Smart Contract Project Files

On Circular Protocol, there are two types of smart contracts: Basic Smart Contracts (interpreted) and Hyper Contracts (compiled into bytecode). While many focus on functionality over performance, Circular aims to support more advanced DApps with a new architecture. This tutorial will guide you through developing a Basic Smart Contract, which is still faster than those on other blockchains. When starting a project, you’ll find key files in the Project Explorer.

Project Explorer Interface

Key Files for Your Smart Contract Project

File	Description
Settings.json	Input all essential contract info here. Your first task is to complete the required fields.
Definitions.hc	Holds common functions and classes used across contracts. No major changes needed—just learn how to use it.
Init.hc	Initializes global variables. Minimal changes unless you have specific requirements.
Contract.hc	The core of your smart contract. This file defines the contract’s properties and methods.
Test.hc	Used for testing and simulating transactions during debugging.
Output.hc	Prints contract output for debugging and single-node calls.
ReadMe.txt:	Add instructions and notes for other developers once the contract is complete.
License.txt	Contains the license for your contract, which is open-source by default

These files streamline the development process, and you can add extra libraries from the “Resources > Libraries” section as needed. This approach simplifies setup, making contract creation efficient on the Circular Protocol.