Solana Development

Build Solana programs using Anchor framework or native Rust. Both approaches share the same core concepts (accounts, PDAs, CPIs, tokens) but differ in syntax and abstraction level.

Quick Start

Recommended: Anchor Framework

Anchor provides macros and tooling that reduce boilerplate and increase developer productivity:

use anchor_lang::prelude::*;

declare_id!("YourProgramID");

#[program]
pub mod my_program {
    use super::*;

    pub fn initialize(ctx: Context<Initialize>, data: u64) -> Result<()> {
        ctx.accounts.account.data = data;
        Ok(())
    }
}

#[derive(Accounts)]
pub struct Initialize<'info> {
    #[account(init, payer = user, space = 8 + 8)]
    pub account: Account<'info, MyAccount>,
    #[account(mut)]
    pub user: Signer<'info>,
    pub system_program: Program<'info, System>,
}

#[account]
pub struct MyAccount {
    pub data: u64,
}

When to use Anchor:

• Building DeFi, NFT, or standard programs
• Need TypeScript client generation with IDL
• Want faster development with less boilerplate
• Following common Solana patterns
• New to Solana development

Installation:

cargo install --git https://github.com/coral-xyz/anchor avm --locked --force
avm install latest
avm use latest
anchor --version

Create project:

anchor init my_project
cd my_project
anchor build
anchor test

→ See references/anchor.md for complete Anchor guide

Advanced: Native Rust

Native Rust provides maximum control, optimization potential, and deeper understanding of Solana's runtime:

use solana_program::{
    account_info::AccountInfo,
    entrypoint,
    entrypoint::ProgramResult,
    pubkey::Pubkey,
    msg,
};

entrypoint!(process_instruction);

pub fn process_instruction(
    program_id: &Pubkey,
    accounts: &[AccountInfo],
    instruction_data: &[u8],
) -> ProgramResult {
    msg!("Processing instruction");
    // Manual account parsing and validation
    // Manual instruction routing
    Ok(())
}

When to use Native Rust:

• Need maximum compute efficiency (CU optimization critical)
• Require advanced features (versioned transactions, durable nonces, ALTs)
• Learning Solana fundamentals from first principles
• Building highly optimized or specialized programs
• Framework overhead is unacceptable

Setup:

cargo new my_program --lib
cd my_program
# Configure Cargo.toml (see native-rust.md)
cargo build-sbf

→ See references/native-rust.md for complete native Rust guide

Core Concepts

Essential knowledge for all Solana developers, regardless of framework:

Foundational Concepts

• accounts.md - Account model, ownership, rent, validation patterns
• pda.md - Program Derived Addresses: derivation, canonical bumps, signing patterns
• cpi.md - Cross-Program Invocations: calling other programs safely

Program Integration

• tokens.md - SPL Token and Token-2022 integration, mint/transfer patterns
• testing.md - Mollusk testing framework (fast, deterministic tests)
• deployment.md - Deploy, upgrade, verify, and manage programs

Implementation Details

• serialization.md - Account data layout, Borsh, zero-copy patterns
• error-handling.md - Custom error types, propagation, client-side handling
• security.md - Security best practices and defensive programming patterns

Advanced Features

• compute-optimization.md - CU optimization techniques and benchmarking
• versioned-transactions.md - Address Lookup Tables for 256+ accounts
• durable-nonces.md - Offline signing with durable transaction nonces
• transaction-lifecycle.md - Submission, retry patterns, confirmations

Low-Level Details

• sysvars.md - System variables (Clock, Rent, EpochSchedule, SlotHashes)
• builtin-programs.md - System Program and Compute Budget Program

Resources

• resources.md - Official docs, tools, learning paths, community

Common Tasks Quick Reference

Create a new program:

• Anchor: anchor init my_project → anchor.md#getting-started
• Native: cargo new my_program --lib → native-rust.md#setup

Initialize a PDA account:

• Anchor: Use #[account(init, seeds = [...], bump)] → pda.md#anchor
• Native: Manual invoke_signed with System Program → pda.md#native

Transfer SPL tokens:

• Anchor: Use anchor_spl::token::transfer → tokens.md#anchor
• Native: CPI to Token Program → tokens.md#native

Test your program:

• Both: Mollusk for fast unit tests → testing.md#mollusk
• Anchor: anchor test for integration tests → testing.md#anchor

Deploy to devnet:

• Anchor: anchor deploy → deployment.md#anchor
• Native: solana program deploy → deployment.md#native

Optimize compute units:

• Both: Profile with Mollusk bencher → compute-optimization.md

Handle 40+ accounts:

• Both: Use Address Lookup Tables → versioned-transactions.md

Offline transaction signing:

• Both: Use durable nonces → durable-nonces.md

Decision Guide

Your Need	Recommended Approach	Reason
Standard DeFi/NFT program	Anchor	Faster development, proven patterns
TypeScript client needed	Anchor	Auto-generates IDL and client types
Learning Solana fundamentals	Native Rust first	Understand the platform deeply
Compute optimization critical	Native Rust	Direct control, minimal overhead
Advanced tx features (ALTs, nonces)	Either (slight edge to Native)	Framework-agnostic features
Fast prototyping	Anchor	Less boilerplate, faster iteration
Maximum control over every detail	Native Rust	No abstraction layer
Team familiar with frameworks	Anchor	Lower learning curve
Program size matters	Native Rust	Smaller compiled programs

Note: You can also start with Anchor for rapid development, then optimize critical paths with native Rust patterns if needed.

