Polkadot Development Tools & Resources

Comprehensive toolkit for building on Polkadot ecosystem

Core Development Stack (2025)

Tool	Type	Description	Use Case	Link
PAPI	Client Library	TypeScript client, light client first, strongly typed	Frontend & Node dApps	papi.how
Dedot	Client Library	Lightweight, tree-shakable JS client with multi-chain support	Lean multi-chain dApps	dedotdev/dedot
ReactiveDOT	Frontend Layer	Reactive bindings over PAPI for smooth UI data flows	React/Vue applications	reactivedot.dev
kitdot	Development Tool	Quick project initialization with Hardhat + Polkadot setup	Rapid project setup & configuration	kitdot
POP CLI	Development Tool	Scaffolds chains and contracts, automates local networks	Project scaffolding & deployment	onpop.io
Polkadot Deployment Portal	Deployment Platform	Guided rollup deployment with progress monitoring	Testnet/mainnet rollups	deploypolkadot.xyz
Paraspell	XCM SDK	Unified XCM interface supporting PAPI and polkadot.js	Cross-chain transfers	paraspell/xcm-tools
Bagpipes	No-Code Builder	Drag-and-drop cross-chain workflows	Demos & operations	bagpipes.io
Chopsticks	Testing Tool	Fork live networks locally for safe testing	Pre-mainnet validation	AcalaNetwork/chopsticks

Development Environments

Tool	Type	Description	Best For	Link
Remix IDE	Browser IDE	Web-based smart contract development	Quick prototyping	remix.polkadot.io
Hardhat	Development Framework	Local development environment with testing	Complex projects	hardhat.org
Foundry	Development Toolchain	Smart contract development and testing	Advanced development	getfoundry.sh

Wallets & Connectivity

Wallet	Type	Description	Features	Link
Talisman	Browser/Mobile	Multi-chain wallet for Polkadot & Ethereum	Substrate + EVM support	talisman.xyz
Nova Wallet	Mobile	Next-gen iOS & Android wallet	Advanced staking features	novawallet.io
SubWallet	Browser/Mobile	Comprehensive Polkadot ecosystem wallet	Multi-chain support	subwallet.app
Polkagate	Browser Extension	Easy-to-use Polkadot extension	Simple interface	polkagate.xyz
MetaMask	Browser Extension	Standard Ethereum wallet	EVM compatibility	metamask.io
Fearless Wallet	Mobile/Browser	DeFi-focused wallet	DeFi integrations	fearlesswallet.io
Polkadot Vault	Mobile	Air-gapped cold storage	Maximum security	signer.parity.io

Frontend Libraries

Library	Language	Description	Use Case	Link
Ethers.js	JavaScript	Contract interaction library	Standard Web3 apps	docs.ethers.org
Web3.js	JavaScript	Web3 interaction library	Legacy Web3 apps	web3js.org
Viem	TypeScript	Modern Web3 library	Type-safe development	viem.sh
Wagmi	React	React hooks for Web3	React applications	wagmi.sh
Web3.py	Python	Python Web3 library	Python backends	web3py.readthedocs.io
Polkadart	Dart	Dart library for Polkadot	Flutter applications	leonardocustodio/polkadart

Smart Contract Development

Tool	Language	Description	Use Case	Link
ink!	Rust	Rust smart contract language	Native Polkadot contracts	use.ink
Solidity	Solidity	Ethereum-compatible contracts	EVM-compatible development	soliditylang.org
OpenZeppelin (Polkadot)	Solidity	Size-optimized contract library	Standard implementations	papermoonio/openzeppelin-contracts-polkadot
PAPI ink! Support	TypeScript	Type-safe ink! contract interaction	ink! frontend integration	papi.how/ink

Testing & Simulation

Tool	Type	Description	Use Case	Link
Chopsticks	Network Fork	Fork live networks for testing	Safe testing environment	AcalaNetwork/chopsticks
Zombienet	Network Simulator	Ephemeral test networks	Multi-node testing	paritytech/zombienet
Simnode	Testing Framework	Simulation testing for parachains	Parachain testing	polytope-labs/sc-simnode
Fudge	Database Tool	Interact with Substrate databases	Database manipulation	centrifuge/fudge

