📚 Core Concepts
Foundational knowledge for Ergo blockchain development
Understanding these concepts will make you a more effective Fleet SDK developer. Start here before diving into the tutorials.
Learning Path
mermaid
graph LR
A[UTXO Model] --> B[Box Structure]
B --> C[ErgoScript]
C --> D[Build Transactions]Concept Guides
📦 UTXO Model
The foundation of how Ergo (and Bitcoin) handle transactions.
You'll Learn:
- Why UTXO is different from account-based blockchains
- How coins work like "physical bills"
- Benefits: parallelism, privacy, verification
- Extended UTXO features unique to Ergo
Best For: Those coming from Ethereum or new to blockchain development
🗃️ Box Structure
Deep dive into Ergo's fundamental data unit.
You'll Learn:
- Anatomy of an Ergo box
- Box properties: value, ErgoTree, assets, registers
- How to read and create boxes
- Minimum box value requirements
Best For: Understanding how data is stored on-chain
📜 ErgoScript Basics
Introduction to Ergo's smart contract language.
You'll Learn:
- Basic ErgoScript syntax
- Context variables (HEIGHT, SELF, INPUTS, OUTPUTS)
- Common patterns: timelocks, multi-sig, hash locks
- Integration with Fleet SDK
Best For: Developers ready to write smart contracts
Quick Reference
Key Values
typescript
import {
SAFE_MIN_BOX_VALUE, // 1_000_000n (0.001 ERG)
RECOMMENDED_MIN_FEE_VALUE // 1_100_000n (0.0011 ERG)
} from "@fleet-sdk/core";
// ERG denominations
const oneNanoErg = 1n;
const oneErg = 1_000_000_000n;Box Properties
| Property | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
boxId | string | Unique 64-char hex ID |
value | bigint | ERG amount (nanoERG) |
ergoTree | string | Spending script |
assets | array | Native tokens |
additionalRegisters | object | R4-R9 data |
creationHeight | number | Block height |
ErgoScript Context
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
HEIGHT | Current blockchain height |
SELF | Box being spent |
INPUTS | All input boxes |
OUTPUTS | All output boxes |
Next Steps
- Start with UTXO Model if you're new to Ergo
- Read Box Structure to understand the data layer
- Learn ErgoScript for smart contracts
- Practice with Tutorials to build real transactions