Framework Comparison

Aspect	Anchor	Native Rust
Setup complexity	Simple (anchor init)	Manual (Cargo.toml, entrypoint)
Boilerplate	Minimal (macros handle it)	Significant (manual everything)
Account validation	Declarative (#[account(...)])	Manual (explicit checks)
Serialization	Automatic (Borsh via macros)	Manual (Borsh or custom)
Type safety	High (compile-time checks)	High (but more verbose)
IDL generation	Automatic	Manual or tools
Client library	TypeScript + Rust auto-gen	Manual client code
Testing	anchor test, Mollusk	Mollusk, cargo test
Deployment	anchor deploy	solana program deploy
Compute overhead	Small (~1-3% typical)	None (direct)
Program size	Slightly larger	Smaller
Learning curve	Gentler (abstractions help)	Steeper (need SVM knowledge)
Debugging	Good (clear macro errors)	More complex (lower level)
Community	Large (most use Anchor)	Growing (optimization focus)

Typical Development Workflow

Anchor Workflow

1. Init: anchor init my_project
2. Define accounts: Use #[derive(Accounts)] with constraints
3. Implement instructions: Write functions in #[program] module
4. Define state: Use #[account] macro for account structures
5. Test: Write tests in tests/, run anchor test
6. Deploy: anchor deploy to configured network
7. Client: Import generated IDL and types in TypeScript/Rust

Native Rust Workflow

1. Setup: cargo new my_program --lib, configure Cargo.toml
2. Define entrypoint: Implement process_instruction function
3. Define state: Manual Borsh serialization structs
4. Implement instructions: Manual routing and account parsing
5. Validate accounts: Explicit ownership, signer, writable checks
6. Test: Write Mollusk tests, run cargo test
7. Build: cargo build-sbf
8. Deploy: solana program deploy target/deploy/program.so
9. Client: Build client manually or use web3.js/rs

Best Practices

General (Both Approaches)

✅ Always validate accounts: Check ownership, signers, mutability ✅ Use checked arithmetic: .checked_add(), .checked_sub(), etc. ✅ Test extensively: Unit tests, integration tests, edge cases ✅ Handle errors gracefully: Return descriptive errors ✅ Document your code: Explain account requirements and constraints ✅ Version your programs: Plan for upgrades and migrations ✅ Use PDAs for program-owned accounts: Don't pass private keys ✅ Minimize compute units: Profile and optimize hot paths ✅ Add security.txt: Make it easy for researchers to contact you

Anchor-Specific

✅ Use InitSpace derive: Auto-calculate account space ✅ Prefer has_one constraints: Clearer than custom constraints ✅ Use Program<'info, T>: Validate program accounts in CPIs ✅ Emit events: Use emit! for important state changes ✅ Group related constraints: Keep account validation readable

Native Rust-Specific

✅ Use next_account_info: Safe account iteration ✅ Cache PDA bumps: Store bump in account, use create_program_address ✅ Zero-copy when possible: 50%+ CU savings for large structs ✅ Minimize logging: Especially avoid pubkey formatting (expensive) ✅ Build verifiable: Use solana-verify build for production

Security Considerations

Both frameworks require security vigilance:

⚠️ Common vulnerabilities:

• Missing signer checks
• Integer overflow/underflow
• Account confusion attacks
• PDA substitution
• Arbitrary CPI targets
• Missing account ownership checks
• Insufficient rent exemption
• Account closing without zeroing

→ For defensive programming patterns and secure coding practices, see security.md

That guide provides:

• Core security rules and principles
• Account validation patterns
• Arithmetic safety guidelines
• Pre-deployment security checklist

→ For comprehensive security audits, use the solana-security skill

That skill provides:

• Systematic vulnerability analysis
• Attack scenarios and exploit POCs
• Framework-specific security reviews
• Professional audit workflows

When to Switch or Combine

Start with Anchor, optimize later:

• Build MVP with Anchor for speed
• Profile to find CU bottlenecks
• Optimize critical paths with native patterns
• Keep Anchor for non-critical code

Start with Native, add Anchor features:

• Build core program logic in native Rust
• Use Anchor's client generation separately
• Leverage anchor-spl for common patterns
• Maintain control where it matters

Use both in a workspace:

[workspace]
members = [
    "programs/core",      # Native Rust
    "programs/wrapper",   # Anchor facade
]

Getting Help

• Anchor: Discord, Docs
• Solana: Stack Exchange, Discord
• General: See resources.md for comprehensive links

Next Steps

New to Solana?

1. Read accounts.md - Understand the account model
2. Read anchor.md - Start with Anchor framework
3. Read security.md - Learn secure coding from the start
4. Build a simple program following testing.md
5. Deploy to devnet using deployment.md

Coming from another blockchain?

1. Read accounts.md - Solana's model is different
2. Read pda.md - Unique to Solana
3. Choose Anchor for familiar framework experience
4. Explore resources.md for migration guides

Want to optimize?

1. Start with working Anchor program
2. Profile with compute-optimization.md
3. Learn native patterns from native-rust.md
4. Refactor bottlenecks selectively

Building production apps?

1. Master security considerations
2. Use testing.md for comprehensive tests
3. Follow deployment.md for verified builds
4. Get security audit with solana-security skill