks that apply zk-rollup concepts to real-world scenarios, reinforcing learning and improving skill retention.
- Host Live Expert-Led Sessions:
Run weekly Q&A sessions and office hours with Scroll mentors to provide real-time support and enhance participant engagement.
Include zk-Rollup Case Studies: Integrate case studies demonstrating Scroll’s unique capabilities and ecosystem to provide practical context and inspire project development.
Resources:
- Plutus Pioneer program | Cardano Docs
- How to prepare for the Plutus Pioneer Program | Essential Cardano
- Testimonial: https://www.publish0x.com/plutus-pioneer-trail/trailblazing-plutus-on-cardano-xvyweyp
Starknet Developer Portal
Overview:
Starknet’s Developer Portal centralizes over 150 tutorials, SDK guides, and live coding examples, making it a comprehensive resource for developers. The portal also hosts regular workshops and hackathons, driving hands-on learning and engagement, which has significantly contributed to the ecosystem’s growth and high retention rates.
Motivation:
- Centralize development resources
- Foster a thriving developer ecosystem through comprehensive tools and support.
- Encourage open-source contributions to strengthen the Starknet community.
Impact:
- Global Developer Reach: Supporting 5 languages.
- Gamified Learning Results: Node Guardians’ fantasy quest format.
- Community Growth Impact: Integrated learning resources and support channels.
What Scroll Can Learn from Starknet
- Centralized Resource Hub: Scroll can learn from Starknet’s developer portal, which streamlined access to documentation, tutorials, and SDKs, reducing barriers for developers and improving onboarding experiences.
- Interactive Tutorials for Skill Application: Scroll can learn from Starknet’s project-based tutorials, which enabled developers to apply concepts immediately, enhancing engagement and knowledge retention.
- Emphasis on Open-Source Collaboration: Scroll can learn from Starknet’s focus on fostering community contributions to tools and resources, creating a collaborative ecosystem that supports sustained developer growth.
What Scroll Can Do Based on Starknet
- Build a Centralized Developer Hub: Develop a portal that consolidates all zkEVM resources, including documentation, SDKs, and hands-on tutorials, to ensure a seamless developer experience.
- Implement Interactive Learning Paths: Introduce project-driven tutorials that guide developers through building and deploying zkEVM dApps, enabling immediate skill application.
- Encourage Community Contributions: Foster open-source collaboration by creating incentives for developers to contribute to tools, frameworks, and educational content within the Scroll ecosystem.
Resources:
- Build On Starknet: Developer Resources, Docs & Tools
- Starknet Tutorials: Learn and Master Starknet Development
- Practical StarkNet lessons learned - HackMD
Base Bootcamp
Overview:
Base Network, Coinbase’s Layer 2 solution, launched the Base Bootcamp, an eight-week program designed to turn developers into smart contract experts. The bootcamp aims to address the on-chain developer shortage by providing structured guidance and hands-on experience, equipping developers with the skills needed to build decentralized applications (dApps) on blockchain. This immersive experience includes mentorship, live sessions with top engineers, group learning, and a capstone project that results in a deployable blockchain app.
Program Details:
- Focus: Designed for experienced developers on topics related to Solidity development, smart contract deployment, and Web3 fundamentals. Only 20 students will make it into each cohort
- Format: Cohort-based, mentorship-driven, with interactive tutorials and real-world dApp development
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Delivery Platform: Base Bootcamp platform, with live workshops, Discord for community learning, and personalized mentorship.
Impact:
- No public reporting on impact
What Scroll Can Learn
- Selective Cohorts for Focused Learning: Scroll can learn from the small selective cohort model similar to Base.
- Graded Project Reviews: Scroll can learn from the value of detailed project assessments by experienced engineers, ensuring that skill application aligns with real-world zkEVM development needs.
What Scroll Can Do Based on This Case
-
Implement Selective Cohorts: Limit program cohorts to a manageable size to ensure personalized support, deeper engagement, and stronger collaboration among participants.
-
Offer One-on-One Mentorship: Pair developers with experienced zkEVM mentors for weekly, personalized guidance to support individual growth and project development.
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Introduce Graded Project Reviews: Conduct structured project assessments with detailed feedback from Scroll engineers to maintain high-quality standards and practical skill application.
Resources:
- Base | Bootcamp
- Article : https://thecryptocurrencymagazine.com/2023/10/coinbase-initiates-base-bootcamp-to-tackle-shortage-of-onchain-developers
Celo Academy
Overview:
Celo Academy equips developers worldwide with the technical skills required to build decentralized applications (dApps) optimized for mobile platforms on the Celo blockchain. The program offers self-paced courses and tutorials focused on practical, project-based learning, enabling developers to apply blockchain concepts to real-world use cases. By prioritizing localization and financial inclusion, the Academy provides accessible resources for developers in underrepresented regions, fostering global participation and contributing to the growth of the Celo ecosystem.
Program Details:
- Focus: Mobile-first dApp development, blockchain fundamentals, and financial inclusion.
- Format: Self-paced, on-demand video tutorials and guides with project-based learning.
- Duration: Flexible, self-paced with no set end time.
- Delivery Platform: Celo Academy platform, accessible globally with mobile-first resources.
Motivation
- Democratize blockchain education by providing accessible, inclusive learning resources through Celo Academy.
- Drive real-world impact by focusing on practical, project-based learning for dApp and financial protocol development.
- Foster global participation with a mobile-first approach, ensuring accessibility for developers in emerging markets.
Impact
- Comprehensive Learning Resources: Celo Academy delivers 133 technical tutorials and 15 curated learning pathways
What Scroll Can Learn
- Localization for Inclusivity: Scroll can learn from Celo Academy’s emphasis on region-specific content, offering resources in multiple languages and hosting localized events to engage developers from underrepresented regions.
- Mobile-First Design: Scroll can learn from Celo Academy’s mobile-first approach, optimizing the platform for mobile devices to ensure accessibility for developers in emerging markets where smartphones are the primary learning tool.
What Scroll Can Do
- Localized Educational Content: Ofer multi - lingual educational content , host localized hackathons or meetups to engage and support diverse regional communities.
