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Introducing the Hedera Developer Playground

January 23, 2025
Ed Marquez
Ed Marquez
Head of Developer Relations

Manu Cabrera
Manu Cabrera
CEO, Kabila

A browser-based tool for building & experimenting on Hedera in seconds.

The new Hedera Developer Playground makes it easier than ever to start developing with Web3 technology. This browser-based tool enables developers to write, execute, and share code snippets and flows directly in their web browser, utilizing the Hedera testnet. No wrestling with local setups – the Playground eliminates that barrier entirely, accelerating your Hedera development journey so you can focus on the fun part, coding and programming.

What is the Hedera Developer Playground?

The Playground is an open-source project built in collaboration with Kabila, a project in the Hedera ecosystem with expertise in Web2, Web3, and Hedera technologies. This tool provides a user-friendly environment for developers of all experience levels, from seasoned Hedera veterans to Web2 developers eager to explore Web3.

The Playground eliminates the hurdle of time-consuming local setups, allowing you to dive straight into coding with familiar languages like Java and JavaScript. With this new tool, you can:

  • Access the various Hedera services (Hedera Consensus Service, Hedera Token Service, Smart Contracts),

  • Use a wide array of transactions and queries,

  • Create individual code snippets for specific actions or combine them into more complex flows for advanced functionality,

  • Share your code.

The open-source nature of the Playground also facilitates transparency and encourages contributions from the developer community.

Who is it for?

Web2 Developers: Smooth your transition to Web3 development using the languages you already know, like Java and JavaScript. No prior blockchain, smart contract, or Solidity knowledge is required, making the Playground the perfect gateway.

Existing Hedera and Web3 Developers: Prototype and test complex flows in a matter of seconds or minutes, not hours. The Playground speeds up your exploration and iteration, enabling you to try out your best ideas with just a few clicks.

Why it Matters: The Benefits

The Hedera Developer Playground is a game-changer for developers getting started and building on Hedera. That is because the tool enables:

  • Faster Onboarding: Developers can start experimenting with Hedera immediately, without the need for local setup and configuration. This significantly reduces the learning curve and time to value.

  • Getting More Done, Faster: Prototype and test ideas quickly. Forget about lengthy development cycles – the Playground enables efficient experimentation and iteration.

  • Simplified Exploration: Explore the existing and new Hedera functionalities with just a web browser.

Take Action and Start Today!

If you are ready to try your best ideas and build on Hedera, here are the steps:

  1. Visit the Hedera Developer Playground: portal.hedera.com/playground

  2. Choose your preferred language: Java or JavaScript (more languages planned in the future).

  3. Start writing and executing code snippets or building flows.
    1. If you want to execute code (interact with the Hedera testnet), you will be prompted to create a Hedera Portal testnet account.

The Hedera Developer Playground is a fantastic tool for developers of different backgrounds to explore and build on the Hedera network. Going forward, the tool will continue to improve by adding support for new features and more workflows to enable all developers to learn and explore Hedera and Web3. With its intuitive interface, open-source nature, and emphasis on rapid experimentation, the Playground is a powerful productivity booster for the Hedera developer community.

Try out the Hedera Developer Playground today and share your feedback on our Discord!

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