Monitoring & Analytics

Tool	Type	Description	Use Case	Link
Subscan	Block Explorer	Comprehensive blockchain explorer	Transaction monitoring	subscan.io
Statescan	Block Explorer	Alternative blockchain explorer	Block exploration	statescan.io
Polkawatch	Analytics	Decentralization measurement tool	Network analysis	polkawatch.app
Ocelloids	Data Streaming	Real-time data streams for multi-chain	Cross-chain monitoring	ocelloids.net
XCM Tracker	XCM Monitor	Track cross-chain messages	XCM debugging	xcm-tracker.ocelloids.net

Infrastructure & Deployment

Tool	Type	Description	Use Case	Link
Polkadot Cloud	Cloud Platform	Managed Polkadot infrastructure	Production deployment	polkadot.cloud
Substrate Connect	Light Client	Browser-based light client	Decentralized apps	substrate.io/developers/substrate-connect
Smoldot	Light Client	Alternative light client implementation	Embedded applications	smol-dot/smoldot

Cross-Chain & Interoperability

Tool	Type	Description	Use Case	Link
XCM Playground	Development Tool	Test XCM functionality	XCM development	paraspell/xcm-tools
Snowbridge	Bridge	Ethereum <> Polkadot bridge	ETH interoperability	Snowfork/snowbridge
Bagpipes	Workflow Builder	No-code XCM workflow builder	Cross-chain operations	xcmsend.com

Utilities & Helpers

Tool	Type	Description	Use Case	Link
SS58 Transform	Address Tool	Convert between address formats	Address conversion	polkadot.subscan.io/tools/ss58_transform
Polkadot Faucet	Testnet Tool	Get testnet tokens	Development testing	faucet.polkadot.io
Sub.ID	Identity Tool	Unified identity across chains	Identity management	sub.id
Multix	Multisig Tool	Simple multisig management	Multi-signature wallets	multix.chainsafe.io

Community Tools

Tool	Type	Description	Use Case	Link
Polkassembly	Governance	Discussion platform for proposals	Governance participation	polkadot.polkassembly.io
Subsquare	Governance	Proposal discussion and voting	Community governance	subsquare.io
Staking Dashboard	Staking Tool	Participate in staking	Token staking	staking.polkadot.network
DotApps	Portal	Polkadot ecosystem app directory	App discovery	dotapps.io

Development Resources

Resource	Type	Description	Link
Polkadot Docs	Documentation	Official development documentation	docs.polkadot.com
Substrate Docs	Documentation	Substrate framework documentation	docs.substrate.io
Polkadot Wiki	Knowledge Base	Comprehensive ecosystem guide	wiki.polkadot.network
OpenGuild Learning	Education	Rust and Polkadot learning platform	openguild.wtf/learn
DotCodeSchool	Education	Web3 development tutorials	dotcodeschool.com

Template Projects

Template	Technology	Description	Link
create-polkadot-dapp	React + Hardhat	Full-stack dApp template	create-polkadot-dapp
hardhat-polkadot-example	Hardhat	Smart contract examples	UtkarshBhardwaj007/hardhat-polkadot-example
Polkadot Next.js	Next.js	Frontend starter template	niklasp/polkadot-nextjs-starter
Uniswap V2 Port	Solidity	DeFi protocol example	papermoonio/uniswap-v2-polkadot

Recommended Development Stack

For Beginners

• IDE: Remix IDE (browser-based)

• Wallet: Talisman or MetaMask

• Testing: Built-in Remix tools

• Resources: Official tutorials and documentation

For Experienced Developers

• Framework: Hardhat + @parity/hardhat-polkadot

• Client Library: PAPI or Dedot

• Frontend: ReactiveDOT for React/Vue

• Testing: Chopsticks for network forking

• Deployment: POP CLI → Polkadot Deployment Portal

• Cross-chain: Paraspell XCM SDK

For Production Applications

• Infrastructure: Polkadot Cloud

• Monitoring: Subscan + custom analytics

• Security: Multi-signature wallets

• Cross-chain: Battle-tested bridges (Snowbridge)

• User Experience: Light client integration