Using Azure Blockchain Workbench for development and management of blockchain applications

Posted on by Panther

Introduction

Blockchain technology has grown considerably over the last few years, with various use cases emerging across different industries. However, the development and management of blockchain-based applications can be challenging, especially for developers who lack expertise in decentralized ledger technologies. This is where Azure Blockchain Workbench comes in. This platform can help developers build, deploy, and manage blockchain applications with ease.

In this tutorial, we will cover the basics of Azure Blockchain Workbench and provide step-by-step instructions on how to create and deploy a simple blockchain application.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the tutorial, you need to have some basic knowledge of blockchain technology and a Microsoft Azure account. Additionally, you should ensure that you have access to the following:

  • Visual Studio Code
  • Azure Blockchain Workbench extension for Visual Studio Code
  • Azure CLI
  • Azure Storage Explorer
  • Node.js
  • Postman (optional)

Step 1: Setting up Azure Blockchain Workbench

To begin, you need to set up Azure Blockchain Workbench in your Azure account. Follow these steps:

  1. Log in to the Azure portal, and select + Create a resource.
  2. Search for Blockchain Workbench in the search bar.
  3. Select Blockchain Workbench.
  4. Follow the instructions to set up Blockchain Workbench.

Once you have set up Blockchain Workbench on Azure, you need to set up your local development environment by installing the Azure Blockchain Workbench extension for Visual Studio Code.

To install this extension, open Visual Studio Code and navigate to the Extensions view. Search for Azure Blockchain Workbench, then select Install.

Step 2: Creating a Blockchain Application on Azure Blockchain Workbench

Once you have your development environment set up, you can create your first blockchain application. We will create a simple application to demonstrate the process.

Step 2.1: Creating an Azure Blockchain Workbench Project

To create a new project in Azure Blockchain Workbench, follow these steps:

  1. Open Visual Studio Code and click on File > New Project.
  2. Select Azure Blockchain Workbench Project.
  3. Name your project and choose where to save it.
  4. Select Create.

Step 2.2: Creating a JSON Definition File

The next step is to create a JSON definition file that defines your blockchain application’s functionality. Here is an example of what a simple JSON definition file might look like:

{
  "$schema": "https://blockchainworkbench.azure.com/schemas/definition-2021-03-01.json#",
  "name": "MyFirstBlockchainApplication",
  "description": "A simple blockchain application",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "author": "Your Name",
  "packageName": "com.example.myfirstblockchainapplication",
  "connectionProfiles": [
    {
      "name": "myconnection",
      "description": "My connection profile",
      "key": "**********",
      "type": "FABRIC"
    }
  ],
  "applicationProfiles": [
    {
      "name": "myApplication",
      "description": "My application profile",
      "state

s": [
        {
          "name": "active",
          "description": "The active state",
          "visible": true,
          "initial": true,
          "transitions": [
            {
              "name": "deactivate",
              "description": "Transition to the deactivated state",
              "to": "deactivated",
              "conditions": []
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "deactivated",
          "description": "The deactivated state",
          "visible": true,
          "initial": false,
          "transitions": [
            {
              "name": "activate",
              "description": "Transition to the activated state",
              "to": "active",
              "conditions": []
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "assets": [
    {
      "name": "MyAsset",
      "description": "An asset 

in my blockchain application",
      "visibility": "public",
      "state": "active",
      "tags": [],
      "applicationProfileName": "myApplication"
    }
  ]
}

The JSON definition file contains information such as the application name, author, and version, as well as connection profiles, application profiles, and assets.

Step 2.3: Compiling the Project

Now that you have created your JSON definition file, you are ready to compile your project. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open Visual Studio Code and go to the Azure Blockchain Workbench Explorer.
  2. Right-click on your project and select Compile Smart Contracts.

You should see a console output that shows the progress of your project’s compilation. If everything is successful, you should see a message indicating that the project has been compiled successfully.

Step 2.4: Deploying the Project

After compiling your project, the next step is to deploy it to Azure Blockchain Workbench. Here’s how:

  1. Go to the Azure Blockchain Workbench Explorer in Visual Studio Code.
  2. Right-click on your project and select Deploy to Blockchain Workbench.
  3. Wait for the process to complete.

Once your project is successfully deployed, you should be able to see it in Azure Blockchain Workbench’s Applications tab.

Step 2.5: Testing the Application

To test your application, follow these steps:

  1. Go to your project folder in Visual Studio Code and open the test folder.
  2. Open test.js and replace the sample code with the following: 
    const dotenv = require('dotenv');
const axios = require('axios');
const { Client, Identity } = require('@textile/threads-client');

const record = { 
  patientName: "Alice",
  age: 30,
  weight: 65.2
};

(async function () {
    dotenv.config();

    try {

        console.log(`Creating Identity...`);
        const identity = await Identity.fromRandom();

        console.log(`Creating Client...`);
        const client = await Client.withKeyInfo({
            key: process.env.KEY,
            secret: process.env.SECRET
        });

        console.log(`Creating Database...`);
        const db = await client.newDB();

        console.log(`Database Created with ID: ${db.dbID}`);
        console.log(`Database Information: `, db);

        console.log(`Inserting Record...`);
        const insert = await db.create(identity, record);

        let result = await db.has(insert);
        if(result) {
            console.log(`Record Inserted Successfully with ID: ${insert}`);
        } else {
            console.log(`Record Insert Failed`);
        }

        console.log(`Fetching Record...`);
        const filter = { patientName: 'Alice' }
        const query = await db.find(filter);

        if(query.length > 0) {
          console.log(`Record Fetched Successfully: `, query[0]);
        } else {
          console.log(`Record Fetch Failed`);
        }

    } catch (err) {
        console.log(`Error Occured: ${err.message}`);
    }
})();
  3. Save the file and close it.

  4. Go to the console and run the following command to install the necessary packages:

    npm install dotenv axios @textile/threads-client
  5. Run the following command to execute the test file: 
    node test.js

If everything runs successfully, you should see output in the console that indicates that the record was successfully created and retrieved.

That’s it – you have created and deployed your first blockchain application!

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered the basics of Azure Blockchain Workbench and provided step-by-step instructions on how to create and test a simple blockchain application. By following these steps, you should now have an understanding of how to use Azure Blockchain Workbench to develop and manage blockchain applications.

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